From eco activities to animal encounters and classes for budding chefs there’s plenty on offer these school holidays around the Ipswich region.
First Ipswich Eco Hunt
Simply taking pictures of insects, animals and plants could win you a fantastic prize in Ipswich City Council’s inaugural Ipswich Eco-Hunt.
Just download the QuestaGame app on your smartphone, visit White Rock – Spring Mountain Conservation Estate, walk along the trails and snap as many pictures as you can of different birds, insects, animals and plants.
The prizes up for grabs in the Ipswich Eco-Hunt include two nights at Montville Country Cabins, Spicers Hidden Vale experiences, vouchers to outdoor supply retailers and handy field resources such as binoculars and local guidebooks.
The Eco-Hunt challenge is a great way to celebrate National Biodiversity Month, the data will add to the CSIRO’s Atals of Living Australia.
Ipswich is home to more than 2,000 recorded species of native plants and animals, including a number of rare and threatened species.
Ipswich Eco-Hunt is open from 9 September to 7 October.
Players will be required to stay on the trails while exploring White Rock – Spring Mountain Conservation Estate.
Download QuestaGame from your app store. For more information see questagame.com/ipswich.
Wildlife Rangers at the Workshops
See mammals, marsupials, reptiles and more at The Workshops Rail Museum these school holidays (September 21- October 7).
Get up close and personal to some of Australia’s favourite animals and learn about their day to day lives.
Live show at 11am, close-up experience at 11.30am.
Learn about the animals below with a variety visiting the Museum each day of the program:
- Magnificent Tree Frog
- Blue Tongue Skink
- Bearded Dragon, Frill Necked Dragon or Shingle Back Skink
- Crocodile
- Eastern Long Neck Turtle
- Pythons
- Tawny Frogmouth, Cockatoo or Curlew
- Ringtail Possum or Squirrel Glider
Miniature train rides will also be held from September 21- October 7 from 10am-3pm costs $3 per ride or four for $10.
Bush Mechanics
An exhibition based on the popular ABC television series Bush Mechanics has opened at The Workshops Railway Museum. The exhibition features a range of items from the series, including two original cars, clay figurines, specially commissioned artwork and interactive displays, it also provides broader insights into Aboriginal life and culture.
Visitors to the exhibition will be able to see original footage from the series and try their hand at some of the ingenious and resourceful nyurulypa, or tricks, by assembling the discarded parts that make up the exhibition’s ‘bush driving simulator’ and operating it.
Admission included with museum entry, runs all school holidays and into Feb 2020.
Cookie decorating
The Retro Diner will be holding cookie decorating on the Monday and Tuesdays during the school holidays from 9am-10.30am. And make your own tacos from 11-12.30pm bookings include a drink – $8.
Animal encounters
Discover what goes into caring for local wildlife, meet and feed the barnyard animals, pet a reptile and learn about bilby conservation during an Animal Encounter at the Ipswich Nature Centre. Animal Encounters are held Wednesdays and Fridays during school holidays at 9am and 11am, bookings essential.
The Ipswich Nature Centre in Ipswich’s historical Queens Park offers a magical opportunity to get up close and personal with Australian native wildlife. Stroll through shady walkways and see the cute residents such as wombats, wallabies, emus, quolls, and a nocturnal bilby exhibit. A vibrant rainforest bird aviary is alive with colour and sound, and youngsters will have a ball in the barn which has calves, lambs, chickens and peacocks.
The Ipswich Nature Centre is open to the public seven days a week during school holidays from 9.30am.
See the camels
Head to the Summer Land Camels farm for a tour and taste experience daily from 11am. You can also feed the camels and take a camel ride. Try camel milk and cheese at the on-site cafe. Book online.
Kids eat free at Memories of India
During the two weeks of school holidays kids free eat free for lunch and dinner at Memories of India with the purchase of an adult meal. Dine in only, kids up to age 12. Meals include a Mango Lassi.
Special kids menu:
1. butter chicken with rice
2. Vegetable korma with rice
3. Butter paneer with rice
4. Chicken nuggets and chips
5. Fish and chips
6. Your Choice of naan platter
7. Paneer methi malai with rice
See the animals
Haigslea Ewe Nique Hobby Farm will be open every day during the September school holidays, with a Shearing Day being held on Sunday September 29.
During the holidays you can come pat and feed the friendly animals including sheep, lambs, alpacas, goats, geese and chickens and enjoy the rural setting. They will also have some small fluffy animal visitors during the holidays.
Due to the warmer weather, the farm will open from 8am to noon. The coffee cart will be available selling an extensive range of hot and cold drinks and homemade morning tea items.
Children will get to take home complimentary seedlings, costs $5 per person, animal feed buckets $3 each or 4 for $10.
A special line up will be held for the annual shearing day which will be split up into two sessions, session 1 at 8.30am to 10am and session 2 at 10.30am to noon.
Shane Bird, a Queensland shearer from Kingaroy with over 20 years’ experience, will demonstrate how the sheep and alpacas are freed from their winter woollies.
On the day you can also meet, pat and feed the friendly animals, see sheep and alpaca shearing, touch and feel the sheep and alpaca fleece.
The coffee cart will be available as well as a sausage sizzle.
Cuddle a llama
The Llama Farm is open for farm tours and llama walks are on offer by appointment during the holidays and extended hours will be available. Call 0403 284 665 to book.
Kids High Tea at the Cottage Restaurant
Enjoy a delectable high tea experience at The Cottage Restaurant every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday over the holidays, from 10am-1pm. Available for both parents and kids with a minimum of two. On the menu is chicken and mayo, ham, cheese and tomato, egg and cress sandwiches.
As well as scones with jam and cream, macaroons, mini lemon meringues, chocolate brownies and jelly cups. Bookings are essential.
Million dollar playground
The $1.5 million theme-park inspired kids playground at Orion Springfield Central will be opening on time for the school holidays from September 21. The park is located outside of Orion Springfield Central across the road from the Orion Lagoon.
Dora activation zone
A free Dora Explorer Activation Zone will run from Saturday September 21 – Sunday October 6 from 10am to 2pm at Orion Shopping Centre. Kids can get busy with backpack decorating, bug catching and dig for gold.
Angry Birds 2 Craft Village
You’ll love the themed craft village where you’ll be given your very own Angry Birds Paddle Bat & Ball to decorate and then master the skills of co-ordination. Plus, you’ll have the chance for a special meet & greet with Red!
At Riverlink Shopping Centre until October 5.
