Brisbane Gateway
The Gold Coast & Sunshine Coast zone can start at Brisbane Airport (BNE), on Moreton Bay between the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast. This is the logistics page for the connection: where to sleep, where to eat, who drives, how the roads and the Stradbroke ferry reach the zone, and where to find a surf shop.
Getting There
Brisbane Airport (BNE) is the more practical gateway for international travellers heading to the Sunshine Coast, with more international routes, and it sits about 105 km and 1 hour 16 minutes from Sunshine Coast Airport and about 108 km and 1 hour 18 minutes from Gold Coast Airport (reported on the Gold Coast & Sunshine Coast zone page). Brisbane itself is a pass-through in this zone, with no surf of its own.
Standard Australian ETA and eVisitor rules apply for most nationalities (reported on the zone page). Entry rules depend on your passport, so check the official source before you book.
Getting Out of the Airport
- To North Stradbroke Island: the ferry leaves from Cleveland, about 40 minutes from Brisbane Airport and roughly 1 hour 20 minutes from the Gold Coast (reported on the zone page).
- To the Sunshine Coast: Sunshine Coast Airport (Marcoola) is about 35 minutes and 42 km from Noosa when it serves your route (reported on the zone page).
- To the Gold Coast: about 108 km and 1 hour 18 minutes between the two airports (reported on the zone page).
- North to the Discovery Coast: Agnes Water is about 480 km or 5 hours 30 minutes by road from Brisbane, and the Tilt Train stops at Miriam Vale, about 40 minutes from Agnes Water (reported on the Discovery Coast page).
Other Airports on This Zone
- Brisbane (BNE): the practical international gateway (this page).
- Gold Coast (OOL): in Coolangatta, at the southern end of the surf strip, the clear gateway for the Gold Coast hub (reported on the zone page). See the Gold Coast Gateway page.
- Sunshine Coast (MCY): at Marcoola, about 35 minutes from Noosa when it serves your route (reported on the zone page).
For the full route notes, see the Gold Coast & Sunshine Coast Getting There section.
Stays
Brisbane
- City Backpackers HQBrisbane Hostel with a high rating from over 1,300 reviews. About 1 km from central Brisbane in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.4 from about 1,300 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Brisbane QuartersBrisbane Hostel with a high rating from over 600 reviews. About 1 km from central Brisbane in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.1 from about 610 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Spicers Balfour BrisbaneBrisbane Boutique hotel with a top rating from over 500 reviews. About 2 km from central Brisbane in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.6 from about 530 reviews. Google Maps listing
- The Calile HotelBrisbane Hotel with a high rating from over 1,300 reviews. About 2 km from central Brisbane in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.5 from about 1,400 reviews. Google Maps listing
Near the Airport
- Hotel KingsleyBrisbane Motel with a top rating from over 550 reviews. About 7 km from Brisbane Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.6 from about 560 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Airport Clayfield MotelBrisbane Motel with a high rating from about 200 reviews. About 7 km from Brisbane Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.4 from about 200 reviews. Google Maps listing
Where to Eat
Brisbane Seafood
- Kickin'Inn Spring HillBrisbane Seafood restaurant with a top rating from over 12,000 reviews. About 1 km from central Brisbane in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.7 from about 12,100 reviews. Google Maps listing
- The PrawnsterBrisbane Seafood restaurant with a top rating from over 1,300 reviews. About 1 km from central Brisbane in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.7 from about 1,300 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Tillerman Seafood RestaurantBrisbane Seafood restaurant with a high rating from nearly 600 reviews. About 1 km from central Brisbane in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.5 from about 580 reviews. Google Maps listing
Bakeries
- C'est Du Gateau BakeryBrisbane Bakery with a top rating from nearly 400 reviews. About 1 km from central Brisbane in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.7 from about 390 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Montjoie PatisserieBrisbane Pastry shop with a top rating from over 300 reviews. About 1 km from central Brisbane in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.9 from about 320 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Le Bon ChoixBrisbane Bakery with a high rating from over 1,500 reviews. About 1 km from central Brisbane in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.2 from about 1,600 reviews. Google Maps listing
Transport Companies
Airport Shuttles
- Con-X-ion Airport TransfersBrisbane Airport shuttle with a high rating from over 2,700 reviews. About 69 km from Sydney Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.3 from about 2,700 reviews. Google Maps listing
- My Private Transfers BrisbaneBrisbane Private airport transfers with a top rating from over 700 reviews. About 11 km from Sydney Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 5 from about 700 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Hughes Chauffeurs & Airport TransfersBrisbane Chauffeur and airport transfers with a top rating from over 2,700 reviews. About 5 km from Sydney Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 5 from about 2,700 reviews. Google Maps listing
Ask any shuttle about board bags.
Car Rental & Campervans
- Cutprice Car RentalsBrisbane Airport Local car rental at the airport with a top rating from over 600 reviews. About 5 km from Sydney Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.7 from about 620 reviews. Google Maps listing
- RaD Car HireBrisbane Local car rental with a top rating from nearly 400 reviews. About 4 km from Sydney Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.8 from about 380 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Rent A Bomb Car RentalsBrisbane Local car rental with a top rating. About 5 km from Sydney Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.6 from about 280 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Mighty CampersBrisbane Campervan rental with a top rating from over 450 reviews. About 4 km from Sydney Airport in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.8 from about 460 reviews. Google Maps listing
The zone page says a normal car works on the bitumen roads to North Stradbroke Island, and a 4WD plus a permit is only needed for beach driving (reported). International rental brands are left out here.
Board & Luggage Storage
Every luggage-storage listing we found in Brisbane belongs to a network, which we leave out. Ask your hotel first.
Surf Shops
- Goodtime Surf, Skate and Sail ShopBrisbane Surf, skate and sail shop with a high rating. About 2 km from central Brisbane in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 3.7 from about 100 reviews. Google Maps listing
- Wetsuit WarehouseBrisbane Wetsuit shop with a high rating. About 3 km from central Brisbane in a straight line. Unverified. Google rating 4.5 from 65 reviews. Google Maps listing
Getting Out to the Zones
Gold Coast & Sunshine Coast: see Getting There. Heading north, Discovery Coast is mostly reached via Brisbane, and Gladstone and Bundaberg are the closest airports (reported on that zone page).
Questions People Actually Ask.
Which airport do I fly into for the Sunshine Coast?
Brisbane Airport (BNE) is the more practical gateway for international travellers, with more international routes, though Sunshine Coast Airport at Marcoola is about 35 minutes from Noosa when it serves your route (reported on the zone page).
How far is Brisbane Airport from the Gold Coast?
About 108 km and 1 hour 18 minutes between Gold Coast Airport and Brisbane Airport (reported on the zone page).
How do I reach North Stradbroke Island?
By ferry from Cleveland, about 40 minutes from Brisbane Airport. A normal car works on the bitumen roads, and a 4WD plus a permit is only needed for beach driving (reported on the zone page).
Is Brisbane a surf destination?
No. The zone page treats Brisbane as a pass-through with no surf of its own (reported on the zone page).
Disclosure & How This Page Works.
Straight talk: Some links on this site are affiliate links — if you book through them, Secrets of Surf Travel earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only link places and people we’d use ourselves, and coverage is never for sale. Nothing on this page is an affiliate link today; every listing link is a plain courtesy link.
Every listing was researched in 2026 and has not yet been verified in person. Prices, hours, and policies change; treat them as strong starting points and confirm directly with the business. And per the No-Reveal Code: you will find no surf spots on this page, ever.