Get your rug, sunscreen and picnic basket ready! There are plenty of great spots around Brisbane for a weekend picnic relaxing with some nibbles and a good book. Here are some of the city’s best picnic spots – catch you outdoors over the weekend!
River Quay Green
This beautiful open amphitheater on the South Bank can be easily accessed by bus or ferry. River Quay Green is a picturesque location with a great synergy between modern and natural elements. The space offers free live music courtesy of the Sound Society on weekends, and you can enjoy regular events from Sunday Social on the Green to Carols By Twilight. As it’s an alcohol-permitted area, this is a great place to stop and have a drink with friends amongst nature!
Pairs perfectly with: A tasty, mild chicken Pad Thai from P’Nut Street Noodle, Cowch churros with white chocolate dip and a bottle of riesling.
West End Riverside Lands Park
Some say West End’s best feature is its range of quirky cafes and bars… but a picnic along the West End Riverside Lands Park on a Saturday morning is true bliss! Only a few minutes’ walk from Davies Park Market, you can enjoy fresh fruit and vegetables, hot food, unique crafts and clothing stalls. Bring your picnic blanket and enjoy the live music with your favourite furry companion, as the park is pet friendly!
Pairs perfectly with: Okonomiyaki En’s delicious Japanese pancakes and a Blackstar soy cold-pressed coffee – both located in the Davies Park Market!
New Farm Park
New Farm Park – located in trendy shopping and dining paradise Fortitude Valley – is just two ferry stops from Brisbane’s CBD. With abundant trees and perfect lawns, the park offers a great picnic area as well as walking and cycling routes. This green space is perfect for a romantic picnic by the river, or for gathering your friends to enjoy an afternoon in the sun. The Jan Powers Farmers Markets, located right next to the park, operates every Saturday from 6am to midday. Stop by to pick up a tasty lunch or try some fresh goods from local farmers!
Pairs perfectly with: Bagel Boys’ fresh market bagels and chocolate fudge brownies.
Mount Coot-tha Botanic Gardens
For the best experience nature can provide this close to the city, Mount Coot-tha Botanic Gardens is the place to be! The stunning natural environment offers a scenic view with extensive gardens and picnic spots, where you can feel like you’re getting back to nature while only minutes from the city. Looking for a beautiful spot to see the sights of Brisbane? Go for a hike up Mount Coot-tha and take in the views of the city and beyond.
Pairs perfectly with: Mini Vegemite and cheese scrolls, lamingtons and ginger beer from Bundaberg Brewed Drinks.
Roma Street Parkland
Located next to Roma Street train station, Roma Street Parkland is always worth a visit. From flowers galore to fern walks, water features and grassy expanses, there’s so much to delight the senses! Taking a walk through the designer gardens is a must-do after your picnic.
Pairs perfectly with: Light, crispy boneless fried chicken from CHI Mc Brisbane and a cool grape green tea with basil from Gong Cha.
Wellington Point Recreation Reserve
Only a 30-minute drive from Brisbane’s city centre, Wellington Point Recreation Reserve is a popular choice for picnics and boating on weekends. You can walk, exercise, fish or kick back and take it all in over a picnic lunch in park. With a small sandy beach to explore, you can even walk over to King Island at low tide.
Pairs perfectly with: A basket of beer battered cod, calamari rings, prawn cutlets and chips from Wellington Point Takeaway. Finish with a vegan jam doughnut and a cup of ice cold brew from First Coffee Co.
Images courtesy of Rico Chung: @chung_rico
