Northshore Riverside Park at Hamilton

Things To Do at Northshore Riverside Park

Northshore Riverside Park is so much more than just a simple playground for kids to enjoy. Designed for the whole family, the space is also home to a small secluded beach, a café, a boardwalk, cycling and walking trails, grassy fields, art installations, picnic spaces, and more. 

Peaceful, relaxing, and with gorgeous riverside views to boot – below are just some of the things you can do when visiting Northside Riverside Park with your family.

Pirate-themed Playground

One of the first things you will see as you enter Northshore Riverside Park is the sweet little pirate-themed playground. Shaded by two generous shade sails, the playground is perfect for young children and toddlers.

A small ship-shaped climbing fort includes rope ladders, a climbing wall and a viewing platform. There is also a circular swing and a small whale structure submerged in the sandy base for kids to climb on.

We love this park for its simplicity and imaginative-play possibilities. Although it is not fenced, there are generous grassed spaces surrounding it for parents to sit on a picnic blanket and supervise the kids. 

As it is not a big park either, its size makes it easy for little ones to play safely and for parents to see where they are at all times. Young kids will love pretending they are pirates, sailing the open seas and encountering various whales and sea animals on their journey!

Northshore Riverside Beach

Only a few metres away from the playground is a little secluded stretch of beach that most families would not even know existed! Be sure to bring the kids’ swimmers, buckets, spades and towels too, as the wide and sandy beach is perfect for sand castle creations and sand digging.

A few art installations stand tall along the beach; their smooth frames and giant holes making perfect additional play structures that our Brisbane kids loved climbing over and through!

Although there are no actual shaded spots on the beach itself, the tree-filled park directly opposite it offers many places to set up if you don’t have a tent. Covered gazebos and picnic tables also overlook the beach area and can be used as a base for families moving between the parklands and beach for the day. 

Playscape

You will find the Playscape parkland at the end of the park and directly behind the northern end of the beach. A ‘playscape’ is a landscape that has been designed for you to play on and interact with. This interpretative nature playground includes a long, winding dry river creek bed and numerous art installations designed to be climbed on. 

Designed by indigenous artist, Fiona Foley, the playscape is inspired by mangrove habitats and created with the natural vegetation and ecosystem of the Hamilton shoreline in mind. 

Kids can discover giant seashells, mangrove pods, and humungous Pandanus seeds. Oh, and keep an eye out for the original wharf timber blocks that have been incorporated and displayed here too.

Northshore’s Picnic and BBQ Areas

Tucked into the playscape area are numerous covered seating areas and BBQs. A large, open field of flat grass, as well as the undulating grassy hills surrounding them, are perfect for both kicking a footy and also for setting up a picnic.

Northshore Cycleway

Meandering through Northshore Riverside Park are the wide open pathways that make up part of the Northshore Cycleway. The beautiful, tree-lined pathway runs for 14km alongside Remora Road, Macarthur Avenue and Hercules Street. This is Brisbane’s first integrated cycle track, making Northshore Hamilton a desirable destination for cyclists.  

Families can either ride along the cycleway, or the kids can pack their scooters and/or bikes and ride along as the adults stroll along the promenade, which winds throughout the park and past all of the main attractions.

Riva Kitchen and Events

Another huge drawcard to Northshore Riverside Park is the on-site Riva Kitchen and Events. Centrally located within the park and directly opposite the CityCat terminal, this unique river and beach-side café proudly serves the freshest food available, prepared daily and sourced from local producers.

Enjoy stunning views of the Brisbane River as you perch up against the bi-folded windows, or grab a takeaway snack and coffee and sit outside in the parkland to soak it all in.

Families are well catered for at Riva Kitchen and Events. The kid-friendly menu boasts a delightful array of options guaranteed to please even the pickiest of eaters, ensuring that little ones leave with smiles on their faces. Plus, with highchairs readily available and the added convenience of being located next to the playground, parents can relax knowing that their children will not be bored!

Other Northshore Attractions

Bluey’s World

At this stage Bluey’s World is open until September 2025, though we are hoping it may be longer!

While you are at Northshore you can’t leave without a visit to Bluey’s World. A one-of-kind, immersive experience, the attraction is housed within an expansive 4,000sqm building and aims to transport visitors into the Heeler family’s iconic Queenslander home, backyard, and beyond!

With real-life sets and recognisable scenes filling the spaces, guests are invited to explore multiple rooms, meet the beloved characters, and embark on a multi-sensory interactive adventure with their family and friends.

Find out more by reading our detailed review of Bluey’s World. 

Eat Street Markets

When most people hear the words Northshore Hamilton, one dining experience usually springs to mind first. The Eat Street Markets, hidden inside the vibrant shipping container city of Eat Street Northshore, is a foodie heaven filled with culinary delights from across the world and entertainment for the whole family to enjoy. 

Coming to life with a mix of twinkling lights, enticing aromas and groovy music every weekend, the huge range of food and dessert trucks mean your entire family can be happily catered for here.

Situated south of Northshore Riverside Park on the Hamilton Shoreline, you can read our detailed review of the Eat Street Markets.

Northshore Traditional and Beach Tennis Centre

Just outside the entrance to Northshore Riverside Park is a long row of traditional and beach tennis courts. Beach Tennis Brisbane has transformed the Northshore Tennis Park into the official HQ for beach tennis in Brisbane. This exciting sport combines the thrill of beach volleyball, the finesse of tennis, and the agility of badminton, all in one enjoyable and energising game. 

Hercules Street Park Playground

Hercules Street Park Playground is an incredible design effort featuring a multi-level, industrial-themed container play structure with a four-metre-high tube-slide, as well as a traditional swing to cater to children of all ages and abilities.

A large grassy area separates the main playground from a ball game area. There is a bounce wall with a half-court basketball court, a wall with targets painted on wickets, and tennis markings. Next to the bounce wall is a table tennis table (BYO bats and balls) and exercise equipment. 

There is also an intelligent water play area with synchronised programs and lighting at night to create a family-friendly space. You can read our full review of Hercules Street Park Playground here.

The Pink Flamingo Spiegeland

Unfortunately in February 2025, The Pink Flamingo Brisbane announced its immediate closure. The Pink Flamingo Gold Coast remains open for business. 

Northshore Riverside Park features

• Unfenced playground
• Accessible toilets
• Some play equipment under shade sails
• Beach
• Promenade
• Bike and walking paths and boardwalks
• BBQs
• CityCat terminal (Northshore Hamilton)
• Car park, ferry terminal (Northshore Hamilton)
• Café/Kiosk
• Outdoor fitness/exercise station
• Picnic area/shelter
• Grassy spaces
• Riverbed

How to Get to Northshore Riverside Park

Northshore Riverside Park is located 305 Macarthur Avenue, Northshore, Hamilton.

Located only 6km from the city centre and on the Brisbane River, Northshore Riverside Park is probably one of the most well-connected and easy places to get to. 

With its own CityCat terminal (Northshore Hamilton) gifting you direct access from the water, the park also has a generous and free carpark that makes driving in with all your gear for the day a simple option too.

If you love to ride, a riverside bike path can take you from the Brisbane CBD to Northshore Brisbane.

More Photos of Northshore Riverside Park