đź“ŤThe Most Scenic Bridges In Brisbane You Have To Cross With Your Camera At Least Once!
HERE ARE THE BEST SCENIC BRIDGES IN BRISBANE’S CBD FOR UNBEATABLE RIVER & SKYLINE VIEWS.
Brisbane is Australia’s enviable River City, and it’s easy to see why. In every way possible, the Queensland capital takes full advantage of its position along its namesake river. It delivers incredible experiences in all the ways you’d expect, and a whole heap more that you wouldn’t. From the endless, uninterrupted walkways tracing its curves, and the iconic Eagle Street Pier restaurants and Howard Smith Wharves overlooking it, to the CityCats gliding along it, nowhere in the CBD are you ever far from the water.
And more often than not, you have to cross it. That’s where this list of Brisbane’s best bridges comes in, because the inner-city has plenty of them, maybe even too many (the River City may as well be known as the Bridge City). But that just means more opportunities to explore the city’s lookouts and walkways, where you can soak up every bit of its spectacular urban scenery.
👉 My top 3 picks for the best bridges in Brisbane:
- The Story Bridge!
- Neville Bonner Bridge.
- Kangaroo Point Green Bridge.
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- 🎟 Activities & Experiences: Viator – My first stop for unique tours and experiences anywhere in the world.
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Best Bridges In Brisbane With Epic City Scenery..
1. Story Bridge. – $.
There’s no contest for which crossing takes the title of the best scenic bridge in Brisbane—it’s the Story Bridge. This iconic landmark, synonymous with the city, is not only spectacular to look at from every angle, but it also has the most breathtaking inner-city views the Queensland capital has to offer from its summit. Luckily, like the globally renowned Sydney Harbour Bridge, you can do just that.
The Story Bridge Adventure Climb offers people the unique opportunity to summit Brisbane’s most famous landmark. Get unforgettable panoramic views of the spectacular urban landscape as you make your way up to the highest point of Australia’s longest steel cantilever bridge.
See views like the towering skyscrapers of the inner city while looking down upon the renowned restaurant precinct of Eagle Street Pier, back along the gorgeous Bradfield Highway and the buildings of Kangaroo Point with the river on both sides, and north across the iconic bow of the bridge to the famous Howard Smith Wharves, all while watching the various CityCats and tourist boats zipping across the river.
It doesn’t matter if you do it during the day, at dawn, during twilight, at night, or even under the full moon (yes, that’s an occasional option!), every climb is incredible. That’s why this experience is a quintessential part of visiting Brisbane, because when it’s over, it leaves you with lasting memories of this spectacular place.
One of the most wonderful, in my opinion, is the twilight tour. It was absolutely magnificent seeing the city during golden hour, lit up with a romantic orange cast as the sun slowly made its way down to the horizon. Then, watching as the lights gradually came on while the CBD closed out the day and transitioned into night added another layer of magic to an already unforgettable experience.
You can also just cross Brisbane’s best scenic bridge as a pedestrian if you prefer a free, budget-friendly alternative for similarly breathtaking views. This iconic structure is also photographer-friendly because, even though it has a high prevention fence running its entire length, there are good-sized gaps in the railing you can stick a camera through, so you don’t have to miss out on epic snaps. Although getting the exact angle when you’ve got it on a tripod for slow shutter or night shots can be a little tricky, especially if it doesn’t have an articulating arm.
2. Kangaroo Point Green Bridge.
The Green Bridge is another new pedestrian crossing, this time creating a much-needed walkway between the City Botanics Gardens and Kangaroo Point, one of the most challenging parts of the city to reach.
And with it comes even more scenic views. This bridge is unique because it’s essentially the best parts of two iconic inner city viewpoints. It shares similar views with the Kangaroo Point cliffs of the skyscrapers behind the famous Eagle Street Pier restaurant precinct, only closer, and the City Reach Boardwalk’s view of the iconic Story Bridge, allowing you to appreciate both in the same photographic frame.
3. Neville Bonner Bridge: Brisbane’s Second Newest Bridge.
The Neville Bonner Bridge is Brisbane’s second newest pedestrian river overpass. The shaded walkway connects the gorgeous South Bank Parklands directly to the new Star Casino, which has the epic Skydeck that is has the number #2 spot on this list.
👉 Quick Guide To Brisbane:
- đźš— Getting Around: Public transport for the inner city, Renting a car elsewhere(Taxis & Ubers are expensive.)
- 🌄 Must-Do Activities: Summiting the Story Bridge, snorkelling and kayaking the Tangalooma Wrecks, and abseiling the Kangaroo Point Cliffs.
- 🏠Best Hotel: Jephson Hotel & Apartments.
4. Victoria Bridge.
There are three main ways to get to the beloved South Bank Precinct: train, ferry or on foot and for many people who do the latter, that usually involves walking through the mall, past the casino and across the Victoria Bridge.
The dual carriageway with a pedestrian walkway on either side of the road is probably the most trafficked bridge in Brisbane and one of the most scenic. It has lovely eastward views overlooking South Bank, with the Wheel Of Brisbane being the most notable feature of the landscape, while on the western side is the Riverside Expressway jutting over the waterway beside the buildings and skyscrapers of the outer CBD, including the currently under-construction casino with the new Neville Bonner Bridge joining the two landmarks.
It’s also another excellent spot to watch the military jets fly by and see the firework show during Brisbane Riverfire and the New Year’s Celebrations. However, if you’re a photographer hoping to get long shutter shots of the display or just the landscape in general from here, it can be pretty hard to get clear shots as the the road is pretty shaky from all the vehicles going over it, especially above the Neville Bonner Bridge.
5. New Farm Riverwalk. Brisbane’s Bridge/Walkway Hybrid.
Continue through the Howard Smith Wharves around the river bend, and you’ll come to another iconic pathway of the Brisbane River, the New Farm Riverwalk. Only this one doesn’t line the shore but extends out and over the waterway, providing more breathtaking views of the city’s famous bridge.
It’s a beautiful and unique way to enjoy the landscape away from the maddening crowds. However, it is unfortunately not open to pedestrians and cyclists during Riverfire.
6. Kurilpa Bridge.
Back upstream, the Kurilpa Bridge is one of Brisbane’s lesser-trafficked pedestrian river overpasses. But the shaded walkway that connects the city’s cultural precinct to the inner city has fantastic views of the CBD’s towering skyscrapers and sweeping panoramas of the snaking Brisbane River.
7. Goodwill Bridge.
Further downstream, at the southernmost end of South Bank, lies the Goodwill Bridge. This pedestrian-only bridge links the Queensland Maritime Museum and the Brisbane City Botanical Gardens. It provides lovely views of South Bank, the buildings of the western CBD and the southernmost end of the Kangaroo Point Cliffs.
Conclusion: Best Scenic Bridges In Brisbane.
From the historically significant Story Bridge and its unmistakable impact on the CBD skyline, to the striking, brand-new Neville Bonner Bridge, Brisbane’s breathtaking scenic bridges truly cement this city as Australia’s top riverine destination.
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