THE QUICK VERDICT
Leaving from the city on a budget? Greyhound lists Brisbane to Byron Bay from $34, and a train to Varsity Lakes joined to the Byron Bay Express coach is another low-cost route. Landing at Brisbane Airport, Byron Easy Bus runs a shared shuttle from the terminal. For families, groups of five or more, late flights or stays outside town, a private car does the whole 173 km from the airport for one fixed price per vehicle, $449 in an Executive Sedan.
- Coach from the city
- From $34
- Coach time
- About 3 hours
- Private car
- From $429 per vehicle
The options at a glance
Byron Bay is in New South Wales, south of the Gold Coast, and there is no direct train from Brisbane. Every option ends with a road trip. Prices and hours below come from the operators and Brisbane Airport, checked on 2 November 2026. Our own fares come from our booking system.
| Option | Starts from | Published price | Door to door? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greyhound coach | Brisbane city | From $34 | No |
| Byron Easy Bus shuttle | Roma Street or Brisbane Airport | $60 from Roma Street, $73 from the Domestic Terminal, per person | No, to the Byron Bay bus interchange |
| Train, then Byron Bay Express coach | Any station on the Gold Coast line | Train fare plus coach fare | No |
| Rideshare or taxi | Anywhere | App price or meter, plus $4.86 at the airport | Yes |
| Hire car | City or airport | Set by the rental company | You drive |
| Private transfer | City or airport | $429 to $569 per vehicle | Yes |
If you already know you want a car, fares and booking are on our private transfers Brisbane to Byron Bay page. Read on to see how it compares.
Option 1: Greyhound from the city
Greyhound's Brisbane to Byron Bay page lists tickets from $34, with Early Bird and Flexible fare types that change with how far ahead you book. It gives the trip as 3 hours, with the first departure at 7:00am and the last at 2:00pm, and notes that times can vary by season.
Luggage
Greyhound includes one carry-on bag up to 8 kg and two checked bags up to 20 kg each. Up to two extra bags can be added for $10 each, and prams and wheelchairs travel free. Its Gold Coast to Byron Bay page names the Byron Bay stop as Bay C at the Byron Bay Interchange on Butler Street.
- Good for: solo travellers and couples leaving from the city in the morning or early afternoon, staying in walking distance of the Byron Bay interchange.
- Harder for: anyone arriving by air later in the day, and families moving car seats and prams.
Option 2: Byron Easy Bus from Roma Street or the airport
Byron Easy Bus runs shared shuttles to Byron Bay from Brisbane city and from both Brisbane Airport terminals. Its Roma Street route page lists $60 per person from bus stop 125 on Roma Street, opposite the police station. Its Domestic Terminal route page lists $73 per person from the Con-X-Ion ticket desk outside the Virgin terminal. Both drop off at Stand D, Byron Bay Bus Interchange, Butler Street.
The operator says discounts apply for children, groups and same-day travel, but does not list them, and its route pages do not give travel times or departures. Times are shown in its online booking tool. The same site offers a private shuttle for a group of up to ten.
Brisbane Airport's transport options page does not list a coach to Byron Bay. It suggests asking at the Visitor Information desks about bus or coach travel to other areas.
- Good for: travellers landing at Brisbane Airport who want to go south without changing vehicles.
- Harder for: anyone staying away from the Byron Bay interchange, and larger families paying per seat.
Option 3: Train to Varsity Lakes, then the Byron Bay Express
There is no rail line to Byron Bay, but the Gold Coast train line gets you most of the way to the border. Byron Bay Express suggests catching a Queensland Rail train to Varsity Lakes station and joining its coach there.
From the city
Translink's fares page sets a 50 cent flat fare across all Translink services, regardless of how far you travel or how you pay, and Byron Bay Express quotes the train to Varsity Lakes from $0.50.
From Brisbane Airport
The airport's train is Airtrain, which charges its own fares. Brisbane Airport lists $23.80 for an adult to South East Queensland stations outside the city and $0.50 for children 14 and under. Airtrain says its Gold Coast service stops at all stations from Beenleigh to Varsity Lakes. Brisbane Airport lists Airtrain hours as 5:04am to 10:04pm on weekdays and 6:04am to 10:04pm on weekends.
The coach leg
The Byron Bay Express timetable shows three southbound coaches calling at Varsity Lakes, at 9:55am, 11:40am and 2:25pm, reaching Byron Bay at 12:05pm, 1:50pm and 4:35pm. Each time is shown in the local time of that stop, so between October and April the Byron Bay arrival is on New South Wales daylight saving time, an hour ahead of the Queensland departure. Our guide to the NSW and Queensland summer time difference explains why. The operator lists $49 for an adult from Gold Coast Airport to Byron Bay; the Varsity Lakes fare is shown in its booking system.
It is the cheapest way from the city if the connections line up, but it means a train, a platform wait and a coach, and the last coach from Varsity Lakes leaves at 2:25pm.
What about NSW TrainLink?
Transport for NSW's Byron Bay page describes rail access as the XPT trains that run daily from Sydney, with connecting coaches to Byron Bay from Casino or Grafton. It is built for travellers coming up from the south, not for a trip from Brisbane.
Option 5: A hire car
Brisbane Airport lists Avis, Budget, Dollar, Redspot, Europcar, Hertz, SIXT and Thrifty. A hire car is worth it if you want to explore the hinterland or the coast once you are there. If you only need to get to Byron Bay and back, compare the daily rate, fuel and parking with two one-way trips. Anyone who would like a car on hand for a day without driving can look at our chauffeur service Gold Coast.
Option 6: A private transfer
A private transfer is a vehicle for your party only, priced per vehicle and shown before you pay. You give your flight number for airport pickups, add rear-facing, forward-facing or booster seats by quantity, and leave notes for the driver. Vehicle sizes are on our private transfer vehicles page.
| Route | Distance | Executive Sedan | Executive V-Class | Executive Vito-Tourer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brisbane Airport to Byron Bay | 173 km | $449 | $569 | $569 |
| Byron Bay to Brisbane Airport | 174 km | $459 | $569 | $569 |
| Brisbane City to Byron Bay | 165 km | $429 | $539 | $539 |
| Byron Bay to Brisbane City | 167 km | $439 | $539 | $539 |
Return trips can be booked together. Every route we price online is on private transfer prices, and anything we quote by email can go to Contact MyPrivateTrips.
What it costs per person
Seat fares multiply with every passenger; a private car does not. Here is the arithmetic for Brisbane Airport to Byron Bay, using the Byron Easy Bus Domestic Terminal fare and our airport fares.
| Who is travelling | Shuttle total | Private transfer total | Private, per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 adult | $73 | $449 (sedan) | $449 |
| 2 adults | $146 | $449 (sedan) | $224.50 |
| 3 adults | $219 | $449 (sedan) | $149.67 |
| 5 adults | $365 | $569 (van) | $113.80 |
| 7 adults | $511 | $569 (van) | $81.29 |
On this longer route, shared transport stays cheaper per head unless the group is large. The private car earns its place on convenience: door to door, no transfers, seats fitted, and a time that suits your flight.
Seven travellers in one van pay $58 more in total than seven shuttle seats, and go straight to the door. Bigger parties should read group transfers Gold Coast and Brisbane.
Which option suits you?
Solo or a couple, starting in the city
The Greyhound coach or the Roma Street shuttle. Both get you to the Byron Bay interchange for a seat fare.
Landing at Brisbane Airport
The Byron Easy Bus shuttle runs from the terminal. Train and coach is possible but depends on landing early enough for the last coach from Varsity Lakes.
Families with young children
Child seats tip the balance. Our guide to child seat rules in Queensland and NSW covers both sides of the border.
Late flights
The coaches listed here all leave by mid-afternoon. For an evening arrival, see early and late flights on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane.
Events and weddings
Coming for a celebration? See wedding guest transfers.
Not quite Byron Bay?
Many trips labelled Byron Bay end somewhere nearby, beyond the reach of the interchange.
- Lennox Head is south along the coast: Brisbane to Lennox Head transfer.
- Bangalow is inland from Byron Bay: Brisbane to Bangalow transfer.
- Cabarita Beach is on the Tweed Coast: Brisbane to Cabarita Beach transfer.
- Murwillumbah is in the Tweed Valley: Brisbane to Murwillumbah transfer.
- For the wider shire and region, see Byron Shire transfers and Northern Rivers transfers.
Could you fly into Gold Coast Airport instead?
Our booking system measures Gold Coast Airport to Byron Bay at 67 km, against 173 km from Brisbane Airport, and our sedan fare is $209 instead of $449. If you have not booked flights, read Gold Coast Airport or Brisbane Airport? and Gold Coast Airport to Byron Bay: options compared. If you are booked into the southern airport, see Gold Coast Airport to Byron Bay transfer. Flying out of Brisbane after your stay? Brisbane Airport private transfers covers the return.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a train from Brisbane to Byron Bay?
Not directly. You can take a train to Varsity Lakes on the Gold Coast line and join the Byron Bay Express coach there, which the coach operator suggests on its website.
How long is the coach from Brisbane to Byron Bay?
Greyhound lists the trip at 3 hours, with the first departure at 7:00am and the last at 2:00pm. Times can change by season.
Is there a shuttle from Brisbane Airport to Byron Bay?
Yes. Byron Easy Bus runs shared shuttles from the Brisbane Airport terminals to the Byron Bay bus interchange. Its Domestic Terminal route page lists $73 per person.
Do taxis and rideshare cost extra from Brisbane Airport?
Brisbane Airport adds a $4.86 fee to taxi fares and rideshare trips starting at the airport. Taxi passengers also pay tolls.
How much is a private transfer from Brisbane Airport to Byron Bay?
With MyPrivateTrips, $449 for an Executive Sedan or $569 for a Mercedes-Benz V-Class or Vito-Tourer, per vehicle, one way, from our booking system checked 1 to 2 November 2026 for a weekday 11am pickup.
General booking questions are answered on our private transfer questions page.
One car, Brisbane to Byron Bay.
See the fixed price for your whole party before you pay.
Sources
- Greyhound, Brisbane to Byron Bay: "from" fare, fare types, trip length, first and last departures, luggage allowance. Checked 2 November 2026.
- Greyhound, Gold Coast to Byron Bay: Byron Bay stop at Bay C, Byron Bay Interchange, Butler Street. Checked 2 November 2026.
- Byron Easy Bus, Roma Street to Byron Bay: $60 fare, pick-up and drop-off points, discounts. Checked 2 November 2026.
- Byron Easy Bus, Brisbane Domestic to Byron Bay: $73 fare, pick-up and drop-off points. Checked 2 November 2026.
- Byron Easy Bus: home page fare list, booking tool, private shuttle size. Checked 2 November 2026.
- Byron Bay Express: Varsity Lakes rail connection, $49 airport fare. Checked 2 November 2026.
- Byron Bay Express, Timetable: Varsity Lakes departures, Byron Bay arrivals, local time at each stop. Checked 2 November 2026.
- Translink, Fares and zones: 50 cent flat fare across Translink services; Airtrain charges its own fares. Checked 2 November 2026.
- Brisbane Airport, Transport options: Airtrain fares and hours, rideshare companies, $4.86 fee, tolls, rental companies, coach enquiries. Checked 2 November 2026.
- Airtrain, Gold Coast and Surfers Paradise: Gold Coast service stops from Beenleigh to Varsity Lakes. Checked 2 November 2026.
- Transport for NSW, Visit Byron Bay by coach: XPT from Sydney with coach connections from Casino or Grafton. Checked 2 November 2026.
- MyPrivateTrips booking system: private transfer fares and route distances, per vehicle, one way, checked 1–2 November 2026 for a weekday 11am pickup.