Brisbane Walking Tour: 50 Free Video Stops

This Brisbane walking tour links 10 sights and 50 short video stops narrated by Clarissa, from the riverside parklands of South Bank and the lagoon at Streets Beach across the Goodwill Bridge to the City Botanic Gardens, the heart of the city and the Story Bridge. The route follows a bend of the Brisbane River, so most of it is flat and walkable. The notes below add timing, ferries, etiquette and the free sights worth knowing. For official events and visitor information, also check Visit Brisbane, the city’s official visitor guide.

Route 1, South Bank (stops 1 to 4). Start at the Cultural Forecourt and play the videos as you walk under the flowering Grand Arbour, past the Nepal Peace Pagoda, a survivor of World Expo 88, and along the riverside promenade. Stop at Streets Beach, the free man-made lagoon with real sand and lifeguards, then walk west to the Queensland Art Gallery and the Gallery of Modern Art, known as GOMA, with the State Library and the Kurilpa Bridge beside them. Loop back east to the Wheel of Brisbane for the river view.

Route 2, across the river (stops 5 to 7). Cross the Goodwill Bridge, the arched walking and cycling bridge, past the Queensland Maritime Museum, and enter the City Botanic Gardens, the city’s oldest public garden, with its bamboo grove, mangrove boardwalk and riverside lawns. On the edge of the gardens stand Parliament House, with its colonnade on George Street, and Old Government House in the university grounds. This green corner is the calmest part of the Brisbane walking tour.

Route 3, the city centre (stops 8 and 9). Walk up to Queen Street Mall, the pedestrian heart of the city, and duck into the arcades, including the heritage Brisbane Arcade. A short detour leads to King George Square and City Hall, with its clock tower. Then walk to the sandstone Treasury Building on Queen Street, with Reddacliff Place and the tall Steamers sculptures in front, overlooking the river and the new Queen’s Wharf precinct.

Route 4, the Story Bridge (stop 10). Finish at the Story Bridge, the steel cantilever bridge that has linked the city with Kangaroo Point since 1940. Walk the footpath across for views up and down the river, then follow the boardwalk below the Kangaroo Point Cliffs, where climbers and abseilers practise and the city skyline lights up at dusk. It is the best place to end a Brisbane walking tour.

South Bank itself is a legacy of World Expo 88, the world fair that transformed the old industrial south bank of the river. After the fair closed, the site was turned into public parklands, with the lagoon, the arbour and the pagoda you see today. The project changed how the city used its river, and the walkways, bridges and riverside restaurants that followed made Brisbane a much easier city to explore on foot.

For photos, the best free viewpoints on this Brisbane walking tour are the top of the Goodwill Bridge arch, the Kurilpa Bridge at night, the Kangaroo Point Cliffs at sunset and the Story Bridge itself when it is lit in colour. The riverside walk from South Bank to the gardens gives the classic skyline view across the water.

With one day, walk Routes 1 and 2 in the morning, take lunch in the city and finish with Routes 3 and 4 in the evening. That is the core free walking tour Brisbane visitors can do entirely on foot. With two days, add time inside GOMA and a river ferry ride.

Brisbane has a subtropical climate. The dry, sunny months from May to September are the most comfortable for a Brisbane walking tour, with warm days and mild evenings. Summer is hot and humid, and afternoon storms are common, so start early, rest in the galleries at midday and keep the river walks for the evening. Jacarandas flower across the city in spring.

The galleries, the museums and the Wheel of Brisbane have their own opening hours, and Parliament House runs public tours only on certain days, so check the official sites before you go. Streets Beach is patrolled by lifeguards during set hours, and it can be closed for maintenance, so check before you pack your swimsuit.

The river is the city’s best road. CityCat ferries link South Bank, the city, Kangaroo Point and many other stops, and a free CityHopper ferry runs in the inner city. Buses and trains run across Brisbane, and you pay with a go card or other options accepted by Translink, so check the current fares and payment methods on its website. Walking between the stops on this route is easy, because the bridges are short.

A CityCat ride is also one of the best sightseeing trips in the city in its own right. Board at South Bank or the city, sit on the open deck at the back, and ride downstream under the Story Bridge or upstream past the university for river views of the skyline. It is a relaxing way to rest your legs between routes.

From Brisbane Airport, the Airtrain runs to the city, with Central and Roma Street stations a short walk from Queen Street. South Brisbane and South Bank stations are close to the start of the Brisbane walking tour. If you are staying in the city, start with Route 3 and walk the stops in reverse; every stop has its own Map button.

Brisbane is a relaxed city. Swim only between the flags at Streets Beach and follow the lifeguards’ instructions. On the Goodwill Bridge and the riverside paths, keep left and watch for cyclists and scooters, which share the space with walkers. Parliament House is a working building, so expect security checks if you take a tour, and dress neatly.

Try a flat white and breakfast at a South Bank cafe, Moreton Bay bugs and other local seafood, fresh tropical fruit such as mangoes in summer, and a cold drink on a riverside terrace at sunset. Tipping is not expected in Australia, though rounding up for good service is welcome. Tap water is safe to drink, and water fountains are found across South Bank and the gardens.

The Queensland sun is strong all year, so wear a hat, sunglasses and sun cream, and carry water between stops. Watch your bag in crowded malls and on busy ferries, and keep to well-lit streets late at night. During summer storms, wait under cover and stay away from the river edge.

Brisbane’s Aboriginal name is Meanjin, and the Turrbal and Yuggera peoples are recognised as traditional owners of the land around the river. You will see the name on signs and in artworks across the city. Learning a little of that history adds depth to the river walk between South Bank and the gardens.

Most of this Brisbane walking tour is free. South Bank, Streets Beach, the Goodwill Bridge, the City Botanic Gardens, Queen Street Mall, Reddacliff Place and the Story Bridge footpath all cost nothing. General entry to the Queensland Art Gallery and GOMA is usually free, with charges for some major exhibitions. You pay for the Wheel of Brisbane, the Story Bridge climb and some museum exhibitions.

Some attractions offer reduced prices for children, students and seniors, and South Bank hosts free events, markets and festivals through the year. Prices and programmes change, so check the official sites before your Brisbane walking tour and book paid experiences directly.

Brisbane is a good city for wheelchair users. South Bank, the riverside paths, the Goodwill Bridge and the City Botanic Gardens are largely flat and paved, CityCat ferries have accessible boarding at most terminals, and the galleries have accessible entrances. The streets climb in parts of the centre, and the Story Bridge approaches have slopes, while the Kangaroo Point Cliffs area has steps between the riverside boardwalk and the clifftop.

After this Brisbane walking tour, carry on with more free walks: the Sydney walking tour, the Melbourne walking tour, the Canberra walking tour and, across the Tasman, the Auckland walking tour. You can browse every city on the Free City Tours home page.