Things to do with kids in Ipswich
Ipswich has great free days out. The Ipswich Nature Centre in Queens Park is a small free zoo with dingoes, bilbies and kangaroos along a boardwalk. The Ipswich Art Gallery has an exhibition just for kids and toddler sessions on Friday mornings. At Springfield, Orion Lagoon has linked pools that start at 30 centimetres deep, with squirting spouts and stepping stones.
To the north-west, the big dams are good for a summer day. Lake Wivenhoe and Somerset Dam both have marked swimming areas, playgrounds and free barbecues. Stay inside the marked areas. To the south, the walk over the wall at Moogerah Dam has views of the peaks.
Near Purga, kids can follow the Bush Tucker Trail at Hardings Paddock. At Laidley Pioneer Village, they can sit in a school room that is more than a century old.
62 family outings, waterfalls and walks across the region, sorted by drive time from Ipswich. Choose your suburb at the top to sort from where you are staying.
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Free · 25
Sensory-friendly · 2
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Top things to do in Ipswich
Paddle the shallows at Orion Lagoon
Orion Lagoon in Springfield Central has linked pools from a toddler-friendly 0.3 metres to 1.5 metres deep. One section has squirting spouts and stepping stones, and colourful sails shade parts of the lawn. From September to April it opens 5.30am to 9pm; children under 13 need an adult actively watching.
about 25 min
Swimming spot · Orion Lagoon
Photo: JohnnyBflat, CC BY-SA 4.0
Meet dingoes and bilbies at Ipswich Nature Centre
This free zoo in Queens Park has been open since 1936. Kids can see dingoes, wallabies, emus, kangaroos, bilbies and a wedge-tailed eagle along the boardwalk. A small section of trail stays closed until early 2027 while a new animal care building is finished.
under 5 min
Wildlife park · Ipswich Nature Centre
Photo: Jesper Örtlund, CC BY-SA 4.0
Play in the Children's Gallery at Ipswich Art Gallery
Ipswich Art Gallery opens 10am to 5pm every day, and entry is free unless an exhibition says otherwise. Its kids' exhibition, Make Yourself at Home, explores what home means to children until 8 November 2026. Toddler Time runs on Friday mornings, and the car park under Tulmur Place is free on weekends.
under 5 min
Gallery · Ipswich Art Gallery
Photo: Kgbo, CC BY-SA 4.0
Swim at Logan Inlet on Lake Wivenhoe
Logan Inlet has one of Lake Wivenhoe's two designated swimming areas, and Seqwater asks swimmers to stay inside them. The day-use area has a playground, picnic tables, shelters and free barbecues. Kayaks and canoes can launch here too.
about 45 min
Swimming spot · Logan Inlet, Lake Wivenhoe
Photo: Kgbo, CC BY-SA 4.0
Look over the wall at Somerset Dam
Work on Somerset Dam began in 1935, paused during World War II and finished in 1959. Today the lake behind it is a popular place to picnic and play. Seqwater's designated swimming areas are at The Spit, which also has a playground, and Kirkleagh.
about 1 hr
Lookout · Somerset Dam Lookout
Photo: Chris Olszewski, CC BY-SA 4.0
Take in the peaks from Moogerah Dam
This lookout sits at Moogerah Dam on Lake Moogerah. A walk leads over the dam wall into Moogerah Peaks National Park. For a swim, use Seqwater's designated area at AG Muller Park; Fred Haigh Park has a playground and free barbecues.
about 55 min
Lookout · Dam wall lookout
Photo: Kgbo, CC BY-SA 4.0
Follow the Bush Tucker Trail at Hardings Paddock
Hardings Paddock is the picnic area for Flinders-Goolman Conservation Estate, 2,294 hectares of bush near Purga. Kids can follow the Bush Tucker Trail, and campfires are allowed in the marked area if you bring your own wood. It opens 6am to 6pm daily, and dogs aren't allowed.
about 20 min
Walk · Hardings Paddock, Flinders - Goolman Conservation Estate
Photo: Srf3c, CC BY-SA 4.0
Sit in an old school room at Laidley
Laidley Pioneer Village opened in 1972 as Queensland's first pioneer village. Kids can step into a furnished school room more than a century old and see engines from the 1890s. It opens seven days a week, and blacksmiths and woodworkers show their skills on open days.
about 45 min
Museum · Laidley Pioneer Village and Museum
Photo: Eureca, CC0
Spend a Sunday at Templin's old buildings
Templin Historical Museum fills a cluster of old buildings with cameras, medical kit, war memorabilia and fashions from the 1880s. It opens on Sundays from 10am to 3pm; allow at least two hours. A family ticket is $20, and there's no café, so bring a picnic for the outdoor tables.
about 50 min
Museum · Templin Historical Village
Photo: Shiftchange, CC0
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Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
SparkLab, Queensland Museum
Dreamworld
Infinity Attraction
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Drive times are estimated from the distance, so treat them as a guide. Tap a card for the full page.
Region boundary: ABS Tourism Regions 2021 (Tourism Research Australia), CC BY 4.0. Outings from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and venues' own listings; nature spots from OpenStreetMap and park services.