Planes, Trains & Autos | Ipswich

Families start your engines!  Whether you are into fast bikes and cars, vintage trains, social outings or jaw dropping aircraft aerobatics, Planes, Trains and Autos has something for you.  This full throttle annual family festival is cruising into the City of Ipswich from Friday 28 April to Monday 1 May 2023.

Part of a larger four-day program, the Planes, Trains and Autos hero event celebrates all things aviation, rail and autos, promising to be an adrenaline-charged low-cost event for the whole family to explore.

Ipswich’s skies will become an aerobatic playground for aircrafts performing precision manoeuvres above sprawling automotive and locomotive displays as Planes, Trains and Autos returns to The City of Ipswich on Saturday 29 April 2023.

Visitors will be able to enjoy an array of high-quality aviation, auto and train displays, classic and muscle cars, pre-1919 motorcycles, superkarts, monster and mini machinery, as well as drag cars and access to all museum exhibitions and kids’ activities.

Tickets start at $5 for children, with family passes from $20, and are available online at www.planestrainsautos.com.au.

To complete your experience, you can even enjoy a 30-minute vintage diesel hauled train ride with Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway.

The full 2023 Planes, Trains and Autos festival program runs from Friday 28 April to Monday 1 May and includes events such as Round 3 of the Australian Superbike Championship at Queensland Raceway, a train ride experience with Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway, Park and Pose in the heart of the Ipswich CBD, Queensland Auto Spectacular at Willowbank Raceway, and Queensland Retro Picnic and Car Display. Visit www.planestrainsautos.com.au for full details.

There’s an exciting line up for this year’s Planes Trains and Autos event, however there’s also lots to see and do in the region, so why not book somewhere to stay and make a weekend of it!

Planes, Trains and Auto’s Program Highlights

Friday 28 – Sunday 30 April | Australian Superbike Championships – Queensland Raceway

ASBK returns to Queensland Raceway for another weekend of two-wheeled action. See close racing and incredible battles when Australia’s premier motorcycle championship and it’s best riders fight for supremacy in Ipswich.

What to expect:

• 5 classes of motorcycle racing, 1 class of car racing
• 16 races across the weekend (2x superbike, 2x supersport, 3x supersport 300, 3x R3 Cup, 3x Oceania Junior Cup, 3x Aussie Racing Cars)
• 3 days of on-track action beginning Friday.

Saturday 29 April | Planes, Trains and Autos – The Workshops Rail Museum

A celebration of all-things aviation, rail and autos including thrilling aerials displays complemented by on ground rail, aviation and vehicle displays, interactive exhibits, roving entertainment and more.

Join us at The Workshops Rail Museum for:

• Access to all museum exhibitions and kid’s activities
• Car and motorcycle displays
• Monster and mini machinery and vehicles
• Aviation displays and flypasts
• Family interactive activities including wind tunnels.

Saturday 29 April | Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway Vintage Train Ride

Complete your Planes, Trains and Autos experience with a 30-minute vintage diesel hauled train ride with Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway.

Train trips depart the Ipswich Turf Club at 9.00 am, 10.00 am, 11.00 am, 12.30 pm and 1.30 pm.

Saturday 29 April | Park and Pose – Nicholas Street Precinct 

Here’s your chance to get up close to some of Ipswich’s spectacular cars as they come through Nicholas Street. Enjoy live music, dinner at one of the nearby restaurants or food trucks, and a display of vehicles from the Classic and Muscle Car Club of Ipswich.

Sunday 30 April | Queensland Auto Spectacular – Willowbank Raceway, Ipswich

All things autos with so much to get involved in. Car and bike enthusiasts will be in their element at this adrenaline-charged event with ‘all things automotive’.

• Huge range of vehicles from historic to muscle
• Shannon’s Show & Shine
• Rocker Cover Racing
• Rides and entertainment for the family
• Trade and Food Arena
• ¼ mile drag racing action.

Monday 1 May | Retro Picnic – Evan Marginson Park, Goodna

Queensland Retro Picnic is a social outing combining hot rods, classic and muscle cars and bikes, and people who celebrate the Kustom Kulture, paired with amazing street food and fantastic live music. We encourage you to bring a picnic blanket or camping chair and relax on the green.