2024 Discover Ipswich Visitor Guide

Castle Hill Blackstone Reserve From culture-rich mining heritage to adrenaline-fuelled downhill mountain biking, Castle Hill offers a unique experience. Discover the reserve’s historical significance along the Lewis Thomas Historical Trail and explore the coal mining history of the reserve as you pass open mine tunnels, hand-dug mine shafts and relics of the imposing three-storey castle which once towered over Blackstone.

Purga Nature Reserve Home to Australia’s largest protected remnant Swamp Tea-tree, Purga Nature Reserve makes for a unique walking spot. Two new trails have opened in the reserve, Wirepi trail (pronounced weir-a-pee) is named after a traditional word for ‘come back’ as the 500m trail circles through a site where the Swamp Tea-tree ecological community is being restored. Ngudur trail (pronounced new-door) is a 1.4km walk named after the traditional word for ‘Tea-tree’ in Yugara/Yagera language to acknowledge the Indigenous cultural significance of Ngudur, as a valuable healing and food resource tree. There are also shorter, self-guided walks amid the ghostly, ashen trees including a 350m wheelchair-accessible boardwalk circuit.

Denmark Hill Conservation Reserve Completely forget you’re in the city as you descend walking tracks amid huge native trees. Here you’ll find 54 recorded species of birds, with owls, kookaburras, wrens, finches and others making their homes here. You have a choice of walking circuits that range from 200m-800m. It’s a relaxing walk down to the picnic area where you venture into a children’s playground with swing, climbing stations, picnic tables and barbeques.

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