Gold Coast to Brisbane takes around 1 hour 30 minutes by Joey bus, departing Surfers Paradise mid-morning and arriving into Brisbane’s CBD by lunchtime. Buses run daily in both directions on the same hop-on hop-off pass used across the rest of the JOEY East Coast network.
Gold Coast To Brisbane Bus
7 Days per week!
Total journey time is 1.5 hours from Surfers Paradise in the Gold Coast to Brisbane.
● 10:45am – Surfers Paradise
Hearts Distillery, The Esplanade
● 11:00am – Surfers Paradise
10 Pine Avenue, Surfers Paradise
● 12:15pm – Brisbane
276D Albert Street
Why backpackers do this leg with Joey instead of a direct coach
Anyone can get a train or a rideshare between the Gold Coast and Brisbane. What Joey adds is that you’re on the bus with other travellers doing the same East Coast run, not commuters, which is usually enough to turn a short transit hop into the start of a night out rather than just a way to get somewhere.
FAQs
How long is the bus from the Gold Coast to Brisbane?
Around 1 hour 30 minutes, departing Surfers Paradise mid-morning and arriving into Brisbane by early afternoon.
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 Brisbane?
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 Brisbane?
276D Albert Street, in the Brisbane CBD.
Does the bus run from Brisbane Bay back to the Gold Coast too?
Yes, daily in both directions.
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.
