Where to Find the Best Green Spaces in Brisbane

Brisbane is shaped by green spaces which are woven into everyday life; palms along footpaths, mangroves at the river’s edge, parks threaded through sprawling suburbs. This article explores the Brisbane’s green spaces and how they influence how the city is walked, paused in and lived outdoors.

The City That Grows Around You

Greenery doesn’t feel contained to parks in this part of Australia, it runs through streets and suburbs, shaping how the city is experienced day to day. Palms crowd the footpaths in Brisbane and figs spread across park lawns. Meanwhile, at the coast mangroves tangle into the river’s edge.

Spring brings jacarandas and bright colour and summer thickens everything that is green; the leaves are heavier and birdlife is louder. Even winter stays mild enough for long days outside in the city’s nature.

Outdoor life plays out across a broad mix of green spaces in Brisbane and its surroundings. You’ve got large riverside parks like New Farm Park and Orleigh Park which stretch alongside long walking and cycling paths. Then there’s the City Botanic Gardens which sit quietly by the river.

Further out, places like the Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens and Sherwood Arboretum offer space without leaving the city behind. Together, they make it easy to build days around being under the sun, for short walks, long loops, or a picnics in the shade.

The Best Green Spaces in Brisbane

Below, we dig into the green spaces that make Brisbane such an easy city to be outdoors in. Let’s get into it!

1. New Farm Park

New Farm Park has been public land since 1914, occupying a long stretch of riverbank just east of the city. Its past as farmland is still readable in the scale of the place; its flat lawns and trees that have had decades to grow. Fig trees dominate much of the park, there’s a rose garden that sits slightly off the main thoroughfare, and Brisbane Powerhouse occupies the eastern edge, giving the park a cultural calendar, too.

A sealed path follows the river through the park and is used as a practical link between New Farm, Teneriffe and the city, particularly by walkers, runners and cyclists. Step away from that path, and things are less structured. Across the lawns, picnics, games and lunch breaks tend to arrange themselves wherever there’s shade. Facilities like seating and play areas appear in more than one spot, so a visit early morning can turn into a whole morning activity, if you like.

2. Roma Street Parkland

Immediately beside the CBD, Roma Street Parkland is found between major roads, reading more like a series of contained garden spaces rather than a single open park. Built into a hillside, it unfolds somewhat vertically. Paths wind upward through planted terraces, lawns and shaded pockets, with changes in level creating separation between different areas.

Roma Street Parkland sits on land with a long history, once used as a meeting place by the Turrbal Aboriginal Nation and later occupied by railway yards and Brisbane markets before its transformation into gardens in 2001.

Today, the lower sections are more open and frequently used, especially by people passing through from the cit. Higher up, the layout becomes quieter and more garden-focused, with narrower paths and denser planting.

3. Boondall Wetlands (for something different)

For a nature-forward option without a need for hiring a car, Boondall Wetlands is a standout. This protected wetland sits on the edge of Moreton Bay and is made up of mangroves, tidal flats and paperbark forest, with long boardwalks and flat gravel paths threading through it all. Expect quiet water channels and plenty of birdlife, especially wading birds and raptors.

You’ll find it north-east of Brisbane in the suburb of Boondall and it’s easy to reach by public transport. All you have to do is take the train to Boondall station, then follow the walking tracks towards the wetlands. Once inside, there are several loop walks, bird hides and shaded sections that make it a peaceful place to wander, even on a hot day.

3. South Bank Parklands (away from the centre)

Built on the former site of World Expo 88 and opened to the public in 1992, South Bank Parklands run along the Brisbane River right opposite the CBD. Outside the central dining and swimming area, the park is used mainly for walking, cycling and sitting near the water.

This green yet urban stretch suits casual river walks, especially if you want to keep moving rather than stop at cafés or attractions. And the paths here follow the river closely, making it easy to walk a section, turn back, or link it with nearby bridges and riverside routes.

Grassed areas are used casually for short picnics or breaks, and benches face the water rather than internal park features. The skyline stays visible across the river, but without the crowd density found in the centre of South Bank.

6. Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens

Set at the base of Mt Coot-tha, the Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens feel noticeably calmer than the gardens closer to the river. Broad lawns and tight, winding paths create a strong sense of calm, with themed areas spread out across the gardens. Here in Mt Coot-tha, the backdrop swaps between bright green slopes, subtropical planting and the forested rise of the mountain behind.

What people tend to do here is walk without a strict route. Some come for a short loop near the entrance, others wander for an hour or more, moving between garden sections and stopping at benches set back from the main paths. There are picnic areas, toilets, and quiet corners that feel removed despite being close to the city.

Getting there is simple without a car. Buses run directly from the CBD to the main entrance, stopping right outside the gardens. And a few more useful facts; entry is free, the gardens focus on subtropical and tropical plants rather than formal European-style beds and they sit next to the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium, which makes it easy to combine the two in one visit without moving locations.

4. Kangaroo Point Cliffs

Formed from Brisbane tuff created by volcanic activity millions of years ago, the Kangaroo Point Cliffs run along the Brisbane River as one of the city’s most direct river walks. The rock face was quarried and reshaped in the 19th century before becoming public space, and today a paved path follows the clifftop above the water with clear views back toward the Brisbane CBD.

What people do here is walk, pause, and keep moving. The path works well for a steady loop or a point-to-point walk, with benches placed along the edge for short stops. On the rock face, climbers use the cliffs throughout the day; one of the few places in Brisbane where climbing happens directly above the river.

Good to know: This is not a lawn-based park. There’s little shade and no internal paths, just the river edge and the view.

If a visit to the cliffs sounds up your street, getting to here is straightforward. Walk across from South Bank via the river crossings, or take the CityCat to Holman Street Ferry Terminal and head up to the clifftop path.

9. Sherwood Arboretum

Set along a bend of the Brisbane River, Sherwood Arboretum is one of the quieter green spaces in the western suburbs. Lawns separate the water and the tree canopy, creating long pockets of shade and open riverside views. Idyllic!

Paths run loosely through the arboretum, connecting picnic tables, river access points and benches tucked beneath fig and eucalypt trees. Plantings lean heavily towards Australian natives, reinforcing the unpolished, suburban feel of the place.

To reach it, catch a train out to Sherwood and wander down towards the river. The arboretum sits here just beyond the residential streets, opening out suddenly into green space and water.

5. City Botanic Gardens

Located on the Brisbane River at the southern edge of the CBD, the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens are Brisbane’s oldest public gardens, established in 1855. They were originally used to test which plants could survive Queensland’s climate, which explains the scale and maturity of many of the trees.

Large figs, bunya pines and palms dominate the space, creating consistent shade and a cooler feel than nearby streets.

Most people use the gardens for short walks, sitting under dense canopy, or stopping near the river edge. There are benches facing the water, informal picnic spots, and enough path coverage to make a loop without needing much time.

8. Orleigh Park (West End)

Running along the Brisbane River, Orleigh Park is defined more by movement than its features. A flat riverside path cuts straight through the park, used steadily by walkers, runners and cyclists, with the river staying in view as you move.

There’s no centrepiece here and no reason to cluster, really. Lawns are large and shade comes from scattered trees rather than built structures. People arrive with something already in hand, coffee, takeaway, a dog on a lead.

The park sits directly against the back streets of West End, which gives it a lived-in feel rather than a destination one. Cafés are found only a few minutes away, CityCat stops sit nearby, and the river path makes it easy to extend a walk north or south.

7. Wilson Outlook Reserve

Located above a bend in the Brisbane River, Wilson Outlook Reserve is a small lookout rather than a park, but it still counts as a green space. From the edge, there are clear views across the river to the CBD, with the Story Bridge in direct line of sight and river traffic passing below.

The small reserve consists of a short path and a row of benches facing the water. Wilson Outlook sits between New Farm and Teneriffe and is typically reached as part of a longer walk through the area rather than as a standalone destination.

Where to Stay in Brisbane

The Beetson Hotel

Sat on Caxton Street in Petrie Terrace, The Beetson is a good option if you want somewhere walkable, social and slightly removed from the CBD core. Rooms are modern and comfortable, and you’re close to Suncorp Stadium, local bars and Roma Street Parkland without needing transport.

Mantra Terrace Brisbane

Located in Spring Hill, Mantra Terrace works well as a practical city base. It’s an easy walk into the CBD, close to public transport, and well positioned for moving between the city centre, river and nearby neighbourhoods. Clean, comfy and central.