IPSWICH tourism businesses have once again proven their strength and appeal, with dozens of local attractions, venues and experiences named in the 2025 Best of Queensland Experiences list.
The prestigious recognition, awarded by Tourism and Events Queensland, highlights operators that consistently deliver exceptional service and memorable visitor experiences.
This year, more than 2300 businesses across Queensland received the coveted title, with 534 earning perfect scores. The program sets a high bar, with operators assessed against a range of independent criteria including customer reviews, online booking functionality, social media presence, industry accreditation and regional tourism organisation membership.
The result is a list that showcases Queensland’s finest tourism offerings as the state prepares to welcome the world for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Tourism Minister Andrew Powell said the Best of Queensland Experience program was designed to spotlight only the best of the best. He commended the operators who had earned the stamp of approval, describing it as a powerful endorsement that shows the world Queensland is home to truly world-class tourism.
The Greater Ipswich region is strongly represented in this year’s list, with a diverse mix of experiences earning recognition across food, drink, entertainment, accommodation, arts, nature and adventure. Among the 2025 recipients were Ballistic Springfield, Brothers Leagues Club Ipswich, Club Parkview, CSI Club Services Ipswich, Floating Images Hot Air, Heisenberg Haus, Imbibis Craft Distillery, Ipswich Art Gallery and Ipswich Nature Centre.
The list also includes popular hospitality venues and experiences such as the Mihi Tavern, Naughty Little Kids Goat Dairy, Springlake Hotel, Stony Creek Brewing Ipswich, Summer Land Camels, The Rusty Nail and Woodlands of Marburg.
Tourism and Events Queensland CEO Craig Davidson said the program had also helped drive growth in digital capability across the industry.
The number of operators offering direct online booking has more than doubled in the past five years – from 1671 to 3438.
The Best of Queensland Experiences program is delivered in partnership with Queensland’s Regional Tourism Organisations (RTOs), the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC), and the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation.
Ipswich’s strong performance in the 2025 results reaffirms its growing reputation as a leading tourism destination in South East Queensland. With its rich blend of culture, nature, heritage and innovation, the city is well positioned to capture the attention of visitors from around the world as Queensland takes centre stage over the next decade.
Best of Queensland – Experiences Ipswich/Somerset list of winners
- Ballistic Springfield
- Banshees Bar and Art Space
- Boonah Tavern
- Brothers Leagues Club Ipswich
- Club Parkview
- Country Motel Ipswich
- CSI Club Services Ipswich
- Europcar Brisbane Ipswich
- Floating Images Hot Air Balloon Flights – Greater Brisbane
- Heisenberg Haus
- Imbibis Craft Distillery
- Ipswich Art Gallery
- Ipswich Jets Leagues Club
- Ipswich Nature Centre
- Ipswich Wildlife Tour – Adventure Day Trips
- Mihi Tavern
- Monte Lane – wine bar
- Moselles Cafe and Restaurant
- Naughty Little Kids Goat Dairy
- Oaks Ipswich Aspire Suites
- Orion Hotel
- Prince Alfred Hotel
- Quest Ipswich
- RAAF Amberley Aviation Heritage Centre
- Rage Cage Smash Rooms Ipswich
- Rampage Axe Throwing Ipswich
- Seraphim Escape Rooms
- Spicers Hidden Vale
- Springfield Lakes Hotel
- Springfield Markets – Robelle Domain Parklands
- Springlake Hotel
- Stony Creek Brewing Ipswich
- Summer Land Camels
- The Llama Farm
- The Racehorse Hotel
- The Rosewood Hotel
- The Rusty Nail
- The Soul Nook Collective
- The Sourdough Crust Co.
- The Vue Restaurant
- Tivoli Drive-In
- Woodlands of Marburg
