THE QUICK VERDICT
Staying on the southern or central Gold Coast, the Tweed or around Byron Bay? Gold Coast Airport is much closer, and our sedan fare from it is less than half the Brisbane Airport fare for most of those places. Staying on the northern Gold Coast near Sanctuary Cove, or found much better flights into Brisbane? Brisbane Airport is a reasonable choice, with Airtrain running to the Gold Coast line and a smaller fare gap for the northern suburbs.
- To Byron Bay
- 67 km vs 173 km
- To Surfers Paradise
- 28 km vs 85 km
- Sedan saving
- Up to $240
The two airports at a glance
Tweed Shire Council calls Gold Coast Airport the gateway to the Tweed, while Brisbane Airport is the airport for the state capital, with its own rail link. The table compares what each airport publishes, checked on 2 November 2026.
| Gold Coast Airport | Brisbane Airport | |
|---|---|---|
| Rail link | No station at the airport | Airtrain to the city and the Gold Coast line |
| Public bus | Translink routes 777 and 760 | Council bus 590 within the airport precinct to Toombul |
| Public transport fare | 50 cent Translink flat fare | Airtrain $23.30 city, $23.80 other SEQ stations, adult |
| Hours to note | Terminal open 4:00am–11:00pm; curfew 11:00pm–6:00am | Airtrain weekdays 5:04am–10:04pm, weekends 6:04am–10:04pm |
| Time zone | Queensland time all year | Queensland time all year |
Distance and fare to where you are staying
The clearest way to compare the airports is the trip at the other end. These are our private transfer fares from each airport to the same places, with the route distance our booking system measures.
| Destination | From Gold Coast Airport | From Brisbane Airport | Sedan difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coolangatta | 2 km, $127 sedan, $159 V-Class | 111 km, $299 sedan, $369 V-Class | $172 |
| Tweed Heads | 5 km, $127 sedan, $159 V-Class | 111 km, $289 sedan, $369 V-Class | $162 |
| Kingscliff | 14 km, $127 sedan, $159 V-Class | 120 km, $319 sedan, $389 V-Class | $192 |
| Burleigh Heads | 15 km, $127 sedan, $159 V-Class | 95 km, $259 sedan, $319 V-Class | $132 |
| Broadbeach | 19 km, $149 sedan, $179 V-Class | 91 km, $249 sedan, $309 V-Class | $100 |
| Surfers Paradise | 28 km, $169 sedan, $209 V-Class | 85 km, $229 sedan, $289 V-Class | $60 |
| Sanctuary Cove | 50 km, $189 sedan, $239 V-Class | 72 km, $209 sedan, $269 V-Class | $20 |
| Byron Bay | 67 km, $209 sedan, $259 V-Class | 173 km, $449 sedan, $569 V-Class | $240 |
Two patterns stand out. South of Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast Airport is far closer and the fare gap is wide. In the northern suburbs, the gap narrows sharply: to Sanctuary Cove the sedan fare differs by $20. Read your accommodation's suburb before you read the flight prices.
A cheaper flight into Brisbane can be cancelled out by the ground trip. A family saving $150 on airfares to Byron Bay would spend $310 more on a V-Class from Brisbane Airport than from Gold Coast Airport.
Staying on the Gold Coast
Southern and central Gold Coast
Coolangatta, Burleigh Heads, Broadbeach and Surfers Paradise are all closer to Gold Coast Airport. Gold Coast Airport's FAQs put Surfers Paradise about 30 minutes away by car. Its transport options page describes Translink route 777 as a limited-stop express to Burleigh Heads via Palm Beach, where you can change to the G:link tram for Broadbeach, Surfers Paradise and Southport. Translink's fares page sets a 50 cent flat fare across its services.
For a car to your door, see Gold Coast Airport to Surfers Paradise transfer, Burleigh Heads to Gold Coast Airport and all Gold Coast suburb transfers.
Northern Gold Coast and the theme parks
Here Brisbane Airport is a fair alternative. Airtrain says its Gold Coast service stops at all stations from Beenleigh to Varsity Lakes, including Coomera, Hope Island and Helensvale, with trains every 15 minutes at peak times and every 30 minutes off-peak. Our fare gap to Sanctuary Cove is $20. See Sanctuary Cove transfers and Gold Coast theme park transfers, and for Brisbane arrivals the Brisbane Airport to Gold Coast transfer page. Our full comparison of the northern airport's options is in Brisbane Airport to the Gold Coast: every option compared.
Staying on the Tweed
Tweed Shire Council describes Gold Coast Airport as the gateway to the Tweed, and notes that the border divides the twin towns of Tweed Heads and Coolangatta. Gold Coast Airport says Translink route 760 runs south to Coolangatta and Tweed Heads as well as north to Varsity Lakes and Robina.
From Brisbane Airport, Tweed Heads is 111 km by our booking system; from Gold Coast Airport it is 5 km. For the coast south of Tweed Heads, see Gold Coast Airport to Kingscliff transfer, Gold Coast Airport to Pottsville transfer and Tweed Coast transfers. If Brisbane is the airport that works for you, see Brisbane to Tweed Heads transfer, Brisbane to Cabarita Beach transfer and Brisbane to Murwillumbah transfer.
Remember the clock. The Tweed follows New South Wales daylight saving and Queensland does not, so between October and April your Tweed accommodation runs an hour ahead of either airport. Our guide to the NSW and Queensland summer time difference explains how to plan around it.
Staying around Byron Bay
Gold Coast Airport puts Byron Bay about 45 minutes away by car. Our booking system measures 67 km from Gold Coast Airport and 173 km from Brisbane Airport, and our sedan fare is $209 against $449. Shared transport follows the same pattern. Byron Easy Bus lists its Gold Coast Airport shuttle from $44, and its Brisbane Domestic Terminal shuttle at $73 per person.
We compare every way south from each airport in Gold Coast Airport to Byron Bay: options compared and Brisbane to Byron Bay: options compared. To book, see Gold Coast Airport to Byron Bay transfer or private transfers Brisbane to Byron Bay. For the rest of the shire, see Byron Shire transfers.
Leaving the terminal
Both airports offer the usual mix of taxis, rideshare, shuttles and hire cars, but they are laid out differently, and that affects how quickly you are on your way.
At Gold Coast Airport
Gold Coast Airport says Uber collects from a designated zone at the southern end of the terminal, just outside Domestic Arrivals, while DiDi and Shebah use the kerb near Departures. The taxi rank is also at the southern end, near International Arrivals. Con-X-Ion shuttles are booked at its airport desk, open from 10:00am to 5:00pm daily, or at an e-kiosk outside those hours. Major rental companies have desks inside the terminal. The airport's pick-up page says pick-up zones along Terminal Drive at the front of the terminal are for immediate pick-ups only, with no parking there, and the first 10 minutes in the short-term car park are free.
At Brisbane Airport
Brisbane Airport has separate Domestic and International terminals. Airtrain links them for a $5.00 fare, and the airport says the transfer takes about five minutes. Con-X-Ion runs door-to-door shuttles from both terminals to locations across Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast, and each terminal has its own rideshare pick-up area. If you are being collected by a friend or a booked car, check which terminal your flight uses before you land.
Whichever airport you choose, booking a car with your flight number means your party, bags and child seats are planned for before you arrive. Read about our vehicle sizes on private transfer vehicles, or about who we are on About MyPrivateTrips.
Early and late flights
Opening hours can decide the airport for you.
Curfew overnight
The airport's FAQs give the terminal hours as 4:00am to 11:00pm daily and the curfew as 11:00pm to 6:00am Queensland time. The terminal is not open for overnight stays.
Train hours
Brisbane Airport lists Airtrain from 5:04am to 10:04pm on weekdays and from 6:04am on weekends. Taxi ranks at both terminals operate around the clock.
If you land late at Brisbane Airport, the train may have stopped, which leaves taxi, rideshare or a booked car. Brisbane Airport's transport options page lists a $4.86 fee on taxi and rideshare trips from the airport. More on timing is in early and late flights on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane and when to leave for your flight.
Landing at one, leaving from the other
Some itineraries fly into Brisbane for a city stay, then leave from the Gold Coast, or the reverse. A Brisbane Airport to Gold Coast Airport transfer is 108 km by our booking system, at $289 in a sedan or $359 in a V-Class per vehicle, one way. Starting in the city instead? See Brisbane to Gold Coast Airport transfer.
What about the Sunshine Coast?
For trips north, Brisbane Airport is the one of these two that makes sense. Our booking system measures 134 km from Brisbane Airport to Noosa Heads, at $349 in a sedan. Travellers comparing a flight straight into the Sunshine Coast can look at Sunshine Coast Airport transfers.
How to decide
- Find your suburb in the fare table. The difference in the ground trip can be bigger than the difference in airfares.
- Count your party. A van fare is shared across up to seven travellers, so a long transfer hurts less per head in a group. Compare classes on private transfer vehicles.
- Check your landing time against the curfew and the train hours above.
- Look at your whole trip. A city stay first may make Brisbane the natural arrival.
Every fare we price online is on private transfer prices, and the hub pages for each airport are Gold Coast Airport transfers and Brisbane Airport private transfers.
Frequently asked questions
Which airport is closer to Byron Bay?
Gold Coast Airport. Our booking system measures 67 km from Gold Coast Airport to Byron Bay and 173 km from Brisbane Airport.
Which airport is better for Surfers Paradise?
Gold Coast Airport is closer, at 28 km by our booking system against 85 km from Brisbane Airport. Brisbane Airport has a direct Airtrain service to the Gold Coast line, with a change to the tram at Helensvale.
Is there a train from Gold Coast Airport?
No. Gold Coast Airport says there is no train station at the airport. Translink route 760 runs to Varsity Lakes station, and route 777 runs to Burleigh Heads for the tram.
Does Gold Coast Airport have a curfew?
Yes. Gold Coast Airport lists its curfew as 11:00pm to 6:00am Queensland time, and the terminal as open from 4:00am to 11:00pm daily.
How much is a transfer between Brisbane Airport and Gold Coast Airport?
With MyPrivateTrips, $289 in an Executive Sedan or $359 in an Executive V-Class, per vehicle, one way, from our booking system checked 1 to 2 November 2026 for a weekday 11am pickup.
More booking questions are answered on private transfer questions.
Whichever airport, one fixed fare.
See the price for your whole party before you pay.
Sources
- Gold Coast Airport, FAQs: Queensland time all year, curfew, terminal hours, drive times to Surfers Paradise and Byron Bay. Checked 2 November 2026.
- Gold Coast Airport, Transport options: Translink routes 777 and 760, no train station at the airport, rideshare and taxi locations, Con-X-Ion desk hours, rental desks. Checked 2 November 2026.
- Gold Coast Airport, Passenger pick-up and drop-off: immediate pick-up zones on Terminal Drive, first 10 minutes free in the short-term car park. Checked 2 November 2026.
- Translink, Fares and zones: 50 cent flat fare across Translink services. Checked 2 November 2026.
- Brisbane Airport, Transport options: Airtrain fares and hours, terminal transfer fare and time, Con-X-Ion shuttles, rideshare pick-up areas, taxi ranks, $4.86 fee, route 590. Checked 2 November 2026.
- Airtrain, Gold Coast and Surfers Paradise: Gold Coast line stations and frequency. Checked 2 November 2026.
- Byron Easy Bus, Gold Coast Airport: "from $44" shuttle fare to Byron Bay. Checked 2 November 2026.
- Byron Easy Bus, Brisbane Domestic to Byron Bay: $73 per person shuttle fare. Checked 2 November 2026.
- Tweed Shire Council, The Tweed: Gold Coast Airport as gateway to the Tweed, twin towns, NSW daylight saving on the Tweed. 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.