A ‘world-first,’ wheelchair-accessible flying fox has been proposed for Kangaroo Point, targeting lift-off before Brisbane 2032.
Brisbane adventure entrepreneur John “Sharpey” Sharpe has outlined plans for a dual-line flying fox stretching over the Brisbane River from the Kangaroo Point cliffs to the city. Sharpe says the attraction would be a world first for wheelchair accessibility, positioning Brisbane to showcase inclusive adventure tourism in the lead-up to 2032.
Known locally for Riverlife, the Story Bridge Adventure Climb and the high-perched Vertigo dining experience, Sharpe says the flying fox would be a world first of its kind because of its built-in accessibility.
The proposal has been taking shape in the background for years and is now being progressed through Queensland’s new Tourism Icons Investment Fund under the state’s Destination 2045 plan.
The goal is to open ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, with the attraction designed from the ground up to accommodate wheelchair users.
How it would work
The concept uses two parallel cables for a one-way glide from the cliffs to the CBD. Guests could then make the return journey via the Kangaroo Point Green Bridge, which officially opened on 15 December 2024 and now provides a direct link between the two banks.
Accessibility is built into the design brief: the flying fox would incorporate hardware and procedures so wheelchair users can take part safely, comfortably and without being treated as an exception.
The pitch builds on a recent run of inclusive tourism moves in Brisbane. Earlier this year, the Story Bridge Adventure Climb launched a wheelchair-accessible experience — another claimed global first — reinforcing that major attractions here are starting to design for all abilities from the start.
The Vertigo connection
Sharpe is also the man behind Vertigo Restaurant at Brisbane Powerhouse — a vertical dining experience where guests are clipped into safety gear and seated on platforms suspended roughly 17 metres above the ground.
Vertigo offers an “Access Vertigo” option that uses a purpose-built lifting wheelchair: guests transfer with staff assistance, are raised to the dining platform, and the chair locks securely into the table for the meal before a controlled descent.
That hands-on experience with adaptive equipment and procedures is informing the flying fox proposal’s accessibility features, with the goal of ensuring wheelchair users can participate from day one.
Where the project sits now
- Funding pathway: The proposal is being prepared for consideration under Queensland’s Tourism Icons Investment Fund, part of the state’s Destination 2045 agenda.
- Consultation and approvals: Exact launch and landing points would be confirmed through community consultation, engineering, environmental assessment and statutory approvals.
- Design considerations: Early engineering work has reportedly focused on minimising vegetation impacts along the Kangaroo Point cliffs.
- Timing: The stated aim is to be operating well before Brisbane 2032 so staff, systems and partnerships are in place ahead of the Games.
Why it matters for Kangaroo Point
If approved and built, the flying fox would add a fresh “river-to-city” experience to Kangaroo Point’s outdoor line-up — launching from the cliffs, soaring to the CBD, and strolling home over the new bridge. Just as importantly, it would continue Brisbane’s shift toward designing major attractions with accessibility at the centre rather than as an afterthought.
Key facts at a glance
- What: Proposed dual-line, wheelchair-accessible flying fox across the Brisbane River
- Where: Kangaroo Point cliffs to Brisbane CBD (one-way)
- Return route: Via the Kangaroo Point Green Bridge (opened 15 December 2024)
- Proponent: John “Sharpey” Sharpe (Riverlife, Story Bridge Adventure Climb, Vertigo)
- Target opening: Before the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games
- Status: Concept progressing through funding, design, consultation and approvals
