Ipswich Nature Centre

Ipswich Nature Centre in Ipswich’s historical Queens Park offers a magical opportunity to get up close and personal with Australian native wildlife. For 80 years, locals and visitors have been able to see animals on this site, and the twenty-first century version is up there with the best of wildlife refuges. And to make the cute and furry animals feel as at home as possible, there are lush landscaped gardens and exhibits that have been recreated to represent local bushland and flora communities.

A handsome rotunda built in 1891 is the entrance to the Centre, which asks for a donation of a gold coin as entry fee to help with the upkeep of the animals. From there, you stroll on shady walkways and enjoy the cute native residents such as wombats, wallabies, emus, quolls, and a nocturnal bilby exhibit. A vibrant rainforest bird aviary is alive with colour and sound, and youngsters will have a ball in the barn which has calves, lambs, pigs and guinea pigs.

Open six days a week and near the Japanese Nerima Gardens within Queens Park, the Ipswich Nature Centre is perfect family-friendly fun. Open seven days a week during School holidays.