Brisbane Airport is Queensland's front door — around 24 million travellers a year pass through its two terminals, about 13 km north-east of the city in Pinkenba. Whether you're flying out at dawn or landing after a long-haul, here's everything you actually need to know, from the people who meet flights here every day.
Getting to & from the airport — the local way
BNE gives you a few ways in and out, and the right one depends on where you're going, how much luggage you've got, and what time it is. Here's the honest rundown.
Private transfer & shuttle
Door-to-door, no stairs with your bags, and a driver watching your flight so a delay doesn't cost you the ride. Best if you're heading beyond the CBD — the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast or Noosa — landing late, travelling as a group, or simply want the trip handled. Our fixed fares start from $49 and never surge.
Airtrain
The rail link runs from both terminals into the Brisbane CBD in about 20 minutes, and on to the Gold Coast. Quick and cheap for solo travellers with light luggage headed to a station near their destination — less ideal at odd hours or with a family and a pile of bags.
Taxi & rideshare
Ranks and rideshare pickup zones sit outside both terminals. Fine for a quick CBD hop, but fares run on meters and surge pricing, so a late-night airport run can cost well over a fixed transfer — with none of the flight tracking.
If you're landing internationally and connecting to a domestic flight, don't panic at the "4 km between terminals" — the free transfer bus and the Airtrain both make it easy. But if bags are tight on time, a pre-booked meet-and-greet driver waiting kerbside is the calmest way to do it.
Know where you're headed? Lock in a fixed fare in under a minute — flight monitored, no surge.
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The two terminals & getting between them
Brisbane runs a Domestic Terminal and an International Terminal, sitting about 4 km apart — so unlike some airports, you can't walk between them. Leave a little buffer if you're connecting.
Free terminal transfer bus
The simplest option, and it's free. The bus takes roughly 10 minutes between terminals, departing from Level 4 (Departures) at the Domestic Terminal and Level 2 at the International Terminal.
Airtrain between terminals
Faster at around 5 minutes for $5 one-way, running every 15 minutes at peak and every 30 off-peak. Handy if the bus has just left — otherwise the free bus does the job.
Allow at least 60–90 minutes between an international arrival and a domestic departure once you factor in immigration, baggage and the terminal hop. It's usually fine — but it's not a five-minute dash.
Transfer times & fixed fares from BNE
Approximate driving times and our fixed one-way fares to the places travellers ask for most. No meter, no surge — the price you're quoted is the price you pay.
| Destination | Approx. drive | Distance | From (1–4 pax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brisbane CBD | ~15 min | ~13 km | $49 |
| Fortitude Valley / New Farm | ~15 min | ~12 km | $49 |
| Surfers Paradise (Gold Coast) | ~75 min | ~95 km | $179 |
| Broadbeach | ~80 min | ~100 km | $189 |
| Mooloolaba (Sunshine Coast) | ~90 min | ~100 km | $189 |
| Noosa Heads | ~2 hr | ~140 km | $239 |
| Byron Bay | ~2.5 hr | ~170 km | $299 |
| Toowoomba | ~1 hr 45 | ~140 km | $249 |
Indicative fares for illustration — live prices are confirmed in your instant quote. Larger vehicles for groups of 5–57 are available on every route.
Parking at Brisbane Airport
BNE has parking for every trip length, from quick pick-ups to a fortnight away. As a rough guide:
- Short-term / premium — closest to the terminals, best for pick-ups and drop-offs, priced by the half-hour then daily.
- Long-term & budget lots — cheaper daily rates (budget options can start around $9/day when pre-booked online), with a shuttle to the terminal.
- Pre-book online — airport parking is almost always cheaper booked ahead than driving up and taking a ticket.
For anything longer than about three days — or if there are two or more of you — a return transfer often beats parking fees plus fuel, tolls and the walk from a distant lot with your bags. And you're not leaving the car in the heat for a week.
Airport lounges
A calm spot before boarding, whether you've got status, a lounge pass, or just want to pay in.
Qantas Club & Business Lounge
For eligible Qantas passengers and members — showers, food and quiet workspace.
Virgin Australia Lounge
Virgin's home lounge for members and eligible fares.
Plaza Premium Lounge
Pay-in access for any traveller — a reliable pre-flight option on international departures.
Airline & partner lounges
Qantas International and partner lounges serve long-haul departures.
Hotels near the airport
Handy for an early departure, a late arrival, or a long layover.
Novotel Brisbane Airport
Full-service hotel in the airport precinct — the easiest early-flight option.
ibis Brisbane Airport
Reliable, well-priced, minutes from the terminals.
Pullman & Hotels precinct
A step up for comfort, still a short transfer to check-in.
Brisbane CBD hotels
We transfer to any of them — fixed fare, door to door.
Insider tips from our drivers
The stuff you only learn from doing the run thousands of times.
Domestic departures between 5:30 and 7:00am are the busiest of the day. If you're on a 6am flight, we'll pick you up earlier than the apps suggest — the airport approach backs up before sunrise.
On arrival, the calmest meeting point is a pre-arranged kerbside meet-and-greet rather than circling the pick-up loop. Your driver tracks the flight and is there when you clear the doors — even if you land early or late.
Brisbane summer storms (Nov–Mar) can roll in fast and hard in the late afternoon. Flights bunch up when they clear — a monitored transfer just waits for you at no extra charge, which a meter won't.
The run to the Gold or Sunshine Coast is gorgeous — and it doesn't have to be a straight dash. Ask about a scenic stop or a coffee break on the way; our drivers know the good ones.
Make the trip part of the holiday
We're not only a transfer company — we're the ground-transport arm of Cooee Tours, showing people Queensland for 30 years. Turn your airport run into a scenic route, add a stop at a lookout or winery, or roll straight off the plane into a day tour. Same trusted drivers, same Mercedes fleet.
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