JOEY’s Gold Coast stop is in the heart of Surfers Paradise, which is good news if you’re staying nearby, every major backpackers in Surfers is an easy walk away. Here’s exactly where to go, what to look for, and how to get there from the main hostels.
JOEY uses two pickup points in Surfers Paradise, a block or two apart: 10 Pine Avenue (GPS: approximately -27.9975, 153.4308) and Hearts Distillery on The Esplanade (GPS: approximately -27.9983, 153.4317). Which one you use depends on the direction you’re travelling, so check your booking. Northbound buses to Brisbane, Noosa and Rainbow Beach leave Pine Avenue around 11:00am, while southbound buses to Byron Bay stop at Pine Avenue around 2:20pm. Aim to be at your stop 15 minutes early either way.
Both Surfers Paradise stops are street pickups rather than a terminal, so there’s no building to find, just the kerb outside the address. Pine Avenue runs just back from the Gold Coast Highway in the centre of Surfers, while Hearts Distillery sits on The Esplanade near the beachfront. Look for the colourful JOEY bus with the JOEY TRAVEL sign on the front, and double check with the driver if you’re not sure which stop you’re standing at.
JOEY’s Surfers Paradise service has two pick up locations rather than one single stop, picking up at Pine Avenue and Hearts Distillery a few minutes apart in each direction. If you’re staying at Bounce Surfers Paradise the Pine Avenue stop is right outside reception, if you’re staying in other hostels it may be better to select Hearts Distillery as your stop. Your exact pickup address depends on which one you’ve selected, so it’s worth reading your booking confirmation properly rather than assuming “Surfers Paradise” means one fixed spot.
The newest hostel in the Gold Coast. Bounce Surfers Paradise has 450 beds, a rooftop pool and bar aswell as a multitude of daily activities. The JOEY bus stop is located at 10 Pine Avenue, right out the front of Bounce Surfers Paradise.
Bunk is right in the centre of Surfers, an easy 5 to 8 minute walk to either Pine Avenue or The Esplanade. Head towards the beach and the Gold Coast Highway and you’ll pick up signage for both streets. It’s flat and well lit, so even an early departure isn’t a hassle.
Surf Inn is a short stroll from both stops, around 8 to 10 minutes on foot. Walk out to the Gold Coast Highway and head towards the beach to reach either Pine Avenue or The Esplanade, depending on which one your booking lists. Give yourself a little extra time if you’re carrying a full pack through the morning foot traffic.
Backpackers in Paradise sits a few doors along from Surf Inn, so the walk is almost identical, around 8 to 10 minutes to either Pine Avenue or The Esplanade. Head towards the Gold Coast Highway and the beach, and you’ll be at your stop well within the 15 minute buffer if you leave on time.
This one sits right on the Gold Coast Highway, so it’s one of the more central options, roughly a 10 minute walk to Pine Avenue and a few minutes more to reach The Esplanade. Walk towards the centre of Surfers along the highway and cut through towards whichever street your pickup is on. Note this hostel has rebranded from Surfers Paradise Backpackers Resort to Maxmee Backpackers Resort, so don’t be thrown if you see the new name when you book.
Check your JOEY booking to see whether your trip uses Pine Avenue or The Esplanade, since they’re different stops even though both are called “Surfers Paradise.” Arrive at least 15 minutes before departure, and remember that drivers won’t come looking for you if you’re not there at the scheduled time, so a missed bus means a forfeited trip. Drop the correct address into Google Maps the night before so you know your real walking time from your exact hostel door, and if your plans change, you can move your booking for free up to the day before.
From Surfers Paradise, JOEY runs north daily to Brisbane and on to Noosa, with selected trips continuing to Rainbow Beach, and south daily to Byron Bay. The northbound bus passes through Surfers Paradise around 10:45 to 11:00am, and the southbound bus comes through around 2:20 to 2:35pm, with a short stop in Brisbane on the northern run. You can travel the whole route in one go or hop off anywhere and continue later on the same pass, on the Noosa to Gold Coast route or the Noosa to Byron Bay route.
Got your pickup point sorted? Grab a 1, 3 or 6 trip JOEY pass for flexible hop-on hop-off travel, or look at the 8 Day, 11 Day or 11 Day Premium package if you want accommodation taken care of along with your bus travel. Search trips and book your seat in the app, or check JOEY’s day trips if you’re sticking around the Coast a little longer. Heading further along the route? See our guides to finding the JOEY stop in Byron Bay and Noosa hostels, or see every pickup point on the full East Coast route. For more on what to see while you’re there, the Tourism Australia guide to the Gold Coast is worth a browse, along with Experience Gold Coast’s guide to Surfers Paradise and the Tourism Australia guide to the Gold Coast’s best beaches if you’re planning your days around the sand.
JOEY uses two stops in Surfers Paradise: 10 Pine Avenue and Hearts Distillery on The Esplanade. Check your booking to confirm which one your trip uses.
Northbound buses to Brisbane and Noosa pass through Surfers Paradise around 10:45 to 11:00am. Southbound buses to Byron Bay pass through around 2:20 to 2:35pm. Always check your booking in the JOEY app in case of changes.
The Gold Coast leg runs as a short loop through Pine Avenue and The Esplanade a few minutes apart, rather than a single fixed stop, so the pickup used depends on your direction of travel.
Most of the main backpackers, including Bunk, Surf Inn, Backpackers in Paradise and Surfers Paradise Backpackers Resort, are roughly 5 to 10 minutes’ walk from either stop.
Aim to be at your stop at least 15 minutes before departure. If you’re not there at the scheduled time, you forfeit your trip.
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