Orleigh Park is a free riverside park in West End with playgrounds, barbecues, an outdoor gym and big shady fig trees on the bank of the Brisbane River. It is open 24 hours and sits at 68 Hill End Terrace, about 5 km by road from the Brisbane CBD.
It is easy to see why it is popular: you can bring a picnic, let the kids loose on the climbing nets and slides, and still be a short drive from the cafes and restaurants of West End.
Playgrounds at Orleigh Park
The park has playgrounds with climbing nets and a frog and tongue slide. The Orleigh Street playground has two forts, climbing nets and frames, balancing equipment, a horizontal climbing ladder, four swings (two of them baby swings), rockers, three slides and a weighted seesaw.
Mature trees and shade sails cover most of it, so it stays comfortable on a warm day. The Orleigh Street playground is not fenced and sits near a road and the river, so keep a close eye on little ones.
Barbecues, picnics and the outdoor gym
The park has barbecues, picnic shelters, uncovered picnic tables, taps and toilets, plus an outdoor gym and lawns for ball games. A shady Moreton Bay fig stands beside the river, and lights in the trees light the park up at night.
Barbecues and playgrounds cannot be booked, so they are shared with everyone else. Turn up early on a weekend if you want a table near the play area.
Orleigh Park dog area
Brisbane City Council’s page for Orleigh Park lists an off-leash dog park among the park’s facilities. Its separate off-leash dog parks page, which also carries upgrade closures, does not list Orleigh Park, so check with Council before you bring a dog and look for signs in the park.
Walks along the river
Winding walking trails run through the park beside the river. A walking and cycling trail also runs through Boundary Street Park, another West End riverside park.
Also in West End, Riverside Lands Park has water views, outdoor fitness equipment, a half court, a bicycle repair station, barbecues, sheltered seating and water fountains, so it is worth adding to the same outing.
Booking a picnic spot for a group
Three areas of the park can be booked for events through Council’s online park booking application. Area 1 is near the playgrounds and holds 37 people. Area 2 is a large central area for 212 people, not counting the trees by the river. Area 3 is a big grassy area for 61 people. All three have power and allow marquees, and Council asks you to check its booking conditions and fees first.
A short history of the park
The area was settled in the mid 1800s, with the Hill End homestead built in the 1850s and a market garden by the river. The Orleigh Estate went on sale in February 1885. Floods hit the riverside houses in 1887, 1890 and 1893, and many lots were abandoned. South Brisbane Council bought up the lots, and the park opened in August 1917.
Twenty-four weeping fig trees were planted that June, and many are still standing. A tram terminus arrived in 1925 and a sailing club in 1956. A plaque for the Cranbrook Aboriginal Girls Home, which stood on the site from 1899 to 1906, was installed in 2012. The park has flooded many times since, most recently in 2011.
Getting there and parking at Orleigh Park
By car it is about 15 minutes from the Brisbane CBD, about 5 km. The park has a car park, though its size and any time limits are not published. Street parking is available near the Orleigh Street playground.
A City Glider bus stop is next to the Orleigh Street playground. The West End ferry wharf is on Orleigh Street (CityCat).
Nearby
- West End – cafes, restaurants and shops a short drive or ride away.
- West End Markets at Davies Park – the weekly markets in West End.
- South Bank Parklands – Streets Beach, playgrounds and more riverside space.
- Goodwill Bridge – a walking and cycling bridge over the river.
- Dutton Park – another Brisbane park.
- More in the parks and Brisbane pages.
You might also like
- McCaskie Park (Kelvin Grove)
- Ken Fletcher Park (Tennyson)
- Sherwood (Brisbane)
Quick answers
Is Orleigh Park free?
Yes. It is a council park, open 24 hours, and entry is free. Only the bookable event areas need a booking and fees.
Where is Orleigh Park?
The council address is 68 Hill End Terrace, West End, on the Brisbane River. It is about 5 km by road from the CBD.
Does Orleigh Park have a playground?
Yes. There are playgrounds with climbing nets and a frog and tongue slide, and the Orleigh Street play area has swings, slides, forts and a seesaw.
Are there toilets and barbecues at Orleigh Park?
Council lists toilets, barbecues, picnic shelters and taps in the park. There are no toilets at the Orleigh Street playground itself.
Can you bring a dog to Orleigh Park?
Council’s page for the park lists an off-leash dog park, but its off-leash dog parks page does not list Orleigh Park. Check with Council and look for signs on site.
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