D
IS
COVER IPSWICH 2015
12
L
et’s face it–kidsneed to run, climb, swing,
roll, jump, bounceandall thoseother fun
things thatkidsdobecause theycan.
Whetheryou’revisitors to Ipswichor locals
looking forgreatoutdoorareaswhereyoucan let
yourkidsbekids,wecan thinkofmore than500
parks thatfit thebill.
Parkshavecomea longway since thedaysof
junglegyms, slipperydipsand swings, andyou
can’tgopast
RobelleDomain
atSpringfield
Central to realise justhowmuch they’vechanged.
Here, expansivegreen lawns, bike tracks, tree top
walksand shadypicnicareasaregreat forall the
family. Add to this theFamilyWaterPlayarea
whereexcited, screamingchildrenaregetting
dunkedbyahuge tippingbucket and sprayedwith
water jets–youknow they’regoing to sleepwell
tonight–andparentscankeepawatchful eye
from thenearbycaféwhilehavingacuppaand
sweet treat. In theevening, thepark takesona
differentmoodwith its9-metrehigh light tower
installationsgivinga spectacular soundand light
show. Bymid-2015apublic, lagoon-stylepoolwill
beanotherbig reason–oneof thebiggest in
Australia, actually– tocomeoverandplayat
RobelleDomain.
Foraparkwithacompletelydifferent feel and
trademark Ipswichheritage,
QueensPark
in IpswichCentral is the jewel in thecrown.
Oneof theoldestparks inQueensland, itboasts
enormous, shady treesdottedaround the
picturesquegreenexpanseon thehill at the
easternentrance to thecity. Aperfectplace to
spreadout thepicnic rug, fireup thebarbieand
spendapleasant fewhours. Ifyou’renot sucha
BYOperson, the indoor-outdoorQueensPark
Caféofferseverything for thehungrypark-goer,
includinga specialKids’Menu. Nextdoor is the
EnvironmentalEducationCentrewith some fun
interactivedisplays.
QueensPark’splaygroundwas inspiredby
Ipswich’scoalmininghistory,withan impressive
design incorporatingaflying fox, fixedmodel
train, LibertySwing forpeople inwheelchairs to
enjoya ride, andwaterpumps. And if that’snot
enough, thereare twomoreamazing, free
attractions– the Japanese-themedNerima
Gardens, and the IpswichNatureCentrewhich
hasbeendelightingvisitors since 1936.
Enter the IpswichNatureCentre through the
historical rotundaandbecharmedbywallabies
contentedlynibblingordozing, andothernative
animals suchaswombats, emus, bilbiesandwater
birds in theirauthentichabitats.Then there’s the
barnwhere theyoungeroneswon’tbeable to
resist farmanimals suchaspigs, calves, guinea
pigsand lambs.
Parks,Playgrounds
&
MakingaSplash
RUN, JUMP, ROLL,
BOUNCE, SLIDEAND
SQUEALWITHDELIGHT.
RobelleDomain, SpringfieldCentral
WHERE EXCITED, SCREAMING
CHILDREN AREGETTINGDUNKED
BY AHUGE TIPPINGBUCKET AND
SPRAYEDWITHWATER JETS.
FamilyFun
