South Bank Parklands

South Bank Parklands is a 17-hectare urban parkland on the southern bank of the Brisbane River in South Brisbane, opposite the Brisbane CBD. Developed on the former World Expo 88 site and officially opened in 1992, it is Brisbane's premier recreational and cultural precinct. The parklands feature Streets Beach, Australia's only inner-city man-made beach, along with landscaped gardens, the Grand Arbour, the Nepalese Pagoda, riverside promenades, restaurants and event spaces.

Visitors can expect expansive landscaped parklands along the Brisbane River with paved promenades, sub-tropical gardens, and open lawns. The precinct includes Streets Beach and Boat Pool lagoons for swimming, the bougainvillea-covered Grand Arbour walkway, the heritage Nepalese Pagoda, playgrounds, picnic and barbecue areas, and a riverside dining precinct. The area connects to the Queensland Cultural Centre and offers views of the CBD skyline, with markets, public art and regular events throughout the year.

The parklands occupy the former World Expo 88 site held from 30 April to 30 October 1988. After the exposition, the 40-hectare site was redeveloped as public parkland and officially opened on 20 June 1992. The Nepalese Pagoda, originally the Nepal Pavilion for Expo 88, was retained as a heritage feature. The area transformed from industrial wharves and warehouses into Brisbane's major urban renewal and riverside recreation precinct.

South Bank Parklands is Brisbane's principal cultural and recreational precinct, adjoining the Queensland Cultural Centre that includes Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA), Queensland Museum and Queensland Performing Arts Centre. It hosts regular markets, festivals, public art installations and community events, and is a major gathering place for locals and visitors with riverside dining and leisure traditions.