The best cycling routes in Mt Coot-Tha Reserve

South Bank Parklands combines riverfront paths, landscaped gardens, and public spaces across a large stretch of the city’s foreshore. The area includes the Streets Beach lagoon, shaded walkways like the Arbour, and open lawns with views across to the CBD. It connects directly into the riverside path network and forms one of the main public spaces along the river.

Brisbane River runs through the city and surrounding suburbs, forming a wide, slow-moving waterway that shapes much of Brisbane’s landscape. In this section near Graceville, the river feels more suburban, with tree-lined banks and fewer built-up edges.

Running alongside the Brisbane River, this shared path follows the edge of the water through the Graceville parklands. The route stays close to the river for most of the way, with open views across the water and sections of tree shade along the path. It’s flat and easy to follow, used by walkers, runners, and cyclists.

Enoggera Creek Bikeway is a paved, shared-use path that runs through Brisbane’s northern suburbs, including Windsor, Wilston, Newmarket, and out towards The Gap. The trail is mostly flat and well signposted, making it suitable for beginners, families, and cyclists. It follows Enoggera Creek through a series of parks and playgrounds, with plenty of spots to stop along the way.

Enoggera Creek flows from the D’Aguilar Range through Brisbane’s northern suburbs, running for about 18 kilometres before becoming Breakfast Creek and joining the Brisbane River. Along the Newmarket section, it appears as a narrow, often shallow waterway, sometimes reduced to still or low-flow sections. After heavy rain, it can rise quickly and overflow into surrounding parkland. The creek is bordered by green corridors and the Enoggera Creek Bikeway.

Set along the river in New Farm Park, this jacaranda is part of a wider network of trees that have become closely tied to Brisbane’s identity. Introduced in the nineteenth century, jacarandas now mark the shift into spring, when their purple blooms briefly transform parks and streets across the city. Outside of bloom, the tree still stands out for its wide canopy and position along the water, offering shade and open views across the river.

The Kangaroo Point Green Bridge is a pedestrian-only bridge spanning the Brisbane River. This new bridge links the city center with Kangaroo Point and was completed at the end of 2024. Part of the city's "Green Bridges" project, designed to reduce car use and, as a bonus, offers super-scenic views of the skyline, cliffs, and river.

Newstead Park is a waterfront park with some interesting historical stops. In the middle of the park, the Newstead House, built in 1845, is the oldest surviving home in the area and is now a museum. For a nature-based historical stop, check out the Old Fig Tree, which has a plaque explaining its massive size and age. This is a great stop on the Lores Bonney Riverwalk, with public restrooms and plenty of places to take a break on the grass and soak up the sun.