Winter Weekend In Ipswich
Spend a winter weekend in Ipswich and discover the old world charm, fantastic dining and unique experiences that the picturesque heritage city has to offer:
Stay
From quaint Bed and Breakfasts to grand historic mansions and luxury country homesteads, there's a great choice of accommodation:
Cumquat House - The quaint 1914 heritage-listed guesthouse features rooms with rain shower & flat screen TV and guests have access to a kitchen, balcony. lounge and dining room and private parking onsite.
Marys Place Bed & Breakfast- Mary’s Place is the perfect place to begin your historical Ipswich experience. A 1928 Bungalow with period features intact, Mary’s Place is abundant with heritage charm, antique furniture and decor.
Woodlands of Marburg - The stately historic mansion in the township of Marburg has an elegant old world retsurant and bar onsite as well as a cafe in the grounds and you can also do a ghost tour on selected Friday nights
Spicers Hidden Vale - For the ultimate luxury escape with onsite fine dining restaurant, check into this country-style retreat. The only thing is you may not want to leave
If you're after a self-contained apartment try Oaks Aspire, on the edge of Top of Town precinct and Quest Ipswich Apartment Hotel.
Arts & Culture
Ipswich Heritage Trail - Ipswich has so many buildings with stories to tell, right back to when Ipswich was once New South Wales! Put on your walking shoes, visit the Ipswich Tourist Information centre and grab yourself an Ipswich Heritage Trail map. The Ipswich Heritage Trail is an easy walk and a ‘must-do’ when you visit Ipswich.
The Workshops Rail Museum - Marvel the beautifully restored engines and carriages, simulators, model trains, films and endless amounts of artefacts in the old boiler house at the former Railway Workshops, now an award-winning museum. Here you will be taken back in time and learn more about the history of rail in Queensland.
Ipswich Art Gallery - Set in a heritage building that was once the Town Hall, the Ipswich Art Gallery is a must see. It’s not just an art gallery, but a visual arts and history museum, showcasing the city’s long held heritage and contemporary works that reflect the history of Ipswich. Currently showing a free exhibition of the works of artist Lincoln Austin.
Shopping
Ipswich Antique Centre - If you’re keen to take home with you a nice little antique memento of your weekend in Ipswich, you will definitely find it at the Ipswich Antique Centre. Located in the restored Uniting Church Central Memorial Hall, there is an endless array of antiques and collectables.
Top of Town - For some unique vintage fashion finds head to The Vintage Advantage in Top of Town, where you'll also find great shoe boutique Obsession Shoes and Ipswich's oldest shop, CJ Vogler & Sons. And be sure to head downstairs in the historic Flour Mill to check out The Soul Cauldron and Embers and Twine.
Attractions
Queens Park - The region's oldest park is a must visit, dating from the 1860s and, along with splendid sandstone terraced gardens, features the traditional Japanese Nerima Gardens, and a fantastic free walk through Ipswich Nature Centre. Tucked away nearby is one of Queensland's only Walter Burley Griffin designed buildings - the Incinerator Theatre.
Denmark Hill Conservation Park - Right on the edge of Ipswich's CBD you can step into another world - a tract of native bushland with walking tracts which still has remnants of the old mines below and a 'Triassic forest' with fossils and dinosaur footprints. Climb the water towers for stunning views over Ipswich and all the way to Brisbane CBD.
Watercress Creek Olives & Limes - Located at Pine Mountain, here's the place to pick up fresh olives, limes and gourmet products from their tiny farm gate shop or a ready-made picnic pack to enjoy in the scenic grounds
Tea Ceremony & Tour - On Sundays once a month you can partake in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony at the teahouse in Ipswich's beautiful Japanese garden in Queen's Park - Nerima Gardens.
Ghost Tours - Explore the dark side of Ipswich's history with one of their famous ghost tours - choose from the Haunted Ipswich CBD Night Tour or the old Ipswich Cemetery, which is home to the grave of Ned Kelly's brother.
Summer Land Camel Farm - Ride a camel, tour the camel farm and pop in to the onsite colonial cottage cafe where you can enjoy camel dairy cuisine and sunset cocktails.
Dining
In recent years Ipswich has become quite the foodie destination. Top of Town had some excellent options for coffee, breakfast and lunch while the heritage-listed tech college is where you'll find chic dining, artisan ice-cream and Ipswich's own microbrewery.
For breakfast or brunch it's hard to go past charming laneway cafe Rafter & Rose, vintage style The Retro Diner or funky Fourthchild, with views of landmark St Mary's Church, while coffee lovers should seek out the rustic local roastery Dancing Bean tucked away in a back alley of Top of Town. On weekends you can also enjoy brunch at Tommy Smith Cafe in the grounds of Woodlands of Marburg manor house.
For dinner, dine in fine style at The Cottage Restaurant (in an 1860's school), go German at Heisenberg Haus, Indian at Ipswich's popular Indian Mehfil or tuck into some delicious eats at the century old converted technical cottage in the splendid Dovetails restaurant bar or, just across the bridge, Bakehouse Steakhouse in an historic converted bakery.
And not to be missed is a visit to Ipswich's first brewery in 100 years, Pumpyard (also at the old technical college), to sample some local brews and delicious pub grub.
See
Studio 188 is a fringe arts venue and gallery space in Ipswich's oldest church (designed by Richard Gailey), with a great value programme of cabarets, music acts and plays. Nearby is historic Goleby's Basement, an old saddlery where quirky fringe performances are staged. Or check what's being performed at the Burley Griffin Incinerator Theatre, home to Ipswich Little Theatre or catch a touring ballet, opera. concert or musical at the Ipswich Civic Centre.
And, for more great things to see and do in Ipswich, visit Discover Ipswich HERE.
