Neville Bonner Bridge and Kangaroo Point Bridge Loop

This river loop strings together Brisbane's two newest pedestrian crossings, taking you over the water on the Neville Bonner Bridge and back on the Kangaroo Point Bridge for a circuit of roughly 6 kilometres that passes the CBD skyline, Queen's Wharf and the Kangaroo Point Cliffs. It is flat, fully paved and one of the best city-and-river walks in the country to do with a dog on the lead.

The walk

Start from the South Bank side, cross the pedestrian-only Neville Bonner Bridge towards Queen's Wharf, then work the riverside promenades around to the Kangaroo Point Bridge to complete the circle. Count on 1 to 1.5 hours at a sniffing pace, with the observation points along the cliffs and the bridge decks as your natural photo stops.

Both bridge decks have gentle inclines and solid paving, so the going stays easy even for older dogs. The loop also earns its rating for sunset, when the city lights come up over the water, and the CBD views run more or less the whole way.

Leash status

This is a strictly on-leash walk: Brisbane City Council requires dogs to be leashed and under effective control on shared paths, bridges and thoroughfares, and there is no off-leash section anywhere on the circuit. With cyclists and runners using the same paths, keep the lead short and let faster traffic past.

Max: I leave the flexi-lead in the car for this one. Between joggers, scooters and bridge crowds, a metre or two of control beats six metres of hope.

Water and watch-outs

Bring your own water, because drinking fountains and dog bowls are patchy along the route, and summer humidity makes even a flat walk thirsty work. Heat is the main watch-out: the exposed bridge decks and open promenades have minimal shade, so go early or late in the warmer months.

The paths are shared with bikes and e-scooters moving at pace, so step to the side when you hear them coming. Around Queen's Wharf and South Bank the crowds build sharply on weekend evenings and event nights.

Getting there

The natural trailhead is South Bank in South Brisbane, served by South Brisbane and South Bank stations with parking beneath the precinct. Kangaroo Point works just as well as a starting side if you are coming from the east.

Close by with the dogs

Kangaroo Point locals head to the James Warner Park Fenced Dog Park for off-lead time, and West End has the riverside Orleigh Dog Park. Wind the walk down with coffee at GoodGood West End on the way back.

When to go

Early mornings are cool, quiet and best for dogs, while weekday evenings deliver the skyline for people willing to navigate the crowd. For a bigger river circuit, extend the habit with the Four Bridges Walk, or keep it shorter on the Clem Jones Promenade stretch at South Bank.

More options are on the Queensland trails guide and the South Brisbane destination page.