Gold Coast Airport (OOL) sits right on the beach at Bilinga, on the Queensland–NSW border — about 24 km south of Surfers Paradise and a two-minute drive from Coolangatta's sand. It's one compact, modern terminal, which makes arrivals refreshingly quick. Here's everything you need, from the people who drive it every day.
Getting to & from the airport — the local way
OOL is small and quick to clear, but it's not on the train line and the tram doesn't reach the terminal — so how you leave matters. 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 for anywhere past Coolangatta — Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, Burleigh or Byron Bay — landing late, travelling as a group, or simply wanting it handled. Our fixed fares start from $29 and never surge.
Tram & bus
The G:link tram runs through Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach and Southport but doesn't reach the airport. Route 777 bus links the terminal to Broadbeach South tram station, and route 760 runs to Varsity Lakes train station. Cheap for solo travellers with light bags — slow and fiddly with luggage or at odd hours.
Taxi & rideshare
A taxi rank sits at arrivals and rideshare pickup is at departures. Fine for a quick hop to Coolangatta or Tweed, but meters and surge pricing make longer runs up the Coast add up — with no flight tracking.
Because there's no train to the door and the tram stops short of the terminal, a pre-booked meet-and-greet is the easiest way to reach anywhere beyond the southern beaches — especially with bags or a group.
Know where you're headed? Lock in a fixed fare in under a minute — flight monitored, no surge.
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The terminal
Unlike bigger airports, Gold Coast runs a single integrated terminal — recently expanded across three levels — with domestic and international flights under one roof and international operations toward the southern end. There's no long inter-terminal hop; it's a short walk between areas, so connections and arrivals are quick.
The airport operates roughly 4am to 11pm, matching the flight schedule. Because everything's compact and close to the road, you can often be in the car within minutes of stepping off the plane.
OOL clears fast, so for a pickup we watch your flight and time our arrival to when you'll actually reach the kerb — no waiting around, and no circling for us.
Transfer times & fixed fares from OOL
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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coolangatta / Kirra | ~5 min | ~3 km | $29 |
| Tweed Heads (NSW) | ~10 min | ~6 km | $35 |
| Burleigh Heads | ~15 min | ~13 km | $45 |
| Broadbeach | ~20 min | ~18 km | $49 |
| Surfers Paradise | ~25 min | ~24 km | $49 |
| Main Beach / Southport | ~30 min | ~30 km | $59 |
| Byron Bay (NSW) | ~50 min | ~50 km | $99 |
| Brisbane CBD | ~90 min | ~95 km | $189 |
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 Gold Coast Airport
Parking sits right next to the terminal, for every trip length. As a rough guide:
- Short-term / premium — closest to the terminal, best for quick pick-ups and drop-offs, priced by the half-hour then daily.
- Long-term / value — cheaper daily rates a short walk or shuttle from 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 with two or more of you — a return transfer often beats parking fees plus fuel and the walk back with your bags. And you're not leaving the car in the salt air by the beach for a week.
Airport lounges
A calm spot before boarding, whether you've got status, a pass, or just want to pay in.
Pay-in departure lounge
A quiet lounge open to any traveller for a fee — comfortable seating, food, drinks and wi-fi before your flight.
Airline lounge access
Lounge access for eligible members and premium fares on carriers that offer it at OOL.
Cafés & bars
Cafés, bars and grab-and-go outlets through the terminal, landside and airside.
Duty-free & dining
Duty-free shopping and dining for international departures at the southern end.
Hotels near the airport
Handy for an early departure, a late arrival or a long layover.
Rydges Gold Coast Airport
Full-service hotel directly across from the terminal — the easiest early-flight option.
Coolangatta & Kirra
Beachfront hotels and apartments a few minutes north, right on the sand.
Tweed Heads (NSW)
Accommodation just over the border, a short transfer from the terminal.
Surfers, Broadbeach & beyond
We transfer to any Gold Coast hotel — fixed fare, door to door.
Insider tips from our drivers
The stuff you only learn from doing the run every day.
The airport sits on the Queensland–NSW border, and in summer NSW runs daylight saving while Queensland doesn't. Double-check your phone's time and your pickup time in the warmer months — it catches people out.
Kirra and Bilinga beaches are a two-minute walk from the terminal — if you've got a long wait before a flight, it's a lovely spot to kill an hour.
OOL is the nearest airport to Byron Bay at around 50 minutes. If you're Byron-bound, we run that transfer straight from the terminal.
On arrival, a pre-arranged kerbside meet-and-greet beats the pick-up loop. Your driver tracks the flight and is there when you clear the doors — even if you land early or late.
