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!

Rikki Bailey park is a decent park with equal amounts of pros and cons. It's not particularly…read moreattractive, however, it does have ample play equipment. Let's start with the pros... Pros - There is playground equipment - Includes, slides, swings and climbing apparatus - There is a half-court basketball court - Picnic table and chairs under gazebo - Plenty of trees - Plenty of space Cons - Playground equipment looks quite weathered - There are too many trees creating hiding areas in the bushes - The play grounds dry and full of twigs and sticks - There are no parking bays, just side road parking - Far from amenities like shops, cafes and transport - Not the most attractive park Not the sort of park you go out of your way for. It has most of the features needed of a park, but it does look at little dodgy.

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.

What is there for two recent university graduates do on a Tuesday afternoon other than chill out in…read morePerrin Park and play in the playground? Perrin Park is quite beautiful with is expansive grassy areas, footpaths, fenced area to unleash your dog, plenty of parking spaces, clean toilets, fresh play equipment (some of which is still under construction since the recent flooding), and plenty of trees and shade to rest under. Tucked away in Toowong, this park offers a place to escape. The park is deceptively big with different sections split in the middle by a little creek. There are also some quite fun bike-things to play on. And the best bonus of all is that when I visited it today, there was a mama and a papa duck and 5 little ducklings (one for each star I give this park).

This is the sort of park I wish existed when I was a kid. As it is, I love it as an adult. Why?…read moreBecause finally they've put mini-roller-coasters in parks! Well, not exactly a roller-coaster - but as close enough as we'll get for free in a public park. What is described in elegant fashion by the Totaltravel website as "a pedal powered carson on a circular track" is like a giant toy train on a wheeled closed circuit. Unlike most trains, but similar to vehicular locomotion in The Flintstones, your feet are used to power the train. As fast as you peddle you can't break the kiddie-safe speed, but it's still awesome to ride, like you're a toy human in some giant's train set. I'm not the only immature one, either. The first time I glimpsed the roller-coaster addition to the park and yelled for the driver to stop the car, my companions (in their 20s and 30s) also got out and jumped on. That meant a few of us were late to uni classes. Totally worth it. There's old-school swings (read: new, but not awesome like a giant train) in the playground and there's also a rebound wall and off-leash park for dogs. *This biased review has been brought to you by the creator of the We Should Replace Public Transport With Roller-Coasters Facebook Group.

So many things come to mind when I think of Davies Park. The West End Markets, for one, which are…read moreheld there each Saturday. Over the years, various festivals have used Davies Park as their site. Believe it or not, back in the very early 1990's, Livid was held at Davies Park. It was also home to Triple Zed's Market Day, and more recently, the West End Carnivale. If you're coming from downtown West End, you'll walk past two fig trees, and if you turn to the left, it will bring you out to a soccer field. You can often have the field to yourself, especially if you go on a weekday. It's a favourite for people with dogs. There's a fenced off area behind the soccer field, which I originally thought was a dog park. It turns out that the fig trees in this fenced off area had a fungal problem (that is now treated and the trees are recovering well), and that's why the barrier was erected. I'll say this much- I have seen it used as a dog park, and have myself used it for this purpose and all seems fine with the world. You can enter in and out with no problems. Behind the fenced off area is a slight decline which leads to the river. From here, you can take a leisurely stroll along the watery parameter of West End which will take you to Orleigh Park, yet another delightful patch of land to enjoy. If, at the entry of Davies Park, you walk to the right, you'll find yonder the fig trees, the West End community garden (Jane Street side). The gardens are handsome, and well maintained. The beds are deep, and loaded with nutrients judging by the quality of the plants growing there. If you're a green thumb, or just curious, there's usually someone working away in the garden to talk to. In some downtime, do yourself a favour and go down to have a gander at what's going on in Davies Park.

I fondly regard this park as one of the best in the inner city…read more No it doesn't boast rainforest walks, fountains or play-pens for the kids. But it is quiet. And so much more peaceful than the packed New Farm park, South bank or Botanical gardens. Ease off a hangover, picnic or watch the douche-baggery of Jet-Skiers. This little stretch of land is just perfect to spend a lazy day. My favourite bit is the great little dog-park by the river, full of furry characters, puppy watching makes for highly amusing entertainment. (In particular look out for a hilarious pug that tries to squeeze in the railings.) A must-see in West end.

Like many of Brisbane's parks, Woolcock has gone over the last decade from being nothing more than…read moredirt, grass and a few lonely old swings to a respectable modern park. Woolcock is part of Brisbane's sweeping overhaul of park beautification and standardisation: sprawling, rolling and well-maintained grass; a playground including awesome swings that regrettably weren't around when I was a kid; and a path for power-walkers... in Woolcock's case, the path is stone and called Reflexology Walk. I'm no reflexology follower, but after loudly reading the sign with amusement I figured if I was going to talk the talk then I'd better walk the walk, so off went the shoes and I was taking the path to better health. Well, that's what the sign said; aside from the pleasant sensation of smooth pebbles on my feet, I did not develop the inferred health superpowers. However, it snakes by a creek and call me a cynic but it's damn pretty. Overall, like a park should be, the vibe is relaxed. Though not officially a dog park, many people bring their pets here for friendly interaction and some off-leash playing. The park also draws in a weekend crowd of families wanting to BBQ somewhere picturesque and not overcrowded: no one likes having to duel a stranger with tongs for the rights to a picnic bench. In terms of events, around a year ago I accidentally stumbled upon a fair at Woolcock. Though I'm not sure what it was in aid of, there were many real estate company tents set up, looking lonely beside stalls selling trinkets and fairy floss. People with dogs chatted with others about their respective pets and blocked the pathway (me included). There was also a sausage sizzle which I lined up for and heartily enjoyed even though I knew the meat was probably 40% cardboard. My dog also loves it here, as it's frequented by some of the people outside of our family who can actually stand her.

Ah Woolcock Park. I lived around the corner from here in 2002 and was among the first residents…read moreto enjoy the then newly upgraded facilities. I used to congregate here with my friends for a vegie-q, some yo ho ing and maybe a spot of fire stick twirling. Look I was young alright? It's nice to see the facilities have been well maintained in the intervening decade. This is a lovely park for families, friends or, yes, groups of urban hippies to enjoy and the BBQ's are still available (God I love that Brisbane parks have BBQ's, take that Melbourne! We finally win a point!) If you're in the area this is a little urban oasis that you should definitely come visit.

The Wynnum Manly Yacht Club Marina takes up a section of the Manly Boat Harbour, one of the most…read morepicturesque areas of the Esplanade along the eastern part of Moreton Bay. It's always a hive of activity and great to take in at sunrise or sunset. The protected marina keeps boats up to 19 metres safe and has berths for lease and sale at various times.

The Wynnum Manly Marina is one of my favourite places to walk in Brisbane. It is the most…read moreconvenient for me that also has water views but even so, it is a relaxing place for sure. Go for a walk along the marina, take your kids fishing off the jetty or grab a coffee and relax on a bench over looking the vast number of boats. Whatever you decide to do, there is a leisure activity for everyone here. Morning and afternoon there is often a stream of boats coming and going which is enjoyable to watch, really peaceful.

I have the utmost appreciation for the Oxley area for the wonderful variety of parks it has. One of…read morethe most popular just borders off Oxley, called Dunlop Park. It is popular for all the right reasons. First of all, there is the local swimming pool where numerous children in the area have come to learn how to swim, attend school swim events or swim recreationally. This big park boasts two playgrounds, a half court basketball court, cricket pitch and a soccer field. There is plenty of space for the kids to run around and plenty of trees around to provide shade for rests. There is a BBQ with shaded picnic table and chairs nearby, which is perfect for family days out. Also if you have a dog, you can bring them to the dog park where they can run around unleashed and play with the hoops, ramps and hurdles. You can park your car off the streets of Oxley Road, such as Hughes St. Alternatively commuting here by train is also convenient as it is nearby.