26 Best Brisbane Lookouts - In and Around the City

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If you are looking for a free, fun, or romantic way to spend your evenings or 2 days in Brisbane, then you're in for a treat with this best Brisbane lookouts list.

These Brisbane viewpoints are perfect if you are a photographer and are searching for great photography spots in Brisbane. Some of the viewpoint recommendations are in local parks, making it easy to set up your tripod and get yourself comfortable.

If you are not a photographer, do not fret. The scenic views on this list are also located in great walking and picnic areas. Visiting these sights is the perfect way to spend your day admiring the skyline and nature that Brisbane has to offer.

The lookouts around Brisbane in this guide are a 1.5-hour drive away at most, which includes some of Queensland's best national parks with stunning waterfalls. If you have a car, I'd recommend turning it into a weekend getaway from Brisbane.

I guarantee you won't be disappointed with these Brisbane viewpoints, Sydney is not the only city in Australia offering fantastic panoramic views of famous Australian landmarks!

• 26 Brisbane lookouts

26 Best Brisbane Views

Kangaroo Point Cliffs Lookout

Kangaroo Point Cliffs Lookout is a picturesque part of Brisbane. The cliffs give you 180-degree views along the river. Towards the east, you can admire views of Eagle Street Pier.

Towards the west, you will be able to see views of the North Quay end of Brisbane city and the beautiful bridges that connect the city with South Bank.

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Kangaroo Point Cliffs Park

Above, I recommended visiting the lookout at Kangaroo Point. Just north, along the river's edge, is Kangaroo Point Cliffs Park. The park contains well-built (and safe) paths that allow you to walk along the cliff's edge, admiring the views as you pass along. There is also a barbecue area and playground.

The views along this part of Kangaroo Point Cliffs Park are similar to those seen at Kangaroo Point Cliffs Lookout. The only small difference is that you are now at the water's edge. Here you will be able to look back at the sheer cliffs of Kangaroo Point and forward towards the city.

Mount Coot-Tha Summit Lookout

Arguably the most popular and well-known lookout in Brisbane, Mount Coot-Tha comes highly recommended! It is situated in the western suburbs and is approximately a 20-minute drive from central Brisbane.

At this lookout, you will get a complete view of the city. The best time to visit is in the evening. During the night, the city lights bring a fantastic glow over the city.

The summit area is very well developed too. You can find the nice Summit Restaurant and Cafe at the top. There is nothing better than heading to the Mount Coot-Tha viewpoint and enjoying an ice cream as you gaze out across the horizon.

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Clem Jones Promenade, South Bank

Located within South Bank, along the river, is Clem Jones Promenade. It is a beautiful footpath that can take you from the north or south end of South Bank.

The promenade is a great place to go for a relaxing walk without leaving the city. You will also be able to enjoy amazing views as you pass along it. Specifically, you will get unobstructed views of Brisbane's Central Business District.

On the other side of the river, you will additionally be able to see the Queensland Treasury, the Treasury Casino, and the George Street Suncorp Building.

River Quay Green, South Bank

On the southern end of the Clem Jones Promenade is a small but beautiful open park area - River Quay Green. Surrounding this little patch of grass are several bars and restaurants.

From this end of South Bank, you can still enjoy sweeping views of Brisbane's CBD. You can also look towards the east and enjoy views of the stunning Goodwill Bridge connecting South Bank with the Queensland University of Technology.

Highgate Hill Park

Highgate Hill Park is located in the inner-city suburb of Highgate Hill, which is south of South Bank. The park is quite humble in its appearance and facilities.

The highlight is a small picnic shelter that sits at the highest part of the park. From the shelter, you will be able to see over the houses in Highgate Hill, allowing you to also catch a view of Brisbane city from behind South Bank.

Eildon Hill Reserve

This park is found in the Brisbane suburb of Windsor. The reserve is quite large. The main attraction is a large concrete area at the tallest point of the reserve. From there, it is possible to see great views of Brisbane.

From this viewpoint, you will be looking over Spring Hill from the opposite side of the city to Kangaroo Point Cliffs. When visiting the reserve, do note that the gates open at 6 AM and close at 10 PM.

Mount Gravatt Outlook

Residing within Toohey Forest Park, the Mount Gravatt Outlook offers stunning views of the city. The outlook is best accessed by car, with parking available within the area. The viewpoint is well developed with picnic tables and chairs, a children's play area, and a cafe.

Like Mount Coot-Tha, this viewpoint is located quite high up on a mountain, so it has mostly unobstructed views of the entire city area.

Bartley's Hill Lookout

Bartley's Hill Lookout can be found in Ascot. It is a 10-minute drive from the previously recommended Eildon Hill Reserve viewpoint. The lookout is located in a very modest council park.

From the lookout - depending on the amount of tree overgrowth - you will be able to catch a view of the city and a corner of the Brisbane River.

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New Farm Riverwalk

New Farm Riverwalk is a pedestrian way that hangs over the Brisbane River. It provides fantastic views, at water level, of Story Bridge and Brisbane city.

The walk begins at New Farm Park, a great place to grab lunch, and ends at Howard Smith Wharves. I recommend commencing the walk in the late afternoon. This will allow you to see the city light up in the early evening.

The trek from New Farm Park to Howard Smith Wharves only takes about 20 minutes at a leisurely pace. You can continue the walk further by continuing past Howard Smith Wharves to the City Reach Boardwalk.

Wilson's Outlook

Located just above Howard Smith Wharves is Wilson's Outlook. It is situated in a small park that has a children's play area and a small green area. Elevators can take you from the river level to the park.

From the outlook, you will get the best view of the Story Bridge and the Central Business District part of Brisbane city.

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Howard Smith Wharves

In late 2018, the area of Howard Smith Wharves was redeveloped and brought to life! The site is now a popular bar, restaurant, and hotel spot in the city. I highly recommend visiting here for drinks or dinner.

In addition to the great food and drink spots, you can catch a beautiful river-level view of the Story Bridge from the wharves.

A great place to try is Felons Brewing Co, which has tables that line the edge of the boardwalk. From there, you can enjoy the fresh air and gaze out across the river.

Eagle Street Pier

A popular area of the city among locals is Eagle Street Pier. This is a bustling bar, nightclub and, restaurant area of Brisbane.

In addition to great entertainment, you can walk along the boardwalks to catch a great view of the Story Bridge and South Bank.

The area is best visited at night time, allowing you to take advantage of the area's restaurants.

Alternatively, drop in during the day and continue walking to either New Farm Park or down towards the Brisbane City Botanical Gardens.

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Goodwill Bridge

The bridges that connect South Bank and Brisbane offer some of the best views of Brisbane. The Goodwill Bridge is a pedestrian and bike-only bridge. It combines the southernmost end of South Bank with the Queensland University of Technology campus.

The bridge itself has various areas where you can pause and look out across the river. On the western side of the bridge, you will be able to catch a view towards the busy end of the South Bank Parklands and the Central Business District.

On the eastern end, you will see the Pacific Motorway and a part of the Kangaroo Point Cliffs.

Victoria Bridge

Victoria Bridge connects cars and pedestrians from Queen Street in the Central Business District to the centre of South Bank. From the bridge, you will be able to admire the Wheel of Brisbane located on the South Bank side, and Kurilpa Bridge, which is a bit further down the river.

As this is a shared bridge with vehicles, it is a bit less enjoyable than the pedestrian-only Goodwill and Kurilpa Bridges. Regardless, if you are in the area, the bridge provides a different perspective of the city as you pass over it.

Kurilpa Bridge

Located at the start of the CBD when arriving from the western suburbs, Kurilpa Bridge is a pedestrian and bike-only bridge that connects Tank Street to South Brisbane. The bridge has a unique design featuring striking large poles and cables. At night, the bridge is often brightly coloured.

From the bridge, you will be able to look down along the river towards South Bank and the CBD. The bridge also offers views of Milton and the William Jolly Bridge in the distance.

Brisbane City Hall Clock Tower

This lookout is found at Brisbane's City Hall. The clock tower stands at 64 metres tall and is a popular viewpoint in Brisbane.

Once at City Hall, you can ride up the clock tower for free. On the observation deck, you will get to enjoy 360-degree views of central Brisbane. It is the perfect place to stop between visiting other attractions to get stunning views of Brisbane.

While in the clock tower, you will also see the clock's bells and inner structure. You can get a tour of City Hall and visit the Museum of Brisbane as well before or after going up the clock tower.

Do note that a reservation is required to go up the clock tower, so be sure to book in advance.

O'Reilly's Tree Top Walk

O'Reilly's Tree Top Walk is found in Lamington National Park and offers fantastic views of the Lamington Ranges. The treetop walk features an 800 m trail with nine suspension bridges to cross, all sitting 15 metres above the ground.

The trail is very easy to follow, so all activity levels will be able to participate. It will take you through lush rainforest, and you are likely to see many birds and animals that inhabit the area along the walk.

You will eventually reach two observation decks, the highest of which sits at 30 metres above the ground. From the decks, you will be able to enjoy stunning views of the surrounding rainforest and the Lamington Ranges.

Lamington National Park is an hour and a half out of the city. However, O'Reilly's Tree Top Walk is a unique must-visit lookout near Brisbane, so it's definitely worth the journey!

Sir Thomas Gaffney Lookout

This lookout is located in the Chapel Hill area of Brisbane within Green Hill Reservoir Park. The Sir Thomas Gaffney Lookout offers panoramic views of the area surrounding the park and the Brisbane skyline. It is an especially awesome spot to visit to watch the sunrise or sunset over the cityscape.

After visiting the lookout and taking lots of pictures, be sure to explore the park too. It is a peaceful park to wander around, and there are multiple great spots to enjoy a picnic. The park is also completely dog-friendly, so you can enjoy the park and its views with your pup.

Francis Lookout

The Francis Lookout is one of the best lookouts near Brisbane and is located in the Corinda neighbourhood. This lookout is a little different as it is found within a cemetery. The cemetery is a heritage-listed site and was used for burials between 1860 and 1970.

The lookout here offers terrific views of Brisbane and Mt Coot-Tha. What's great about this location, along with the stunning views, is that it is not a super well-known spot. Therefore, you will get to enjoy the views without the crowds found at some other lookout locations.

You can visit Francis Lookout 24 hours a day, but I recommend going in the day instead of at night if you get spooked easily!

Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk

The Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk is found at Tamborine Mountain, an hour outside of Brisbane. The skywalk covers 1.5 kilometres and features a steel bridge raised 40 metres above the ground.

As you follow the trail, you will be able to enjoy views of the lush green rainforest surrounding the skywalk. Having taken in the stunning views of the forests of Tamborine Mountain, the trail will take you back to the forest floor.

Along the way, you will also discover the Rainforest Eco Gallery, which houses exhibits on Mount Tamborine's history.

Governors Chair Lookout

The Governors Chair Lookout is situated about an hour and a half from Brisbane in Main Range National Park. The lookout provides stunning views out across the Fassifern Valley, Spicers Gap, and Lake Moogerah.

To get to the lookout, you have to follow an easy 300-metre track. Once at the top, you will be able to take in the panoramic views. The lookout offers particularly spectacular views at sunrise and sunset.

Do be careful when you get to the top of the lookout, especially if you are with children, as it is located at the top of a cliff.

Glass House Mountains Lookout

This lookout is situated in Glass House Mountains National Park. This is another fantastic lookout near Brisbane, located about an hour outside of the city.

Having followed the trail to the lookout, you will be able to enjoy breathtaking views of the entire national park. This includes views of green landscapes and mountains.

There is a cafe at the lookout too, where you can stop for a refuel before leaving or exploring more of the park. The park additionally has picnic tables and a barbeque area. The lookout track is open 24 hours a day, so you can visit to watch sunrise or sunset.

Camp Mountain Lookout

The Camp Mountain Lookout is located within D'Aguilar National Park in the Moreton Bay Region of Brisbane. You can reach the lookout in about 20 minutes when driving from Brisbane.

After following a short trail and climbing some stairs, you will reach the viewpoint. From here, you will be able to take in sweeping views of the eucalyptus forests in the area. You will also see the Glass Mountains and the Brisbane skyline in the distance on clear days.

Once you have enjoyed the views, you can explore more of the park, which features many trails. The park is an excellent place for mountain biking enthusiasts as well.

Falls Lookout

The Falls Lookout is another unique lookout location in D'Aguilar National Park found on the Mount Mee forest drive.

To reach the lookout, you will have to follow an easy trail through scrubland. At the lookout, you will get views of the D'Aguilar Range and the surrounding forest.

Having enjoyed the views, carry onto Bull Falls to enjoy the natural waterfall and nearby rock pools. This area as a whole is the perfect palace to spot Australian wildlife too.

Falls Lookout is a little further from Brisbane than the Camp Mountain Lookout, being an hour and a half drive from Brisbane city. However, it's worth the drive and is an excellent stop if spending the day exploring D'Aguilar National Park.

Mapleton Falls Lookout

Mapleton Falls Lookout is a lookout near Brisbane that is found in Mapleton National Park. You can reach the lookout in about an hour and a half if driving from Brisbane.

Mapleton Falls can be accessed by following an easy one-kilometre path. Once at the lookout, you can enjoy views of Mapleton Falls and the National Park's stunning rainforest environment. You will also be able to see Obi Obi Valley.

Like other lookouts within national parks, having visited the lookout, you can then spend some time exploring the park itself.

In Summary

That rounds out this list of the best Brisbane lookouts with amazing views. If you live in Brisbane or are just travelling through from places like the Gold Coast, I hope the recommendations on this list have given you another perspective of this beautiful city.

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