Noosa to BNE - Driving

[sr81]

Hi All,
On Melbourne Cup day (a Tuesday) I need to get from Noosa to BNE for the 10:15 flight to SYD. Given I would need to arrive at rental car return at 9am this would place me in peak hour traffic coming into Brisbane.

Would 2.5 hours be sufficent or would you expect significant delays on the motorway?

Never driven north from BNE so really have no idea. Thanks in advance.

 

[drron]

We regularly drive from the Southern end of the sunny Coast and the usual time is about 1.30 hours so you should do it OK.The real problem is the section from the Pine river on the Gateway.often a crawl in the early morning but should have cleared sufficiently by the time you hit it.Also a bit easier since they opened the new link to BNE from the Gateway.
Listen to the traffic reports though-this section of the Bruce highway often has accidents and can be blocked.

 

[docjames]

I'd be planning 3hr personally, but then I live in BNE so add a margin and I'm super paranoid about being late.

Given drron lives up there, his estimate may be better.

 

[NM]

As drron says, the congestion point is from just around the start of the Gateway Arterial through to about Boondall exit. The merge point of the Gateway Arterial and Deagon Deviation through to the onramp from Depot Road is the worst part. Once you past that point, it generally flows ok. But it really varies and the worst time seems to be between 7:30am and 8:00am. Monday this week was no problem, Wednesday was slow.

If its really bad approaching the Deagon Deviation merge or if heading a radio traffic report that there is an accident or other problem on the Gateway Arterial enroute to the airport, I would consider exiting at Bracken Ridge road, go right around the Barfoot St roundabout, over the Deagon Deviation and take teh left ramp down onto the Deviation and then keep left and take Sandgate Road through to Toombul Road and then over to the old Gateway and airport entry. But its unlikely that will be better unless there is a breakdown/accident on the Gateway.

 

[marks]

Why not the Suncost -> Syd flight instead? 25 mins from that airport to Noosa?

 

[sr81]

Thanks all, very helpful.

I have an international connection so really don't want to be stuck in Sunny Coast airport with only one JQ flight a morning. Plus don't want to miss out on my F-Lounging in SYD!

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Thanks all, very helpful.

I have an international connection so really don't want to be stuck in Sunny Coast airport with only one JQ flight a morning. Plus don't want to miss out on my F-Lounging in SYD!

Never mind that your luggage may not be able to be checked through from a JQ domestic flight to an international one???

We stayed at Coolum recently and it took us 1.5 hours from Brisbane domestic terminal so definitely allow more coming from Noosa 2.0 hours plus more for delays enroute not to mention dropping off your hire car although being able to do this in the car park makes the whole process pretty quick.

If you aim to be at the airport one hour beforehand which will give you 30 minutes before luggage close off to be safe you would want to arrive at the airport 0915 so I reckon if you leave Noosa say by 0630 that should be more than enough.

Also November will be daylight savings in NSW so a 1015 flight ex BNE will arrive in SYD 1245. What time will does your international flight depart SYD?

Don't suppose you can take an intl flight BNE/SYD on JQ or QF by any chance which may allow you to clear customs in BNE & therefore you'd only have to remain in transit airside at SYD Intl.

Cheers

Oz

 

[docjames]

Don't suppose you can take an intl flight BNE/SYD on JQ or QF by any chance which may allow you to clear customs in BNE & therefore you'd only have to remain in transit airside at SYD Intl.

Cheers

Oz

I believe this only goes on Thursdays.

 

[sr81]

Never mind that your luggage may not be able to be checked through from a JQ domestic flight to an international one???

This will hand luggage only so will avoiding that little issue.

We are departing SYD at 15:15 so I have about 2.5 hours in Syd to make the transfer. Given there is no luggage I am pretty happy with this.

Cheers and thanks again. Will be on the road out of Noosa by 6:30am at the latest.