Yep, this place is dripping in my childhood from when I was a little'un unable to stand up straight…read morein a pair of skates to when I thought I was a really cool rollerblading aficionado. I remember getting so angsty about the group activities/competitions like red rover because I so desperately wanted to win or at least, be as cool as my brother who was already miles ahead of me. Alas, I always fell behind but enjoyed myself regardless. My favourite times in this skating ring were freetime where they would play some awesomely relevant song like Hit Me Baby One More Time or Backstreet's Back and I would jive a little as I skirted the edge of the rink, careful to avoid falling and bringing down three other people with me. My high school used to love including this place in a list of appropriate venues for sports activities, and even then I was overly enthusiastic to go. Such fond memories. And then my friends and I would sneak off to get snacks and drinks and then gaze in wonder at the professional rollerblades and skates inside glass cabinets, signed by people we had never heard of. Stafford Skate Centre is the perfect venue for group activities because there's room for hours of endless fun. Who's have thought that skating in a circle for hours could be so entertaining? But there you go. You can hire skates and blades or bring your own. This place has a massive car park to accommodate the influx of visitors - particularly during school holidays - but it's probably in your best interest to get in early to avoid huge crowds. I think every parent should bring their kids here or to some other skating rink because it's the best place to spend time as a kid and it gives you some really cherished memories. Sigh.

I basically grew up at the Stafford Skate Centre…read more It's "Skate 'N' Blade" signage at the front of the building always made me feel tough, even if I was nine, wearing a helmet, sweat bands around my wrists and pads around my knees. I'm still not crash hot at skating, but boy, do I love being out there on the rink. Armour and all. More than 15 years on, I'm glad to see that nothing has changed. The candy bar is still in the business of keeping kids bouncing off the walls, and the whole place seems to be run by 15 year olds. They've added in a few additions like 'learning how to skate 'n' blade' classes which are held on Saturday mornings and Wednesday nights which are only $10 for an hour lesson. Score! Skate hire is $2.50 and blade hire is $3.50. It's cheap, and it's unabashedly old school. There is no doubt in my mind that they still put the strobe lights on of a night time and play classics like "I will survive". Lets' not forget the overexcited announcer directing everyone on the rink with shout outs like "Ok! Now, everyone, when the music stops, we're going to reverse! ONE....TWO.....THREE...REVERSE!!". The young and agile glide in the opposite direction, and the crusty and rigid like myself just continue to slowly roll along and squat until they can stop themselves with their hands. Despite my obvious lack of skill, skating is one of my favourite past times. There's nothing quite like going back to your childhood haunt after 15 years and still finding yourself doing the same things you did back then. Yes, I left there today with a packet of clinkers, just like I did when I was 9.

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.

In my opinion, Newstead Park is the nicest Sunday afternoon hang out in Brisbane. Granted, it's not…read moreas huge as New Farm Park, but the benefits of this are that there's often more space and less crowds. And the trees are beautiful! A friend of mine celebrated their birthday in Newstead Park recently and it had been years since I'd hung out there. We had an afternoon full of food, friends and fun. There's an infectious relaxed vibe to the place and it's hard not to relax when watching the City Glider ride by on the river. Oh, the river! It looks so beautiful from the angle, especially on a beautiful day. It would be a beautiful place to host a wedding or any special occasion. Another friend of mine from overseas has fond memories of Newstead Park and maintains that some of his best times in Australia were simply spent taking a picnic there with some friends and kicking a football around for an afternoon. It proves that it's one of the best picnic spots in all of Brisbane.

This park is small but perfectly formed. The river curves beautifully around the manicured lawns…read moreand there's plenty of gorgeous old trees for shade. Kids can roll around and scream without bothering anyone, and adults can eat cheese and sip wine while enjoying a relaxing afternoon (what is it about the river that just instantly chills you out?) This is definitely a great picnic spot and although it is popular it never feels too crowded.

Wynnum Water Park is an ideal place for a fun family day out. Grab the kids and head down…read moreespecially if it is a hot day. There is plenty of shade for the grown ups and a bunch of take away food and coffee places near by so you can make an afternoon if not a whole day of it. Take a book or some friends and sit back and let the kids run wild. The Water Park is next to the Wynnum Wading Pool along the esplanade and opened in May 2004. It is a funny sort of place that makes you wish you were a kid again and had an excuse to run under the water jets. The blue domes spurt out rays of water and the kids have a ball running in and around the water and crawling up and over the domes.

It was great when the water park was built and gave new life to the section of Esplanade…read moreimmediately east of the central shopping area of Wynnum at the end of Florence Street. The K.Poole Park formerly had a bunch of nice trees and grass and was the way to cut through to walk out on the jetty - that was about it. Now it has a great playground and picnic area and gorgeous little blue whales that spurt water and have the kids squealing with delight. It's these upgrades that are bringing a fresh new life back to the Esplanade, not that people seem to need much encouragement to flock here on the weekends.

Snow and ice is not just a novelty in QLD, it's a statistical improbability. If it ever does snow…read morehere I'd be running to the hills as obviously it can only be a matter of time until the world ends. This is in general a good thing, however it does mean that kids miss out on the joy of sports such as sledding, skiing and of course ice skating. I haven't heard of any indoor sledding arena's in Brisbane, however we do have a couple of ice skating rinks. Kids seem to love ice skating (possibly for the novelty of it all) and are usually much better at it than their clumsy parents grabbing on to the side. After an hour or so of vigorous exercise you get to treat yourself to a hot chocolate - another memorable experience as hot chocolate is AMAZING when you're cold.

This is my favourite ice skating rink in Brisbane. I should point out that it's also the only one…read moreI've ever been to. The point is that it's almost as cheap as a bus fare, the ice is hard, cold, and there's lots of it. The skate hire system is quick and easy and the staff are helpful if you're not sure what size you need. The rink is nice and spacious so that even when there are lessons or games happening (which is pretty much all the time) there's enough room to wobble around unsteadily without being taken out by a medal-winning four year old. Speaking of medal-winning four year olds, when I'm all skated out and need a sit down I like to buy some lollies from the canteen and sit on the sidelines and watch the kids do their lessons. A lot of the kids in training here are state champions etc. so it's a spectator sport in itself. A bit of exercise, a lot of fun, a few stacks, some lollies, and lots of talented skaters to be jealous of. Sounds like a good afternoon to me. Especially when it's 30 degrees outside!

Every time I'm in Brisbane, this IS the place to visit. There is always some type of event going on…read moreon the weekends. One of the greatest was the week long Buddhist celebration ! All free with amazing entertainment and educational presentations. Good food, too. Children's play areas, benches along the river to be able to just sit, talk, watch the river traffic and wildlife. You can board the free ferry boats to other areas of Brisbane from here. Swim from the beaches, or walk through the beautiful gardens. Or, take a nap on the expansive, warm grass . . . . . Christmas lighting etc. is indescribable. You should try a 'warm weather' Christmas and New Year start.

How anyone could give this less than five stars is beyond me. The substantial length of riverfront…read morespace includes several artificial pools, even one with a beach (you wouldn't want to go in the river anyway), a rainforest walk, some kind of Nepali temple, a ferris wheel, docks for boats, and about a thousand other things. You'll spend some money if you go to one of the nearby eateries, for sure, or on parking if you drive, but the place itself is free and open. Split bike and pedestrian walkways and ample transit access make this area a frequent stop for commuters and tourists, and numerous attractions abound nearby, but here's the really good news: it's in Brisbane. Brisbane is not that crowded. So, unlike some of the public parks and water-based attractions in the really major cities (sorry, Brisbanites), you can actually find some space here, even during peak hours in the summer. The only reason not to come is if you've run out of sunscreen.

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 remember in high school, being absolutely sick to death of the 'Mangroves' topic in Geography…read more They need to find a need to teach it year after year. They are important and they have different sorts of roots, so what? I have had to reconsider my opinion of mangroves through after going to the Mangrove Boardwalk. They are actually quite peaceful and they don't smell too bad mostly. It is a kind of rich earthy smell. The boardwalk winds in and out through a cavern of trees. There is heaps of wildlife to spot and overall, it is a relaxing and scenic walk. Great for afternoon running or jogging or just for a casual stroll.

The Wynnum North Mangrove Circuit, or mangrove boardwalk as everyone calls it, is the most magical…read morewalk at high tide (a bit smelly at low tide sometimes, but not too bad). It's a 1.4km circuit, more than half of which is on raised wooden boardwalks over the waters of Moreton Bay, winding through the mangroves. Imagine it: dappled sunlight on the water, birds and fish in abundance for the sharp eyed observer to spot, a cool bay breeze - gorgeous. Occasionally we've struck midges or mozzies, but generally not, it's just such a pleasant walk and if you have a pooch, it's adjacent to a really great dog park, so you can combine two fun activities in one outing - bring a picnic and make it three.