📍15 Best Brisbane Picnic Spots For Your Next Romantic Picnic, Family BBQ Or Friend Gathering.

WONDERING WHAT THE BEST BRISBANE PICNIC SPOTS ARE TO ENJOY OUTDOOR DINING?

With its warm climate and enviable riverine lifestyle capitalising on the iconic river with impressive bridges and city skylines serving as the picturesque backdrop, it’s easy to see why Brisbane is one of Australia’s elite city destinations.

That’s just the start of its unending appeal, because between the CBD, the coastal scenery and the countryside mountains, the Queensland capital is an alluring blend of unique urban attractions and breathtaking natural spaces. And if you’re looking for somewhere scenic to sit down and enjoy the ambience while refuelling your belly between all the exploration and adventure activities, every part of the state’s South East corner has somewhere beautiful on standby to make your picnic, BBQ or get-together with your significant other, family or friends a memorable one.

Whether you’re looking for scenic riverside bends to soak in the serenity, expansive green spaces for running around or spectacular lookouts with panoramic views for romantic dates, there are plenty of outstanding Brisbane picnic spots and parks where you can form new memories.

From the picturesque crowd-favourite lawns and lagoons of the city’s South Bank Parklands and the jaw-dropping Story Bridge views from Wilsons Outlook Reserve to the spectacular shipwreck scenery of the Tangalooma Wrecks, here are the best places to enjoy outdoor dining, whether that be for your next romantic date, casual hangouts, a public holiday, or a special occasion that calls for celebration, like a birthday or anniversary for a long time, picnic-loving local.

Looking for places to picnic on the Gold Coast? Check out this dedicated list >>> Best Scenic Gold Coast Picnic Spots Along The Coast & Hinterland. <<<

1. South Bank Parklands.
South Bank.

The GOAT. South Park is a gorgeous world-class outdoor recreational and cultural precinct which is an absolute must-visit for anyone travelling to the Queensland capital.

Featuring its famous resort-style swimming lagoons, uninterrupted views of the CBD skyline from the Clem Jones Promenade River Walk and the unmissable Wheel Of Brisbane landmark Ferris Wheel, which showcases that scenery from 60m above the water in a quiet elevated pod.

With those being the headliners, that’s already enough of an invitation, but it’s really only scratching the surface of this place’s unmatched appeal.

It is also home to several of the city’s other top attractions, such as the Queensland Museum and Art Gallery, along with entertainment venues such as the QPAC Theatre and the South Bank Plaza, so there’s always something to see and learn about.

Let’s not forget about the iconic Arbour walkway, the stunning Nepal Peace Pagoda at the northern end of the beautiful rainforest, kids’ spaces such as playgrounds, splash parks and the Epicurious garden to teach them about growing and cooking produce rotating light installations and the occasional events that utilize South Banks fantastic indoor and outdoor spaces.

Scattered between all of these elements are benches, tables, BBQs, beaches and lawns that visitors are encouraged to use to lap up this quintessential part of the city’s vibrant atmosphere, between enjoying activity A and adventure B, making this precinct Brisbane’s perfect picnic spots. And thanks to all the restaurants in the vicinity, especially the takeaway, you don’t even need to bring the food either. Just buy, find a place, and dine away, day or night.

2. Kangaroo Point Cliffs Park.
Kangaroo Point.

Another great picnic spot in Brisbane’s inner city is along the equally iconic Kangaroo Point Cliffs. The top is where things really shine here, thanks to the epic elevated views from the clifftops of the CBD’s breathtaking skyline and the nearby picnic tables and BBQs that lie dotted along the popular roadside park that takes advantage of this epic location.

If you’re looking for somewhere more secluded and away from the crowds and traffic, the bottom of the cliffs also provides the same unforgettable skyline city views, only at water level, and has far less foot and pedestrian traffic. Combine that with there being more trees and foliage and the natural afternoon shade of the escarpment for those hot days, and this area is a spectacular urban sanctuary, making it the perfect place to picnic for those seeking the perfect combination of city and nature while reducing the noise associated with the former or the having to travel out to the latter.

What’s great about both these places, as will be for many of Brisbane’s inner city picnic spots, is that because they are well-lit at night, they are not just excellent for lunchtime refuels, but also dinnertime dining.

If you want to elevate your Kangaroo Point outside eating experience, you could make it into a bike ride adventure, which makes transporting your stuff and getting to a great location easier as there are only 2 bridges to get you directly to the top and two ferry terminals for the bottom with only a few places to navigate between the two.

You could also enjoy your picnic before or after doing a Kangaroo Point Cliffs climb or abseil, which is a great way to add one of Brisbane’s most unique experiences to your inner city outing.

3. Wilson Outlook Reserve.
New Farm.

In a city full of gorgeous viewpoints, Wilson Lookout is one of the elite. An outstanding showstopper thanks to its spectacular perpendicular views of the city’s most famous icon, the Story Bridge, with the city skyscrapers as its epic backdrop, it’s a mesmerizing jaw-dropping place to visit any time of the day and understandably a particular favourite for photographers at sunrise and sunset.

And thanks to its picnic tables and having a grassy area right by the fence that showcases the unforgettable scenery, it is also one of Brisbane’s most epically scenic picnic spots! However, it is such a breathtaking location and is only small and popular, it can get busy, especially on weekends at lunch. But because it’s a bit out of the way from most of the city’s attractions, weekdays still be fairly easy to nab a place that doesn’t require you to be right up in someone else’s armpits with other picnickers, as long as you don’t mind having people coming and going to get snapshots from this iconic location.

4. Captain Burke Park.
Kangaroo Point.

If you want to get super close to the skyscraper action, then Captain Burke is the Brisbane picnic spot for you. Located at the very tip of the Kangaroo Point peninsula under the Story Bridge’s southern approach, this park delivers an epic visual impact.

Looking across to the towering buildings that form the backdrop from the illustrious Eagle Street Pier riverfront dining precinct with the boats passing by on the Brisbane River is a gorgeous sight to enjoy while eating on the grass, or cooking up a storm at one of the BBQs, but that’s only one half of why this is such a great outdoor dining venue.

You’ve also got an impressively unique perspective of the aforementioned bridge to be impressed upon, which truly gives you a sense of the scale and magnitude of Australia’s largest steel cantilever structure, making the spot an architectural delight for all those impressed by building design and engineering and the perfect place to go after seeing the city from southern summit.

5. Newstead House Parklands.
Newstead.

For those who love discovering historical sites and would love to picnic on the grounds of a significant heritage landmark, the Newstead House Parklands is just the picnic spot for you. Located on the eastern side of the city, the best way to get there is by catching the train to the Bowen Hills Train Station, then walking, cycling or hailing an Uber or taxi to take you the rest of the way as parking there can be a B.

Anyway, back to this stunning property, it is illustriously Brisbane’s oldest still-standing European residence. Built in 1846 before the city was even a municipality, (that only happened in 1859, where it then became the Queensland capital later that year and wouldn’t become a city until 1902.) it was known for being the epitomous venue of lavish parties that would host the societal elites. Today, almost 180 years later, the two-story Georgian home is now a must-visit museum beautifully showcasing what colonial life was like for early white Australians and the city’s evolution since.

It’s not just the estate that is worth visiting. It is also surrounded by gorgeous gardens, so before you head inside to admire the house’s interior and the historic artefacts that shaped Brisbane that reside within, take advantage of the immaculately manicured lawns, shady trees and abundance of tables, benches and BBQs that all have beautiful riverfront scenery for a picturesque picnic you won’t soon forget.

6. New Farm Park.
New Farm.

Just upstream from the Newstead House Parks lies another stunning riverside picnic spot in Brisbane. New Farm Park is a massive heritage-listed place easily accessible by ferry and features large lawns ideal for outdoor dining on blankets, picnic tables if you don’t want to be on the grounds and free BBQs for cooking up a storm. It also has many big, beautiful and bushy trees that provide excellent shade for those who don’t want to be outdoor dining in the sun.

And it’s not just picturesque river scenery that you can enjoy from this sprawling old park, certain areas also have views of the inner city skyline, making it a great scenic location to eat that combines the two quintessential parts of Brisbane’s lifestyle while also being a fantastic playground for letting the kids run around and the family to enjoy group activities like catch, tag or kicking around a soccer ball.

7. Jolly’s Outlook Reserve.

OThe closest national park to Brisbane on the mainland is D’Aguilar, which occupies a huge habitat of 392 km2 across two sections west and northwest of the city: South and Mt Mee. These places are home to some of the region’s best driving roads and feature stunning lookouts, scenic parks, and various walking trails, making them a lovely day trip destinations from the CBD.

The best of these viewpoints is Jolly’s Lookout, near the quaint forest town of Mt Nebo in the national parks southern expanse. This gorgeous spot has spectacular panoramic views showcasing the stark contrast between where the developed urban areas end and the rugged, heavily forested mountains begin. The most impressive view is where those two sets of mountains meet and intersect, because not only is it marvellous to look at, but it is also where fog sometimes lingers in the morning or after it has rained, making it a photographer’s delight.

On a clear day, you can even see some of the famous and distinct peaks of the Glass House Mountains to the north, which are striking ancient volcanic plugs from when Australia was a far more geologically unstable place.

What’s also great about the lookout is that it’s not just D’Aguilar’s most picturesque viewpoint, it is also its best park as it has BBQs and picnic tables, including a couple that have interrupted views of the landscape, making the perfect place to stop, refuel and admire the gorgeous scenery.

8. Dahmongah Lookout Park.
Mt Mee.

Northwest of the capital along the breathtakingly scenic Mount Mee Road, which runs alongside the D’Aguilar section of the same name between the Sampson Valley and Woodford, lies Dahmongah Lookout.

This gorgeous designated scenic viewpoint is a fantastic pitstop to admire the stunning scenery you’ll be seeing along the way and is one of the best under-the-radar roadside picnic areas in the greater Brisbane region as it overlooks the picturesque rolling hills of the Wamuran Basin with several of the famous jagged peaks of the Glass House Mountains sticking up distinctly out of the landscape in the far distance.

It’s only a small place, so there’s not much room to sit on the grass, but there is one BBQ and several scenery-facing benches that feature uninterrupted views, along with a proper picnic table hidden under the trees next to where you drive in.

9. City Botanic Gardens.
Brisbane City.

Right in the heart of Brisbane, the City Botanic Gardens are the perfect quick getaway if you’re looking for peaceful solitude and relaxed vibes to escape the hustle and bustle of hastily moving people and the sound of traffic racing by.

Located south of the CBD within walking distance of Queens Street Mall, this urban oasis covers over 18 hectares of prime real estate in the city and features plenty of grassy spaces nestled between gorgeously manicured gardens, over 1.2 kilometres of riverfront walkways with picturesque water views of the city. And with plenty of picnic tables and BBQs scattered throughout, you’ll have no trouble finding a beautiful place to picnic in Queensland’s oldest heritage garden.

10. Roma St Parklands.
Brisbane City.

Another incredible place to picnic in the River City is the stunning Roma Street Parklands. With easy access right next to the Roma Street Train Station, this substantially sized place covers 16 hectares of land northwest of the CBD’s northwest.

And with it featuring gorgeous designer gardens, including gorgeous floral arrangements, serene lakes and fountains, lush lawns, interactive areas and huge open spaces, it’s the stuff of horticulture dreams and a great safe space to let the kids run around. Combine that with the numerous picnic tables, and BBQs scattered throughout and you’ll have absolutely no trouble finding a little slice of outdoor paradise.

11. Brisbane Botanic Gardens.
Mt Coo-tha.

At this rate, Brisbane should be called the Garden City. On the outskirts of the city at the base of Mt Cootha, which has one of the capital’s top attractions, the Mt Cootha Lookout, is the Brisbane Botanical Gardens. It’s where the powers that were back in the day of yore decided to expand their horticultural endeavours after they ran out of space at the City Botanic Gardens.

Significantly bigger than its predecessor covering a massive 56 hectares, it is a fantastic family destination as it has plenty of gorgeous gardens featuring plant species primarily from tropical and subtropical climates from around the world, including Australian landscapes, such as our shady moist rainforests and open and airy bushlands that give visitors a taste of what being in their environment is like, through the many pathways that criss-cross the gardens.

There are also beautiful ponds and creeks, some with fountains, where often waterbirds and water dragons are around, stunning artworks to find and a lookout at the far end by the highway, which has lovely views overlooking the skyscrapers of the CBD.

As for picnicking, it is one of the most delightful places to do that, because along with there being lovely spots near the several car parks scattered around the parklands to do so, there are also some fantastic ones hidden amongst the trees that require you to go on a fun little adventure to find, perfect if you’ve got younger kids who love to run around and enjoy going on quests of discovery to find the best grassy area or picnic table.

12. Lake Wivenhoe.

If the idea of your perfect day out includes a gorgeous drive through the mountains and a lakeside picnic, Lake Wivenhoe is just the place to go. The most direct way to get there is through D’Aguilar National Park, which has one of South East Queensland’s most incredible touring roads. This is thanks to its endless smooth and gently undulating curves that make it a dream to drive as you wind your way through the gorgeous open eucalypt forests and moist subtropical rainforest, passing many gorgeous scenic viewpoints, including the aforementioned, must-stop Jolly’s Lookout, before making a steep, technical descent into the Brisbane Valley. From there, you can pick up the pace as the road opens up and straightens out.

Then, it’s just a matter of picking where to picnic, because Wivenhoe is an enormous lake, (it’s Brisbane’s primary supplier of water) and there are 10-day use areas to choose from, with many of them having tables, BBQ’s, boat ramps and toilets.

Logan’s Inlet is the biggest and best with a huge grassy area, making it easy to find a space to yourself even on weekends or public holidays, a designated swimming area, gentle sloping for launching kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and inflatables, and a two-lane concrete ramp for boating and sailing endeavours. But what makes it my family’s favourite is that there are often kangaroos, sometimes many more than one, that just love hanging out there when it’s not busy, which just makes the perfect picnic companion.

We also love Billies Bay as we’ve seen koalas there several time and that’s where they release the ones they rehabilitated. The Spillway is also a fantastic place, especially when water is overflowing down the dam wall, however, the actual picnic area is only a small one near the kayak launch gate. And to get down there to go paddling, or even have your picnic down there, it’s a decent descent. Lastly, O’Shea’s Crossing, the northernmost tributary near Somerset township is another lovely location that offers a river-like experience rather than the open water terrain the rest of the lake has.

13. Lake Somerset.

Supplying the supply lake, Lake Somerset acts as a backup reservoir for Wivenhoe and is another great place to enjoy a picnic road trip from Brisbane. For the two southern day-use areas, the quickest way to reach them is by taking the same scene drive through D’Aguilar National Park, then turning right at the Wivenhoe-Somerset Road T-intersection and heading up through the picturesque countryside that way.

The first one you’ll come across is The Spit, the largest and most popular place with the most amenities. It’s a big grassy area with many sheltered picnic tables and BBQs and super gentle slopes for launching boats, kayaks and other watercraft. There is also a designated swimming area and playground for the kids to burn off their excess energy.

The second one is Kirkleigh, which lies a bit further than halfway up the western shoreline and is somewhat of a hidden gem. The turnoff is not well marked, so look for the Kirkliehg Road street sign and the NRMA Somerset Holiday Park sign. Follow it until you reach the park’s office, then turn left with the roundabout and follow it to the end and that’s where you’ll find this lovely location that pretty much only the locals the people staying at the holiday park know about. There, you’ll find a lot of lovely areas to picnic along the riverfront.

Lastly is the Westvale day-use area, which is even more of an unknown location. It’s only a small place but it was delightfully more picturesque than I thought it would be. However, while it doesn’t have any barbecues or picnic tables at all, it does have a single bench, soft grassy areas for traditional blanket picnics, and a gentle slope down to the water. The best way to get there is by heading to the Samson Valley, then making your way to Woodford (stopping at the aforementioned Dahmongah Lookout.) and making your way to Kilcoy. However, just before you get there, turn left at Villenvue Road, left again onto Neurum Road then right onto Westvale, where it won’t be long until you see the entrance for it. It’s certainly out of the way, but a beautiful secret location that not many people get to see.

14. Enoggerah Reservoir.
Walkabout Creek.

Sitting right on the edge of where suburban sprawl meets the rainforest Walkabout Creek is one of Brisbane’s best family-friendly picnic spots. This is thanks to the Discovery Centre which allows visitors to learn about the Australian environment and the natural wildlife population, much of which is endemic to the Land Down Under.

It is also a great place to visit thanks to the Enoggerah Reservoir, the city’s first dam, which is the perfect bushland setting for picnics as you can sit by the water underneath the towering trees. You can also go swimming in the designated area and kayaking in the rest of it. Best of all, it’s one of the few places in the hinterland where you can hire one out, which is especially good for people who don’t have one or arrive without, which would be most folk. There are also some trails around the shoreline if you want to work off the calories you just ate.

15. Lake Moogerah.

South East Queensland has some pretty great lakes, but the one that takes the cake is Lake Moogerah. Located 103km southwest of Brisbane, it is an absolutely gorgeous drive through the magnificent and jaw-droppingly beautiful Scenic Rim region, with this waterbody being one of its most breathtaking highlights.

What makes this lake so special, especially from Fred Haigh Park is that it is surrounded by the rugged mountains of the epic continent-spanning Great Dividing Range, with the solitary peak of Mt Greville proudly sitting front and centre. The whole thing just looks like a photographically curated scene designed to be the poster child of the Scenic Rim. And it is, along with being unforgettably stunning. So yeah, Brisbane’s best lakeside picnic area, you bet.

But that’s not all, because along with the park having those gorgeous views, there’s also a scenic lookout nearby on Edwards Street which shows a different perspective of the lake being held back by the dam wall with the river on the other side that you cn also go down to. And that’s not even the best bit. That’s on the other side of the dam wall, which earmarks the start of the strenuous, 6km Grade 5 hike up Mount Edwards, which rewards you with outstanding views of there’s a phenomenal hike to the top of Mount Edward starting from the other side of the dam wall which has incredible, uninterrupted panoramic views of the Scenic Rim’s epic northern expanse, which you will definitely need to have a picnic after to recover from. Luckily, there’s heaps of tables, BBQs and grassy areas to help facilitate.

As if the iconic lawns and the lagoons of the South Bank Parklands that include the city skyline and meandering river as its breathtaking backdrop weren’t enough of an outstanding picnic spot in Brisbane, there is also the stunning mountainous scenery of Lake Moogerah’s Fred Haigh Park and the gorgeous views of semi-submerged sunken ships of the Tangalooma Wrecks at Moreton Island in the greater South East region to add to the list along with so many more. So, for those looking for somewhere to enjoy an unforgettable outdoor dining experience, the Queensland capital more than delivers on excellent spots for families, couples and friends to do so.

If you are planning to visit Brisbane, consider looking at these other posts.

• 

  📍Best Time To Visit Ipswich, QLD From A Long-Time Local. (2025.)

• 

  📍10 Best Coastal Weekend Getaways From Brisbane For Fun & Adventure From An Local Thrillseeking Outdoor Enthusiast. (2026.)

• 

  📍42 Best Fun, Unique, Free & Hidden Things To Do In Brisbane, Australia. (Activities, Tours & Attractions, 2026.)

• 

  📍16 Best Natural Wild Swimming Holes Near Brisbane Within 2 Hours Travel. (2025.)

• 

  📍40 Best Fun Things To Do In Ipswich, Queensland. (2026.) (Tours & Attractions.)

• 

  📍Can You Travel From Melbourne To Brisbane By Train? Yes! Here’s How. (2025.)