The Easter or Autumn school holidays are the perfect time to explore Ipswich, the weather is perfect for being outdoors in the day time with just the hint of chill in the mornings.
In Ipswich you can fill in the holidays by taking to the skies in a hot air balloon, visiting the birthplace of rail, (Queensland Museum Rail Workshops) or cuddling some adorable farmyard animals.
Here are a few of the top activities that need to be on your family’s holiday checklist from Saturday April 5 until Monday April 21.
What’s on in Ipswich Central
Glowscape school holiday program
Queensland Museum Rail Workshops are hosting Glowscape these holidays.
The iconic Power House, which brought electrical power to the Rail Workshops before Ipswich had electricity will be transforms brick by brick with a futuristic neon twist by you! Come in fluro or white clothes and transform yourself into a glowing artwork too.
You can also explore the magic of light in the Maker Space these school holidays! Discover display boxes filled with fascinating objects that react to UV light — from glowing minerals to surprising everyday household items. A hands-on experience perfect for curious minds! There will be free craft activities using flourescent materials.
These holidays there will also be pyjama party movies. Children and their families are invited to enjoy free screenings of Finding Nemo and Finding Dory, filled with glowing underwater creatures and enchanting ocean scenes. While the event is free with Museum entry, spaces are limited and bookings are required to secure your spot.
Also during the holidays is a workshop where you can make a glowing automated scorpion! This workshop is an extra paid activity on top of you0e museum entry and bookings are required.
Learn fascinating facts about their hunting techniques and exoskeletons that glow under ultraviolet light. Get crafty as you design and build your very own moving scorpion automata using everyday objects. Once your scorpion mini-machine is complete, step into our black light room to see it fluoresce, just like glowing scorpion in the wild! The workshop is designed for kids ages 8-12 years old, will be held 7-8 April and 14-16 April and is one hour in duration.
BUNKTOPIA
Award-winning Bunk Puppets returns to Ipswich these Easter school holidays with a new live shadow puppet performance, BUNKTOPIA.
Watch everyday objects transform into quirky and captivating silhouettes, bursting with life and humour, that will delight and inspire audiences of all ages. Flying popcorn, brain surgeons, speedy chickens, pool noodle light swords, and a snail romance – expect a playful and imaginative showcase! Wordless and brimming with wonder, BUNKTOPIA is a brand-new creation from acclaimed puppeteer and theatre-maker Jeff Achtem.
See BUNTOPIA at Studio 188 these holidays from Monday 7 April until Thursday 17 April at 10.30am and 1pm. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for kids.
Recommended for children 5 years and older as some scenes may be scary for younger audiences. Children must be accompanied by an adult ticket holder.
Hide & Sea
Go on an aquatic adventure these school holidays in the Hide & Sea interactive marine display tent! Featuring touch tanks with a variety of sea creatures, you’ll meet all kinds of characters including hermit crabs, sea urchins and a pelican. You can also enjoy a range of children’s activities, entertainment and markets.
Hide & Sea will run from Monday 7 April until Friday 11 April from 10am-2pm daily.
IAG Kids: Dazzle and Create
Step into a vibrant art studio, with hands-on maker stations. Build your own razzle-dazzle cubbyhouse, experiment with materials, and create your masterpiece at Dazzle and Create!
Dazzle and Create is on in the Ipswich Art Gallery, Children’s Gallery space daily from 10am-5pm and entry is free.
BunnyWood Grove
Walk through a whimsical LED Enchanted Garden and be amazed by real life bunnies at Riverlink these holidays.
Take this rare opportunity to cuddle a fluffy bunny and receive a Riverlink branded photo inside BunnyWood Grove. There are only 180 photos available per day.
Let your creativity take charge with five workshops on offer, including bunny sand art, Easter egg colouring and so much more! Find a talking tree in the garden and be captivated by a magical story it will tell!
Find this unique experience in the East Mall near Mr Toys from 10am – 2pm, April 9 until April 19.
Freckleface Strawberry the Musical
Freckleface Strawberry the Musical tells the story of a young girl named Strawberry who is relentlessly teased for her freckles, leading her to try desperate measures to hide them, including scrubbing her face and even wearing a ski mask to school; through her journey, she ultimately learns to embrace her uniqueness and accept that everyone has differences that make them special, based on the children’s book by Julianne Moore.
Freckleface Strawberry The Musical is a heartwarming and hilarious production filled with catchy songs, high-energy dance numbers, and a powerful message about self-acceptance and friendship.
It will be on stage Wednesday 9 April at 11am.
School Holidays Fun Pack General Public
It’s time to level up your holidays with General Public’s School Holidays Fun Pack, loaded with double the fun for an unbeatable price!
From 5 April until 21 April for $29 per person enjoy a game of bowling, to crush your friends (or family, we won’t judge) and get a $25 arcade card to keep the good times rolling (and your competitive spirit fired up).
That’s two awesome activities in one epic package! Whether you’re a pro at gaming or just looking for a new adventure, this pack is the perfect way to make the most of your school holidays.
Easter family fun day at Club Services Ipswich
Hop on over to Club Services Ipswich on Easter Sunday for a great day of family friendly fun and activities in the entertainment lounge.
The day includes a Kids Creation Station. Let the little ones get creative with fun arts and crafts activities plus exciting Easter inspired games.
Enjoy live music in the entertainment lounge and transform into your favourite character with the help of a talented face painter from 12pm -2pm.
Don’t miss the chance to meet with the Easter Bunny for photos and a hop-tastic time from 1pm-2pm.
And kids eat for free with the purchase of a main meal! Available from the CSI app only, terms and conditions apply.
Cheap Tuesday movie tickets at Hoyts
Hoyts Ipswich are running a cheap Tuesday deal with movie tickets for $13 all day every Tuesday. Grab your mates, load up on popcorn, and make Tuesdays during school holidays a movie day!
Meet some of Ipswich’s cutest residents
Animal lovers are spoilt for choice when it comes to an array of wildlife and farmyard experiences that can only be found in and around Ipswich.
The Ipswich Nature Centre in Queens Park is an unmissable experience for any visitor, as it is home to many animals including bilbies, dingoes, wallabies, a wombat, and also features a walk-through bird aviary.
The Ipswich Nature Centre is the only free zoo in south east Queensland, so you and your family can stay as long as you like, or come back whenever you feel like seeing those cute little faces again. They are open seven days a week during the school holidays.
Put your heads together to solve the clues
If your children love solving puzzles, then why not let them unleash their inner detective at Seraphim Escape Rooms. Working together as part of a team, the kids will enter a specially designed themed room where they will need to put their heads together to find the clues, solve the puzzles, and unlock the door in a certain time frame. This activity is perfect for children that are a little older and love a good challenge.
What’s on further afield…
Easter Monday Races
An exciting day of entertainment is lined up for the Easter Monday Races at Ipswich Turf Club. There will be thoroughbred racing as well as activities for the kids – all for free! The kid will love the petting zoo and climbing activities as well as Easter eggs!
Family Fun Day at Brothers
On Saturday 19 April, Brothers Ipswich will hold a Family Fun Day from 3pm-5pm. There will be free face painting and a visit from the Easter Bunny.
School holiday fun day at The Soul Nook Collective
These holidays, The Soul Nook Collective are celebrating with a Holiday Fun Day on Tuesday 15 April with Messy Play Dates on site for sensory play. There will be free face painting and other fun activities including a mini pancake van.
There is also 20% of picnics over the holidays, a great family day outing idea!
Bookings are required for the sensory play.
The Soul Nook will be closed on Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday, but open again on Easter Monday for coffee and sweet treats.
Teach the kids to fish with 2 Bent Rods
You can teach the kids to fish with 2 Bent Rods these holidays thanks to Ipswich City Council’s Active Kids program.
The fishing lessons will be held on Saturday 5 April from 2pm-5pm and Saturday 12 April 9am-12pm at Barellan Point.
There is a fee of $5 per child to participate.
Easter high tea at Homage
Celebrate Easter in style with a delectable high tea experience at Homage, including a glass of Taittinger champagne on arrival.
Kids can enjoy face painting, an Easter egg hunt, lawn games and live music.
On the menu is lemonade scones; savoury treats like garden rosemary and walnut financier finger sandwiches, sausage rolls; and sweet treats like hot cross buns, religieuse au chocolat, macaroons and macadamia nut cakes.
The high tea will be held on Sunday 20 April from 12pm-2pm.
Ride and Vibe Dayz at Hidden Vale Adventure Park
Don’t miss your chance to Ride and Vibe! Whether you’re a first timer, weekend warrior or trail pro, Hidden Vale Adventure Park’s Community Ride and Demo Day has something for everyone! During the Ride and Vibe days on Saturday April 12 and Sunday April 13, there will be free entry to the park, loads of activities and special deals.
There will be a free slip and slide, 30% off e-bike hire, 50% of archery and discounted memberships.
Registration is essential to receive a complimentary trail pass. Register here.
Free session at Rampage Axe throwing and free add on at Rage Cage
During the holidays children aged 12 years and over can go axe throwing at Rampage Axe Throwing for free with a full paying parent or supervisor!
Plus at Rage Cage next door children can receive a free “tech” (think laptop, computer monitor or printer) with their booking! Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to participate, but they can enjoy the fun of releasing some pent up energy in a safe environment.
Koala safaris, 4WD tours and animal feeding at Spicers Hidden Vale
Spicers Hidden Vale awaits to make your family break unforgettable. Here, you and your kids can dive into a plethora of exciting activities. Whether it’s feeding the friendly farm animals (every day at 2pm complimentary), taking a tour of the market garden (at 3pm complimentary), or conquering the giant jungle gym outside The Barn, the options are endless.
For those seeking adventure, the world-class bike trails of Hidden Vale Adventure Park are at the Spicers doorstep. Plus, there is also gold-panning experiences and half-day 4WD tours across the extensive 12,000-acre property, ensuring that there’s never a dull moment in sight.
See the dinos, pet and feed the animals
The Ewe Nique Hobby Farm will be open every day during the school holidays (except for Tuesdays) for you to feed and pet the farm animals and have a coffee in the Baa Baa Cafe. Their new dinosaur experience is also open full of replica dinosaurs, birds and fish!
Enjoy two sessions each day, either 9am or 10.30am and meet the gorgeous baby lambs and goats!
School holiday program at Heritage Poultry
Heritage Poultry at Harrisville are holding a school holidays farm day on Monday 14 April from 9am-12pm. Included is an educational and fun farm experience where children can interact with goats, sheep, pigs, chickens, baby chicks, ducklings and more. Children can feed, brush and hold the animals.
Kids can either be dropped off, or you can stay with them. Book here.
Visit The Llama Farm
You can visit Queensland’s largest herd of llamas these holidays.
The Llama Farm is not only home to llamas, but also giant rabbits, donkeys, goats, chickens, peacocks, ponies and camels.
Book in for Easter Bunny photo sessions on Sunday 13 April. Spaces are limited and bookings are necessary.
Or you can meet the animals on a Faces of the Farm tour at 9am on weekend tour days or book in for a llama walk at 3pm on weekends.
Bookings are essential, book online.
Kids eat free and shows at Mihi Tavern
The Mihi Tavern has a calendar full of fun things to do for the school holidays including game shows, magic shows and visit from the Easter bunny. Also kids can eat for free during lunch or dinner at the Mihi Tavern when you purchase an adult main meal from 8 April to 20 April.
A dinosaur hunter game show will be held on Tuesday 8 April (5pm-6.30pm), a jungle explorer magic show will be held on Thursday 10 April (5pm-6pm), a Spiderman game show will be held on Tuesday 15 April (5pm-6.30pm), a dinosaur magic show will be held on Thursday 17 April (5pm-6pm) and a special visit from the Easter bunny will happen on Sunday 20 April (5pm-6pm).
Shows at Springlake Hotel and kids eat free deals
Kids can eat for free at the Springlake Hotel these holidays with a full priced main meal purchase. The deal is for lunch and dinner from 7 April until 20 April.
There’s also some cool kids activities coming up.
On Monday 7 April there will be a magic show with balloons at 12pm (noon), on Tuesday 8 April there will be a Spiderman show from 3pm, on Thursday 10 April koala cuddles from 12pm (noon), Sunday 13 April a family fun day animal farm from 12pm (noon), on Monday 14 April a dinosaur visit from 12pm (noon), on Tuesday 15 April a Disney princess visit from 12pm (noon), on Wednesday 16 April Easter arts and crafts from 12pm (noon) and Sunday 20 April an Easter bunny visit and egg hunt from 11.30am-1pm.
Have a camel ride, take a tour and head to the markets
During the school holidays, Summer Land Camels will be running camel rides every day and the farm will open 9am to 3pm daily, except for Good Friday, when the farm will close.
There is no entry fee and visitors can pat and feed the camels for just a few dollars per bag of feed.
Kids can visit Summer Land Camels during school holidays and get a half price Tour, Taste & Camel Encounter! Use the code HOLIDAYS when booking online. After your tour enjoy a delicious lunch, brunch, camelcino or award-winning camel milk Gelato at the cafe.
The Autumn markets are being held on Saturday 5 April from 8.30am-2pm with free entry. Enjoy market stalls, food trucks, camel rides, farm tours, vodka and gin tasting and live music!
Visit Summer Land Camels during school holidays and get half price Tour, Taste & Camel Encounter for the kids! Use code ‘HOLIDAYS’ when booking online. Open daily 9am to 3pm – Enjoy a delicious lunch, brunch, camelcino or award-winning camel milk Gelato at our café. Pat and feed the camels and browse in our Farm Shop. Camel rides are available every day in school holidays and check the booking calendar for our other activities.
A little farmer humpty day will be held on Wednesday 16 April from 9am-2pm. Kids are encouraged to come dressed as a farmer and will enjoy a 30 minute farm tour, a chance to pat and cuddle the camels, kids’ activities (face painting and crafts also) and miniature goats.
Camel rides will also be discounted on the day to $20 for the kids. Tickets are $10pp, with under 4s free.
See the alpacas
Mysteria Alpacas will be open Sundays from 10am-3pm and Saturdays by appointment during the school holidays.
Take to the skies in a big balloon
If you’re looking to take your school holiday fun to new heights, why not take a hot air balloon flight over the city of Ipswich with Floating Images Hot Air Balloon Flights? Granted, you do have to get up super early, but once you are in that basket and watching the sunrise, it will be a holiday memory you will treasure always.
Book a Naughty Little Kids tour
The Naughty Little Kids Goat Dairy will be running extra tours during the school holidays.
Tours will be held on weekends and Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 1pm and 2.30pm. The dairy will also be open for produce purchases on tour days.
Hit the bike trails over the holidays
If you like to stay active, grab your bike and explore more than 110km of world class trails at Hidden Vale Adventure Park. Operating out of the luxurious Spicers Hidden Vale getaway, the various tracks are suitable for beginners right up to experienced riders. The property is open from 7am-3pm daily and can be accessed for $20 a day. Upon sign in, everyone will be issued a map to ensure they stay on the right track.
Let the kids run wild at one of Ipswich’s great parks
Sometimes all you need for a great family day out is the sun shining and a good playground to entertain the little ones.
Lucky for you, Ipswich has lots of great parks, playgrounds and open spaces where you can easily spend a full day! Why not check out or revisit Queens Park in the middle of Ipswich, Lobley Park in Churchill, Robelle Domain in Springfield, Joseph Brady Park at Barallen Point, Sutton Park in Brassall, Rotary Bicentennial Park in Redbank Plains, Discovery Park in Springfield Lakes and Spring Lake Park, also in Springfield Lakes.
There’s lots of fun climbing apparatuses, swings, slides and space to throw out a picnic rug or kick a ball around – the choice is yours!
Cool off at the water park
If you’re kids are keen to cool off after a few hours of running around, you can visit the water play area at Robelle Domain which has tipping buckets and jet sprays. There is also lots of fun to be had at the Splash ‘n’ Play water park at Providence Ripley, which features two aqua play zones, the Bob Gamble water park, or you can head to the Bundamba Swim Centre, which has a small water park for little kids, plus a 50m and 25m pool. There’s also a free water play area at Tulmur Place.
Ride the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail
Take a leisurely bike ride with the whole family from Ipswich to Fernvale along the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail. The trail traces the old Brisbane Valley rail line that commenced at Wulkuraka and continued to Yarraman, west of Kilcoy.
The 20km trail from bustling Ipswich out to the rural township of Fernvale is suitable for all riders, taking you on a fun family adventure through farmland, forest and picturesque settings away from the busy traffic.
The trail features various surfaces, including sand, grass, gravel and rough stretches of rocky ballast.
By using the Brassall Bikeway, riders can easily connect to Queensland Museum Rail Workshops in North Ipswich, and then travel via the road network to the historic Ipswich Central precinct, which is full of eateries, quirky shops and attractions like Queens Park and the Ipswich Art Gallery.
Where to stay…
Stay in the heart of town with Urban Getaway, or book a family-friendly farm stay at Pocket Retreats, or Tallavalley Farm B&B. Stay in Ipswich Central with Quest Ipswich and Oaks Ipswich Aspire Suites. Stay in Springfield at Quest Springfield and the Springfield Lakes Hotel.
For more options see our Accommodation Page.
