South Bank Parklands & Streets Beach
Imagine a palm-fringed, sand-edged swimming lagoon sitting directly across the river from Brisbane's glittering CBD skyline — that is Streets Beach, the centrepiece of South Bank Parklands. Stroll the Grand Arbour draped in bougainvillea, duck into the Nepalese Peace Pagoda, then cool off in the water without leaving the city.
An Urban Oasis Unlike Any Other
South Bank Parklands sprawls across almost 15 hectares of riverfront lawns, shaded walkways and ingeniously designed playgrounds, making it the kind of place you arrive at for an hour and leave four hours later.
Streets Beach is the star attraction: a fully supervised, man-made lagoon edged with real sand and framed by a backdrop of skyscrapers. Locals treat it exactly like a coastal beach — towels, sunscreen, the works.
From the parklands it is a short walk to the Queensland Art Gallery, the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA), the Queensland Museum and the State Library, meaning culture and swimming can share the same afternoon.
Events, Markets & the Wheel of Brisbane
Every weekend the South Bank Lifestyle Markets illuminate the promenade with fairy lights, offering handmade goods, local art and street food in one of Brisbane's most atmospheric settings.
The Wheel of Brisbane rises 60 metres above the parklands, offering 360-degree views of the city from an air-conditioned gondola on a 13-minute ride — worth it at golden hour.
In September the entire precinct transforms for the Brisbane Festival, culminating in Riverfire, a spectacular fireworks display launched over the river that draws tens of thousands of spectators.
South Bank Parklands & Streets Beach on video
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