Brisbane Parks and Gardens

(Brisbane, Queensland - QLD, Australia)

The Brisbane River meanders its way through the very heart of the city, creating a series of loops along the route, with a number of public parks lining the river banks, such as both the South Bank Parkland and Kangaroo Point Cliffs.

Located alongside Parliament House and the Brisbane campus of the Queensland University of Technology, and right next to the Central Business District, the City Botanic Gardens are roughly triangular in shape, being bounded by the Brisbane River on their easterly side. Of interest, the City Botanic Gardens are regarded as 'Queensland's most significant non-Aboriginal landscape'

Visitors to Brisbane may also like to spend some time bush walking in the nearby Karawatha Forest, exploring the lush rainforests of Mount Tamborine, watching the kites at the Murarrie Recreation Ground's annual kite-flying festival, or perhaps just simply admiring the multitude of horticultural attractions residing within the Mount Coot-Tha Botanic Gardens.

Bayside Parklands

Address: Wynumm Road, Wynumm, Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), 4178, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)7 3403 8888
The Bayside Parklands sit within the scenic Moreton Bay area and provide a particularly popular beauty spot. Visitors to the parklands are able to stroll along nature trails, jog and cycle on the pathways, enjoy the boating facilities and relax within the forested areas.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free

City Botanic Gardens

Address: Alice Street, Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), 4001, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)7 3403 7913
The central City Botanical Gardens can be found on Alice Street and close to the main train station, where they were established in 1855. Home to numerous important collections of tropical plants from around the world, the gardens feature mature planting. Many office workers head here to eat their lunchtime sandwiches during the week, with families arriving at the weekend for recreational purposes. The Morning Star II sculpture is a prominent feature and this shiny abstract creation originates from the World Expo of 1988.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free

Mount Coot-Tha Botanic Gardens

Address: Mount Coot-Tha Road, Toowong, Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), 4066, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)7 3403 2535
The Mount Coot-Tha Botanic Gardens feature many important plant collections, exotic specimens and landscaped areas, including a magnificent Japanese garden, a collection of bonsai trees and a giant domed hothouse filled with exotics. Covering over 50 hectares / 120 acres, these spectacular gardens are close to the Mount Coot-Tha Forest, which is filled with ancient eucalyptus trees. Of note, the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium is sited within the grounds.
Open hours: daily - 08:00 to 17:30
Admission: free

Brisbane State Forest

Address: 60 Mount Nebo Road, The Gap, Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), 4061, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)7 3300 4855
The vast Brisbane State Forest covers around 74,000 acres / 30,000 hectares and is full of scenic areas of interest, along with plenty of nature trails and large amounts of native wildlife. Both Mount Glorious and Mount Nebo stand here, with Jollys Lookout providing seemingly endless views.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 08:30 to 16:30, Saturday and Sunday - 09:00 to 17:00
Admission: free

Bunya Mountains National Park

Address: Bunya Avenue, Dandabah, Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), 4405, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)7 4668 3127
Lying roughly three hours to the west of Brisbane, the Bunya Mountains National Park is filled with impressive specimens of bunya pines, colourful Australian parakeets, walking trails and picnic areas. Getting here may well be a fair trek, but the route is simple and consists of following the Brisbane Valley Highway (17) for the majority of the way, passing by Lake Wivenhoe and the Benarkin State Forest.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Decker Park

Address: Hornibrook Highway, Brighton, Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), 4017, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)7 3404 8888
Located to the far north of Brisbane, Decker Park is easy to reach by road and features impressive panoramas, which take in nearby Moreton Island. There are plenty of places suitable for picnicking and playing here, with a children's playground and outdoor sculptures providing added interest. Nearby, if you have time you may like to pay a visit to the Tinchi Tamba Reserve Wetlands or the Deep Water Bend Reserve.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free

Fort Lytton National Park

Address: Lytton Road, Lytton, Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), 4178, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)7 3393 4647
The Fort Lytton National Park surrounds the pentagonal Fort Lytton and is to be found just across from Brisbane Airport, being separated by the river. The park features large open expanses of grassland, benches, pathways, scenic views and picnic spots. The fort itself was built in the early 1880s and enjoys a defensive setting, being last used in World War II.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: charge, discounts available for children

Huxtable Park

Address: Dundalli Street, Chermside West, Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), 4032, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)7 3359 8640
The Huxtable Park is located on the northerly outskirts of Brisbane, in Chermside West, with the Downfall Creek meandering all the way through the centre. Attractions include trails for walking and cycling, seating areas and a 'Rainforest Boardwalk', where you can observe native wildlife in a natural setting.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free

Jack Cook Memorial Park

Address: Indooroopilly Road / Gailey Road, Taringa, Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), 4068, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)7 3403 8888
Situated close to the Queensland University campus and between the suburbs of St. Lucia and Toowong, the Jack Cook Memorial Park has extensive sports facilities, including both a large playing field and a running track. Separated by Heroes Avenue is the Toowong Bowls Club and nearby Perrin Park, where there is a popular playground, with play equipment shaded from the sun by giant parasols.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free

Karawatha Forest

Address: Acacia Road, Karawatha, Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), 4352, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)7 3403 8888
Karawatha Forest can be found in the southern suburbs of Brisbane, being approximately 22 km / 14 miles away and home to an enormous amount of local flora and fauna. Sharp-eyed visitors may be able to spot wild koalas and parakeets whilst strolling along the 9-km / 6-miles of pathways. There are many areas for picnicking, suiting those wishing to make a day of exploring this giant expanse of bushland, which covers more than 1,850 acres / 750 hectares.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free

Marchant Park

Address: Elision Road, Aspley, Queensland (QLD), 4034, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)7 3403 8888
Located in the northerly suburb of Chermside and just 20 minutes from the city centre is Marchant Park, an enticing parkland with mature trees, colourful borders and large open-expanses of grassland, suitable for sports-related activities. There are also barbecues, picnic facilities and plenty of seats to go round. Just a short distance away and reached via Devona Street or Eustace Street is the Rainbow Lorikeet Park, which may also be of interest.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free

Mount Tamborine

Address: Tamborine Mountain Road, Mount Tamborine, Gold Coast, Queensland (QLD), 4272, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)7 5545 3200
Mount Tamborine is home to a combination of small and tranquil national parks, being slightly more than an hour's drive to the south of central Brisbane. Items of particular interest include large subtropical rainforests, tree ferns and walking trails, where you can spot many exotic birds, including glossy black cockatoos. There are even platypuses living here, along with short-beaked echidnas (spiny anteaters) and a cave filled with glow-worms.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free

Peace Park

Address: Baskerville Street, Brighton, Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), 4017, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)7 3404 8888
Peace Park resides on the northern outskirts of the city and provides the perfect green oasis, being just a short distance from Bramble Bay. Highlights include paths suitable for walking, jogging and cycling, along with a large lake, an art trail, seating and many peaceful areas ideal for picnics. Next-door you may also like to check out the Third Lagoon Reserve and the Deagon Wetlands.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free

Raven Street Reserve

Address: 815 Rode Road, McDowall, Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), 4053, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)7 3403 5937
The beautiful Raven Street Reserve is located in the Stafford Heights area, on the far northerly outskirts of the city. Featuring large expanses of natural bushland, native wildlife, nature walks, trails suitable for walking and cycling, a visitors' centre and seating areas, the reserve serves as a popular attraction for those wishing to learn more about the Australian bushland.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 08:30 to 16:30, Saturday - 13:00 to 16:00, Sunday - 10:00 to 13:00
Admission: free

Sherwood Arboretum

Address: Jolimont Street, Sherwood, Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), 4075, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)7 3403 8888
Edged by the picturesque Brisbane River and lying alongside the John Herbert Memorial Vista, the Sherwood Arboretum is part of the spreading Sherwood Forest Park, to the south of the city centre. Founded almost 100 years ago, the arboretum is filled with an enormous collection of mature trees from different regions of Australia, including a number of enormous eucalyptus trees with distinctive flaking bark. On the opposite side of the river is the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary on Jesmond Road.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free

South Brisbane Memorial Park

Address: Vulture Street, Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), 4101, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)7 3404 8888
To the south of the city centre lies the scenic South Brisbane Memorial Park. Visitors will discover large trees and shrubs, seating areas, picnic spots, walking trails and pleasant views of the nearby riverfront. Close by you will find both the Queensland Maritime Museum and the Griffith University South Bank Campus.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free