These are the BEST places to see Riverfire by Australian Retirement Trust this year – 2023! Are you looking for the best places to see Riverfire in Brisbane? The Riverfire fireworks celebrate the opening of the Brisbane Festival. We’ve listed all the best vantage points for you to take in this spectacular show on Saturday 2 September 2023.
2023 Riverfire by Australian Retirement Trust information
If you’re heading to South Bank to see the fireworks, mark these areas as the best places to see Riverfire in Brisbane.
Riverfire from the Clem Jones Promenade
With prime river frontage, there is no better place to see Brisbane Riverfire than the Clem Jones Promenade. Anywhere along this pristine location will guarantee sweeping views, but it does fill up quickly (avid Riverfire fans stake out their spots during the morning and afternoon), so make sure you get there early to secure a good location. *Please note that in the interests of crowd safety, erecting a sunshade tent or chairs on the Promenade is not permitted at any time of day.
Streets Beach and surrounds
It’s a pretty rare treat to be able to watch fireworks over the CBD from the water, but Streets Beach and the Boat Pool offer water babies just that! The perfect place to cool down on a warm spring day; it’s also a great way to keep the kids amused while they count down the minutes to the next plane, helicopter or fireworks. It’s also a short hop-skip-jump to the food vendors for lunch, dinner and a cool ice-cream for afternoon tea. It’s our pick of places to see Riverfire this year!
Families Tip: South Bank is a popular place for families to watch Riverfire. The venue is fenced for public safety and will be closed if capacity is reached. Our recommendation is to arrive early to ensure you don’t miss out. On the day of Riverfire, gates to the fenced area at South Bank will open at 9am.
River Quay
Easily one of South Bank’s most popular destinations, River Quay is the perfect spot for Riverfire viewing. Patrons can arrive early in the day and while the time away with a picnic, or you can book into one of the River Quay restaurants (Popolo, River Quay Fish, Aquitaine and The Jetty South Bank) for an evening meal.
The Wheel of Brisbane
Our famous Wheel will keep turning on Riverfire night, offering you the chance to check out the show from within – private gondolas are available for hire for family and friends. Prices for these gondalas hover at around the $300 mark and they get snapped up QUICKLY (alas their website now says they’ve sold out so check it out early next year)!
Wilson’s Lookout (also called Wilson’s Outlook)
This is a great location to see the city at any point in time – but a particular favourite during any fireworks displays. Pack a picnic and take a blanket to sit on… it will get crowded!
City Botanic Gardens
Anywhere along the riverfront is a good vantage point… or near the Goodwill bridge…. which have their own fairy lights all year long!
You should also consider Kangaroo Point Cliffs, Bartley’s Lookout or Captain Bourke Park on the south side of the river.
Howard Smith Wharves
Relax on the riverfront and enjoy delicious eats and cocktails from Gigi’s Homestyle Cooking and the Main Lawn. Various venues offer packages, and there are walk-in spaces at Felons Brewing Co and Felons Barrel Hall.
Will there be accessible viewing areas for Riverfire by Australian Retirement Trust in 2023?
As in previous years, Brisbane Festival will establish a dedicated accessible viewing platform at Kangaroo Point for people with disabilities and their companions. This will need to be pre-booked. You will find the booking form on the FAQ page of the Brisbane Festival website.
View Riverfire from your boat on the Brisbane River
All recreational spectator vessels attending must be registered for an Aquatic Permit and be issued with an Entry Flag in order to gain access to the two dedicated spectator mooring zones.
Best vantage points in the suburbs to watch Riverfire by Australian Retirement Trust
Gather family and friends and beat the crowds by checking out some of the best-kept-secret locations in the suburbs for enjoying the Riverfire festivities.
Northside suburbs for Riverfire
- St Brigid’s Church, Red Hill;
- Collins Rd, Ferny Hills;
- Stuartholme Rd, Bardon;
- Plucks Rd, Arana Hills;
- Camelia Ave, Everton Hills;
- Bilsen Rd, Wavell Heights;
- Eildon Hill Reservoir, Windsor
- Mt Coot-tha Lookout; and
- Zeehan St and Rode Rd, Wavell Heights
Southside suburbs for Riverfire
- Forbes St, Hawthorne;
- Old Cleveland Rd, Coorparoo;
- Camp Hill Bowls Club car park, Ferguson Rd;
- Mt Gravatt Lookout;
- Holy Trinity Church, Woolloongabba;
- Cnr Dornoch Tce and Hampstead Rd, Highgate Hill; and
- Gateway Bridge
Best city parking for Riverfire by Australian Retirement Trust
Learn about where to park for Riverfire here.
Find all the timings of what will happen at the Riverfire here.
Looking for more family fun? Check out our list of all the family friendly festivals around Brisbane here.
Mt Gravatt lookout gate will be closed at the bottom of the hill. No car access- only by foot up the Dark walking tracks.
The gateway Bridge has a walk/cycle way over it
There is a walkway and bike path on the bridge you can park nearby and watch from the bridge
Sorry, you’ve listed the Gateway Bridge as a place to watch. You’d think it be dangerous to have people watching from there given it’s a road you cannot stop on?
No they mean the walk way on the south bound bridge