Car Rental at Brisbane Airport

Airport travel guide

The capital of Queensland and the third largest city in Australia, Brisbane gets a lot of visitors every year. Whether you come for the culture, the beaches, or the surrounding nature, visiting this city means you’re bound to have a good time. These are some of the most interesting destinations in and around Brisbane:

• Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium. Named after the British army officer who was the governor of New South Wales and also happened to be an astronomer, Brisbane planetarium is one of the city’s main landmarks. Whether you come to marvel at the night sky and space or learn about cosmic exploration programs, this is one place that can all but guarantee you an awe-inspiring experience.
• Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. Australia is home to many venomous snakes and other dangerous creatures, but also to some of the cutest animals on the planet. The world’s first — and largest— koala sanctuary is a great chance to meet the little marsupials, learn about conservation efforts dedicated to them, and also see other emblematic Australian wildlife. The sanctuary is about 15 km (9 miles) south of the city center and can be reached in about 20 minutes by car.
• Surfing. Brisbane has many impressive museums, galleries, and architecture, but once you’ve explored those, one of the main attractions of the region is the possibility to ride the waves of the Pacific Ocean. Many world-famous spots like the Surfers Paradise (about a 90 minute drive to the south) and Sunshine Coast (the same distance to the north) are nearby, and other, small surfing hubs are even closer to the city. 
• Museums. Brisbane is home to high quality museums for practically every taste and interest. Some of the most notable institutions include the Museum of Brisbane dedicated to the history and present of the city, the Queensland Maritime Museum, the Science Center, and the futuristic Cube, a digital interactive learning space created by the Queensland University of Technology.
• Roma Street Parkland. Brisbane is home to many public green areas and gardens, but Roma Street Parkland might just be the most notable of them all. Located right next door to the center of Brisbane, it has been called the largest subtropical urban garden and is characterized by a network of pathways, as well as inhabitants such as the Eastern water dragon and Black flying fox.
• Day trip to North Stradbroke Island. A day trip to North Stradbroke Island is the perfect escape from Brisbane. There are pristine beaches, beautiful hiking trails, and incredible viewpoints. Finish off your day with a picnic dinner as you watch an awe-inspiring sunset stretching over Moreton Bay. And getting here only takes two hours from Brisbane Airport.
• Tamborine Mountain. Tamborine Mountain, a stunning volcanic rocky outcrop perched in the Gold Coast hinterland, is an adventure destination only an hour drive away from Brisbane. With lovely lookouts, rainforest walks and charming local attractions such as wineries and galleries, Tamborine Mountain captivates all visitors with its peaceful beauty and serenity. An array of scenic drives wind around its trails and offer opportunities to spot native wildlife, which is perfect for a short getaway.
• Bunya Mountains National Park. As can be seen from the examples above, Brisbanites (and visitors) are spoiled for choice when it comes to accessible, stunning nature – but even with that in mind, the Bunya Mountains are a special place. Located in the interior of Queensland, about a three-hour drive west of Brisbane, this park’s flora is made up of the eponymous Bunya pine, as well as silky oaks and grass trees, and it can be explored by following one of the numerous, often steep hiking paths, as well as by taking in the landscape from the lookout points.

Top international routes

• Sydney
• Melbourne
• Cairns
• Townsville
• Rockhampton
• Adelaide
• Perth
• Mackay
• Canberra
• Newcastle

Main airlines

Brisbane Airport serves as a hub for both Qantas and Virgin Australia. Jetstar Airways also uses the airport as a base. Air New Zealand, Emirates, and Qatar Airways are also important airlines serving the airport.

Terminals

The two passenger terminals are the Domestic Terminal and the International Terminal. You can easily move between them with either the free Terminal Transfer Bus or free AIRPARK Transfer Bus.

This article focuses mostly on the International Terminal. See the separate page for Brisbane Domestic Airport (BNET02).

Location

Brisbane Airport is about 18 km (11.2 mi) from downtown Brisbane. Airport Drive, Airport Link/M7, and M3 are the main roads connecting the airport to the city, but keep in mind that Airport Link/M7 is a toll road.

It is also worth noting that all toll roads in Australia, including the Airport Link, are cashless. The car rental company you rent from may have en e-Tag on the car already. If so, you’ll be charged a small fee for every day you use a toll road in addition to the cost of the tolls.

The alternative if this is not the case is to purchase a Road Pass from Linkt (as opposed to an e-Tag). This works for 30 days and will backdate to cover any tolls in the previous 3 days when it starts. In this case, you could use the Airport Link and then purchase the Road Pass. If you travel further to New South Wales or Victoria, you will also need to purchase sperate passes for those states.

Most popular types of rental car

• Small cars - from $21 per day
• Large cars - from $14 per day
• Medium cars - from $16 per day
• SUVs - from $23 per day
• Vans - from $34 per day
• Premium cars - from $44 per day
• Station wagons - from $66 per day

Car rental desks

The exact pick-up location of your rental car depends on which rental company you choose. Europcar and Alamo are located at the International Terminal of the airport. Their desks are on Level 2 behind the Spoon Cafe. Atlas Car & Truck Rental, East Coast Car Rental, and Sixt are all located just outside of the airport.

Services and facilities

You’ll find lots of fast food outlets, bars, and restaurants, as well as stores and duty-free outlets. There are also several ATMs, an on-site hotel, parenting rooms, first aid rooms and free showers in both terminals, a spa, a barber shop, and a prayer room. There are left luggage services on the ground floor of the international terminal, next to the car park entrance, and also in the domestic terminal outside the Virgin and Qantas zones. The airport is equipped for travelers with reduced mobility. You can find more information on the airport's official website.

Nearest gas station

Coles Express, which has the same address as the airport, is right next to it and close to Great Barrier Road and Moreton Drive. It requires a slight detour if you are returning a car to the International Terminal of the airport, though.

A new Caltex station that opened in July 2019 just off the East-West Arterial Road is now the preferred station both for those returning a car to the International terminal and those returning a car to off-airport locations. It is less than a block away from SIXT/East Coast Car Rental and 2km from Atlas Car and Truck Rental. It is 4km from the International Terminal but does is directly on the way.

Popular one-way rentals

• Gold Coast (86 km / 53 miles)
• Sunshine Coast (105 km / 65 miles)
• Ipswich (53 km / 33 miles)
• Toowoomba (140 km / 87 miles)
• Byron Bay (173 km / 107 miles)
• Ballina (195 km / 121 miles)