This is a highlight free attraction in the heart of Brisbane. This used to be an industrial area…read morewhich has been transformed into one of the nicest botanical gardens I've ever visited. It's an easy walk from downtown and right next to the main train station, so it's great to spend a lunch or incorporate into exploring the city. At the entrance there are restrooms and water stations, plus maps of the different areas. The entrance areas are all sculpted flower gardens, as you walk around there are more forested areas, jungle, and ponds. We were there at a great time of the year, it wasn't so hot and everything was in bloom. There are ibis and lizards everywhere too! They really care about the maintenance of this area as landscapers were hard at work as well. There's information about the plants all over too. This would be a great place to relax, take a date, or explore with kids.

Lovely parklands, great variety of specimen plantings, water features are nice, reminds me of a…read moretiny version of Central Park. On the hill is a great spot to sun bake in summer.

The recent upgrading of this park makes it one of the best equipped of all the parks along the…read moreWynnum, Manly and Lota foreshore. It's right at the end of the Esplanade, so has a great view over the bay to Straddie and also around to Wellington Point. It has a huge new playground, with shadesails, slides, forts and timber walkways. It also has very nice new picnic tables and barbecues, accessible toilets, shared walkway/bikeway and a seperate area with fitness equipment for anyone keen to do some circuit training. Oh, and obviously these days you can't camp at all; this name is an historical reference to its turn of the century popularity as a holiday camping spot by the bay.

They get the most of their natural features around here. The cliffs are impressive viewed from…read moreafar. Up close, separated bike and pedestrian paths run across land and occasionally boardwalks over the length of the cliffs, passing picnicking sites and athletic facilities along the way. A couple of sets of stairs scale the cliffs if you want a workout, which the people of Brisbane seem to because there are tons of workout classes on the parklands atop the cliffs, as well as some broad views of the city. Transit access is a little weaker than some other local spots, with only one stop on the slower of the Brisbane boat services (the faster CityCat skips this area completely for some reason), and few buses to be had even on the top side. But if you want to traverse the area on the ground, you'll find nice things.

Things I would prefer to do when visiting the Kangaroo Point Cliffs:…read more1. Lay in a part shade-part sun grassy knoll overlooking the river on a picnic blanket. 2. Sip one of Brisbane's best iced coffees from the Cliffs Cafe 3. Stand at the top of Kangaroo Point Cliffs and look at the beautiful view of the city I call home and think, "You know what? We're pretty lucky." Things I actually did while recently at Kangaroo Point Cliffs and won't admit I may actually have enjoyed: 1. Run the infamous Kangaroo Point Cliff stairs along with other crazy (sorry, FIT) people on a Sunday morning. I only made it twice before my legs became an ad for aeroplane jelly and said, "heck no you're not doing that again." But somehow I find myself craving a visit again this coming Sunday to better my record. INSANITY. Jokes aside my points are this: Kangaroo Point Cliffs is one of our cities best vantage points to take it all in. To appreciate our beautiful city and see the views from Southbank to past the Story Bridge. To take in some outdoor activities including rock climbing if you're with a Riverlife group or to cycle your way along the river front. To gather the weekend papers, a picnic blanket and a take away coffee to lay on the grass and read the day away. It is also a pretty nifty spot to enjoy the NYE fireworks and/or listen to concerts happening at Riverstage.

Every time I'm in Brisbane, this IS the place to visit. There is always some type of event going on…read moreon the weekends. One of the greatest was the week long Buddhist celebration ! All free with amazing entertainment and educational presentations. Good food, too. Children's play areas, benches along the river to be able to just sit, talk, watch the river traffic and wildlife. You can board the free ferry boats to other areas of Brisbane from here. Swim from the beaches, or walk through the beautiful gardens. Or, take a nap on the expansive, warm grass . . . . . Christmas lighting etc. is indescribable. You should try a 'warm weather' Christmas and New Year start.

How anyone could give this less than five stars is beyond me. The substantial length of riverfront…read morespace includes several artificial pools, even one with a beach (you wouldn't want to go in the river anyway), a rainforest walk, some kind of Nepali temple, a ferris wheel, docks for boats, and about a thousand other things. You'll spend some money if you go to one of the nearby eateries, for sure, or on parking if you drive, but the place itself is free and open. Split bike and pedestrian walkways and ample transit access make this area a frequent stop for commuters and tourists, and numerous attractions abound nearby, but here's the really good news: it's in Brisbane. Brisbane is not that crowded. So, unlike some of the public parks and water-based attractions in the really major cities (sorry, Brisbanites), you can actually find some space here, even during peak hours in the summer. The only reason not to come is if you've run out of sunscreen.

Tingalpa Creek track is a little known but beautiful walking track that passes through Ransome, on…read moreyour way out to the Bayside. There are two walking tracks,around 850m long, so a decent trek but manageable for most people. The area is usually really quiet, with only a few fisherman to keep you company. The track itself is a great walk. Surprisingly, there is a boardwalk for a section of the way. Some of the track winds around Tingalpa Creek, which is surprisingly wide and long for a creek. The trees block out the road noise and the peace and quiet means you can hear a whole range of birds and local wildlife on your walk. The area is fairly popular with fisherman, especially on the weekend. The section of the track that is closet to Rickertt Road has a jetty, type platform structure for fishing off plus there are a few wooden carved picnic tables under a shaded area. Perfect for a quiet afternoon on the weekend.

I remember in high school, being absolutely sick to death of the 'Mangroves' topic in Geography…read more They need to find a need to teach it year after year. They are important and they have different sorts of roots, so what? I have had to reconsider my opinion of mangroves through after going to the Mangrove Boardwalk. They are actually quite peaceful and they don't smell too bad mostly. It is a kind of rich earthy smell. The boardwalk winds in and out through a cavern of trees. There is heaps of wildlife to spot and overall, it is a relaxing and scenic walk. Great for afternoon running or jogging or just for a casual stroll.

The Wynnum North Mangrove Circuit, or mangrove boardwalk as everyone calls it, is the most magical…read morewalk at high tide (a bit smelly at low tide sometimes, but not too bad). It's a 1.4km circuit, more than half of which is on raised wooden boardwalks over the waters of Moreton Bay, winding through the mangroves. Imagine it: dappled sunlight on the water, birds and fish in abundance for the sharp eyed observer to spot, a cool bay breeze - gorgeous. Occasionally we've struck midges or mozzies, but generally not, it's just such a pleasant walk and if you have a pooch, it's adjacent to a really great dog park, so you can combine two fun activities in one outing - bring a picnic and make it three.

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.

Alderley is really blessed with great parks, and Grinstead Park is definitely one of them…read more Theres a playground, paths for skating and BMX riding, wheelchair accessible toilets, BBQ's and shelter and it joins the Sparkes Hill Reservoir so there's heaps of walking to be had.