The best city walks in Brisbane

Ah Brisbane...The River City, Brisvegas, Brissy, home of The Brown Snake, The Gabba, The Valley and the probable location of Sheppard’s 1000th halftime performance. This gorgeous city has it all, including (arguably) the best city walks in Australia.

It’s one of those places where you could get astoundingly lost and love it, where there’s another whimsical probably heritage-listed surprise around each corner. While our top recommendation for Brisbane is to let your toes follow your nose and go for a wander, there are some city walks that absolutely can’t be missed. 

City loop

When in Brisbane you may as well start from the middle, and the City Loop is right in the middle of everything! The whole loop is a bit of a hike, so we’re going to break it into two sections, Southbank & Kangaroo Point. 

City loop - Southbank (3.5km) 

Believe it or not, this isn’t the last time we’re going to mention Southbank in this list. In fact, the next time won’t be the last time either. When we mentioned following your nose and getting lost, Southbank is the best place in Brisbane to do that. Which makes the Southbank section of the City loop the perfect place to start your Brisvegas walking adventure. 

Start by taking a stroll through the iconic Queen street mall in Brisbane CBD and then over the Old Victoria Bridge overcrossing Brisbane River (a.k.a “The Brown Snake”). This will spit you out at the start of South Bank at the now-famous Brisbane sign.

After a quick selfie with the sign (this is a must), it’s time to amble through Southbank along the river. If you wanted a break, (or just a chance to check out the area) go a few streets onto Grey Street. There you’ll find excellent bars, restaurants and cafes. As well as markets, art installations and a taste of the general vibrancy that brings people from all over to Brisbane. 

After that head over the Goodwill Bridge on the other side. This will lead you to the Botanical Gardens. From here, either go for a walk in the park, or head along the riverfront path back to the start of the track. 

City loop - Kangaroo Point (6.2km) 

On that last walking trail, if you decided to go to the Botanical Gardens, that’s where this loop begins. Start off by walking through the gorgeous Botanical Gardens towards Eagle Street Pier. Don’t be afraid to get stuck in the Botanical Gardens, as there’s a lot to see and do while you’re there. 

After you get to Eagle Street Pier, once again you can discover the awesome bars and restaurants along the way, all with a view over the epochal Story Bridge. Use the bridge as your guide as you’ll be heading back across it on this walk. 

Detour: If you fancy a drink, check out Felon’s located under the story bridge. This HUGE beer hall has fantastic views of the bridge and the city. If you can be perched here for a sunset, you won’t regret it. 

After you’ve crossed the Story Bridge keep going until you hit the Kangaroo Point rocks. From here you’ll get an epic view over the whole city. Take the stairs down to the riverside and head back to the Goodwill Bridge, then that’s the loop! 

Mt Coot-tha summit track (1.9km)

As the highest point in Brisbane, this walk is an absolute must-do to take in all the gorgeous views of the city. Yes, you can drive to the top. But the views are far more special if you’ve earnt them. Plus the drink you have at the restaurant at the top will taste even sweeter.

Don’t worry though, it’s Mt Coot-tha, not Mt Everest. At 1.9km long, accounting for the elevation, the walk should take you around 30 minutes each way. If you want to add a detour to J.C. Slaughter Falls you won't regret it.

The view isn’t the only thing to do at Mt Coot-tha though. At the bottom of the mountain, there’s even more Botanical Gardens to stroll around and a Planetarium well worth a visit. 

The Arbour - Southbank (1km) 

For this walk, we’re back in beautiful Southbank, this time for something quite special. Snaking it through this already gorgeous area is The Arbour. This kilometre-long arched structure is covered in bougainvillea vines giving it that touch of nature in a cityscape environment. 

This one is so pretty that after you’ve made it out the other end you’re going to want to turn around and go straight back. 

GOMA to West End (1.3km) 

Art and culture lovers, prepare for a treat! This walking track starts at the Gallery of Modern Art. This world-class gallery always has something incredible inside and is well worth a visit.

Most of the time it’s free as well! (If it’s not free, then it’s something epic and probably worth the price of admission anyway). 

After you’ve explored GOMA, head towards vibrant West End. This incredible part of the world is a bohemian paradise tucked away just outside the city limits. Meaning that it’s been overrun with the culture and coolness that comes standard with a place like this. 

On your walk, you’re bound to get sidetracked by something amazing along the way. But at 1.3km total, that’ll be completely fine. 

Riverwalk - Teneriffe to CBD (7km) 

For a bit of history mixed with a taste of what makes Brisbane special this walk is for you. This walk starts at Teneriffe’s historic wool stores. These epic buildings will give you a big old blast from the past.

From there walk towards the river and you’ll pass the Submariners’ Walk Heritage Trail. This trail is at the location where the US army stored submarines during WWII. It’s now a touching tribute to those who served. 

After that, you’ll hit the Powerhouse. A Mecca for creativity and the arts in Brisbane. Explore Powerhouse and make your way through New Farm Park.

You’ll then get to the Riverwalk, which takes you from New Farm straight into the heart of the city. Along the way you’ll get a great vantage point over the Story Bridge and the city on the other side. 

This walk is a bit on the longer side, but well worth it! 

For any of these walks, you’re going to want a great pair of shoes. Vitasole walking shoes contain meta-rocker technology, pushing you forward with every step! This will mean you’ll be able to see more of this truly gorgeous city.