Discover Ipswich Magazine 2023

ADVENTURE

For those wanting to discover the reserves historical significance, take a walk along the Lewis Thomas Historical Trail. 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. Robelle Domain The Robelle Domain parklands, half an hour from Brisbane’s Central Business District, offers visitors a rainforest walk, waterfalls, water play areas, bike tracks and more. The park is situated on 24ha and contains 11km of boardwalks, as well as sporting fields, walking tracks and playgrounds.

Across a footbridge is Orion Lagoon – an amazing oasis of interconnected pools of varying depth. White Rock - Spring Mountain Conservation Estate The White Rock - Spring Mountain Conservation Estate is also a popular place to go walking. On designated tracks, visitors can enjoy the full gamut of outdoor activities including hiking, bird watching, horse riding (bring your own horse), mountain bike riding, culture and nature study. For the bushwalker, there’s everything from a leisurely 200m walk to the more challenging 19km round trip trail, with most of the trails suitable for hiking and mountain bike riding. If you're on horseback then the Yaddamun Trail is perfect. For city views hike the Main Ridge Track, Gunpit Ridge has views as far as Moreton Bay. The entry to the estate is the Paperbark Flats Picnic Area, at the end of School Road in Redbank Plains. Amenities on site include toilets, picnic facilities and horse float parking. *While walking and riding is allowed on marked trails, climbing on White Rock and the adjacent southern ridge are prohibited and penalties may apply. White Rock is registered cultural heritage and protected under the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003 (QLD).

White Rock - Spring Mountain Conservation Estate

Flinders–Goolman Conservation Estate

LOCAL’S TIP

Head to Hardings Paddock for a day trip. Whether I'm meandering along the bush tucker trail, doing the circuit while listening for various bird calls or looking for scats at the foot of the eucalypt tree – I never tire of exploring Hardings Paddock. Our grandchildren love to go camping in the campgrounds. On a clear day at Rocky Knoll, one can see the high-rise buildings of Brisbane. Heading west down the mountain, one can see as far as Cunningham's Gap and the Range to Toowoomba. Joy W

Denmark Hill Conservation Reserve

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