A Visit to Ipswich Nature Centre
Located in the Brisbane suburb of Ipswich, about 40 kilometres southwest of Brisbane City, is the Ipswich Nature Centre, a free area in Queens Park that houses Australian animals.
Ipswich Nature Centre has a large variety of Australian animals and a beautiful landscape. The nature centre is free to enter, though a gold coin donation is appreciated.
The path is paved in some parts and a boardwalk in others. Where there are stairs, there is always a ramp option. Lots of families bring prams to walk through the Ipswich Nature Centre.
For those looking for a way to spend an hour in Ipswich, the Ipswich Nature Centre is a fun place to see Australian animals, including kangaroos, wallabies, bilbies, wombats, and dingos.
Entry to the Ipswich Nature Centre
Visitors can use the street parking and the large parking lot near Ipswich Nature Centre. There are picnic tables outside the entrance and a path leading from the parking lot.
Entry to the Ipswich Nature Centre is free, though a gold coin donation is appreciated. No one is there to collect donations, but a box is located at the entry and at the exit.
There is a gate at the entrance of Ipswich Nature Centre. Guests are reminded not to touch the flying fox who are native to the area and not enclosed in an exhibit. Luckily, we never got close enough to a flying fox to touch one!
- free entry, gold coin donation recommended
- open 9:30 am – 4 pm Tuesday – Sunday
- open daily during Queensland school holidays
- wheelchair and pram friendly
- playground and cafe nearby
- large parking lot
Animals at Ipswich Nature Centre
The first animal we saw upon entry to Ipswich Nature Centre was an extremely large lizard. Near the lizard, we saw wallabies, and then we looked up to see the flying fox in a tree.
The trail in Ipswich Nature Centre starts as a paved cement sidewalk and then becomes a boardwalk. The path goes in one direction for most of the trail, though there are areas where you can skip or take the extended path. There is never a reason to turn around; it is easy to complete a loop of the nature centre.
The landscape in the nature centre is pretty, with lots of shady trees. At one point, there is a stream, and that is where we saw a black swan.
Partway through the nature centre, there is an amphitheatre. There are mosaic benches on both sides of the amphitheatre and plenty of room on the grass to sit down. The amphitheatre is a great point to stop, have a drink, and let the kids run around.
On the path near the amphitheatre is a cave. Inside the cave is the nocturnal bilby. Though the room is dark, you can see the bilby. While bilbies are currently found in multiple Australian states, including Queensland, they are endangered.
Along the path outside the bilby exhibit, there are emu and kangaroos. The kangaroos were all lying in the sun, relaxing during our visit.
Next, there is an aviary filled with Australian birds.
The last section of Ipswich Nature Centre is the Australian barn. We were able to see a cow, a goat, chickens, a possum, and a peacock in the barn.
Animals You May See at Ipswich Nature Centre
There are more than 40 different animal species located at Ipswich Nature Centre. Animals you may see during your visit include:
- kangaroo
- wallabies
- pademelon
- wombat
- black swan
- python snake
- bilby
- flying fox
- emu
- chicken
- rooster
- cow
- goat
- peacock
- possum
- dingo
- quoll
- black cockatoo
- lizards
- turtles
- spinifex hopping mice
Queens Park in Ipswich
The Ipswich Nature Centre is located in Queens Park. Directly across the street is a croquet club where anyone 12+ can participate and play croquet on open days, usually the first Sunday of each month.
Across the street from the croquet club are the Queens Park Educational Environmental Centre and the Queens Park Cafe.
The Queens Park Cafe is open for breakfast and lunch daily, with the exception of holidays. The Queens Park Cafe has both indoor and outdoor seating, and the menu is modern Australian cuisine.
Nearby, just a few minutes’ walk from Ipswich Nature Centre, is the Queens Park Playground.
The Queens Park Playground is spread out and has a lot of areas for the kids to play, including slides, a flying fox, swings, and a water pump.
Toilets are located near the playground and outside of Ipswich Nature Centre.
Nerima Gardens
On the other side of Ipswich Nature Centre is Nerima Gardens, a Japanese garden that is wheelchair and pram-friendly.
The Ipswich Visitor Information Centre hosts traditional Japanese tea ceremonies in Nerima Gardens.
Between the gardens and the parking lot is the Queens Park Nursery, where there is a free plant program where Ipswich residents are able to get plants for free. Ipswich residents are also able to purchase plants from the Queens Park Nursery, but non-residents can not.
Ipswich Nature Centre FAQ
No, it is free to enter Queens Park, and it is essentially free to enter Ipswich Nature Centre at Queens Park.
There is a donation box at the entrance of the Ipswich Nature Center in Queens Park, and a gold coin donation is recommended. However, no one is checking to see if you are donating, and it is optional.
While dogs are allowed in Queens Park, they are not allowed at the Ipswich Nature Centre.
Yes, Ipswich Nature Centre is wheelchair and pram-friendly. The path is paved or a boardwalk the entire way.
More Things to Do in Ipswich
While Ipswich Nature Centre and Queens Park provide a few hours of entertainment, there are plenty more things to do nearby in Ipswich. Here are a few of our favorites.
- Fun Things to do in Ipswich with Kids
- The Children’s Gallery at Ipswich Art Gallery
- Workshops Rail Museum
- Naughty Little Kids Goat Farm
Ipswich Nature Centre Wrap Up
Ipswich Nature Centre is worth a visit, especially if you have young kids. It is a great place to see animals, and the price can’t be beat.
The nature centre is easy to walk around, even with a pram. There are places to stop, rest, and have a snack.
Plus, there is plenty to do nearby, especially with kids.
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