Tingalpa Creek track is a little known but beautiful walking track that passes through Ransome, on…read moreyour way out to the Bayside. There are two walking tracks,around 850m long, so a decent trek but manageable for most people. The area is usually really quiet, with only a few fisherman to keep you company. The track itself is a great walk. Surprisingly, there is a boardwalk for a section of the way. Some of the track winds around Tingalpa Creek, which is surprisingly wide and long for a creek. The trees block out the road noise and the peace and quiet means you can hear a whole range of birds and local wildlife on your walk. The area is fairly popular with fisherman, especially on the weekend. The section of the track that is closet to Rickertt Road has a jetty, type platform structure for fishing off plus there are a few wooden carved picnic tables under a shaded area. Perfect for a quiet afternoon on the weekend.

Tucked away in a bend of Brisbane River is Colmslie Beach Reserve, aka the Octopus Garden Park…read more It's so much fun and has something for everyone. It's on the river, with a little sandy shore, so you can fish; there are quite a few picnic tables and barbecues (but get in early on weekends); there are wide open spaces for kicking a ball around and lots of shady trees to spread a picnic rug beneath. The funnest part, however is the kid's playground. The Octopus Garden has lots wood and rope climbing areas, big sandpit, water play features, giant colourful fish and octopus play areas and a flying fox. For kids and kids at heart, this place has a lovely vibe, with a backdrop of the river and the Gateway Bridge in the distance, Brisbane City Council's done a really good job here. Check it out.

Good old Wynnum jetty. It's so popular you'll always see a great range of people doing their thing…read morethere - dressed up day visitors, dressed down walkers, joggers and cyclists; kids, dogs, seniors, fishermen, brides with their whole bridal parties, even an idiot doing sun salutes out at the very end early morning (that would be me, though not so much lately). What it is that draws people to the sea? This gorgeous structure with its solid stone foundation, built as a job creation scheme during the Depression years, beckons you to get along it, to go as far as you can out into the bay. It's great at high tide, just ask the fisherman. Above those 80 year old foundations is the very modern upgrade. In 2005, the Quandamooka, or Moreton Bay, Project was completed. Elements in the project are the result of a public design competition in 2002 won by designer Paul Songhurst entitled Bulka Booangun: Calling the Dolphins. The main features include a timber and ceramic sculpture made from three recycled hardwood pylons at the entrance to the jetty, six mosaics and lots of little silver fish set into the jetty depicting stories from traditional Quandamooka lore, and a direction-finder dial at the far end of the jetty. Go take a walk along Wynnum jetty - you know you want to.

I came to Wynnum jetty yesterday with my Dad. We got takeaway fish and chips and wandered down to…read morehave our lunch on the jetty. It was a warm day with a nice cool breeze and all in all, a great way to spend an hour. There was a young boy and his parents near us fishing off the end and down a bit further, there was a group of kids enjoying themselves playing some unknown game involving a tennis ball. It made for a fantastic atmosphere, relaxed and fun. It was great to sit and eat and watch the water.

Crockatt Park is another favourite spot for families and friends to gather at to have an afternoon…read moreout by the bay. I have spent many hours with family and friends here lapping up a lazy Sunday. The park has newly renovated facilities that include several new gazebos with electric barbecues, toilets, walkways and playgrounds. One of the favourite installations for children in the park is the flying fox. Close by there are some takeaway restaurants and coffee shops and also a bottle shop if you've run out of some good old ale or wine. There's also a jetty nearby where you can have a troll up or a fish off in the afternoon breeze. Be warned, it is a very popular spot, many birthdays and celebrations are spent here so its best to get in early and get a table or bring your own shade cover. However, once you're settled you're going to enjoy every minute.

I was forced to go out to Sandgate exceedingly early in the morning with an eager friend to go for…read morea walk along the water (why we had to drive to Sandgate was beyond me). As we arrived and I stepped out of the car grumbling I was greeted by a surprisingly beautiful view. All this time I've been living in Brisbane, and I've been out to Sandgate for various reasons more than once, and I never knew this was here. The cycleway/footpath to be graced with our presence ran along the bay; it was incredibly picturesque. It's a very popular place with people of all ages cycling, walking, skateboarding and jogging along the path. There are picnic tables the entire way along and towards either end are small parks with sheltered tables and amenities. It's not especially long, approximately 2km, so if you're in training for a marathon it's probably not ideal. Although it's really pretty, so maybe you could just do several laps.

Wish I could agree with previous posts but our experience recently was terrible…read more We ventured down just before dawn with the intention of going out onto the rock wall to experience the serenity and beauty of day breaking over the beautiful Bramble Bay. Alas, we were shocked to see the carpark at Moora park overflowing (still pitch dark) as as we walked down the ramp we were overwhelmed by a number of exercise groups covering most of the area and trainers bellowing out commando style orders. I have nothing against being fit but these exercise groups have stolen the serenity and beauty of daybreak in this beautiful area. We decided to walk along the top of the cliffs only to then be subjected to numerous groups of very loud (and quite foul mouthed) bicycle riders riding along the road. I feel sorry for the people who live close by and are subjected to this noise assult so early in the day.

I had never heard of this place until my father suggested I join him and his partner for a wander…read morearound this park. This park is a bit of a mission to get to for anyone who does not live in the area but is worth the car mileage as it is a great place to hang out, have a picnic and roam around. I was not expecting much from this park but as soon as I entered the park, I realised how beautiful it was. There is something very serene about it, that instantly puts you at ease (so corny, I know). The park is very spacious too making it perfect for any picnic parties, it would be a lovely place to jog or walk around. When I visited the place, I even noticed people fishing from the deck over the Brisbane River, I doubt they would have caught anything good but they looked like they were having fun and enjoying the views. If it wasn't for its inconvenient location, I would visit this park more often as it really is a beauty.

If you like taking your kids to parks with playgrounds aren't guaranteed to be crawling with kids…read morealready, this is one of the secret parks you can still get a spot in. There are many trees around and 2 main sheltered areas with plenty of tables. There is also a boardwalk type play area and a rather large general swing and tyre play area about 20 meters away from the tables. Mostly under shelter too for those hot days. Bring sunscreen, a picnic blanket and some bug spray for hotter days, but mostly it's quite breezy if you're lucky. What I love about this park is that it's situated in the middle of Sherwood Forest, where Robin Hood lives. Okay... there isn't a Robin Hood living in this forest, but we're still on the lookout for him and his men. Or my single friends are anyway. There are plenty of dads here with kids, and I keep having to tell them, it's not okay because these ones are probably taken. Besides from the nice atmosphere, there are also BBQ facilities, toilets and lots of bins in case you want to orchestrate a kids birthday party here. There is a pretty big carpark and on the weekends there is usually a coffee van parked in one of the slots for your caffeine needs early Saturday morning. I love this park because it's hidden away and not that many people know where it is yet, for those mums and dads out there looking to take their kids outdoors somewhere for free, maybe have a picnic... this is a pretty good hidden gem of a park really close to the city. Not really that super close to public transport, but it's definetely driveable.

The UQ lakes serve no real function purpose (that I can see). You can't kayak on them, nor can you…read morewater ski. You could try throwing a line in, but the best you'd catch would be a gold fish or maybe a turtle--I don't recommend this. I once knew some boys who decided to go swimming in the lakes at night time, covered themselves in lake mud and then ran around campus. I think they contracted some sort of mud-borne bacterial infection. The lakes are there for aesthetic purposes only, people, best enjoyed by wandering around them, observing the wildlife and being careful not to step in duck poo. These lakes aren't spectacular, nor large enough to be of any real use, but our sandstone university wouldn't be complete without a few water features, the lakes contributing nicely to the general atmosphere.

I tend not to hang around the UQ Lakes that much. It is not because the Lakes aren't beautiful,…read morethey really are. It is not that they aren't convenient, they are right on campus and next to the bus stop. It is more because of a phobia of birds that I happen to have, and there are a heck of a lot of birds near the Lakes. The UQ Lakes also have turtles though and fish, and I love turtles so I guess that balances out the birds a bit. I love the Lakes, I just make sure I go with a friend to protect me from the birds which I am always scared will attack me Alfred Hitchcock style. The University of Queensland Lakes are surrounded by grassy areas and trees, perfect to laze around in between lectures. There are serene walkways including a wooden one across on of the Lakes. These are all well lit at night as well since the walkways lead to the UQ Lakes bus stop nearby. The UQ Lakes bus stop is nice and convenient and makes the trip to the city and South Brisbane a lot quicker than it used to be before the Green Bridge was open. I recommend the Lakes as a great area to relax and unwind after a long day of study.