The ultimate Australia airport arrival guide | Compare taxi, train and shuttle bus costs

Adelaide

Time: 20 minutes

Distance: 9km

Taxi: Approximately $20-$30

Bus: Catch the JetBus. The J1 or J2 goes every 15-30 mins, and the J1x departs every hour.

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Ayers Rock/Uluru

Time: 10 minutes

Distance: 6km (from Ayers Rock Resort)

Taxi: No taxis available

Bus: A complimentary shuttle bus to Ayers Rock Resort meets every flight.

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Ballina (Byron Bay)

Time: 30 minutes to Byron Bay; 7 minutes to Ballina

Distance: 31km to Byron Bay; 5km to Ballina

Taxi: Approximately $80-$90 to Byron Bay; $15-$20 to Ballina

Bus: Catch Blanch’s bus route for $3.80. The 640 connects Ballina, Lennox Heads, Byron Bay and Mullumbimby. Various shuttle buses from $20 are available to Byron Bay.

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Brisbane

Time: 25 minutes

Distance: 16km

Taxi: Approximately $40-$50

Bus: Catch the Con-x-ion bus for door-to-door transfers, it’s $20 ($36 return) and departs every 40 minutes.

Train: The Airtrain leaves every 15 minutes and costs $17 ($32 return) to the city. You can also get the Airtrain to the Gold Coast.

Cairns

Time: 10 minutes

Distance: 6km

Taxi: Approximately $20-$30

Bus: The Sun Palm shuttle costs $15 for an adult ($7.50 for a child) to Cairns and $44 for an adult ($23.50 for a child) to Port Douglas.

Darwin

Time: 15 minutes

Distance: 13km

Taxi: Approximately $20-$30

Bus: The door-to-door Darwin Airport Shuttle meets every flight and costs $18 for an adult ($8 for a child).

Gold Coast

Time: 40 minutes

Distance: 23km (to Surfers Paradise)

Taxi: $59 flat rate to Surfers Paradise, $49 flat rate to Broadbeach

Bus: Catch the Con-x-ion bus for $22 per adult ($13 for a child), departing every 15-20 minutes and dropping off at your accommodation. There’s also the Gold Coast Tourist Shuttle for $21 per adult ($13 for a child). Public bus routes 777 and 760 depart every 30 minutes and cost $8.60.

Hobart

Time: 20 minutes

Distance: 19km

Taxi: Approximately $40-$50

Bus: The Redline Airporter meets every flight and costs $18 per adult ($14 for a child).

Launceston

Time: 15 minutes

Distance: 15km

Taxi: Approximately $30-$40

Bus: The Redline Airporter meets every flight and costs $18 per adult ($14 for a child).

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Mackay

Time: 15 minutes to Mackay; 2 hours to Airlie Beach

Distance: 7km from Mackay; 160km from Airlie Beach

Taxi: Approximately $15-$20 to Mackay; not recommended for Airlie Beach (approximately $350)

Bus: Catch the Whitsunday Transfers bus to Airlie Beach for $69 per adult ($35 per child).

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Melbourne Avalon

Time: 25 minutes to Geelong; 45 minutes to Melbourne CBD

Distance: 20km to Geelong; 55km to the Melbourne CBD

Taxi: Approximately $40-$50 to Geelong; $120-$130 to Melbourne CBD

Bus: Catch the Airport Shuttle to Geelong for $18 per adult ($14 per child); catch the Sita Coach to the Melbourne CBD for $22 per adult ($10 per child).

Melbourne Tullamarine

Time: 25-30 minutes

Distance: 25km

Taxi: Approximately $60-$70

Bus: Catch the Sky Bus, which departs every 10 minutes, for $18 per adult ($9 per child).

Newcastle

Time: 40 minutes

Distance: 27km

Taxi: Approximately $70-$80

Bus: Get a shuttle bus for $40 for the first person, then another $10 per person. The 130 coach route goes to Port Stephens for $4.60 per adult ($2.30 per child). Hunter Valley buses go to Maitland, Raymond Terrace and Stockton, and they accept cash or Opal cards for single trips.

Perth

Time: 40 minutes

Distance: 12km (domestic), 19km (international)

Taxi: Approximately $35-$45

Bus: Perth Airport Connect is $15 per ticket and will take you to the Perth CBD. Transperth Bus 380 from T1/T2 is $4.50 per ticket and runs every 30-60 minutes. There are also bus routes 37 and 40 from T3 and T4, which take approximately 40-55 minutes to get to the CBD.

Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast)

Time: 35 minutes

Distance: 40km (from Airlie Beach/Whitsunday Coast)

Taxi: Approximately $90

Bus: Catch the Whitsunday Transfers bus for $18 per adult ($13 per child).

Sunshine Coast

Time: 30 minutes to Noosa; 12 minutes to Maroochydore

Distance: 30km to Noosa; 9km to Maroochydore

Taxi: Approximately $80 to Noosa; $23 to Maroochydore

Bus: Henry’s Airporter Shuttle to Noosa costs $30 per adult ($16 per child) or you can take Translink bus 622 for $9.70 per adult ($4.80 per child). You can catch the Con-x-ion bus to Maroochydore for $20 per adult ($12 per child) or Translink bus 622 for $5.60 per adult ($2.80 per child).

Sydney

Time: 20 minutes

Distance: 8km

Taxi: Approximately $45-$55

Train: Catch the Airport Link train, which departs every 10 minutes, for $17 per adult ($13.60 per child).

Townsville

Time: 10 minutes

Distance: 6km

Taxi: Approximately $20-$30

Bus: The airport shuttle bus costs $10 per adult ($5 per child).