Teneriffe River Walk
Updated: Sep 11, 2020
The Teneriffe riverwalk is one of inner city Brisbane's most scenic and interesting walks, incorporating a submarine-themed heritage trail and landmark historic buildings and ending at the Brisbane Powerhouse.
This is a great walk to do on Saturday mornings when the Jan Power Farmers Markets are in full swing at the Brisbane Powerhouse. pick up some fresh produce to take home or grab a bite to eat and coffee at one of the gourmet stalls.
Start at the Commercial Rd ferry stop, just down the road from the bus stop that is actually a heritage-listed ex-bomb shelter. You can park in a nearby street or arrive by RiverCat.
Turn right onto the boardwalk, which is where the walk commences, in front of MacTaggarts red brick ex-woolstores. For the first couple of hundred metres there's a strip of park and gardens that run alongside the boardwalk and across the river is Bulimba, with its heritage-listed dome-roofed ferry terminal. Just past MacTaggarts is a terraced garden and lawn where local iconic sculpture Gloria the sheep stands proudly. a symbol of the area's past.
Continuing along, you'll pass the historic Goldsborough Mort building and a mix of old and new waterfront townhouses and apartments until you come to Barko & Co, a cute dog-friendly cafe which occupies heritage-listed building formerly known as The Engine Room. The lowset red brick hut was built in 1908 to house 2 ammonia compressors, providing refrigeration to cold storage rooms for the wool industry. Then in World War II it was used as a submarine servicing site and finally, today the building has been reincarnated as a café that makes a worthy pitstop for a coffee or bite to eat.
Paying homage to the submarine base that was located along the waterfront here during World War II, the next section of the walk is known as the Submariners Walk Heritage Trail. Over several hundred metres the trail features submarine-shaped benches and pictorial displays relating the role submarines played in the fascinating and dark era of Brisbane's history. Five of the US submarines that left Teneriffe to go on patrol never came back and were lost with all their crew.
After the heritage trail, the last section of the boardwalk passes in front of some of Teneriffe's most desirable addresses - multi-multi-million dollar waterfront homes. A few of the owners have quirky animal and sheep ornaments and sculptures adorning the front decks of their properties, including the famous 'giraffe house'. From the boardwalk it looks like a mini zoo with life- size bear, tiger and chimpanzee in the garden, and a monkey hanging from the balcony where the giraffe stands, gazing out over the water.
Just beyond these houses you'll see a white picket fence with privacy hedge and giant cluster of fig trees. Behind the fence and front garden sits one of New Farm's most beautiful historic homes, Amity House, circa 1892. The gracious Queenslander style villa was originally the principal residence of Thomas Welsby, a prominent Brisbane politician, businessman and sportsman. The well-kept garden and the terracing and fencing on the grounds all date from 1897.
As you round the river bend into New Farm, you'll pass through Cutters Landing, where the old CSR Sugar Refinery has been converted into sought-after apartments and here along the boardwalk you'll find remnants of the refinery days on the wharf.
Once you reach the Brisbane Powerhouse, there's a great casual riverfront dining spot underneath at Mary Mae's, or take a wander through beautiful New Farm Park before returning.
Need to know - This easy grade walk takes about 30-40 minutes each way.
