How do you get to Brisbane?
Getting There8.7/10Easier to reach than about 85% of cities
- Main airport
- Brisbane Airport (BNE)
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: bne.com.au, con-x-ion.com
Good to know
Good to Know
- Brisbane's 50-cent flat public transport fare is among Australia's cheapest—an exceptional value for nomads planning frequent local travel.
- The Airtrain offers the best balance of speed and cost for airport-to-city trips; online pre-booking saves a few dollars.
- Taxis attract a $4.86 surcharge from the airport; rideshare services (Uber/DiDi) incur the same fee, so cost difference is often negligible.
- Roma Street Station (not Central Station) is the hub for long-distance interstate trains; check your ticket carefully when booking.
- Sydney-to-Brisbane overnight train is popular with nomads for cost-effective travel + accommodation savings; book far in advance as daily departures are limited.
- Ferry access to nearby islands (North Stradbroke, Moreton) is excellent for weekend getaways; Bribie Island requires no ferry—drive directly.
- D'Aguilar National Park is the closest nature day trip (~45 min) and offers scenic rainforest and lookouts without a long drive.
- Gold Coast (1 hour) and Sunshine Coast (1.5–2 hours) are highly popular day-trip destinations; expect weekend traffic; consider visiting mid-week for fewer crowds.
- Glow worm viewing at Springbrook (1.5 hours) is a unique experience; bring a torch but avoid shining it directly on the creatures.
- Free City Loop buses (routes 40 & 50) operate every 10 minutes in the CBD—useful for exploring the city center without any fare.
- Contactless card payments work on trains and ferries; not all buses accept them yet, so carry a Go Card or paper ticket as backup.
Airport
- Name
- Brisbane Airport (BNE)
- Location
- ~14–22 km northeast of city center
Transport To City
Airtrain (Airport Train)
- Cost
- A$20
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes peak hours, every 30 minutes off-peak
- Travel Time
- ~20 minutes
- Operating Hours
- 5:04 am–10:04 pm weekdays, 6:04 am–10:04 pm weekends
- Notes
- Online discount available; cheaper option than taxi
- Description
- Direct train from both Domestic and International terminals to Brisbane Central and Roma Street stations
Taxi
- Cost
- A$75
- Travel Time
- ~20 minutes off-peak
- Notes
- $4.86 AUD surcharge applied to all airport fares
- Description
- 24/7 taxi ranks outside both terminals
Rideshare (Uber/DiDi)
- Cost Note
- Variable; $4.86 AUD airport surcharge applies
- Description
- Pickup from central road between taxi rank and passenger drop-off at both terminals
Con-X-ion Shuttle Bus
- Cost
- A$32
- Travel Time
- ~50 minutes to CBD
- Notes
- Child fare ~$22 AUD; operates from both terminals
- Description
- Door-to-door shared shuttle service to Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Sunshine Coast destinations
Public Bus & Train Combo (Budget)
- Cost
- A$0.50
- Notes
- Takes ~1.5–2 hours total including connections; very economical
- Description
- Free Skygate Airport Transfer Bus from terminal to Skygate Shopping Centre, then route 590 bus to Toombul Interchange, then train or bus to city
Day Trip Access
Gold Coast
- Distance
- ~1 hour drive south; also accessible by train
- Highlights
- Beaches (Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach), hinterland rainforest (Lamington National Park, Springbrook National Park), theme parks
Sunshine Coast
- Distance
- ~1.5–2 hours north
- Highlights
- Noosa (beaches, national park walks, Everglades), Caloundra, coastal villages, adventure activities
Moreton Island
- Distance
- ~75 min ferry from Brisbane
- Highlights
- Snorkeling Tangalooma Wrecks, sand-boarding sand dunes, dolphin feeding, whale watching (June–November)
North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah)
- Distance
- ~45 min drive + 30–45 min ferry from Cleveland
- Highlights
- North Gorge Walk, Brown Lake, Point Lookout, whale migration viewing (winter), beaches, cultural tours
Tamborine Mountain (Gold Coast Hinterland)
- Distance
- ~1 hour drive south-west
- Highlights
- Rainforest walks, Curtis Falls, wineries, galleries, cafes, scenic outlook
Springbrook National Park
- Distance
- ~1.5 hours south-west
- Highlights
- Glow worms (Natural Bridge Circuit), waterfalls, rainforest walks, scenic views
Lamington National Park (Green Mountains Section)
- Distance
- ~1.5–2 hours south-west
- Highlights
- Rainforest walks, Elabana Falls, wildlife, picnic facilities, accommodation options
D'Aguilar National Park
- Distance
- ~45 minutes west
- Highlights
- Scenic mountain drive, lookouts (Jolly's Lookout, Wivenhoe Outlook), rainforest walks, accessible from CBD
Lake Wivenhoe
- Distance
- ~45 minutes west
- Highlights
- Largest water supply for Brisbane; picnicking, kayaking, paddleboarding, water recreation, kangaroo spotting
Redcliffe Peninsula
- Distance
- ~45 minutes drive north
- Highlights
- Beach swimming (Suttons Beach, Settlement Cove lagoon), seafood dining, coastal walks, whale watching (June–Nov)
Noosa
- Distance
- ~2 hours north (Sunshine Coast)
- Highlights
- Clifftop walks (Noosa National Park), beaches, coves, water sports (surfing, kayaking, paddle-boarding), dining, boutiques
Glass House Mountains
- Distance
- ~1 hour north (Sunshine Coast hinterland)
- Highlights
- Scenic volcanic peaks, hiking trails, Australia Zoo (Beerwah), waterfalls, lookouts
Toowoomba
- Distance
- ~2 hours west
- Highlights
- Lush parklands, galleries, Carnival of Flowers (annual), restaurants, Table Top Mountain Walk
Rail Connections
Interstate Trains
NSW TrainLink XPT
- Route
- Brisbane to Sydney
- Booking
- Book in advance; limited daily departures
- Frequency
- 1 daily
- Travel Time
- ~14 hours
- Cost Economy
- A$160
- Arrival Point
- Sydney Central Station
- Departure Time
- 13:30 local time
- Departure Point
- Roma Street Station
- Arrives Next Morning
- Yes
- Cost Note
- Prices start from ~$111 AUD Economy; sleeper cabins available at higher cost; reclining seats, buffet car
NSW TrainLink XPT (with Connection)
- Route
- Brisbane to Melbourne
- Frequency
- 1 daily
- Travel Time
- ~25–26 hours
- Arrival Point
- Southern Cross Station, Melbourne
- Change Required
- At Sydney Central
- Departure Point
- Roma Street Station
- Cost Note
- Typically $155+ AUD; varies by class and season
Ferry Connections
- River Ferries
- Brisbane River ferries operated by RiverCity Ferries. 22 CityCat/ferry terminals for point-to-point travel within Brisbane.
Interisland Ferries
North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah)
- Travel Time
- Ferry ~30–45 minutes
- Departure Point
- Cleveland (45 min drive/train from CBD)
- Description
- Vehicle and passenger ferry from Cleveland; island known for beaches, freshwater lakes, wildlife, cultural sites
Moreton Island
- Travel Time
- ~75 minutes
- Departure Point
- Brisbane
- Description
- Tangalooma Island Resort operates passenger ferries; sand island activities: snorkeling wrecks, sandboarding, dolphin feeding
Bribie Island
- Departure Point
- Drive via bridge from Brisbane (45 min north)
- Description
- Only Moreton Bay island accessible by road (no ferry needed); calm family beaches, wildlife, kayaking
Ground Transport
- Buses
- Free City Loop (routes 40/50, every 10 min) and Spring Hill Loop (route 30) in CBD. High-frequency BUZ routes every 15 min.
- Trains
- Multiple lines connect city to north, west, south, and bayside suburbs; Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast lines; regional centers. Major stations: Central, Roma Street, Fortitude Valley, Bowen Hills.
- Flat Fare
- A$0.50
- Ferries Citycats
- 28 CityCats + 5 KittyCats; 22 terminals from UQ St Lucia to Northshore Hamilton. Free CityHopper service between North Quay and Sydney Street, New Farm (36 min frequency). Express CityCat and Cross River Ferries require paid ticket.
- Public Transport Network
- Translink-coordinated system covering buses, trains, ferries
- Fare Notes
- All Translink zones and modes (bus, train, ferry) are a flat 50 cents regardless of distance. Children under 5 travel free.
Payment Methods
- Go Card (rechargeable)
- Contactless credit/debit card
- Paper ticket (same 50-cent cost)
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this getting there & away research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Brisbane
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.