Best Of Brisbane: The Parklands At South Bank

Use Bus Charter In Brisbane To Visit The South Bank Parklands

Located on the southern bank of the Brisbane River, the South Bank Parklands are connected to the city by the Victoria Bridge at the north end, and by Goodwill Bridge to the Gardens Point. It was officially opened to public in 1992, and features a blend of grassy areas, water, rainforest, riverfront promenade, the Streets Beach, shops, fountains and restaurants. Large scale events and festivals are hosted at this venue, being the most significant cultural precinct in the town. Make sure to choose Brisbane bus charter for a convenient commute to the Parklands.

History Of The South Bank Parklands

In the yesteryears, South Bank was initially a meeting spot for traditional landowners, the Yuggera and the Turbal people, and during the mid 19th century it became a hub of European settlement. The 1893 floods forced the CBD to attain higher ground on the river’s northern side, leaving the South Bank barren. The 1970s saw revival of the parkland along the river bank, and in 1988, a successful World Expo 88 was held at this spot. Since then, major redevelopments have been carried out to improve accessibility to the region with ease.

Streets Beach

One of the striking attractions of the South Bank Parklands is the man-made Streets Beach, which covers an area of 2000 square meters of concrete, with 4000 cubic meters of sand surrounding it. This particular sand is supplied from the Rous Channel in Moreton Bay. In order to keep the beach in pristine condition, additional 70 tonnes of sand is dumped every year. Lagoon area occupies half of the region that was once the Brisbane River.

Construction of this beach began in 1991, and was completed by June 1992. The design concept was given by Desmond Brookes International and was crafted by Fletcher Jennings Construction. The chlorinated freshwater of the lagoon is re-circulated at 125 litres per second for every 6 hours. Water for the beach is propelled though huge sand filters, followed by chemical treatments prior to being pushed back into the pools. Adjoining pools are cleaned by the self-propelled sifting machines and dredge pump. With natural sand, rocky creeks, exotic plantings, subtropical flora and palm tree, you cannot ask more from a man-made beach.

Other Key Attractions

Home to many of the restaurants and cafes, as well as landmarks such as The Wheel of Brisbane, Queensland Conservatorium and the Nepal Peace Pagoda, the recreational, educational and cultural precinct of South Bank Parklands has got a lot to offer.

  • The Arbour: Those with a liking for creativity and colours will adore the Arbour with all their love. This walkway stretching over a kilometre is a pleasing sight to go past through. Comprising of 443 twisting, galvanised steel posts clad with colourful magenta bougainvillea flowers, the Arbour has won numerous awards for its structural design. In order to provide shade to the visitors from sun and weather, there’s also a ribbon of yellow steel running along.
  • The Liana Lounge: This is no ordinary chair equipped for daily use. The stylish piece of furniture has loads of creative panache. The design is inspired by the native liana vines of Australia which are found in the rainforest walks in South Bank and across Queensland. It is sustainably crafted from recycled plastic and precast concrete.
  • Nepalese Pagoda: Known to be one of the most treasured attractions in South Bank, the Nepalese Pagoda was originally introduced in Brisbane as the contribution of Kingdom of Nepal to World Expo 88, Located in the centre of the Parklands, the three-storeyed Pagoda features 80 tonnes of hand crafted Nepalese Timber, which was made in a couple of years by more than 160 Nepalese families. Only two other pagodas in the world are located outside Nepal, excluding this one.
  • Rain Bank: An award winning urban stormwater harvesting and reuse centre that provides a practically sustainable water supply to the South Bank by accumulating and treating water from the catchment area across South City and West End, and reallocating it to the Parklands. The bank has a capacity to harvest up to 77 million mega litres of water every year, which is nothing but 30 massive Olympic swimming pools. Don’t miss out on watching the recycling centre in action from the viewing deck of the Rain Bank.
  • River City Cruises: One of the best ways to soak up the elegance and beauty of the South Bank is to take a leisure cruise along the Brisbane River with the River City Cruises. Running for more than a decade, this family-owned venture offers daily guided tours twice a day to suit different timings. The prices are affordable and the experience is worth a try!
  • Restaurants And Cafes: Besides being a cultural precinct, South Bank is also home to a variety of Bistros and Cafes inside the Parklands, including the likes of Wang Dynasty, Gandhi Curry House, Timmy’s, The Plough Inn, River Canteen, Mado, Chez Laila, Cafe San Marco and Ahmet’s. South Bank Surf Club is a must visit for its laid-back attitude and delicious seafood. Adjacent to it is the Live Fire Steak Bar, a function space with modern decor with an al fresco restaurant.
  • The Wheel Of Brisbane: If you are looking for some exploratory sightseeing of the South Bank Parklands from a different viewpoint, onboard the Wheel of Brisbane. Offering an astonishing 360-degree expansive view of the precinct from a climate-controlled, comfortable gondola, this is one magnificent sight on offer. You can buy the tickets from the visitor’s centre on spot!
  • CityHopper: South Bank is an easily accessible spot with lots to explore. The free ferry service of CityHopper in Brisbane is perfect to take a ride anytime from 6am in the morning up until midnight, as the ferry runs every 3 and a half hours. It will take you along the Brisbane River, and stops at Sydney Street, Holman Street, Eagle Street Pier, Thornton Street, the Maritime Museum and the North Quay. Hop on and off as many times you like!

Customer Testimonials

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