Coach Hire Across Australia

Coach and Bus Charter for Brisbane Groups

Brisbane is one of the easier capitals for a coach, because the council maps the kerbs near the centre where private coaches are allowed to park. The driver still reads the signs on the day, but the plan starts from a map rather than a guess.

Parking in the inner city

Council maps cover the CBD, Fortitude Valley and South Brisbane / South Bank, with the approved places and hours for private coaches. For a longer stay in the centre, look first at Albert Street (the block from Margaret to Alice) and Upper Albert Street (Turbot Street up to Wickham Terrace).

For a conference at South Bank or a coach that must sit for most of a day, the South Brisbane Depot takes coaches for longer periods. It is booked in advance through the state's Bus Parking Calendar, so give your dates early.

Setra high-capacity coach, exterior
Setra high-capacity coach, exterior

Match and concert nights at Suncorp

Heussler Terrace is where a coach drops and collects. It cannot stay parked there in between, and it cannot idle. On-street coach zones on event days are by application, first come first served, and an application made less than three weeks before a big fixture may miss out on the best spaces. For State of Origin, apply as soon as you have tickets.

Airports serving Brisbane

Stadiums and arenas

  • Suncorp Stadium — Brisbane Broncos and Dolphins (NRL), State of Origin, Queensland Reds, Brisbane Roar; Milton
  • The Gabba — Brisbane Lions (AFL), Brisbane Heat (BBL), Test cricket; Woolloongabba
  • Brisbane Entertainment Centre — Brisbane Bullets (NBL), concerts; Boondall
  • Kayo Stadium — Rugby league and some A-League games; Redcliffe

Day trips and transfers from Brisbane

  • Cleveland (ferries to North Stradbroke Island) — about 35 km, about 45 min
  • Tamborine Mountain — about 70 km, about 1.25 h
  • Gold Coast (Surfers Paradise) — about 80 km, about 1 h
  • Australia Zoo (Beerwah) — about 80 km, about 1 h
  • Lamington National Park (O'Reilly's) — about 115 km, about 2 h
  • Toowoomba — about 125 km, about 1.5 h
  • Noosa — about 140 km, about 1.75 h
  • Byron Bay (NSW) — about 170 km, about 2 h

Coach rules in Brisbane

  • Brisbane Airport (BNE) is about 16 km by road from the Domestic Terminal to Brisbane City Hall, about 20 min outside peak periods, via the tolled AirportlinkM7 or the Gateway Motorway.
  • Brisbane City Council allows private coach parking in the inner city only at approved locations and times, shown on its on-street coach parking maps for the CBD, Fortitude Valley and South Brisbane / South Bank; the maps are a guide and operators must check the signs.
  • Longer-stay CBD coach spaces are on Albert Street (between Margaret and Alice streets) and Upper Albert Street (between Turbot Street and Wickham Terrace).
  • The South Brisbane Depot (former Parmalat site) takes private coaches for longer-term parking; it must be booked in advance through the Queensland Government and Queensland Bus Industry Council Bus Parking Calendar.
  • Suncorp Stadium event days: coach and limousine parking in the designated on-street zones is by application only (registered buses with 12 or more seats), first come first served; premium spaces are not guaranteed for applications made less than three weeks before a major event.
  • At Suncorp Stadium coaches may set down and pick up on Heussler Terrace, but may not wait there, and idling is not permitted.
  • Brisbane's toll roads (Gateway and Logan motorways, AirportlinkM7, Clem7, Legacy Way and the Go Between Bridge) are cashless: vehicles need a tag, account or pass. The Murarrie toll point on the Gateway Motorway covers all vehicles crossing the Sir Leo Hielscher Bridges.
  • Commercial tours in Queensland national parks, conservation parks and state forests (for example Lamington and Springbrook) need a Commercial Activity Permit from the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.

Airport days and the toll roads

The Domestic Terminal is about 16 km from City Hall, some 20 minutes outside the peaks. Until the flight lands, the coach holds at the airport's Central Parking Area, reached from Nancy Bird Way. It then moves up to the kerb reserved for buses and coaches, facing the multi-level car park. The International Terminal is a separate building with its pick-up on the southern side, so tell us which terminal each person arrives at.

The fast routes use AirportlinkM7 or the Gateway Motorway, and all Brisbane toll roads are cashless. Tolls appear in the quote.

Rainforest, islands and the border

Lamington and Springbrook are national parks, so a tour there runs under a state commercial activity permit held by the operator. O'Reilly's is about two hours each way. North Stradbroke Island is reached by ferry from Cleveland, about 45 minutes out.

Byron Bay is about two hours south in New South Wales. From early October to early April NSW is on daylight saving and Queensland is not, so state pick-up times in local time on both sides.

Questions

Can a coach wait outside our CBD hotel?

Only in an approved coach space or for a quick set-down. The driver loads at the door where the signs allow, then moves to a mapped space or the depot.

Can we book one coach for Brisbane and the Gold Coast?

Yes. Surfers Paradise is roughly an hour south, and the same vehicle can run a transfer and a return in one day.

Is Australia Zoo an easy day from Brisbane?

Yes. Beerwah is about an hour north, which leaves a full day at the zoo within normal driving hours.

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