You can walk along Brisbane River on both sides. One side has Southbank, which starts around the Kurilpa Bridge, the William Jolly Bridge and continues along past Victoria Bridge, then the Captain Cook Bridge, the Goodwill Bridge, the Story Bridge, and the Kangaroo Point Cliffs.

Each Area has its own beauty and character. The River Walk from Victoria Bridge as far as the Captain Cook Bridge is the Southbank Precinct and the most popular, as it has the Southbank Beach, and the Brisbane Wheel that many tourists come just to ride. They line up by busloads, with cameras and sunhats to take photos of Brisbane from the Wheel.

Southbank’s Street Beach is where the Backpackers and the Asian tourists go to lie on the green banks and swim in the pools and picnic on laid out towels and the grass.There is no restaurants or shops in this area, simply gardens and sand and water and it is where the action is for everybody, including families with kids loving the water plays and the playgrounds.

Right at the end after the Goodwill Bridge, past the Maritime Museum is the Kangaroo Point Cliff Walk which is popular with the Joggers, walkers, photographers and the abseilers who climb the cliffs where they often have accidents because they do not have proper safety gear. I watched three men work as a team while one climbed up and down. On my return, six ambulances and police were in attendance as a climber had fallen. I had watched three young boys with a rope tossed over a tree at the top, and wondered at the time how safe this was, and also a young girl without any safety gear at all climbing the lower part of the cliff.

Climbing the Cliffs Climbing safely Climber controlled with rope and assistant Climber alone with no protective gear Three abseiling on the cliff

There are many bike riders along this path which has a special bike path just for bikes. One has to be careful walking here if your camera is looking upwards, as the bikes come speeding along and around curves in a huge hurry ringing bells if you are in their way not listening. You can hire bikes from here and ride a bike yourself

The walk is very scenic with many birds and animals, and spiders with great webs, as well as the City Buildings on the opposite side. As you walk past the ferry stops and the jetties, there are seats for viewing and resting, picnic areas with barbecues and statues and viewing places for Photography. You can simply take the ferry back if you get tired, and the Free Red City Hopper has Thornton Street Ferry Terminal as its last stop on this side of the River. The other ferries, known as Cats, stop every Jetty as far as Bretts Wharf, and the ride is well worth the photographs you get.

Bush Turkey on a grassy mound Water dragon on the Rocks below Butcher Bird walks the grass Spider on web Myna using the drinking fountain

The red standing figure statues are visible from the other side of the river and as you ride the ferries. Its called the Man and Matter and was created by Peter D. Cole for the 1988 Expo. The statues are a part of this walk and Kangaroo Point

Man and Matter Man and Matter Man and Matter Man and Matter

The River Walk is busy in the early mornings. The bank is lined with expensive apartments and residential buildings and people are walking dogs, jogging, riding bikes or just walking. It is a very beautiful walk along the river.

Marguerite Carstairs