Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY) sits right on the coast at Marcoola — about 10 km north of Maroochydore and minutes from the beach. It's a compact single-terminal airport, so you're through and on your way quickly. Here's everything you need, from the people who drive it every day.
Getting to & from the airport — the local way
MCY is small and quick to clear, but it's not on a train line — 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 beyond Maroochydore — Mooloolaba, Noosa, Caloundra — landing late, travelling as a group, or simply wanting it handled. Our fixed fares start from $39 and never surge.
Bus
Local bus services connect the airport with Maroochydore and the wider Sunshine Coast network. Cheap for solo travellers with light bags — slower and fiddly with luggage or at odd hours.
Taxi & rideshare
A taxi rank sits at the terminal and rideshare pickup is nearby. Fine for a short hop to Maroochydore or Mooloolaba, but meters and surge pricing make longer runs to Noosa or Caloundra add up — with no flight tracking.
Because there's no rail to the door, a pre-booked meet-and-greet is the easiest way to reach the beaches and resorts — especially to Noosa or with a group and bags.
Know where you're headed? Lock in a fixed fare in under a minute — flight monitored, no surge.
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The terminal
Sunshine Coast runs a single-storey terminal that handles both domestic and international flights, split into separate sections. There are no aerobridges — you take a short walk across the tarmac to board, which is part of the relaxed, holiday feel of the place. Everything is close together, so arrivals and departures are quick.
A major runway upgrade completed in 2020 means the airport now takes larger aircraft and direct international services alongside the domestic network. Even so, it stays small and easy — you can be in the car within minutes of landing.
Since boarding and arriving are across open tarmac, keep a light jacket handy in the wet season — and because it's so compact, we time our pickup to when you'll actually reach the kerb.
Transfer times & fixed fares from MCY
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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maroochydore | ~12 min | ~10 km | $39 |
| Coolum Beach | ~10 min | ~8 km | $39 |
| Mooloolaba / Alex Headland | ~18 min | ~15 km | $45 |
| Noosa Heads | ~35 min | ~30 km | $69 |
| Caloundra | ~40 min | ~40 km | $79 |
| Australia Zoo (Beerwah) | ~45 min | ~45 km | $99 |
| Brisbane CBD | ~90 min | ~100 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 Sunshine Coast Airport
Parking sits right by 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.
- Long-term / value — cheaper daily rates a short walk from the terminal.
- Pre-book online — 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 & facilities
It's a compact terminal, but there's enough to keep you comfortable before boarding.
Departure lounge
A relaxed departure lounge seating around 350, with free wi-fi and natural light.
Cafés & food outlets
Coffee, food and grab-and-go outlets landside and airside.
Shopping
News, gifts and travel essentials before you fly.
Duty-free
Duty-free for the growing international departures.
Hotels near the airport
Handy for an early departure or a late arrival.
Marcoola & Mudjimba
Beachfront apartments and motels a two-minute drive from the terminal, right on the sand.
Maroochydore
Hotels and apartments around the new city centre and the river.
Mooloolaba
The Esplanade's beachfront hotels, a short transfer south.
Noosa, Coolum & beyond
We transfer to any Sunshine Coast accommodation — fixed fare, door to door.
Insider tips from our drivers
The stuff you only learn from doing the run every day.
MCY is by far the closest airport to the Sunshine Coast beaches — you can be at Mooloolaba in under 20 minutes or on Marcoola sand in two.
It's a small terminal with tarmac boarding, so bags come out fast. We watch your flight and time our arrival so you're not waiting at the kerb.
Noosa is about 35 minutes north. If your flights land here rather than Brisbane, you've saved yourself the long Bruce Highway run.
A pre-arranged kerbside meet-and-greet beats circling the small pick-up area. Your driver tracks the flight and is there when you clear the doors — even if you land early or late.
