Planes, trains and automobiles: here’s our guide to getting to Brisbane via air, coach and train, sea and road.
Air
Brisbane Airport
Brisbane’s airports (both international and domestic) are situated next to each other in the suburb of Eagle Farm, less than 20 km from Brisbane's CBD. They are accessible by road from the Gateway Motorway and from the city, and by rail using the Airtrain service, which is linked to the Citytrain network.
The city is easily accessible by car, taxi and public transport upon arrival.
The airports are 75 minutes from the Gold Coast and 105 minutes from the Sunshine Coast. Both destinations can be reached by car, taxi or public transport.
- Shuttle buses - Depart regularly. Call Coachtrans on 07 3238 4700.
- Airtrain - Operates every 30 minutes from approximately 6am to 7pm every day. It is a 22 minute train trip to Central station (and you won’t get stuck in traffic jams!). Trains from the Gold Coast leave every 15 minutes during morning peak periods.
- Taxi - At Brisbane’s Domestic Terminal, taxi ranks are located at both the Qantas and Virgin Blue ends of the terminal. The taxi rank at the International Terminal is on Arrivals level 2.
- Hire car - The airports have the major hire car companies and some are based close to the airport. Contact your preferred hire car company for more information on rates and conditions.
For more information and to assist with planning your trip to the airport be sure to visit the new Main Roads airport traveller website which has everything you need to know to ensure you arrive safely and on time including:
If you’re looking for accommodation near the Brisbane Airport, check our directory.
Check Brisbane airport arrivals and departures for both international and domestic flights.
At the airports you can collect or drop-off a hire car, grab a quick meal and find all the airport facilities you need to make travelling a pleasure.
A major expansion and modernisation of the international terminal, including additional check-in and arrival facilities and more processing areas, is currently underway and is expected to be completed by the end of 2008.
Terminal maps are also available.
Travelling between terminals is quick and simple via the Airtrain or taxi.
Brisbane Airport parking
Convenient, paid parking is situated at both international and domestic terminals. Both terminals offer undercover parking for short and long term stays, with valet parking and disabled access too. The international terminal's multi-level undercover park offers more than 1,700 car parks as well as 24-hour video surveillance, all-weather access to the terminal via covered walkways and real time information displays showing directions to available parking bays. Some parking restrictions apply for dropping off and picking up, so check these before you leave.
Coach and Train
Brisbane Transit Centre
A transport hub, the Brisbane Transit Centre, is located on Roma Street in the heart of the city. Trains and coaches from around the state and country stop at the Brisbane Transit Centre.
Queensland Rail’s Traveltrain services link downtown Brisbane to regional and holiday destinations in the state. The Citytrain services will get travellers around Brisbane city and to the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.
Numerous coach companies arrive and depart from the Brisbane Transit Centre.
Sea
Portside Wharf
Brisbane's cruise ship terminal is Portside Wharf in the northside suburb of Hamilton. It includes fresh produce markets, riverside restaurants, cafés and eateries, fashion boutiques, apartments and cinemas.
The terminal is only 4.5 km from the city centre. It is ten minutes by road to the international or domestic airports and the terminal is close to the Gateway Motorway (Kingsford Smith Drive exit).
Long term car parking is available through Priority Airport Parking at Hendra, with a shuttle bus transporting clients to the cruise ship terminal. There are 250 short-term undercover car spaces at the terminal itself.
Terminal address:
39 Hercules St Hamilton Brisbane 4007 Phone: 07 3868 5111Road
If you are driving to Brisbane from a regional area or interstate, the major roads are:
- From north: via the Bruce Highway
- From south: via the Pacific Motorway
- From the west: via either the Warrego Highway or south-west on the Cunningham Highway. Both merge into the Ipswich Motorway.
If you don’t want to travel into the city’s centre, take the Gateway Motorway, which runs east of the city and close to the airports. The International and Domestic Terminals have long-term and short-term parking options.
