Wilson Outlook Reserve

This little stretch of green on the precipice of rocky cliffs carved by an ex-quarry and framed by the Story Bridge, Wilson Outlook Reserve is one of Brisbane’s secret parks, rarely visited except by locals and those passing through on foot from the city.

Yet it affords one of the more interesting and dramatic views of the city, river and Kangaroo Point, which was one of the attractions for the upper echelons of 19th century Brisbane society who built their grand sprawling villas nearby on Bowen Terrace.

Most of those villas have gone, many replaced by fashionable flats in the early 20th century but today’s visitors can grab a bench or commandeer the lone barbecue and soak up the changing vistas that residents have been enjoying for 160 years.