The Story Bridge

if you like bridges… brisbane is a TERRIFIC city~ for cars. bikes. pedestrians… they have designated bridges for your mode of transportation
while they’re not as famous as many other bridges out there… it’s definitely a fun experience nonetheless~~

The Story Bridge is an icon, yes. At night it’s a stunning spectacle worthy of bigger cities than Brisbane, and driving over it will give you one of the best views of the city. Apart from all that, though, the Story Bridge is the cheapest workouts you’ll get. That thing might look more or less flat but let me tell you, it’s a deceiving little slope that will have you aching for days afterwards. Go for a sprint over it and earn your dinner. As an added bonus, you can watch the pretty city lights as you run, which might ease the pain (at least a little bit…).

There are few things I love more about Brisbane than driving back towards the city after a long stretch on the Pacific Motorway. After such a desolate road and construction work, to emerge onto a bridge that offers such a beautiful view of Brisbane at night is really a delight.
For those who aren’t faint hearted, the Story Bridge can be climbed during guided sessions. But if you’re after a less stress-​inducing form of exercise, The Story Bridge is a hot spot for joggers and cyclists in the early morning and late afternoon.
If you have time at night and you’re around the valley or kangaroo point, it’s well worth walking to the centre of the Story Bridge and admiring the view from there. And a warning for drivers: make sure you’re not speeding your way across the Story Bridge, because there’s a camera ready to catch you at the other end.

This bridge is probably the most iconic Brisbane landmark we have left and it deserves to be cherished.
Yes, it’s a functioning bridge that’s essential to the road map, but it’s so much more. It’s the site of charity banners, pink lights for breast cancer awareness, a romantic backdrop for lovers snuggling in riverside parks and the launching point for the raddest firework displays.
Get to Upper Bowen Terrace around 10am on Riverfire Days with your camp chair and esky if you want to snag a view of the bridge as it is definitely not a secret.

The Story Bridge is a Brisbane Icon. I have spent many a night gazing out over Brisbane and whenever I spot the Story Bridge with its two steel peaks rising over the Brisbane River, I can’t help but smile. During the night the bridge’s lights glimmer across the water. It really is a well constructed Brisbane beauty.
The bridge itself connects Fortitude Valley and Kangaroo Point with three lanes of traffic in either direction and pedistrian/​cyclist paths on both sides. Traffic can get a little slow in peak hour but generally the drive is quite smooth. You can also do Story Bridge climbs, which are quite the tourist attraction.
Perhaps my favourite time to gaze upon the Story Bridge is during Riverfire when it is lit up with fireworks. Often they will stream down from the bridge like a waterfall of molten gold. It really is a sight to see.

You’ll be hard pressed finding a postcard of Brisbane without the Story Bridge on it. It’s been an icon for over 70 years now (it was opened in 1940). Locals and tourists love it equally as much. You will always be able to spot people looking fondly upon those two curvaceous peaks that connect the north to the south.
Here’s some history you may or may not know about. The Story Bridge was one of three projects proposed during the Depression to provide jobs for people in hard hitting times. It was designed by John Bradfield, the brains behind the Sydney Harbour Bridge. All of the resources needed to build the bridge were sourced locally. It is, 100% Queensland made. If you didn’t have any reason to get romantic about the Story Bridge, now you do.
The more practical side of the Story Bridge is that it allows heavy traffic to pass from the northern suburbs to the south and vice versa. Even though there are six lanes, the bridge gets horribly congested during peak hour. When driving across, choose your lane early as they all taper off in different directions of the city quite soon after you get off the bridge. You can walk or cycle across the bridge as well.
I reckon the best way to experience it is by bike. Grab a friend at say 4pm so you’ll catch sunset. Start off at the Kangaroo Point Cliffs, ride across the bridge, head along the New Farm cliffs and roll on down to New Farm Park. Gorgeous.