Queensland’s time-honoured heritage region of Ipswich is packed with surprising new adventures and only 30 minutes’ drive from Brisbane, making it the perfect weekend getaway destination.
A place where historic homes meet culinary cool and the open road leads to beautiful countryside, dotted with unexpected delights, Ipswich has a few hidden gems you never expected. A place where you can float high above the rolling hills and ranges in a hot air balloon, or chopper in for lunch at a hatted restaurant, where museums mark the time and vineyards ramble from vale to vale.
The pioneering spirit remains alive in Ipswich, bringing a new wave of creativity to this beautiful heritage city, and is waiting for you to explore for a weekend or even longer. Here is what you can get up to in a weekend this October.
Homage Restaurant in Spicers Hidden Vale Homestead. Image: Spicers Retreats
Stay at Spicers Hidden Vale
Stay at Spicers Hidden Vale, the magnificent 12,000-acre historic property located just an hour’s drive from Brisbane, and combines the style and comfort of a luxury retreat with the warmest of country welcomes. Discover a genuine regional adventure that combines a breath of fresh air with luxury, ‘paddock to plate’ dining and a generous range of nature-based activities, such at the Turner Family Foundation’s Hidden Vale Wildlife Centre, at Spicers Hidden Vale. It is the perfect escape for the mid-week escape or weekend getaway. The main Homestead is home to Homage Restaurant, and just down the road is the back-to-nature thrill of the Hidden Vale Adventure Park and 110kms of trails.
Learn about Sidney Cotton, the inspiration behind James Bond’s Ipswich connection
New pop-up exhibition called Spy Espionage is coming to The Workshops Rail Museum. THE NAME is Cotton… Sidney Cotton. He may or may not have introduced himself like James Bond, but the inspiration for Ian Fleming’s secret agent 007 grew up at Hidden Vale Homestead and his ashes reside in the Tallegalla Cemetery. The exhibition runs from 30 October 2021 to 6 February 2022.
Take a Hot Air Balloon ride over Ipswich. Image: Discover Ipswich
Floating Images Hot Air Balloon Flights
Experience the adventure and romance of ballooning with Floating Images Hot Air Balloon Flights. Picture yourself tucked into a big wicker basket, a gentle breeze taking you on a sky-high adventure above South East Queensland. Each morning owner and Chief Pilot Graeme shares the magic of flying and his intimate local knowledge of the Greater Brisbane region from the air. Launching just one flight per day with 4-10 passengers, Floating Images offers a boutique and personalised balloon experience.
New tea house
Dona Perera launched the Tranquil Tea House on October 9, including a Tranquil tea event website and new Tranquil Tea tea bags which can be purchased at the tea house. The tea house is nestled in an 800 Square Meter garden with native plants, birds and bees a great place to book a special occasion whether it is a birthday celebration with tea and scones, Mothers’ day celebrations with a High tea or an educational tea experience – which will be offered to the public on Sundays. The tea experiences are designed for those interested in learning more about this time-honoured drink.
Jacaranda trees are blooming in Ipswich. Image: Discover Ipswich
Jacaranda season is here
Ipswich’s beautiful Jacaranda trees are in full bloom providing a beautiful carpet of flowers and some great spots to take photos. The top places to see the blooms are Timothy Malony Park, Queens Park, Woodlands of Marburg, Brisbane St Goodna and by air with hot air balloon and helicopter flights. There I salso a scenic route up and over Tallegalla Two Tree Hill from Rosewood to Minden that’s lined with Jacarandas this time of year.
Celebrate Halloween in the region
There are many events and activities happening in Ipswich around Halloween celebrations. Enjoy Halloween Flicks and $3 Disney movies at the Limelight Cinemas. They will be holding screenings of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, Hocus Pocus, Malignant and Halloween Kills and Antlers for Halloween. There’s also a Twilight Saga Marathon starting on October 9 and $3 Disney films for the rest of October!
Trick or Treat at Orion as customers will be invited to dress up and collect a list of participating retailers from our Spooktcular Halloween Stall located in the Coles Mall. From there they will be able to explore the malls with their bag in hand ready to collect as many treats as they can on Thursday October 28, 3pm – 8pm. Retailers will also have offers and special food and drinks to get into the spirit of the evening.
Booze ‘n’ Boo’s the weekend away at the PA Hotel from Friday 29 October to Sunday 31 October. There are prizes for best costume and scary Halloween themed cocktails. The Ipswich Show Society will host a special Halloween Twilight Market on 30 October from 4pm-9pm.
