Roma Street Parkland submitted by Noel Mockford
Among Brisbane's high rises of the CBD you can discover the green lungs of our city - large parks and open spaces.
Open every day and free to enter, they're a natural oasis where everyone can lie on the grass, enjoy the sunshine and kick a ball. The green havens of Roma Street Parkland and Brisbane City Botanic Gardens beckon.
Roma Street Parkland
Open every day
It's easy to get there via every train, which stops at nearby Roma Street station. There is also limited paid parking.
With 16 hectares of manicured gardens, lawns and celebration spaces, Roma Street Parkland is the world's largest subtropical garden in a city.
A relative youngster when compared to other historic parks, the Parkland only opened in 2001. Prior to that, the area was an ugly industrial landscape for railway transport and freight. What a difference today! Trains still congregate at Roma Street Station but the parkland is quiet and green.
You can see waterfalls, an amphitheatre and large lake. Take a forest walk, have a barbeque or picnic, watch birds and admire the huge variety of plants. The Spectacle Garden features public artworks plus there is a good playground for children and the tempting, recently renovated Melange Café. You can buy snacks or take away foods from the convenience store underneath the Apartment Complex or enjoy Eves on the Park restaurant.
There are often events on at the Parkland. You can take a free guided daily walk at 10am and 2pm. Plus there are special guided walks, including one for parents with toddlers.
Find out more about the beautiful Roma Street Parkland.
Brisbane City Botanic Gardens
Open 24 hours every day
19 hectares
Brisbane's oldest park used to be a zoo with bears and was the site of Queensland's first sugar cane crop and then experimental trees such as jacarandas and macadamias. Today, the inner city gardens' paths along the riverfront are popular with rollerbladers, cyclists and runners.
Imagine living on a yacht, as some do on the Brisbane River, as you walk past the moorings. On Saturdays you are bound to see a wedding or two. And you'll glimpse the city's tall buildings through the leaves of established trees. Take a walk through the mangrove boardwalk to see how these amazing plants survive in the mud.
Have a drink or meal at the Gardens Café in a quaint cottage. Plus there's the Riverstage, which hosts a range of large outdoor concerts. Check our events calendar to find out what's on there.
There are free guided tours Monday to Saturday 11am and 1pm. Or take a look at the self-guided tour online.
There is a small children's playground but the huge open spaces are the gems of this park. If you don't bring your own wheels, there is bike and rollerblade hire too.
Cross over the river on the Goodwill Bridge to South Bank or walk up George Street, past the Queensland State Parliament. You can't drive into or park in the gardens but there is some street parking along the Alice Street perimeter. Or catch the free CBD loop bus from the city to take you to the Gardens. It's only a 15 minute walk from the Queen Street Mall.
Find out more about the history and highlights of the City Botanic Gardens.
Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens and South Bank
There are also Botanic Gardens at Mt Coot-tha 15 minutes drive west of town. Attractions include themed gardens, a tropical display dome, Japanese gardens, planetarium, library, picnic areas, Lakeside Gardens Café, Freedom Wall and Hide 'n' Seek Children's Trail.
And South Bank? Well, that's a whole other adventure...
