A cheap date is mostly about choosing a good setting and letting it do the work. This guide sticks to places and programs that Brisbane City Council describes on its own pages, so it says nothing about restaurant, bar or ticket prices, which businesses set and change. Opening hours, routes and rules below were checked on 9 November 2026 and can change, so confirm them with council before you head out.
Start with a view
Mt Coot-tha is a natural place to start. Council says the lookout is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and that you can enjoy views across the city and out to Moreton Bay by day or evening. Council directs drivers via Sir Samuel Griffith Drive and says free parking is available. If you would rather walk, council lists the Summit Track and the Mahogany Track through Mt Coot-tha Forest.
Closer to the city, both the upper and lower levels of Kangaroo Point Cliffs Park offer views of the river and the city. Council suggests meeting friends there for a picnic by the river, at the clifftop café or on a riverside walk or ride. Parking nearby is metered, with council listing Lower River Terrace, River Terrace and surrounding streets. The Cliffs Boardwalk ends under the Captain Cook Bridge, and the Kangaroo Point Bikeway and riverside paths connect the area to South Bank and the CBD.
Gardens and picnics
Entry to the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha is free, and council promotes a free guided walk there. Council says the wider Mt Coot-tha Reserve has 9 picnic areas. Some of those include tables, barbecues, accessible toilets, water taps and car parks. Council advises a hat and sunscreen because not all picnic spots are shaded. Hours differ between areas: the J.C. Slaughter Falls and Simpson Falls picnic areas are open 6am to 7pm daily, while the Grey Gum and Hoop Pine areas have boom gates and are locked each night. Without a car, council puts the nearest train station, Toowong, a 40-minute walk from the gardens.
In the city centre, council says the City Botanic Gardens are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and a 10 to 15-minute walk from the city centre. Council names the Royal Palm Lawn and the Baldwin Lawn Playground as favourites with picnickers. The free City Loop service, routes 40 and 50, stops in front of the gardens on Alice Street. Dogs are welcome in these gardens if leashed.
An evening by the river
Council describes New Farm Park as a place to pick a riverbank spot for a starlit picnic, and it names Newstead Park, Orleigh Park and Rocks Riverside Park as other picnic spots. After dark, council says landmarks such as the Story Bridge and Walter Taylor Bridge glow at night, reflecting on the river. Walking is also an option, because Brisbane has 5 bridges with pedestrian access across the river, 4 of them shared by walkers and cyclists.
For a ride rather than a walk, the CityCat network has 22 terminals from the University of Queensland at St Lucia to Northshore Hamilton. Council suggests boarding around sunset for the glow of the city lights. Anyone bringing a bike can take it free on CityCats and ferries. Dogs are allowed on CityCats and ferries only off-peak, meaning 8.30am to 3.30pm and 7pm to 6am on weekdays and all day on weekends.
Free programs and events
Council runs Outdoor Cinema in the Suburbs and Bands in Parks, offering free movies and music, and it says you do not need to book ahead. Council also says some of those parks allow pets, so check the event details before bringing one. For a warm evening, council says the Boat Pool and Aquativity water park beside Streets Beach at South Bank are free to use and open all year. For a daytime date, council’s family-activities page lists free daily tours of Brisbane City and key precincts such as Fortitude Valley.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Mt Coot-tha lookout free to visit?
Council describes the lookout as open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and says free parking is available.
Are the Brisbane Botanic Gardens free?
Council says entry to the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha is free, and the City Botanic Gardens are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Do the free council movie and music events need a booking?
Council says you do not need to book ahead for Outdoor Cinema in the Suburbs and Bands in Parks. Check the calendar for dates.
Can I take a dog on a CityCat?
Council allows dogs only during off-peak times, and dogs and bikes travel free on CityCats and ferries.
