We've all been there. You’re so excited about the prospect of island-hopping in the Whitsundays or shopping in Sydney that you disembark in a flurry only to realise that you have no clue how to get out of the airport and get to where you want to be.
On the other hand, you’ve meticulously researched your arrival options and discovered that the internet is full of conflicting recommendations (and out-of-date taxi fare estimates).
That’s why we’ve compiled this super-simple guide to all the main airports in Australia. (Let us know in the comments which others you’d like to see added). Bookmark this and you’ll have a quick reference guide for your next trip. #nostress
Skip to the airport you're looking for
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.
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.
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.
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).
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).
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).
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