South Bank Parklands

View of the city from South Bank

Many Queenslanders, and indeed other Australians remember Expo 88 - on the Brisbane River opposite the city.  Once old warehouses were demolished and the place totally reconstructed to provide the various pavilions of those countries that came here to promote their countries at that time.  I remember wondering what it was all about - but then when I attended (on day two) I was hooked.

I remember the distress when it was all finished.  But, what resulted on the land and in the buildings that remained have made the site very popular.  

It has been revamped several times - and currently there is still some construction going on - the new Australian Broadcasting Commission venue is being built, and a major water harvesting facility is under construction.

The popular beach is still there, some of our popular restaurants from Expo days are gone and there are more new shops and restaurants dotted around, and the Queensland Conservatorium of Music is adjacent.  It is still a very popular venue for picnics, walking, riding, visiting, eating, and of course shopping at the markets.

At weekends there are markets - starting on Friday night and going all day Saturday and Sunday - and it is a great place to shop.

There's really lots to do - picnic places, entertainment, swimming in the pool, walking/riding along the pathways along the riverside, watching the river traffic, riding the Eye of Brisbane...

Many restaurants are around and in South Bank - plenty to do.


I like the Lifestyle Markets - so many things to buy!!