Public Transport to our airports - what's cheapest?

[SYD]

I am not there till Dec, so cant say if the overhead arr road from Joyce Dr up to T2/T3 dep has completed, googlemaps does not give any updates, ...
Some show the pylons, and some show still the lorries and tractors.

All the construction is complete (AFAIK) and the flyovers are operating. The P1/2 car parks have been completely demolished and now operating as the Rental car lot (for now).

As mention above, there’s ped xing on the western side of Robey St / Seventh St at QANTAS Drive. So from T2/T3, just follow the car traffic exiting the airport on Seventh St but stay on the left.

I don’t know the situation on O’Riordan St / Reg Ansett Dr and Joyce Dr. I assume the ped xing is back operating? But you’re probably going out of your way unless you can still immediately cross Reg Ansett Dr and duck behind the old car dealership. Otherwise, anyone at the Mantra or Ibis Budget has a bit of a schlep…

 

[moa999]

duck behind the old car dealership

Still a car dealership.
Chinese electric brand XPeng have taken over the site.

 

[SYD]

Still a car dealership.
Chinese electric brand XPeng have taken over the site.

Yeah, I meant to say the "old Merc" dealership.

 

[henrus]

Today in Brisbane the train is not operational and so the rail replacement bus is operating. A first for me at Roma St (Stop 125) they are asking people to touch on to a reader thats on the roadside before boarding the bus. It was pouring down rain so I just shrugged my shoulders and got on like the other half of the passengers but clearly this is a step towards charging everyone the full amount for the bus when the trains aren't working.

 

[AIRwin]

Today in Brisbane the train is not operational and so the rail replacement bus is operating. A first for me at Roma St (Stop 125) they are asking people to touch on to a reader thats on the roadside before boarding the bus. It was pouring down rain so I just shrugged my shoulders and got on like the other half of the passengers but clearly this is a step towards charging everyone the full amount for the bus when the trains aren't working.

Did they check tickets when you got to the airport?

 

[henrus]

Did they check tickets when you got to the airport?

Nope, and I couldn't clearly see a reader either.

 

[Larko1]

And Airtrain fare is back to full price

 

[kerfuffle]

And Airtrain fare is back to full price

Still a 15% discount if you book online (for return) but yes, very expensive now especially since their services are every 30 minutes on the weekend …

 

[FishFood]

Similar to Sydney and Melbourne, Brisbane has a non surcharged option if you can tolerate some transfers. Train from Roma Street to Toombul, 590 from Toombul to Skygate, free shuttle from Skygate to Brisbane Airport.

Just in case anyone didn't know

 

[AIRwin]

Similar to Sydney and Melbourne, Brisbane has a non surcharged option if you can tolerate some transfers. Train from Roma Street to Toombul, 590 from Toombul to Skygate, free shuttle from Skygate to Brisbane Airport.

Just in case anyone didn't know

And it's only 50¢

 

[henrus]

Similar to Sydney and Melbourne, Brisbane has a non surcharged option if you can tolerate some transfers. Train from Roma Street to Toombul, 590 from Toombul to Skygate, free shuttle from Skygate to Brisbane Airport.

Just in case anyone didn't know

Mentioned in several posts including #1 and #4

Really not just a “Brisbane” deal as you can travel anywhere on the TransLink SEQ network to DFO for 50 cents. In my testing it adds about 30-45 minutes to the total journey.

 

[AYP]

Interested by a recent post in the SkyBus discussion, I've just spent too long looking at transport to/from airports. Arguably Adelaide has the easiest/cheapest service at $3.70 and a direct bus to the CBD. Brisbane also takes the cake for cheapest parking with Sydney parking being more than some return flights for a Jetstar/Tiger weekend away. Below are the results:

Comparison of Fastest and Cheapest Public Transport services to/from major Australian airports. The services must be regularly scheduled (ie. be a timetabled service to count). Prices and times were sourced from each cities transit website.

For comparison the cheapest weekend parking (Friday 6pm until Sunday 9pm searching using a random weekend in May) attached to the terminal (ie. within walking distance) has been included below each airport.

Adelaide Airport (to Rundle Mall)
Fastest - Direct Bus - 21 minutes - $3.70
Cheapest Weekend Terminal Parking - $85

Brisbane Airport (to Queen St Mall)
Fastest - Direct Train - 36 minutes (includes 12 mins walking) - $19
Cheapest - 3x Busses via DFO (free shuttle bus) and Toombul - 1hr 16 minutes - $4.03
Cheapest Weekend Terminal Parking - $39

Cairns Airport (to CBD)
Cheapest - Paid Shuttle ($6) to Bus ($2.20) into CBD - 29 minutes - $8.20
(No other scheduled public transport services operate)
Cheapest Weekend Terminal Parking - $55

Canberra Airport (to Canberra Centre)
Fastest - Direct Bus - 16 minutes - $4.80
Cheapest Weekend Terminal Parking - $73

Darwin Airport (to CBD)
Cheapest - 2x Busses - 1hr 10minutes - $3
Note : Only 5-6 services per day - stop is located at Long Stay Car park 700m from terminal with free shuttle bus to terminal
(No other scheduled public transport services operate)
Cheapest Weekend Terminal Parking - $72

Gold Coast Airport (to Surfers Paradise)
Fastest - SkyBus - ~35 minutes - $21
Cheapest - Bus and Tram - 45 minutes - $4.03
Cheapest Weekend Terminal Parking - $59

Hobart Airport (to CBD)
Fastest - SkyBus - ~30 minutes - $19.75
(No other scheduled public transport services operate)
Cheapest Weekend Terminal Parking - $54

Melbourne Airport (to Melbourne CBD)
Fastest - SkyBus - ~40 minutes - $19.75
Cheapest - Bus and Train via Broadmeadows - 1hr 20 minutes - $4.40
Cheapest Weekend Terminal Parking - $85

Perth Airport (to Elizabeth Quay)
Fastest- Direct Bus - 40 minutes - $4.80
Cheapest Weekend Terminal Parking - $71.15

Sydney Airport (to Circular Quay)
Fastest - Direct Train - 27 minutes - $16.77
Cheapest - 2x Busses via Westfield Eastgardens - 1hr 11minutes - $4.71
Cheapest Weekend Terminal Parking - $114

Sunshine Coast Airport (to Mooloolaba)
Fastest- 2x Busses via Maroochydore - 49 minutes - $3.31
(No other scheduled public transport services operate)
Cheapest Weekend Terminal Parking - $52

If I've missed something, made an error or you've found a better/cheaper way - please feel free to share

Great article! Re OOL Gold Coast Coolangatta -- public transport fare is now $0.50c - this includes travelling from Brisbane! OOL public transport stop (#300008) is at the terminal and despite it taking 2 hrs it's usually a pleasant train ride to Varsity Lakes Station and transfer to bus #760 heading south to Tweed Heads .