Camping near Ipswich

Easily accessible from both Brisbane and the Gold Coast, Ipswich is a great base from which to explore southeast Queensland’s hinterland. The area has over 6,000 hectares of parks, providing opportunities for mountain biking, trail running, hiking, wildlife spotting, and birdwatching. Book a shady campsite in the forest with a barbecue grill and picnic tables, or stay at a holiday park offering powered sites and self-contained cabins. The Ipswich Visitor Centre is a great place for campers to learn about Ipswich Heritage Trails, wander the gardens of Queens Park, or have a picnic to take in the city views. There are abundant camping options around Ipswich, from bush campsites visited by wild wallabies through to well-equipped holiday parks with powered sites, free wifi, BBQs, camp kitchens, playgrounds, and swimming pools.

Purga Nature Reserve

Lace up your walking shoes to visit Purga Nature Reserve, where shady boardwalks and walking trails wind through leafy Swamp Tea-tree forests. The park is a haven for birds and wildlife like koalas—picnic in the shady parklands and keep an eye out for friendly reptiles at the frog pond.

Lake Wivenhoe

Lake Wivenhoe, with its 2.3-kilometre-long wall, is on the Brisbane River and the main water supply for Brisbane and Ipswich. It’s a popular recreational area within one hour of Brisbane’s outer suburbs. A vast shoreline is dotted with parklands that feature picnic tables, BBQs, and boat launches. Fishing is permitted at specified locations, while restricted motorised boats, kayaks, and paddle boards are popular ways to enjoy the water.

D'Aguilar Range National Park

Visit the Walkabout Creek Discovery Centre near the entrance to D’Aguilar Range National Park to find information about this massive national park. Take in the panoramic views (all the way to the Gold Coast on a clear day) from Jolly’s Lookout, Camp Mountain Lookout, or the boardwalk at Westridge Outlook. Then take the 4WD track to Broadwater swimming hole, hike the network of trails that pass through lush subtropical rainforest, or walk up the hills for sweeping views over Lake Wivenhoe.

Moogerah Peaks National Park

Ancient volcanic peaks rise from the Fassifern Valley floor to create a dramatic landscape popular with bushwalkers, bird spotters, and campers. A small camping area sits at Mount French with campsites suitable for vehicles and campervans only (no caravan or camper trailer access).

Ipswich is a year-round destination that gets very busy during Christmas, Easter holidays, and school holidays, when campsites should be booked well in advance. Some of Ipswich’s popular festivals include Sparks Ipswich (arts and culture) in July, Venture (11 months of adventure sports like mountain biking, triathlons, and trail running), and the 3-day Jacaranda Festival in October, when the streets are coloured purple with flowering jacaranda trees.

• There are a limited number of campsites in Moogerah Peaks National Park, so advance bookings through Queensland Parks and Forests are recommended.
• Ipswich is on the Translink public transport network with rail and bus services connecting the town with Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, and the Gold Coast.