Discover Ipswich Magazine 2020

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in Ipswich Dog friendly parks

Breakfast at Stephanies Orion Lagoon Brookwater Barista Augustine Heights Raw Energy Springfield Central Remedy Espresso Cafe Springfield Lakes Rafter & Rose Top of Town Ipswich Oikos Ipswich Fourthchild Top of Town Ipswich The Retro Diner Top of Town Ipswich DOG FRIENDLY cafes

map-marker-alt Bellbird Park

It’s 9.00 am, the sun’s shining, birds are calling and there’s a whole weekend ahead.You pack the esky and make towards the door, then suddenly you spot a familiar face. Pressed hard against the window, ears raised, eyes forward, dribbly and heartbroken... It turns out that Ipswich is home to some of the best dog friendly parks your fur-baby could hope for, so there’s no excuse to leave them behind. Here’s the top five locations to spend some time with your furry family. River Heart Parklands River Heart Parklands is made up of a series of intermingling boardwalks, water features, seats and BBQs on the edge of our Bremer River system. It’s a great spot to catch the afternoon light twinkling on the waterway. There’s plenty of shade and heaps of rest stops. River Heart is also open from sunrise to 10.00 pm, so those warm summer evenings can be spent wandering the shoreline, amongst a babble of flowing water and the soft buzz of the city above. The parklands also connect to Bob Gamble Park, which is a prime spot to stop and have lunch while the little ones play in the waterpark and doggo keeps a careful eye on the snags.

Colleges Crossing Colleges is for the kind of dog that’s happy to chill out while you set up camp for a few hours, maybe roll out the rug and stay for a picnic. Set along the banks of the Brisbane River, it’s teeming with open green space, extensive pathways, a delightful cafe and even a set of canoe trails leading to a small island in the middle of the river. Everything here is of course dog friendly. Open from 6.00 am to 6.00 pm in winter and 9.00 pm in summer, facilities include BBQs, drink stations, sheltered areas, canoe and boat access, toilets and enough space to drop a little music without bothering the neighbours. Robelle Domain It kind of goes without saying that having access to extensive parklands means ample room for running around, so if your doggo is a bit of a mover, this place is for you. At Robelle you’ll find The Circle crested with eateries and often the host to regular Springfield markets (also dog friendly), the parklands weave away through paperbark bushland to the south and a prominent lake with water features trickling away out front. There’s also Breakfast at Stephanies to stop by, as well as plenty of chances to kick back on the lawns and have a rest. Think of Robelle Domain as our own little South Bank in the west, only closer and with free parking. Joseph Brady Park Joseph Brady Park offers some unique fishing, canoeing and water based recreation opportunities. Although it’s not a bad idea to set

map-marker-alt Rafter & Rose

up shop by the barbie and just relax as well, it’s usually among the quieter of locations to visit. The idea is to bring the rod, lounge by the water and wrap it all up with a bit of lunch by the shelter or grassed area. But mostly, this location is about being peaceful, with yourself and your sidekick. Queens Park and Limestone Park At Limestone Park you can loop around and around for an eternity, running, walking and everything in between. While at Queens Park, you can pull it back a little bit and cruise through the arvo. And they’re right across the road from each other! The Queens Park area is more than 150 years old and is covered in historic architecture and the shade of Bunya Pines and Fig trees, it’s a little oasis in the city and there’s a puppy friendly cafe on site. If you’ve got the gear for some mobile pooch hydration/sanitation action and the right stuff to prep a killer picnic, you can rock and roll for hours out here and have a ball. It’s tranquil, teeming with life, multi-purpose and heaps of fun.