Ultimate Guide to Brisbane Riverfire 2024: Best spots to watch, how to get there
From the best vantage points, road closures and how to get there – here is the ultimate guide to Riverfire 2024.
Entertainment
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Brisbane’s skyline is set to light up with thousands set to make their way down to the river and surrounds to experience an electrifying pyrotechnics display which will launch from the city’s bridges, barges and rooftops across the city.
The annual Riverfire show by the Australian Retirement Trust will officially kick off Brisbane Festival on Saturday with more than a dozen locations involved in the spectacular fireworks display.
Along with a dazzling fireworks show, attendees will also be treated to exciting entertainment acts as well as plenty of food and drink offers floating around the Riverbank.
From scoping the best vantage points to what roads are closed, here is the ultimate guide to Riverfire 2024.
WHEN IS RIVERFIRE
Riverfire 2024 will take place on Saturday 31 August, with entertainment from 4pm and the fireworks at 7pm.
BEST LOCATIONS TO WATCH RIVERFIRE
The entire South Bank precinct, including the ANZ Festival Garden, will be the centre of celebrations as the night sky lights up. South Bank will be fenced on the day, with the fenced area opening at 9am. For safety the fenced area has a maximum capacity.
Riverfire on The Art Boat! also offers a spectacular display of the show from the water with a full bar and snacks. Tickets can be purchased on the Brisbane Festival website.
The best views will be along the Brisbane River near the Story Bridge and at high points, here are a few more great spots to experience Riverfire.
- Kangaroo Point Cliffs
- City Botanic Gardens
- City Riverwalk (including Riverside Centre and Eagle Street Pier), Brisbane City
- Victoria Park/Barrambin
- Mt Coot-tha lookout
- Highgate Hill Park, Highgate Hill
- Captain Burke Park, Kangaroo Point
- Wilson Outlook Reserve, New Farm
- St Bridgid’s Church, Red Hill
- Collins Rd, Ferny Hills
- Stuartholme Rd, Bardon
- Plucks Rd, Arana Hills
- Camellia Ave, Everton Hills
- Eildon Hill Reservoir, Windsor
- Forbes St, Hawthorne
- Old Cleveland Rd, Coorparoo
- Camp Hill Bowls Club car park, Ferguson Rd
- Mt Gravatt Lookout
- Holy Trinity Church, Woolloongabba
RIVERSIDE BARS AND RESTAURANTS
Enjoy a drink, a feed and the dazzling fireworks display at these restaurants and bars around the city which can be booked.
- Babylon Brisbane, Brisbane City
- Bacchus, South Bank
- Bar Miette, Brisbane City
- Ciao Papi, Howard Smith Wharves
- Eagles Nest, Kangaroo Point
- Felons Brewing Co., Howard Smith Wharves
- Mr Percival’s, Howard Smith Wharves
- Fiume, Howard Smith Wharves
- Friday’s, Brisbane City
- Greca, Howard Smith Wharves
- Lina Rooftop, South Brisbane
- Madame Wu, Brisbane City
- Massimo, Brisbane City
- Oasis, Brisbane River
- Persone, Brisbane City
- Popolo, South Bank
- Riverland, Brisbane City
- Soko, Fortitude Valley
- Stamford Plaza, Brisbane City
- Stanley, Howard Smith Wharves
- Supernormal, Brisbane City
- Valley Hops Brewing, Fortitude Valley
ENJOYING AT HOME
For those wanting to stay at home, the event will also be broadcast live on Channel 9 and Triple M with an accompanying soundtrack.
EVENT SHEDULE
ADF practice runs
Thursday 29th August, 12.30pm, C17 and ARH Tiger Helicopters
Friday 30th August, 12.30pm, F/A 18 Hornet
Riverfire, Saturday August 31
Live entertainment to start from 4pm
ADF displays from 4.55pm. All display times are subject to change and ADF operational considerations.
Fireworks display at 7pm.
ROAD CLOSURES
In order to safely deliver this event there will be road, bridge and river closures on Saturday August 31.
Victoria Bridge
On Saturday, Victoria Bridge from 4:00pm till 10:00pm will be closed to buses, which will be diverted to William Jolley Bridge. The bridge will be exclusive to pedestrian access from 6:00pm till 10:00pm.
Western footpath (Museum side) closes from 4:00pm to 9:30pm (or as directed by Police).
Victoria Bridge Monument closes between 4:00pm and 9:00pm.
Goodwill Bridge
Closed to pedestrians and cyclists between 4:00pm and 8:00pm.
Neville Bonner Bridge
Restricted access to pedestrians from 9:00am. Fully closed to cyclists all day. Closed from 4:00pm to 10:00pm.
Story Bridge
Two City-bound traffic lanes are set to close on Wednesday August 28 from 11pm until 5am, Thursday 29 August from 8:00pm until 5.00am, Friday 30 August and again on Sunday 1 September between 5:00am and 10:00am.
Western footpath (City-side) will close to pedestrians on Thursday August 29 from 8pm until 10.00pm Saturday August 31, and the eastern footpath (Dockside side) will close to pedestrians from 6:30pm to 8:00pm on Saturday.
No pedestrian will be able to access the Story Bridge from 6:30pm until 8:00pm on Saturday, with all traffic lanes to close from 6:30pm until 8:00pm on the night of the event.
Captain Cook Bridge – Riverside Expressway
The inbound lanes (north bound) of the Captain Cook Bridge may close between 7:00pm to 7:30pm on Saturday via a controlled vehicle movement.
The outbound lanes (south bound) will remain open but will operate at a reduced speed with police patrols monitoring traffic flow and responding to any incidents.
CityCat services won’t run between 6:45pm and 7:45pm and CityHopper services will stop between 6:45pm and 8:15pm.
QUT terminal will be closed from 4pm until last service on Saturday.
Geofencing exclusion zones will be expanded for Riverfire by Australian Retirement Trust. This will restrict riding and parking zones on Saturday.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Patrons will be able to travel for free from Riverfire onboard bus and train services surrounding South Bank and the City, and will begin straight after the fireworks from 7:30pm until 9:30pm.
Free travel is not available on CityCat or Airtrain services. Normal fares apply on these services.
There will be additional services available for attendees on the night; see the TransLink website for more details.
PARKING
Due to the popularity of the event, it is suggested by organisers to use public transport, rideshare or taxi to get to the event. If driving the best available parking is available at these locations with prices starting from $25:
- Post Office Square, City
- Central Plaza 1, City
- 201 Charlotte Street, City
- 10 Browning Street, South Brisbane
- 480 Queen Street, City
- Wintergarden, City
- 167 Eagle Street, City
- 388 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley
- 21 Martin Street, Fortitude Valley
- SW1, South Brisbane
- MacArthur Central, City
- 175 Eagle Street, City
Access to QPAC, Queensland Museum and the State Library is only available via Stanley Place (note: height restriction of 2.3m applies).
Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre: Access via Merivale Street only, all day.
South Bank Car Park entry and exit until 7:15pm is available via Glenelg Street. Entry and exit available via Tribune Street until 4:00pm. After 4:00pm no entry is available from Tribune Street, exit only until approximately 9.30pm when Grey Street is clear of pedestrians.
Treasury Hotel Car Park will operate contraflow under supervision of Hotel Security, Traffic Controllers and Police, to exit onto George Street between approximately 6.45pm and 9.30pm, delays are expected.
RULES AND RESTRICTIONS
South Bank will be fenced off for public safety. Entry begins at 9am, and once capacity is reached, the gates will close. South Bank is an alcohol-free space for Riverfire.
Leave your pets, bikes, scooters, drones, alcohol, and drink bottles with broken seals at home. Bag checks start at 9am. Restricted items will be confiscated by security staff.
No drones within 1500m of event venues.
Weather: The show will go on unless there is excessive wind.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Foti Fireworks Queensland, the team behind the show, is committed to offsetting carbon emissions and reducing waste.
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