Brisbane's Best Green Space

Brisbane's Best Green Space

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Posted 2016-01-29 by Roy Chambersfollow
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In any city that I visit in the world, I try to find some green space. Brisbane is a very green city, with large parks, sport grounds, secret gardens and bushland. Let's look at the best green spaces in Brisbane.



[SECTION]Best Park: Brisbane Botanic Gardens[/SECTION]

There are 4 parks in Brisbane that compete for the best park in Brisbane. They are New Farm Park, the City Botanic Gardens, Roma Street Parklands and the Brisbane Botanic Gardens at Mt Coo-tha. While New Farm park is an excellent park, most people who visit from other cities are disappointed, because it is more of an example of a great local park than a city attraction. The City Botanic Gardens is really lovely, but it doesn't match up against the best parks and gardens in the world.



That leaves two great parks. I love the Roma Street Parklands, and it certainly is the best place for a barbecue in Brisbane, it has somehow failed to capture the attention of Brisbanites or visitors.That leaves the amazing Brisbane Botanic Gardens, which everyone calls the Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens to avoid any confusion with the City Botanic Gardens.



Just next to the car park you have access to a Library, exhibitions at the auditorium and Randall Studio. There is also the always popular Sir Thomas Planetarium.



The gardens itself features several ponds, a stream, Japanese Gardens, Tropical plants, a tropical dome, a viewing platform with views of Brisbane, an Australian native flower garden and a wonderful rear gardens featuring various subtropical Australian native plants.



The Gardens host a range of events, including free concerts, yoga, gardening workshops, children's activities and much more. This is one of the more active parks in Brisbane, especially on weekends.



[SECTION]Best Bushland Area: Daisy Hill[/SECTION]

This is a difficult one as Brisbane has a large number of bushland areas. Mt Coot-tha is a fabulous location that many people don't explore enough and the lakeside bushland areas such as Enoggera Dam and Lake Samsonvale are fantastic, Daisy Hill Conservation park is still something special.



Daisy Hill Conservation is a beautiful bushland area with tracks for hikers, mountain bikers and horse riding as well as multi-use trails. The highlights include:

The Koala Centre is a lovely little zoo with a focus on Koalas. With any luck you will also spot koalas in the wild, but if not you can see them for free here.



The Tree Discovery Trail is a great educational trail suitable for all ages with information about different types of trees in the park.

The Buhot Creek Circuit is a 9 km circuit that is popular with people looking to exercise. Most people walk the trail, though early in the morning you will see people running it as well.



The Old Quarry is a very picturesque location. You may see some kids swimming here, but this is not recommended as the water is mildly acidic and toxic. You won't get sick jumping into the water, but it is best avoided.



Dog Walking is popular here. Please keep your dogs on the leash and don't let them jump in the water at the quarry.

The Mountain Bike trails makes Daisy Hill one of the best mountain biking locations in Australia. The mountain bike trails are marked by numbers. Walkers will also take these trails as well, but generally you have the trails to yourself.

Horse riding is popular at Daisy Hill. As most trails are multi-use you can do a nice long ride here or do a short walk to just stretch your horses legs.

Several different barbecue areas. Most are wood fired with plenty of wood provided. The best area is the open ground beside the little koala zoo.



The conversation park links up with Vennam Bushland so you can do really long walks here.

Backing on to the Conversation Park at Underwood Road is the Chungtian Buddhist Temple. You can access Underwood Road from the Spotted Gum Trail and pop into the temple. Worth visiting for the Water Drop Tea House which serves coffee, cake and vegetarians meals. In fact, if you have the choice, start your visit to the Conservation Park from Underwood Road and end up trip at the Chungtian Temple.



[SECTION]Best park for a barbecue[/SECTION]

Brisbane is full of barbecues in parks and many people I know head back to their favourites whenever they have a barbecue in the park. Some favourites include New Farm Park, Captain Burke Park under the Story Bridge at Kangaroo Point and South Bank. Further afield, beachside parks are great for barbecues, Shorncliffe is popular, as is Manly, but let's not forget Nudgee Beach, Wellington Point and Tinchi Tamba Wetlands.



There are also great bushland locations for barbecues. This includes several places in Mount Coot-tha, Daisy Hill Conservation Park and Lake Samsonvale's Bullocky Rest .

However, my favourite place for a barbecue has to Roma Street Parklands at the Lakeside Barbecues. It is right behind the artificial waterfall and in front of the lakes. It used to be called Frangipani Court because of all the Frangipanis but I don't see that name on the maps anymore.



There is plenty of parking nearby and it is easily accessed by public transportation from Roma Street Station or Normamby Bus Station.



It is such a lovely area with several barbecues, lots of seating and you are right next to a great quality sport field. You and your guests can also wander around through the parklands.



Oh, it is also legal to drink in this area. No glasses though, you have to use plastic cups or bring your beer in tins. Yes, I know, people drink in other parks too, but you are not really meant to.

[SECTION]Best Seaside Park: Wellington Point[/SECTION]

If green spaces by the sea are more your thing, both Sandgate/Shorncliffe and Wynnum/Manly have excellent parks along their foreshore. However my favourite seaside park is Wellington Point.



Being a point, you have sea on three sides. The park area includes open green space suitable for sport and games, old shady trees, barbecues and sheltered picnic areas. Wellington point also has a jetty that is perfect for fishing.



If you want to cool off, there is a little beach suitable for swimming at high tide. At low tide it more or less becomes part of a sandbar leading out to King Island.



Next to the park is a short walk through mangroves. This is one of the loveliest mangrove walks in the Brisbane area as the walk is along the side of the bluff so you are looking down on the mangrove area.



The highlight of this park is that at low tide a 1 km sandbar is exposed that goes out to King Island. While the park itself is wonderful, it is the island walk experience that attracts people here.



[SECTION]Best Suburban Park: 7 Brigade Park and surrounds[/SECTION]

What makes a great suburban park is the combination of different activities. One of the most interesting is 7th Brigade Park in Chermside. The park is named after the fact that this used to be the campground for the 7th Brigade. It is now a multi-use park with a wide range of activities.



Running through the park is the Downfall Creek Bikeway . This path goes from Virginia Station, through the park and, after crossing Gympie Road, continues down to the Raven Street Reserve. You don't need to be a cyclist to enjoy this path. Walkers, joggers and dog owners are also regular users.



The 7th Brigade park is a great place to take your family. There is a great kids playground with a huge sheltered climbing fort. There is also a handball court, half basketball court and a giant chess board (too bad there aren't any giant chess or checkers pieces).



There are several electric barbecues, covered picnic areas and toilets. As the park is right next to Chermside Westfield you can pop across the road to buy food to barbecue, or just buy some takeaway and eat it in the park.



There are plenty of space for sports. Down the bikeway you will find excellent cricket fields, just as there are across Murphy Road at Marchant Park. But for casual sport players there is a concrete cricket pitch in the field next to the barbecues.



Near Murphy Road is a kids cycle area with multiple intersecting paths. Great to taking the kids to teach them road safety or just letting them have fun on their bikes.

Overall one of the best suburban parks in Brisbane and just a nice place to wander through, especially in the area near the creek. If you walk around the path along Kittyhawk Drive you will also find a beautiful duck pond.



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128363 - 2023-06-13 04:51:00

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