Rising 60 metres above the South Bank, the Wheel of Brisbane is an observation wheel that gives sweeping views over the city and the bend of the Brisbane River. Its enclosed, air-conditioned gondolas have made it a popular landmark since it was installed. The wheel was first built for the Sea World theme park on the Gold Coast in 2006. It was taken down the following year and moved to Brisbane, where it was re-erected at the northern entrance to the South Bank Parklands. It opened in August 2008, timed to mark two anniversaries at once: twenty years since the World Expo held on the site in 1988, and 150 years since Queensland became a separate colony. Its opening coincided with the city's annual Riverfire festival. Designed by a Dutch firm that specialises in such wheels, it carries 42 fully enclosed gondolas, each seating up to six adults and two children, for a total capacity of more than three hundred riders. A full turn takes around twelve to fifteen minutes, and a ride usually includes several rotations. From the top, riders look out across the city centre, the river and the surrounding parklands, with a recorded commentary pointing out the sights. The gondolas are sealed and cooled against the Queensland heat. Now carrying the name of a television sponsor, the wheel sits on the cultural forecourt of South Bank, close to the state art gallery, museum, library and performing arts centre. The parklands around it include subtropical gardens, a man-made beach and riverside walks. It has become a fixture of the South Bank skyline, lit up at night and visible from across the river. The site was once the grounds of the 1988 World Expo, which transformed this stretch of the riverbank. It is an easy walk across the river from the central business district, in the heart of Brisbane's cultural precinct.

Type: Tourist Attraction

Address: Russell Street, Brisbane, Australia, 4101

Website: https://thewheelofbrisbane.com.au