📍24 Best Brisbane Lookouts, Viewpoints & Other Epic Ways To See The City! (2024.)
WANT TO DISCOVER THE BEST BRISBANE LOOKOUTS & VIEWPOINTS?
Brisbane is a gorgeous city famous for capitalising on its idyllic climate by having a vibrant riverside lifestyle and plenty of outdoor spaces wedged between its iconic river and towering skyscrapers. And there is no better way to get a sense of what the Queensland capital is all about than by heading to one of its many viewpoints and observing this city in all its visual splendour.
So whether you’re visiting as a general traveller or arriving just for one of the citywide fireworks and lighting displays or military flyovers, such as with the revered Riverfire event or New Year celebrations, here are the best Brisbane lookouts from the inner city to the outskirts you won’t want to miss!
👉 My top 3 picks for the best lookouts in Brisbane:
- The Story Bridge!
- City Reach Boardwalk, Eagle St Pier.
- Wilsons Outlook.
Planning Your Trip? Use My Favourite Resources!
Tours/Experiences: I recommend Viator.
Accommodation: I recommend Booking.com.
Renting Vehicles: I recommend RentalCars.com.
6 Best Lookouts In Brisbane City.
Brisbane has many incredible lookouts and vantage points that are well worth venturing out and visiting. However, if you’re short on time, but want to appreciate the urban landscape of this beautiful city, these are the ones no traveller to the Queensland capital should miss.
1. Story Bridge. – $.
There’s no contest for which place takes the title for the best lookout in Brisbane. The Story Bridge is synonymous with the city and provides a magnificent perspective of the CBD that no other location even comes close to, and nowhere is the view more breathtaking than from atop its spires. Luckily, like the globally renowned Sydney Harbour Bridge, you can climb it.
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 breathtaking southern summit of Australia’s longest steel cantilever bridge.
See 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 City Cats 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 experience is incredible. That’s why climbing the Story Bridge is a quintessential part of visiting Brisbane. Because when it’s over, it leaves you with lasting memories of this spectacular place.
However, for the most wonderful tour, I highly recommend doing the twilight tour because 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 come on as the CBD closed out the day and transitioned into night, adding another layer of magic to an already unforgettable experience.
2. Wilson’s Outlook.
Just around the river bend from the Story Bridge lies one of the best free lookouts in Brisbane City. Wilsons Outlook sits on the cliffs behind the Howard Smith Wharves and is a beloved photography spot because it not only has fantastic views of both of those renowned attractions but also has the city’s skyscrapers rising out from behind the iconic bridge.
It’s particularly beautiful in the afternoon when the sun goes down behind the buildings. And it’s one of the best places to be in the CBD at night, particularly when the Riverfire fireworks and pyrotechnic shows are on, thanks to that incredible urban scenery.
3. Kangaroo Point Cliffs Park & Lookout.
One of Brisbane’s most prominent geographical features is the Kangaroo Point Cliffs. Or more commonly known as Kangaroo Cliffs. The extensive 18m high rock face follows the Brisbane River from the St. Vincent’s Private Hospital and stops just shy of the Captain Cook Bridge, a distance of about 1km.
The heritage-listed cliffs were created by convicts hacking at the stone, searching for volcanic rock, ignimbrite or welded tuff. Today, it’s known as Kangaroo Point Cliffs Park. And it’s one of the city’s best green spaces, which is in no small part thanks to its spectacular views overlooking the skyscrapers of Eagle Street Pier.
People love walking, riding and taking photographs along both the top and bottom. The former is often busy, but the scenery is well worth it. And there’s plenty of space (and picnic tables) to find a spot to yourself and drink in that magnificent sight, while the latter is typically much more peaceful and just as picturesque.
They’re also some of Brisbane’s best night lookouts, particularly during the Riverfire Fireworks and laser displays as both have plenty of excellent places to watch the captivating shows.
4. Wheel Of Brisbane. – $.
Although it’s not a lookout, the Wheel Of Brisbane is another iconic way to see the River City. Situated at the northern end of the renowned South Bank precinct, the unmissable 60m Ferris Wheel features 42 enclosed air-conditioned gondolas.
General admission rides hold up to 8 people and last 12 minutes and 5 rotations, while Sunset and VIP Packages go twice as long, have drinks and the latter and can fit up to 4 adults which makes them perfect for special occasions, such as romantic dates, proposals, birthdays, anniversaries and more!
What makes the experience even more magical is that every ride includes a pit stop at the top, allowing guests plenty of time to savour the magnificent view. They even operate during Brisbane Riverfire and New Year fireworks, making this the ultimate way to enjoy the city’s biggest outdoor events!
5. Brisbane City Hall Clock Tower.
The last lookout in Brisbane’s inner city is one that not many people know about. City Hall is a famous 1930s heritage building in King George Square. It’s one of the city’s top attractions to see.
But what some people are unaware of is that the architecturally exquisite inter-war academic classical building is not just a visual feast on the outside. It’s even more gorgeous inside. Tourists can explore the interiors’ magnificent staircases, mesmerising ceilings, elegant decor and an imposing organ on one guided tour.
On another, they can head up a restored historical lift and observe the city’s beautiful urban landscape, including King George Square and the Albert Street Uniting Church 94m above the ground from the structure’s most notable feature, the clock tower.
While the scenery has changed significantly over the past 100 years, it’s fun to note that while it’s dwarfed by today’s buildings and skyscrapers, for 30 years until the late 1960s, it was the River City’s tallest structure making the City Hall Clock Tower one of the best Brisbane lookouts with historical ties.
6. Mt Cootha Lookout.
Heading out of the CBD, Mt Cootha is definitely Brisbane’s most well-known and beloved outer vantage point, and for good reason. This beautiful mountaintop location on the city’s outskirts has vast panoramic views overlooking the inner-city skyscrapers and all across the southern side of the Greater Brisbane region.
It’s lovely during the day but becomes magical during Golden Hour when the sun sits just above the horizon and is very romantic at night when all the urban lights illuminate the night. There’s also a cafe and fancy restaurant at the lookout itself, making it one of the best places to go for a date.
Not only is it a fantastic viewpoint throughout the year, but people also love coming here when the RAAF does military jet flybys or the city is putting on a fireworks show, such as during Brisbane Riverfire and New Year, turning an already romantic place even more so.
👉 Note: Mt Cootha Lookout is frequently busy and has a small parking area, so finding a spot may be difficult, especially during events.
5 More Beautiful Inner City Viewpoints.
What makes Brisbane such a gorgeous city is the way it capitalises on the landscape’s natural beauty. The river is its most notable feature, and it’s become the basis of the CBD. While little remains of what was naturally there, miles of foreshore real estate were converted into spaces for the public to enjoy riverfront views virtually wherever they went, so there’s no shortage of incredible viewpoints to discover. Here are some of the best.
7. Clem Jones Promenade, South Bank Parklands.
The South Bank Parklands is one of Brisbane’s must-visit attractions. Part of what makes it so highly regarded are the pathways that run alongside the city’s iconic river and provide beautiful views of the CBD’s western river frontage.
The photogenic footpath is called the Clem Jones Promenade, and it’s gorgeous during all hours of the day. But it’s also one of the premiere places to watch two of Brisbane’s biggest and best events: the New Year’s celebrations and Brisbane Riverfire. Watch the fireworks ignite the night sky during both events, and the laser show and RAAF military planes fly by during the latter.
You can also enjoy skyline views from swimming in South Banks’ famous lagoons, especially Streets Beach. And in limited areas, see the fireworks in full view too.
8. City Reach Boardwalk.
The City Reach Boardwalk is another gorgeous pathway lining the Brisbane River, only this one is on the eastern side of the CBD and backs onto the famous Eagle Street Pier, Brisbane’s premiere fine-dining riverside precinct.
This area is revered because it has magnificent uninterrupted views of the city’s most iconic structure, the Story Bridge. It’s beautiful all throughout the day but is most magical at dusk when the lights turn on and illuminate the darkening sky, and is even more so during Brisbane Riverfire where it’s always one of my favourite spots to watch the fireworks erupt from the bridge into the night sky and and cascading down into the water.
9. Howard Smith Wharves.
If you follow the City Reach Boardwalk along the river to the bridge’s underside, you come to the hippest part of the city, the Howard Smith Wharves. Whereas Eagle Street Pier has high-end restaurants, the latter has more casual dining, but the views here are equally spectacular.
The riverside area provides incredible close-up views of the famous Story Bridge and its underside, but it’s not limited to there. Take the lift up the cliff face and discover eye-level visuals of the beautifully imposing structure. From here, you can also walk the pedestrian path across it and enjoy even more breathtaking city scenery!
10. New Farm Riverwalk.
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.
11. Captain Burke Park.
While the Howard Smith Wharves take up occupancy under the northern end of the Story Bridge, Captain Burke Park lies beneath the southern side. The beautiful urban park shares similar acute angles of the famous bridge and its underside. But where it one-ups it is with its tremendous views of the Eagle Street Pier skyscrapers.
It’s also a fantastic spot to be when Riverfire fireworks erupt over the Brisbane River and explode above the Story Bridge. But be warned, it’ll be loud! Bring earplugs.
4 Best Scenic Bridges.
It’s not just formal lookouts and scenic walkways that provide incredible city views. Brisbane also has numerous bridges that cross the river, offering even more excellent vantage points of the gorgeous capital.
12. 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.
13. Neville Bonner Bridge. – Opens 2024.
The Neville Bonner Bridge is the newest addition to Brisbane’s landscape connecting one of the city’s most recent buildings, the still-under-construction casino, to one of its most iconic landmarks, the Wheel Of Brisbane.
This distinctive and artistically designed structure provides even more incredible viewpoints for people to enjoy, including the towering skyscrapers of the CBD.
14. 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 panoramics of the snaking Brisbane River.
15. 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.
4 Greater Brisbane Lookouts.
Brisbane’s lookouts aren’t just confined to the city. The greater region expands outwards from quite some distance and is home to numerous spectacular viewpoints that make venturing out of the immediate vicinity well worth the adventure.
16. Mt Coo-tha Botanic Gardens Lookout.
Hiding away in the back of one of the city’s top attractions lies another gorgeous Brisbane lookout.
The Mt Cootha Botanic Gardens is a serene and peaceful horticultural garden home to thousands of plant species. It’s a great place to relax and let the kids roam wild. One of the things you can discover there is the lookout, which has lovely distant views of the CBD’s towering skyscrapers.
D’Aguilar National Park.
An hour’s drive west of Brisbane towards Lake Wivenhoe takes you through the city’s closest wilderness landscape, D’Aguilar National Park. This extensive natural habitat occupies almost 400 sq km of mountain ranges and is home to some of South East Queensland’s most scenic driving routes.
Within the southern section of the rainforested national park lies two tiny townships, Mt Nebo and Mt Glorious, numerous walking trails for every level of fitness and several beautiful lookouts. Here are two of its best.
17. Jollys Lookout.
Jolly’s Lookout lies about halfway between Brisbane and Lake Wivenhoe and is, by far, D’Aguilar National Park’s best viewpoint.
The spectacular panoramic vantage point overlooks a lengthy portion of the Great Dividing Range, including a small but impressive section of the continent-spanning mountain range with a deep valley between the peaks. There are also expansive views of the plainlands and suburban sprawl eastward. Even the ocean and some of the distinctively shard-shaped peaks of the Glass House Mountains on the Sunshine Coast are visible in the distance.
It also has picnic tables, a BBQ and a shelter so you can enjoy the view longer and have a bite to eat while you’re there.
18. Western Outlook.
Further along the road, about halfway between Mt Nebo and Mt Glorious, lies the Western Outlook. This gorgeous boardwalk lookout has incredible views of the mountain ranges western peaks, with the glistening waters of Lake Wivenhoe’s making up the background of the picturesque scenery, which is particularly stunning at sunset.
Best Secret Lookouts In Brisbane.
19. Mt Gravatt Lookout.
While there aren’t many viewpoints in the urban areas outside the CBD, Mt Gravatt Lookout is one of the best lookouts in Brisbane that very few tourists know about. This stunning little-known location lies within the Mt Gravatt Outlook Reserve southwest of the city and has fantastic views of the inner city skyscrapers and the surrounding landscape.
It’s a fantastic alternative to the much more well-known and frequented Mt Cootha Lookout and also has some walking trails and a cafe to enjoy.
Other Ways To See The Brisbane Landscape.
Lookouts, riverside walkways and bridges are fantastic ways to see Brisbane, but they aren’t the only ways to enjoy this breathtaking city. Here are a few other ways to appreciate the River City’s landscape.
20. City Cat/ City Hopper.
One of the most iconic things about Brisbane is its City Cats, sleek and fast catamarans that transport people up and down the river. They are an integral part of its famous riverside lifestyle, and using them to navigate your way around the city is one of the quintessential must-do things to undertake in Brisbane.
And because it’s part of the public transport network, it’s also one of the cheapest and most convenient ways to see the beautiful Queensland capital from the water, thanks to frequent services stopping at numerous terminals across the city.
Even cheaper yet are the City Hopper ferries. The catamarans are called Kitty Cats and are much smaller and slower versions of the City Cats, which only service some of the most popular inner ports, such as North Quay, South Bank, Eagle St Pier and the Howard Smith Wharves.
But for most tourists, that’s more than enough. Better yet, City Hoppers are free, so people can get incredible views of Brisbane from the river while reaching their next destination at no cost! Perfect for budget travellers!
21. River Tours.
City Cats and Hoppers aren’t the only way to see Brisbane from the water. Plenty of tour operators offer gentle river cruises that allow passengers to drink in the River City’s unforgettable urban landscape.
Relax as the vessel glides past the inner-city’s most prominent landmarks, such as the CBD’s skyscrapers, the sheer Kangaroos Point Cliffs and underneath the iconic spans of the Story Bridge, the nation’s longest steel cantilever bridge, all while listening to stories about the River City’s most notable historical moments.
22. Kayaking.
For something a little more physical and intimate, some companies offer guided kayaking tours which typically run for an hour and a half and either take you under the iconic Story Bridge or pass the beloved South Bank Parklands. You can also select to do it during the warmth of the day or after dark when all the night lights illuminate the city.
23. Jet Ski Safari.
But if you’re looking for a wildly fun way to take in all the riverside sights and sounds of the inner city, there’s no better way to do it than by embarking on an exhilarating Jet Ski Safari.
Zoom past some of the CBD’s most famous attractions, such as South Bank and the Brisbane City Botanical Gardens, all while flying past Brisbane’s towering skyscrapers on this exhilarating guided tour.
24. Scenic Helicopter Flight.
If you’d like to see Brisbane from an aerial perspective, a scenic helicopter ride over the gorgeous River City is the way to go. Get spectacular views of the gorgeous CBD and look out for its most iconic landmarks, such as the Story Bridge, Wheel of Brisbane and, of course, the winding Brisbane River.
But it’s not just the inner city they cover. They also head out to Mt Cootha and Mt Gravatt to give you a greater appreciation of this spectacular Queensland capital.
Brisbane Lookouts Map.
Accommodation: Where To Stay In Brisbane.
- Budget: Great Southern Hotel Brisbane.
- Mid-Range: Royal Albert Hotel.
- Luxury: Emporium Hotel South Bank.
Frequently Asked Questions.
Where Is The Best View Of The City Brisbane?
Brisbane has several phenomenal lookouts, but seeing the city from the summit of the Story Bridge is pretty unbeatable.
However, if you’re looking for a quintessential viewpoint that includes the entire span of the iconic bridge, the answer is Wilson’s Outlook and the City Reach Boardwalk.
Are There Any Brisbane Suburbs With City Views?
Yes. Mt Cootha, west of the CBD, has excellent views of the city from Mt Cootha Lookout and is one of the most beloved lookouts in Brisbane. Mt Gravatt also has a fantastic viewpoint from Mt Gravatt Outlook Reserve, which overlooks the River City from the southwest and is a little-known hidden gem.
What Are The Best Brisbane Lookouts At Night?
Almost all the Brisbane lookouts in the inner city are fantastic to visit when it gets dark, thanks to the city lights illuminating the night. The best would have to be the Story Bridge, Wilsons Outlook and the Kangaroo Point Cliffs.
All the riverside walkways are also gorgeous at night, while outside of the CBD, Mt Cootha Lookout and Mt Gravatt Lookout are excellent places to enjoy the city at night from afar.
Conclusion: Best Lookouts In Brisbane.
The Queensland capital is a gorgeous riverside city. Luckily, there’s no shortage of viewpoint and lookouts in Brisbane and beyond where visitors can appreciate the beauty and scope of this breathtaking and vibrant place.
If you plan to visit Brisbane, consider looking at these other posts.
