Car Hire Ipswich

So, you’ve just touched down in Ipswich town and you’re ready to see the sights. Home to 6000 heritage-listed sites and more than 550 parks, Ipswich remains the heart and soul of Southeast Queensland with some of the country’s oldest and boldest city attractions. Buckle up, crank the tunes, and start the engines of your Thrifty rental car - it’s time to explore one of Queensland’s fastest-growing inner cities!

Stroll the Streets of Queensland’s Oldest Provincial City

With more historical landmarks than you can poke a stick at, we suggest hopping in your Thrifty car and heading to the award-winning Ipswich Visitors Centre. Here you will find highly detailed brochures and information on some of the city’s most popular historic walks.

The latest series – Then & Now Heritage Trails, features 12 epic trails showcasing everything from the city centre to classical churches, old-fashioned pubs and dated neighbourhoods. Take a walk-through history strolling the streets of downtown Ipswich and the outer suburbs linking up with some of the most spectacular examples of architectural expression in the country. Popular old landmarks include – Ipswich Girls Grammar School, Queens Park, The Old Ipswich Courthouse, Ginn Cottage, Belmont, Claremont, St Paul's Anglican Church and so much more.

If Thomas and Friends float your locomotive, then check out one of Ipswich’s most popular tourist attractions – The Workshops Rail Museum. Once sustaining over 3000 workers, the old rail house turned museum showcases a vast array of historical trains and artefacts depicting life in the early years and its evolution over time. Relive your childhood with life-size models and elegantly restored trains perfect for showing off on the ‘gram.

Other epic places of historical relevance worth exploring are – RAAF Amberley Aviation Heritage Centre, Australia’s largest RAAF base; Ipswich Art Gallery and the underrated Cooneana Heritage Centre.

See the Sights in and around Ipswich

Kickstart your tour with a visit to the picturesque Queens Park gardens. Be transported back in time at this wonderful 1862 urban park – Queensland’s first-ever parkland. Spot grand Jacaranda trees and old 19th-century buildings strewn across these lush grounds. A great place for a picnic, the park is also home to the Nerima Gardens, a state-of-the-art playground, flying fox, environmental centre, plant nursery, and the uber-popular Ipswich Nature Centre.

After wrapping up at Queens Park, head off the beaten track in your rental car for a spot of mother nature at Queensland’s iconic Scenic Rim. Nestled at the foothills of the otherworldly Great Dividing Range, the Scenic Rim is blessed with over 30,000 hectares of parkland including cascading waterfalls, lush rainforests, misty valleys, natural rock pools, small country towns, luxury lodges, award-winning wineries, and a myriad of epic hiking trails. With a mountain of enchanting scenery on offer, explore as little or long as you desire in this heavenly slice of Queensland paradise.

After a long day seeing the sights, it’s time to get acquainted with Ipswich’s thriving local culinary scene. Explore the 88 Limestone precinct on the corner of Limestone and Ellenborough Streets, set in an old 1891 Victorian-style building. The former technical college turned business, dining and retail precinct is home to some of Ipswich’s favourite local hangouts such as 4 Hearts Brewery and The Pumpyard Bar. Want more variety? Head around the corner to the Top of Town for eclectic restaurants and gourmet eateries.

As the gateway to Brisbane, the Gold Coast and beyond, Ipswich is an ideal base for seeing more of Queensland. An Aussie state rich in history and natural beauty, jet off into the wilderness in your Thrifty rental car for more of Queensland’s top attractions.