So this park isn't a kids' playground type of park. It's a recreational one. Kids who want to…read moreride their bikes, rollerskate, rollerblade, rock climb and paddle ski it's all here. What's so great about this place? It has a killer bike path. It has a killer rollerskating path, it has a killer rollerblading path. Not many hills (thumbs up for this one) as well! It's the perfect place to learn, which is why they have people who hire skates and blades out on the top end of the path and teach people how to in droves. I love that this pathway can start from the top of Southbank when you cross the pedestrian bridge from the city and ends at the Story Bridge end or QUT for that matter over the Goodwill Bridge you go (warning, bit of a long uphill climb but you go down again!). It's one of the first places I got my rollerblades and learnt how. It's one of the first places I got my rollerskate on (for you roller derby people this is ideal for practicing) and besides the occassional bike passing you, the path is smooth, hardly any bumps, all good for minimising falling down. I won't lie, I have fallen a few times though (only when I was learning ahem ahem). It's great exercise, you can bring the family and rockclimb on the cliffs, bring a mate? You can run up the stairs from the bike path to the top of the cliffs (burn those calories) and it is a fantastic place to watch the fireworks from. Barbeque it up here, skate it up, it doesn't matter, they have paddle skis as well. Yelp! So you can park your car, ride your bike, rollerblade, rollerskate, climb a rock face and paddle ski then sit down and do a barbeque all in the one spot. Totally my fav.

This place is BEAUTIFUL. I think it's more beautiful at night because of the Brisbane city lights…read more I usually come here to exercise. This place is an exercise haven! I can see why though. Who doesn't want to run/exercise right next to the river and beautiful scenery? The stairs is such a killer workout!

The lovely Bulimba Memorial Park on Oxford Street is a popular destination for families and…read morechildren. It's surrounded by many tasty eateries and cafes, so parents can get a coffee and then take their kids to the playground and let them run loose. There are lots of undercover areas with tables and chairs, as well as big thick trees to provide lots of shade, so you can sit back and enjoy the city views. The park is dog friendly (leashed only) and there's a sports field.

Bulimba Memorial park is a perfect patch of Green…read more Close enough to enjoy the humdrum oxford street but just far enough to escape the traffic, this quaint stretch makes for a perfect place to park the picnic blanket. When luxuriating gets a bit too much, you can gather your hombres and stretch out on the playground bars clamber up some perfectly gnarled trees or simply romp around the lawn.

Wow, this park is pretty huge, but then again it does happen to be a river-side inner-city park so…read moreI probably shouldn't be all that surprised. In fact it makes a pretty nice end to the river-side walk that I took when I was last in Brisbane, and the park itself really does bring that trip to a lovely conclusion. There is quite a lot of shade, and also there is a converted factory to one side, which cafes and a bar. Yeah, this place is pretty good.

Just the best park in the Central Brisbane area. Beautiful gardens, roses, shady trees, great kids…read moreplay area. The Brisbane Powerhouse, Watt Restaurant and Bar Alto right on the park. Plus the beautiful river with a Citycat Terminal and Bus Stop right there. Always busy on weekends and find weather. The Rotunda is used for Weddings and small gatherings. Personal trainers, tai chi instructors use the large grassed areas. And there is a wonderful range of new bbq's and seating down by the river. Visit it often as the roses seem to go all year. The Farmers Market is there every second Saturday and it booms! Take a picnic, a ball, a kite, there is plenty of room. It's flat so easy for the elderly, it's also right there for the Free music or comedy from the Powerhouse. And you can keep walking along from the Park using the fabulous riverwalk all the way to Teneriffe. Just the best spot in Brissie for a weekend.

I had never heard of this place until my father suggested I join him and his partner for a wander…read morearound this park. This park is a bit of a mission to get to for anyone who does not live in the area but is worth the car mileage as it is a great place to hang out, have a picnic and roam around. I was not expecting much from this park but as soon as I entered the park, I realised how beautiful it was. There is something very serene about it, that instantly puts you at ease (so corny, I know). The park is very spacious too making it perfect for any picnic parties, it would be a lovely place to jog or walk around. When I visited the place, I even noticed people fishing from the deck over the Brisbane River, I doubt they would have caught anything good but they looked like they were having fun and enjoying the views. If it wasn't for its inconvenient location, I would visit this park more often as it really is a beauty.

If you like taking your kids to parks with playgrounds aren't guaranteed to be crawling with kids…read morealready, this is one of the secret parks you can still get a spot in. There are many trees around and 2 main sheltered areas with plenty of tables. There is also a boardwalk type play area and a rather large general swing and tyre play area about 20 meters away from the tables. Mostly under shelter too for those hot days. Bring sunscreen, a picnic blanket and some bug spray for hotter days, but mostly it's quite breezy if you're lucky. What I love about this park is that it's situated in the middle of Sherwood Forest, where Robin Hood lives. Okay... there isn't a Robin Hood living in this forest, but we're still on the lookout for him and his men. Or my single friends are anyway. There are plenty of dads here with kids, and I keep having to tell them, it's not okay because these ones are probably taken. Besides from the nice atmosphere, there are also BBQ facilities, toilets and lots of bins in case you want to orchestrate a kids birthday party here. There is a pretty big carpark and on the weekends there is usually a coffee van parked in one of the slots for your caffeine needs early Saturday morning. I love this park because it's hidden away and not that many people know where it is yet, for those mums and dads out there looking to take their kids outdoors somewhere for free, maybe have a picnic... this is a pretty good hidden gem of a park really close to the city. Not really that super close to public transport, but it's definetely driveable.

I used to live in a share house on Hill End Tce, which along with the titular Orleigh St fronts…read moreonto this long and languid riverside recreational area. It was probably the best part of living there, being able to cross the road into a lush shaded hill right on the water. And the renters and homeowners aren't the only ones who can enjoy this feature of their respective abodes, with the area being a favourite hitching spot for scores of backpackers and other wanderers who took advantage on the apparent police amnesty on squatting here in their vans and station wagons. The park is also home to a few friendly (and vehicle-less) local itinerants, like old John, who can be seen wandering shirtless through the suburb with his long Jesus-like locks flapping in the breeze. Apart from the usual barbecue goers, picnicers, parents and children playing, dog walkers, joggers and the like, Orleigh Park also attracts keen anglers, with catches including Rainbow Perch, Catfish and the infamous Brisbane River Bull SHARKS (another reason not to go swimming in the brown water). Last time I visited the park for a friend's birthday picnic, we saw a couple of guys pull in an 80cm baby shark, which they released back into the river. Some of the less discerning fishermen will even eat their catches.

Well done Brisbane City Council - this park has lush green grass, huge spreading trees, shade and…read morewide open spaces for frisbee/cricket, toilets, BBQs, shelter, a well maintained path, plenty of parking, plenty of public transport access and happy people. The park celebrates the river and the good people celebrate it. I love how multicultural the visitors are here. Orleigh is one big beautiful melting pot of West End leisure. Oh and I forgot the Free WiFi!

Looking for a nice, inexpensive, laid-back way to spend an evening? Leave bars and restaurants…read morebehind, take a bottle of wine, some cheese and a picnic blanket up to Highgate Hill Park and enjoy the view of Brisbane's cityscape. With a gazebo perched at the top of the park, this is easily one of the most beautiful spots in Brisbane.

"Be as true to each other as this dial is to this sun" reads the inscription on the sun dial at…read morethis little patch of green near the apex of Highgate Hill. A nice sentiment for a nice park, which serves as a favourite spot for locals to view the Riverfire spectacular and other fireworks displays throughout the year. It's also a popular spot for couples and groups to populate with a picnic rug and basket to enjoy some food and drink over views of the sunset. Recently they established a community garden here, growing a variety of herbs, chillies and what look like lime trees.

This is a good little neighbourhood park with all the facilities you'd expect including picnic…read morebenches, an up to date play ground and a basketball court. There are some trees but in opinion there could be more (I really like trees OK) however if you're looking for some time out when in Oxley or just need to let your kids run off the red cordial this is a good place to do it.

One of my favourite things about living in this area is the number of parks surrounding me. One of…read moremy favourite parks in Oxley is Nixon Park. Technically the address is 40 William Terrace but it is on the corner of William Terrace and Oxley Road. Oxley Road is a busy route for cars, so you must make sure you keep an eye on the little ones. I love this park for the following reasons. It's not too big, but big enough to run around in. There are a handful of tables and benches so you can pack a picnic and gather friends and family. They are big trees lining the park so its beautiful. AND there's a colourful playground to keep the kids busy. For the older kids, including the parents, there is a basketball court to shoot hoops and muck around. This park is literally around the corner from all the amenities. The shops, cafes, train station and pharmacy. So easy to get to and if you needed anything, just take 5-10 minute walk and you'll be in Oxley Central.

In my opinion, Newstead Park is the nicest Sunday afternoon hang out in Brisbane. Granted, it's not…read moreas huge as New Farm Park, but the benefits of this are that there's often more space and less crowds. And the trees are beautiful! A friend of mine celebrated their birthday in Newstead Park recently and it had been years since I'd hung out there. We had an afternoon full of food, friends and fun. There's an infectious relaxed vibe to the place and it's hard not to relax when watching the City Glider ride by on the river. Oh, the river! It looks so beautiful from the angle, especially on a beautiful day. It would be a beautiful place to host a wedding or any special occasion. Another friend of mine from overseas has fond memories of Newstead Park and maintains that some of his best times in Australia were simply spent taking a picnic there with some friends and kicking a football around for an afternoon. It proves that it's one of the best picnic spots in all of Brisbane.

This park is small but perfectly formed. The river curves beautifully around the manicured lawns…read moreand there's plenty of gorgeous old trees for shade. Kids can roll around and scream without bothering anyone, and adults can eat cheese and sip wine while enjoying a relaxing afternoon (what is it about the river that just instantly chills you out?) This is definitely a great picnic spot and although it is popular it never feels too crowded.