Airport to Arena Walk

Image shows a person using a white cane with a red tip to navigate tactile paving at a street crossing, indicating an accessible pedestrian path.

Step into the shoes of someone living with low vision or blindness.

On Global Accessibility Awareness Day, Guide Dogs Queensland is inviting the community to step into the shoes of someone living with low vision or blindness as part of the Airport to Arena Walk, a powerful public activation supporting the Bridging the Gap to 2032 campaign.

This unique five-stage journey will travel from Brisbane Airport to Victoria Park, navigating some of Brisbane’s busiest transport hubs and public spaces to test the city’s accessibility in real time ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

What to Expect on the Walk

Along the way, sighted participants will have the opportunity to experience sections of the walk using specialised low vision simulation glasses, supported by Guide Dogs Queensland orientation and mobility specialists. The activation is designed to provide direct insight into the barriers and challenges people with low vision or blindness can face when navigating everyday environments.

Paralympian Katie Kelly OAM will join Guide Dogs clients, community leaders, councillors and supporters for the challenge, highlighting the importance of accessible and inclusive design across transport, infrastructure and public spaces.

The halfway point of the walk will pause at Brisbane City Hall, where the community can engage with the Bridging the Gap to 2032 campaign and learn more about creating a more accessible Queensland.

Building Accessibility from the Start

Guide Dogs Queensland CEO Jock Beveridge said the initiative is about showing accessibility in practice, not theory.

“Small design decisions can either enable independence or create barriers for people with disability. With Brisbane preparing for 2032, this is the moment to ensure accessibility is built in from the start.”

Guide Dogs Queensland will also commit to repeating the Airport to Arena Walk annually, creating a benchmark to track accessibility progress in the lead-up to Brisbane 2032.