Lace up your sneakers – here’s a list of the best running routes in Brisbane
Already skimping on your New Year’s resolutions? Not on our watch. The weather is finally starting to cool down and with an inner-city river perfectly primed for endless scenic tracks, there’s no excuse not to lace up your runners and test your speed. We’ve rounded up ten of Brisbane’s best tracks – they’re mostly flat, all around 5 km long and located close to Brisbane City for you to hit the ground running.
Brisbane River Loop, 35 km
The Brisbane River Loop is the ultimate running, walking and cycling track in Brisbane, covering about 35 km from Indooroopilly to South Bank, and makes up some of the routes on this list. Popular with cyclists, the track also sees a lot of runners taking on smaller sections of the loop for its optimal city views and paved multi-use path. If you’re looking to sample the loop for a run, we’d recommend a 6 km route that takes you across the Story Bridge, along Kangaroo Point, across the Goodwill Bridge and through the Botanic Gardens back to the start.
Bicentennial Bikeway, 4.8 km
As one of Brisbane’s busiest pathways, the Bicentennial Bikeway sees an average of 5,284 people per day, making this a track for the social among us. Starting in Toowong and taking you all the way to the city, this riverside track has been designed with runners, walkers and cyclers in mind. For 4.8 km along Coronation Drive, this point-to-point route features regular drinking fountains, shaded rest stops and is popular with dog owners – oh, and at the Toowong end is The Regatta, in case you fancy ending the workout with a beer.
University of Queensland and Brisbane Corso, St Lucia, 5 km
Lush manicured lawns, ancient sandstone buildings, and a tree-lined riverside trail – that’s what awaits at UQ’s sprawling St Lucia campus. Start at the rowing sheds on Sir William Macgregor Drive before following the track along the river and through campus for an easy 5 km track. If you’re feeling like a challenge, extend the track by crossing the Eleanor Schonell Bridge to loop around Dutton Park for an additional 2.5 km.
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Hanlon Park, Stones Corner, 5 km
The Hanlon Park running track is made up entirely of concrete paths, following the South East Freeway walk along Norman Creek down to the South East Freeway underpass with a turnaround point in Wellers Hill. Tackle this return route in your own time or join the parkrun crew that run the track every Saturday morning at 7:00 am.
New Farm Riverwalk, 4.1 km
Starting in the city and ending in New Farm Park, the Riverwalk is ideal for seeing the best of the Brisbane river on foot. Start at the Eagle Street Pier ferry terminal and follow the City Beach Boardwalk to the New Farm Riverwalk for 4.1km of suspension right over the water. The floating walkway is a popular local thoroughfare, with plenty of bubblers and toilets along the way, as well as sweeping views of the Story Bridge and the city skyline. Keep in mind there is no shade on the Riverwalk and every Saturday at 7:00 am, the parkrun crew takes to the track.
Kangaroo Point and stair climb, 3.8 km
Just east of the CBD, Kangaroo Point’s cliffside and waterfront destination makes it a popular route for Brisbane runners and run clubs. Often starting in South Bank or from the Dockside Ferry Terminal, the route features almost 4 km of riverside pathways, as well as the infamous stair climb up the cliff face to Joey’s, which is 107 steps (but feels like a lot more) and is well-used for running challenges. You can also extend the route by crossing the Goodwill Bridge to the Botanical Gardens.
Subscribe for updatesEnoggera Creek Bikeway, 6.5 km
Well-paved and featuring kilometres of green surrounds, the Enoggera Creek Bikeway point-to-point track weaves through Brisbane’s northern suburbs of Windsor, Wilston and Newmarket, with an optional extension to The Gap. The trail is mostly flat and well-signposted, following Enoggera Creek through a series of parks from west to east. If you’re feeling up to the challenge, extend the trail by following Breakfast Creek to The Gap for a 13km one-way track.
South Bank Parklands, 5 km
The South Bank Parklands features an out-and-back route that sees a range of runners every day, popular for its river and city views, as well as access to the Botanical Gardens. Starting at the northernmost end of South Brisbane, the track follows the river and across the Goodwill Bridge to the Botanical Gardens and back, where it ends next to QAGOMA after looping the boardwalk and riverfront Promenade. As another parkrun favourite, there is also the option to take this trail with a crew of Brisbane runners every Saturday morning at 7:00 am.
Minnippi Parklands, Carina, 4 km
Across 90 hectares, Minnippi Parklands is made up of multiple parks, including Porter’s Paddock, Meadowlands, Preston Road and Wood Avenue. With scenic lagoons and access to Bulimba Creek, the parklands are home to many tracks and trail options, but we’ve highlighted one 4 km track to get you started. Starting at Meadowlands Road, the trail follows Bulimba Creek and circles around the Minnippi Wetlands lagoon, a rare surviving lagoon from pre-settlement days, and back to the start again.
Kedron Brook Bikeway, 11.7 km
A hidden gem of the northern suburbs, Kedron Brook Bikeway is roughly 15 km of shared pathway along the Kedron Brook Greenway and canal. We’ve highlighted a prime 11.7 km of the trail, covering Everton Park to Toombul, perfect for starting and finishing anywhere along the path. The trail features bathrooms, water fountains and workout stations along the way, with some bike and pedestrian paths separated and some shared.
Honourable Mentions
Brisbane is home to countless walking, running and cycling trails, and while these didn’t make it on our final list, they’re still worth checking out. Mount Coot-tha Summit Track, Daisy Hill Conservation Park, Roma Street Parklands, Boondall Wetlands, Sandgate-Brighton Foreshore Promenade, White Hills Reserve in Camp Hill and Lores Bonney Riverwalk.
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