Public Transport to our airports - what's cheapest?

AustraliaPoochie said:
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.
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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…
 
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.
 
henrus said:
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.
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Did they check tickets when you got to the airport?
 
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
 
FishFood said:
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
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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.
 
henrus said:
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 :)
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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 .
 
AYP said:
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 .
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I often used OOL as a cheaper alternative to BNE and used the train/bus combo when time allowed. I often got work done on the train.
 
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aspro2 said:
Bugger. Well, if they don't tell people loudly enough about a service, I guess they don't get patronage...
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I would say, more likely that people were just free loading and not actually buying anything in DFO.

Had to go from airport to south east Melbourne yesterday, and honestly, taking bus 901 to Broadmeadow, then train into city then continue down south only took 0 to 30 minutes longer than taking Skybus Peninsula, as 901 had reasonable frequencies and trains don't get stuck in traffic, while Skybus is only hourly and could have stuck in traffic. If you just miss the hourly Skybus by 10 or 15 mins, you would spend 45 minutes sitting at the airport, may as well jump on the public bus 901.
 
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Chicken said:
If you just miss the hourly Skybus by 10 or 15 mins, you would spend 45 minutes sitting at the airport, may as well jump on the public bus 901.
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Its a pity that they couldnt put a strongly bolted ptv Myki machine at the bus stops for the 478/479/901, if I dont remember to top up online, or try to find the machine near the ABF booth, its a pain to try and find a machine.
I must say tho, during my many trips from the airport to Broady, that 901 can be quite full.
One time, this whole group of pax had half the bus full of boxes after arriving on an int flight.
They know to get the 901.
Most of them also tapped on their Myki.
 
AustraliaPoochie said:
Its a pity that they couldnt put a strongly bolted ptv Myki machine at the bus stops for the 478/479/901, if I dont remember to top up online, or try to find the machine near the ABF booth, its a pain to try and find a machine.
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You can top up using the myki app. It uses the NFC in your phone to write the money into your myki card.

Or, you can just use the myki card generated by Google Wallet.
 

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