This beautiful green strip is home to performance spaces, sculptures, buskers, eateries, bars, pockets of rainforest, barbecue areas, bougainvillea-draped pergolas and hidden lawns. The big-ticket attractions here are Streets Beach , a kitsch artificial swimming beach resembling a tropical lagoon (packed on weekends); and the London Eye–style Wheel of Brisbane , which offers 360-degree views from its 60m heights. Rides last around 10 minutes and include audio commentary (and air-con!).
Also in the parklands is Stanley St Plaza , a renovated section of historic Stanley St lined with kitschy, mainstream cafes, shops, restaurants and a pub. The vintage/touristy Collective Markets South Bank happen here on Friday nights, Saturdays and Sundays.
Not far away, Courier-Mail Piazza is an outdoor performance space that screens big-ticket sporting events, and movies during school holidays, both for free.
