Coorparoo: Coorparoo Square, Cafes, Parks and Getting There

Coorparoo is an inner south-east Brisbane suburb, about 10 minutes by car from the CBD, and its day-out heart is Coorparoo Square: cafes, a Dendy cinema, an Aldi and a mix of Asian, Italian and Mexican places to eat. Cavendish Road links the Square to the train station, so you can arrive by train and walk to everything.

Away from the shops there are heritage buildings to look at, 30 council parks, and a large reserve with a fenced playground and bush tracks just over the border in Camp Hill.

Coorparoo cafes and restaurants

Most people head for Coorparoo Square, on the corner of Old Cleveland Road and Cavendish Road. Its own directory lists Ja Le Patisserie Cafe, Miss Gelato, PappaRich, La Regina Italian, Mission Vietnamese, Motto Motto Japanese Kitchen, Sushi Kiyo, Burrito Bar, Chun Fun How and Dawg Boys, plus Beyond the Pale, a coffee and bar spot that serves everything from morning coffee to late-night snacks.

That is enough variety for a family where everyone wants something different. Menus and opening hours change, so check the venue before you go.

Cavendish Road links Coorparoo station at number 67 with the Square, a short walk apart, so you can arrive by train and walk to lunch.

Dendy Cinema at Coorparoo Square

Coorparoo Square has a 10-screen Dendy cinema, which makes it an easy wet-weather plan with dinner before or after. Session times and ticket prices are on the Dendy website.

Parks and walks near Coorparoo

Brisbane City Council looks after 30 parks in Coorparoo, from small neighbourhood reserves to ovals and sports grounds. Coorparoo Skate Park is at The Common Park on Cambridge Street, and Wallace Place Park, at 226 Old Cleveland Road, has a multi-court.

Whites Hill Reserve

For a proper outing, drive about 15 minutes to Whites Hill Reserve at 258 Boundary Road, Camp Hill. It covers about 170 hectares and is open 24 hours. Parking is along the one-way ring road around the playing fields and near the playground. There is a fully fenced playground, also called The Common, for children of all ages and abilities, with barbecues, sheltered seating and a picnic area beside it.

The reserve has 13 interconnected walking tracks, rated easy to moderate, and two lookouts: Whites Hill Summit and Sankey’s Mountain Outlook. The Sankey’s Mountain Summit Track is wheelchair accessible with assistance. Council warns that rain can leave washouts, ruts and uneven surfaces on some tracks.

Leashed dogs are allowed through the reserve, and there is an off-leash dog park in the south-west corner off Boundary Road. See also more Brisbane parks.

Coorparoo’s heritage buildings

A few of Coorparoo’s older buildings are still standing. The heritage-listed Coorparoo railway station is at 67 Cavendish Road. The School of Arts hall at 208 Cavendish Road was built as the Shire Hall in 1892. The former tram stop at 307 Old Cleveland Road and the former tram shelter at 245 Chatsworth Road are also heritage-listed, and the Queen Alexandra Home, a house built in 1886, stands on Old Cleveland Road.

The suburb’s name is thought to come from an Aboriginal name for Norman Creek, the waterway that runs through it. It was chosen at a public meeting on 22 March 1875.

Planning your visit

• How long: two to three hours for lunch and a film; half a day if you add Whites Hill.
• Best time: mornings for coffee and a walk; evenings for dinner and the cinema.
• Cost: free to wander. Food and cinema tickets are extra.
• What to bring: walking shoes, and a hat and water if you are heading to Whites Hill.
• Dogs: a leashed dog is welcome in Whites Hill Reserve; the Square’s venues set their own rules.

Getting to Coorparoo

By car, Coorparoo is about 10 minutes from the Brisbane CBD, around 7 km by road. By train, take the Cleveland line to Coorparoo station, then walk along Cavendish Road to Coorparoo Square. For buses, use the Translink Journey Planner or call 13 12 30.

Coorparoo Square’s own site is coorparoosquare.com.au, and council’s page for the reserve is Whites Hill Reserve.

Nearby

• Woolloongabba – Logan Road dining, the Princess Theatre and busway stations, closer to the city.
• The Gabba – the cricket and AFL stadium in Woolloongabba.
• Carindale – a bigger shopping and dining hub further east.
• Bulimba – Oxford Street cafes and the river ferry.
• Mount Gravatt Lookout – city views and bush walks south of Coorparoo.

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