Walking Brisbane CBD Scenic Loop

Walking Brisbane CBD Scenic Loop - Kangaroo Point - Goodwill Bridge - Story Bridge

Walking is the most basic form of exercise and it costs as little as a pair of good walking shoes. Brisbanites love to walk, and so will you, as you discover the city and suburbs. A long walk is a chance to move slowly through the suburbs, stop at the vistas, listen to bird chatter and appreciate the flowers' fragrance. Some Brisbane walking tracks that you must visit include Holman Street to Kangaroo Point Cliffs, Kangaroo Point City Walk, Art and the River public Art Trail, Brisbane River Run and New Farm to Tenerife.

This highly varied inner city walking circuit of around 5km takes in old quarries, mangrove boardwalks, river parks, botanic gardens, bridges and the Riverside strip of bars and eateries and except for the stairs up to and down from the Story Bridge* is largely flat.

I started my walk from the bougainvillea harbour in the vicinity of the Maritime Museum, I then headed towards Kangaroo Point, where the path soon morphs into a water dragon patronised boardwalk at the base of the old Kangaroo Point cliffs.

The Riverlife Adventure Centre which inhabits the heritage listed naval store at the base of the cliffs has turned them into a hot spot for city climbers and also rents out bikes, kayaks and rollerblades to bored walkers at reasonable rates.

The rest of the path to the Story Bridge is a delightful jumble of tiny pocket parks with picnic shelters and playgrounds, a mini mangrove forest, steel Expo ’88 sculptures and benches. Turn right into Thornton St and take the pedestrian entrance up to the Story Bridge walkway.

Once on the other side of the Story Bridge, take a detour via the stairs that lead under the bridge which leads to Wilson Outlook with its particularly fine view of the city, the bridge and Kangaroo Point. From here turn back and take the cliff top path until you reach the glass elevator that take you down to the Howard Smith Wharves,  built in the 1930’s and now the hottest eating and drinking precinct in Brisbane. It's well worth stopping here at Felons Brewing Co for some fish and chips or a bite to eat at Mr Percival's overwater bar.   From here the promenade leads all the way around past the old copper domed Customs House and into the throng of cafes, bars and restaurants that make up Riverside and Pier Nine.

The boardwalk continues all the way past the Stamford Plaza hotel and into the City Botanic Gardens and amble through the centre to George St and QUT on the far side. Well behind the Old Government House and near to the Riverstage exit of the Gardens is the entrance to the Goodwill Bridge and the final stage of the walk across the river to the Maritime Museum.

If you like a challenge, abseil and climb the cliffs, which were made steeper by previous quarry operations that mined its volcanic rocks. There's more outdoor fun to be had with the award-winning Riverlife adventure group, situated below the cliffs. It organizes a range of exciting activities, including cliff climbs and kayaking down the Brisbane River. Among the other adventures that can be arranged here are Segway tours around the city, stand up paddle boarding and cycling along Brisbane’s inner city bikeway. The route covers more than 20 kilometers.