Queens Park in Ipswich is like three destinations in one – a playground, an Australian animal zoo, and Japanese gardens, all in walking distance between each other.
Queens Park Playground
The playground design borrows from the coal mining history of Ipswich. A mining shaft headframe is at the top of slippery dips and the start of flying fox. A couple of water pumps drop water into a watercourse, my boys spent a lot of time pumping water and racing leaves float down the water course snaking downwards. There is also a Liberty Swing for people in wheelchairs to enjoy the park.
Around the park, there are picnic table areas and BBQs to have a great picnic lunch. There is lots of open space to have some family games and run around in, and shady trees to lay out a picnic blanket under.
Nerima Gardens
Nerima Gardens are the Japanese gardens part of Queens Park. Opened in 2001 to commemorate the sister city relationship with Nerima City in Japan, the gardens are to provide a place of peace and tranquillity.
Traditional designs of Japanese gardens are used, including raked garden, a body of water with bridges, bamboo gardens, and pathways connecting the areas together taking a person on a journey through the gardens. The use of local and other native plants are to keep an identity with Ipswich while utilising Japanese style garden designs.
Ipswich Zoo
The highlight of Queens Park for the kids is the Ipswich Nature Centre, which is sometimes referred to as Ipswich Zoo. It focuses mainly on Australian Wildlife, in particular of species that are found in the areas around Ipswich.
Kangaroos, snakes, lizards, emus, and bilbies are some of the animals to be found here. The nature centre follows a pathway leading you passed all the enclosures through the zoo and is wheelchair friendly.
The bilby is a nocturnal animal, so normally you wouldn’t be able to see them running around during the day. A darkened enclosure has just enough light to see bilbies and spinifex hopping mice, and dark enough so they are running around.
The bird aviary enclosure contains various birds, including bright coloured parrots through to humble pigeons. You walk in and out of the enclosure through a two-door entry and walk around a loop on the inside perimeter. Some birds are kept separate in individual aviaries, such as the red-tailed black cockatoos, or in other areas such as the black swans
The Australian barn has goats, pigs, chickens, a cow, and peacocks – not sure why peacocks are a barn animal, but that is where they are. Some of the animals are able to be patted.
Queens Park Nursery
If you are a resident in the Ipswich area, Queens Park Nursery provides a free plant program, giving away over 100,000 plants each year. This is a great idea, and something that other councils should look at adopting as well. The species of plants are suitable for the area’s climate and soil, and new homes can get a larger allotment of plants to get them started.
Environmental Education Centre
Next to the cafe, near the playground, is an environmental education centre, with an environmental education exhibit displaying the natural environment around Ipswich. It also has information about how you can reduce household waste, what to put into compost, and reducing your carbon footprint.
To get there:
The main entrance to Queens Park is from Milford St. Travelling from Brisbane, follow signs to Ipswich Central, following Brisbane Road. Approaching Chermside Road, Queens Park is across the intersection. Continue straight ahead into Queen Victoria Pde. After 350m, the road splits into two one way streets, becoming Limestone St. Turn left after 190m into Milford St, then after 140m turn left into Goleby Ave. This is the main entrance to Queens Park. After 350m turn left to go to the playground, or turn right to go to the Nature Centre or Nerima Gardens.
An alternate entrance is off Griffith. Turn into Burley Griffin Dr at the brown sign for Queens Park. This leads to the main parking area for the Nature Centre and Nermina Gardens.
Cost: Free, gold coin donation for the nature centre
Hours General: Anytime
Hours Nature Centre: Tue-Sun 9.30am-4pm, School Holidays Mon-Sun 9.30am-4pm, Public Holidays 9.30am-4pm, Closed Christmas Day, Closed Good Friday
Hours Nerima Gardens: Tue-Fri 9am-3.45pm, Sat-Sun and Public Holidays 9am-5.45pm, Winter Sat-Sun and Public Holidays 9am-4.30pm, Winter is defined as from end of Easter school holidays to start of September school holidays
Hours Environmental Education Centre: Mon-Sun 9.30am-4pm, Public Holidays 10am-3pm, Closed Christmas Day, Closed Boxing Day, Closed Good Friday
Hours: Queens Park Nursery: Wed-Thu 7.30am-12pm, Wed-Thu 12.30pm-3pm, Sat 8am-12pm, Closed Public Holidays
Toilets: Yes
Bins: Yes
Tables: Yes
Seating: Yes
Water: Yes
Food: Yes, cafe near playground area
Wheelchair accessible: Yes
Pets: No
BBQ: Yes
