Gold Coast to Noosa takes around 4 hours 35 minutes by Joey bus, departing Surfers Paradise mid-morning, stopping briefly in Brisbane along the way, and arriving into Noosa mid-afternoon. Buses run daily in both directions on the same hop-on hop-off pass used across the rest of the East Coast network.
This is the longer haul north, and it’s usually the leg travellers take once they’ve had their fill of the Gold Coast’s nightlife and are ready for something slower. The trip breaks naturally into two parts: a short hop up to Brisbane, a quick break to stretch your legs, then a longer stretch into Noosa’s national park and beach town feel. Because the Brisbane stop is built into the schedule rather than something you have to plan yourself, it’s an easy place to break the day up if you want to.
Gold Coast To Noosa Bus
7 Days per week!
Total journey time is 4.5 hours from Surfers Paradise in the Gold Coast to Noosa.
● 10:45am – Surfers Paradise
Hearts Distillery, The Esplanade
● 11:00am – Surfers Paradise
10 Pine Avenue, Surfers Paradise
● 12:15pm – Arrives Brisbane
276D Albert Street
● 12:45pm – Depart Brisbane
276D Albert Street
● 2:50pm – Noosa Heads
Pardons Fruit Market, Cooyar St
● 3:20pm – Noosa Heads
Bounce Hostel Noosa
Why backpackers do this leg with Joey instead of a direct coach
A transfer between the Gold Coast and Noosa either leaves you waiting in Brisbane for 2 hours for a connecting bus or leaves you to sort your own connection there. Joey builds the Brisbane stop into the run so it’s a real stopping point rather than dead time, and the whole trip is spent with other travellers doing the same East Coast route rather than a commuter service.
FAQs
How long is the bus from the Gold Coast to Noosa?
Around 4 hours 35 minutes, including a stop in Brisbane.
Where does the Joey bus pick up in Surfers Paradise?
Two pickup points: 10 Pine Avenue and Hearts Distillery on The Esplanade, roughly 15 minutes apart on the same run.
Does the Gold Coast to Noosa bus stop in Brisbane?
Yes, every service on this leg stops in Brisbane, and you can hop off there and continue to Noosa on a later bus using the same pass.
How much is the trip from Gold Coast to Noosa?
From $67.50 per trip depending on pass size, or $89 for a single trip. Current pricing on the Joey pass page.
Where does the Joey bus drop off in Noosa?
Noosa Bounce Hostel, with an earlier stop at Noosa Heads’ Pardons Fruit Market on Cooyar Street.
Is this the same bus as the Gold Coast to Byron Bay route?
No, this is the northbound service. The Gold Coast to Byron Bay leg runs south. Both are on the same daily network and covered by the same pass.
Buy a Joey pass to travel this leg and the rest of the East Coast.
See full JOEY route network and timetable here
See how this fits into the 8 Day Adventure, 11 Day Explorer or 11 Day Premium itineraries.
Find your perfect Joey route Pass.
Each pass comes with a set number of purchased trip uses, and each time you travel from one destination to another, it counts as one trip. Go in any direction, at any time, and add more trips whenever you need.
What’s included with each pass
- Any trip segment of your choice. For example, Byron Bay to Noosa will require 1 trip
- Add extra trips easily in your account
- Change your dates for free up to day before
- Immediate access in your Joey account
- Pass valid for 6 months from first trip use
- Bring one travel buddy on any trip (counts as an additional trip)
East Coast Route
Five destinations. A 350km route running the East Coast daily. Buses depart both Southbound and Northbound. Hop on anywhere, Hop off anywhere.
Rainbow Beach
Byron Bay
How it works
Hit the coast.
Cruise from Byron to Rainbow Beach with guided stops, secret spots and all the coastal magic in between.
Come for the ride, stay for the group chat.
Meet likeminded travellers, swap stories and make the kind of road-trip connections that last long after the ride is over.
trips end. friendships don’t.
The journey might wrap up, but the friendships you make along the way keep going long after the bus stops.
