These school holidays are shaping up to be bigger than ever with special wildlife shows, workshops and even a pop up skating rink coming to town.
Pop up roller skating rink
Lace up a pair of colourful roller skates, request your favourite tunes and let the good times roll at Riverlink!
Roll in to the pop up Roller Rink outside The Reject Shop from Monday 4 April – Monday 18 April between 10am and 3pm daily (except for Good Friday).
With a large range of sizes, just pack your socks; we’ve got a set of wheels for everyone!
Each session will run for about 20 mins and no bookings are required.
The rink is best suited to children aged 6 and over and parents/guardians need to supervise children at all times – they are welcome to roll too!
Under 18’s must receive permission from a parent/guardian to participate and will be required to sign a waiver before the session starts.
Kids art classes
These school holidays the kids can book into Sip ‘n’ Dip classes at Marburg.
On Friday April 8 book in for a kids’ alcohol ink clocks class and on Saturday April 9 a bracelet making class for all ages at The Soul Nook Collective.
There’s also a kids watercolour lamp shade class being held at The Soul Nook Collective on April 14.
Koala day at the Ewe Nique Hobby Farm
The Ewe Nique Hobby Farm will be open two sessions a day (9am and 10.30am) during the school holidays and to make things a little bit special they’ve got a koala coming on April 17!
Enjoy patting and feeding the alpacas, sheep, goats, mini goats and chickens and on April 5 and 17 you can book in to pat and have a photo taken with a koala.
Koala days cost a little bit more at $16.50 per person, regular pricing is $6.50 for entry and $3 for animal feed.
There will also be an Easter egg hunt on April 17 for the kids to enjoy!
The coffee cart will be open for a delicious brew or cold drink, scones with jam and cream or why not try the new sheep cheese and ice cream!
Easter cooking classes
Take the kids to learn how to decorate cookies and make crackle baskets these holidays at The Retro Diner.
Classes are running from Monday April 4 to Friday April 8 from 1pm to 3pm or Monday April 11- Wednesday April 13 from 1pm to 3pm.
Bookings are essential. Classes cost $15 and include afternoon tea.
And while you’re there stock up on handmade Easter chocolates in stock, made by a local chocolatier.
Gulf Western Oil Super Thunder
Your favorite 400 Thunder Pro Categories are back at Willowbank Raceway for the Gulf Western Oil Super Thunder!
The Gulf Western Oil Super Thunder event will see the launch of Top Fuel Funny Car into the 400 Thunder Drag Racing Series.
They will also have all of the excitement with Pro Alcohol, Pro Slammer, Top Fuel Motorcycle, Pro Stock, Pro Stock Bike and Pro Mod racing. You’ll see a huge field of local and interstate racers hit the black top, hoping to gain championship points early in the competition.
In addition to our Pro Categories, you’ll see a full complement of 400 Thunder Performance and Sportsman racers. Blown or Turbo, Sedan or Dragster, this event has all the variety and action of the Winternationals jam-packed into one day! Don’t miss the action on Friday 8th and Saturday 9th April with all race teams ready to fight it out for the prestigious gold 400 thunder Christmas Tree trophy.
See the website for more info and to book tickets.
Kids eat free at Brothers Leagues Club Ipswich
Kids can eat for free these school holidays at Brothers Leagues Club. Sunday to Thursday for lunch and dinner get a free kids meal with a full priced main meal.
On the menu is Australian crumbed whiting with chips, salad and tartare, grilled chicken with chips and salad, spaghetti bolognese, bacon and cheese pizza, cheeseburger or chicken nuggets with chips and salad.
And all kids menu items come with an ice cream and activity pack.
Rotary Revival
Rotary Revival will be held on Sunday April 10 at Queensland Raceway. The event is a celebration of rotary powered vehicles, for all motoring enthusiasts with a spectacular array of rotary cars on display and on track.
With cruising, competitions, rolling drags and more – it’s set to be an epic day!
Back in time family fun day
Explore the past and delight in activities that your grandparents and great-grandparents enjoyed at the Cooneana Heritage Centre Back in Time Family Fun Day.
Spend Sunday April 10 as a family and explore your local history, get creative with the Spinners, Weavers, Fibre Artisans of Ipswich.
Make a collage or create a peg doll. Watch the blacksmiths in action, creating magnificent metal trinkets.
Youngsters will delight in a carousel ride from fairgrounds of old. Take some time to wander the displays in the museum or on the grass including in the old schoolroom.
On the day you can also find out how to search your family history with the Genealogical Society.
Check out the veteran and classic motorcycles on display from the Historical Motorcycle Club.
Learn how to make butter to enjoy with fresh cooked damper on the day.
Compete in old fashioned sack races, play tic tac toe and learn to stilt walk.
And tuck into a sizzling sausage for lunch, there will be cold drinks, coffee and tea available.
Under construction
Keep the kids busy with Under Construction at The Workshops Rail Museum from April 2 – 18.
Under Construction is ideal for children aged between 3 and 10 years old and offers fun and stimulating activities with special building zones for those under 3 years.
The kids can get busy with these activities:
- Construction Station – Dream it! Design it! Build it! – Kids and adults will love this area, jam-packed full of LEGO ready for them to build and test their own inventions. Includes a special under 3’s big block builder’s activity space. Design your own masterpiece and watch it come to life using the Lego provided or roll the dice and let fate decide what to build.
- Build-a-Bridge Makerspace – Design and create a bridge strong enough for a train to cross over a river. Choose your construction gear from K’Nex and straws to build and test your own inventions. Roll the dice for extension challenges.
- Big Blue Blocks – Get building, engineering, and inventing with the Big Blue Blocks in the Theatrette.
- For the Tradie at Heart – learn how to build a wagon and then take it to the testing area or try your hand at some plumbing.
- Miniature Train Rides -A unique opportunity to view the workshops site whilst having a bit of fun with the kids. A chance to sit back, relax and enjoy the ride. Rides are offered throughout the event, charges apply, operates 10am to 3pm.
Kids eat for $5 and Easter Sunday Kids Funday at CSI
Every school holidays kids can eat for $5 at Club Services Ipswich, with the purchase of a main meal.
They are also holding an Easter Sunday Kids Funday on Sunday April 17 with free activities for the kids.
Bring the littlies along to the entertainment lounge from 11am-2pm for Easter craft, face painting, music and a visit from the Easter Bunny (12pm-1pm).
Marburg Easter Raceday
Take the kids the family friendly Marburg Pacing Association Easter race day on April 17 at the Marburg showgrounds.
There will be free dodgem cars and a rock climbing wall as well as gifts for the kids, raffles and the Easter bunny will make an appearance.
Enter the fashions on the field and enjoy some live harness racing and mini trotting.
Gates open at 11am, races kick off at noon – adults entry is $5 with members and pensioners $3, kids entry is free.
Perception Deception
Does your brain play tricks on you? Is my reality the same as yours?
Questacon’s family-friendly Perception Deception exhibition explores how our sense of ‘reality’ is formed by our brains using sensory information—but our senses can sometimes deceive us!
Perception Deception consists of hands-on and multimedia experiences, each using perceptual tests and illusions to reveal how our brains edit, prioritise and even add information about the things and people around us. The exhibits cover themes of visual, audio, audio-language, tactile and social perception.
Perception Deception investigates how the brain interprets and reports information received from touch, sight and sound. We assume what we see, hear and feel is real, but our reality is really only our perception—and no two of us perceive things exactly the same way.
See Perception Deception at the Ipswich Art Gallery until June 12, free entry and no bookings required.
Queensland Racing Drivers’ Championship Round 2
QRDC Round 2 is revving up with an enormous eight racing categories lined-up to produce an epic days’ worth of excitement.
On show will be Queensland Touring Car Championship, Australian Trans Ams, 2ltr Production Coupes, Superkarts, QR Sports and Sedans, EFS Excel Cup, Superkarts, Replica Tourers, HQs.
The event is being held over Friday April 8 and Saturday April 9. The Friday will see cars on track for practice while the real action gets underway on Saturday morning.
Circus Spectacular
Roll up, roll up! The circus is coming to Redbank Plaza during the April school holidays.
Be surprised and amazed by talented circus performers. With shows twice daily keep an eye out for our aerialist, contortionist, hula hooper, juggling roller and comedy clown!
Kids can then learn some tricks from the experts! Juggling, hula hoops, small stilts, plate spinning and more.
Shows will run between 11am and 1pm Monday April 4 to Wednesday April 13.
Easter markets
During the April school holidays and Easter period a range of markets will be on, you can bring the whole family as all the markets are dog friendly!
Every Sunday the Ipswich Showplace Markets are on at the Ipswich Showgrounds from 6am-11am with handmade items, bric-a-brac, produce, food trucks and more.
Ipswich Twilight Market will be running on April 1 in Tulmur Place with food trucks, music and artisan wares including jewellery, candles, plants, doggy clothes and more.
My Local Market Wallon will be on Sunday April 3 along with Cardigras. There will also be plants, clothing, jewellery, pony rides (if the ground isn’t wet), food and much more!
The Handmade Expo market will be on Saturday April 9 from 9am-1pm at Tulmur Place. The Easter Bunny will be making a visit. There will also be live music, face painting and more.
Ripley Markets will be held on Saturday April 9 from 3pm-8pm. The Alchemist- Artisan Apothecary products will be available, food trucks, live music, jewellery and more!
The Springfield Markets are being held on April 17 (Easter Sunday) at Robelle Domain. There’s artisan wares, music, candy, candles, plants and so much more! The Easter Bunny will even make an appearance.
Safari Putt Putt
The wild African safari is coming to Tulmur Place with a life-size animatronic putt putt until April 9 from 9am to 1pm. Tee off on the nine-hole course featuring zebras, elephants, giraffes, rhinos and more and challenge the entire family! Entry is free.
Street Science
Book in for Street Science at The Racehorse Hotel these holidays. The free event is being held on April 14 from 9.30am. The high energy stage show and engaging hands on workshops will have the kids learning without them even realising it!
Tickets can be booked online to the show, or book for a show and meal package.
Where to stay…
Enjoy the school holidays in Ipswich by booking a family-friendly farm stay at Pocket Retreats, Keira Farm or Tallavalley Farm B&B. There’s also great camping spots you can book, find more on them here.
Or book the family into one of Quest Ipswich’s family friendly rooms with 15% off the best flexible rate and an extra 10% off for Quest Online Advantage Members. This offer is for a minimum three night stay up to seven nights, bookable from March 18-April 10 for stays between April 1 and May 1 – subject to availability for bookings at least two days prior to your stay.
For more accommodation options see our Accommodation Page.
