Gold Coast to Byron Bay takes around 1 hour 30 minutes by Joey bus, departing Surfers Paradise mid-afternoon and arriving into Byron Bay’s Bus Interchange by early evening. 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 short hop south, and it’s usually the one people take when the Gold Coast’s nightlife has run its course and Byron’s slower pace starts sounding better.
It’s also short enough that a lot of travellers do it as a late-afternoon jump rather than planning a whole travel day around it: finish up in Surfers Paradise and be settled into a Byron hostel by evening.
Gold Coast To Byron Bay Bus
7 Days per week!
Total journey time is 1.5 hours from Surfers Paradise in the Gold Coast to Byron Bay.
● 2:20pm – Surfers Paradise
10 Pine Avenue, Surfers Paradise
● 2:35pm – Surfers Paradise
Hearts Distillery, The Esplanade
● 3:50pm – Byron Bay
Bus Interchange 52 Butler St
Why backpackers do this leg with Joey instead of a direct coach
The Gold Coast to Byron Bay run is short enough that some travellers consider driving or a rideshare, but that means arranging a car or splitting a fare with strangers. Joey covers it on the same pass as the rest of the coast, and you’re travelling with other backpackers doing the same loop, which tends to be how people find a crew for their first night out in Byron.
FAQs
How long is the bus from the Gold Coast to Byron Bay?
Around 1 hour 30 minutes, departing Surfers Paradise mid-afternoon and arriving into Byron Bay by early evening.
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.
How much is the trip from Gold Coast to Byron Bay?
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 Byron Bay?
Byron Bay Bus Interchange, 52 Butler Street.
Does the bus run from Byron Bay back to the Gold Coast too?
Yes, daily in both directions.
See our full route map here
Keep going
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.
