Australia Zoo Transfers
The Short Answer
Australia Zoo transfers from Surfers Paradise or Broadbeach are a fixed $780 return in a Sedan or similar, or $1,170 return in the 7-seat Kia Carnival — there in the morning and back in the afternoon on one reservation, per vehicle, GST included and locked at booking. One way is $400 or $600. The zoo is at Beerwah, about 150 km and around two hours north of Surfers Paradise; pickups from anywhere else are priced instantly in the booking form.
A day at Australia Zoo from the Gold Coast means about four hours on the road there and back. Book the return transfer and nobody in the family has to drive it — the driver drops you at the entrance in the morning and collects you at the time you choose.
Australia Zoo at a Glance
Route: M1 north through Brisbane → the Bruce Highway → Steve Irwin Way past the Glass House Mountains to Beerwah
Key benefits: GST inside the quote · price locked at booking with no surge · 5% off the return leg · return pickup at the time you choose · child seats fitted before pickup · driver allocated ahead
Pricing basis: standard rates (6am–9pm). Transfers outside those hours, Easter Sunday and optional extras may incur additional charges (closed on Christmas Day).
Australia Zoo transfers with CGC are private, pre-booked and fixed-price: a sedan or Kia Carnival from your Surfers Paradise or Broadbeach hotel, apartment or holiday home to the zoo at Beerwah on the Sunshine Coast, and back again at the time you choose, with the fare confirmed before you book and locked whatever the traffic does. It is a long day for a family — around two hours each way — and the point of a driver is that the adults get the zoo day too, instead of four hours behind the wheel. CGC Airport Transfers has run pre-booked private transfers across the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Northern NSW since 2020. One booking, one vehicle, no shared stops. It is not a taxi, rideshare or tour bus.
- ✔ Fixed return fare from Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach
- ✔ Other pickups priced instantly online
- ✔ GST included
- ✔ Return pickup at the time you set
- ✔ Driver allocated prior to pickup
- Surfers Paradise ↔ Australia Zoo, return — $780 sedan / $1,170 Carnival
- Broadbeach ↔ Australia Zoo, return — $780 sedan / $1,170 Carnival
- Surfers Paradise or Broadbeach ↔ Australia Zoo, one way — $400 sedan / $600 Carnival
- Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary transfers — koalas and kangaroos without the long drive
- Gold Coast theme park transfers — Movie World, Dreamworld, Sea World and the rest
From Surfers Paradise the run is about 150 km: north on the M1 through Brisbane, up the Bruce Highway, then off at the Steve Irwin Way exit and 18 km past Beerburrum and the Glass House Mountains to the zoo, 3 km past Beerwah — around two hours outside peak traffic. Broadbeach is a few minutes further south. Every trip is pre-booked, with the morning drop-off timed to when you want to arrive and the return pickup at whatever time suits you. School holidays and weekends — no surge. Book both legs on one reservation and a 5% discount applies to the return leg.
Australia Zoo Transfer Overview
CGC Airport Transfers provides pre-booked private transfers to Australia Zoo from Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach at fixed fares, and from every other Gold Coast, Brisbane and Northern NSW address at a price calculated instantly in the booking form.
The zoo is on Steve Irwin Way at Beerwah, in the Sunshine Coast hinterland beside the Glass House Mountains. From Surfers Paradise the run is approximately 150 kilometres and takes around two hours outside peak traffic.
- Vehicles: Sedan or similar (1–3), Kia Carnival (up to 7), 12-seater VW Crafter (up to 11 passengers)
- Drop-off: The zoo’s main entrance, Steve Irwin Way, Beerwah
- Included: GST, door-to-door pickup, return pickup at your chosen time
- Pricing: fixed $780 / $1,170 return or $400 / $600 one way from Surfers Paradise or Broadbeach (sedan / Kia Carnival) — standard rates (6am–9pm), GST included, locked at booking
Australia Zoo is open 9am to 5pm every day except Christmas Day, and some of the animals go to bed from 4:30pm, so most of the planning is in two times: when you want to be at the gates, and when you want to leave.
CGC Pricing — Australia Zoo Transfers
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| Trip | Sedan or similar | Kia Carnival | Carnival + Sedan | 2 × Carnival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Return — Surfers Paradise or Broadbeach ↔ Australia Zoo | $780 | $1,170 | $1,950 | $2,340 |
| One way — Surfers Paradise or Broadbeach → Australia Zoo | $400 | $600 | $1,000 | $1,200 |
| One way — Australia Zoo → Surfers Paradise or Broadbeach | $400 | $600 | $1,000 | $1,200 |
- All prices include GST
- The return fare is both legs on one reservation, with 5% off the return leg ($400 + $380 sedan, $600 + $570 Kia Carnival)
- Two-vehicle trips are the two single fares added together and are booked online; the 12-seater VW Crafter (up to 11 passengers) is priced in the booking form
- Pickups from other Gold Coast suburbs, Brisbane and Northern NSW are priced instantly in the booking form from your exact address
- Displayed pricing is based on standard-rate hours from 6am to 9pm; transfers between 9pm and 6am may incur an additional surcharge, shown in the online quote before you confirm
- Higher rate applies on Easter Sunday only (closed on Christmas Day)
- Pricing is per vehicle, not per passenger
- Child seats fitted before pickup — rear-facing baby seat, forward-facing child seat or booster at $35 per seat, added to your quote at booking
Final price is displayed before booking confirmation. No in-car payment accepted — booking is confirmed online before travel.
Australia Zoo: Route, Distance and Drive Time
| From | Distance | Drive time (off-peak) | Fare (sedan / Carnival) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surfers Paradise | Approximately 153 km | Around 2 hours | $780 / $1,170 return · $400 / $600 one way |
| Broadbeach | A few km further than Surfers | Around 2 hours | $780 / $1,170 return · $400 / $600 one way |
| Brisbane Airport | Approximately 64 km | Around 1 hour | Priced in the booking form |
What’s Included on Every Australia Zoo Booking
Door-to-Door Service
Pickup from your Surfers Paradise or Broadbeach hotel, apartment tower or holiday rental — the specific entrance or address is captured at booking. Drop-off at the zoo’s main entrance, timed to when you want to arrive.
Return pickup at the time you nominate, from the same entrance.
Driver & Vehicle
- Driver allocated prior to pickup — the driver’s name and contact number arrive by 5pm the day before
- Modern, air-conditioned vehicles — Sedan, Kia Carnival and 12-seater VW Crafter (up to 11 passengers)
- Room for a family’s day — prams, day bags and the gift-shop haul travel in the boot
- Child seats fitted before pickup — rear-facing baby seat, forward-facing child seat or booster at $35 per seat, added to your quote at booking
Pricing
- Fixed fares, locked at booking — no surge, no metered fare, no fuel levy
- GST included
- 5% off the return leg when both legs are on one reservation
- Displayed pricing based on standard rates (6am–9pm) — transfers outside those hours may incur an additional charge, confirmed in your online quote
- Weekends and school holidays — no surge
Reliability
- Pickup time worked out for you — tell us when you want to be at the zoo and we set the morning pickup with a margin for Brisbane
- Return pickup time confirmed on the booking — the driver is at the entrance at the time you set
- Licensed booked-hire service under Queensland Booked Hire arrangements administered by Queensland Transport and Main Roads
- 5.0 stars from 99 Google reviews
Australia Zoo Pickup Points
The list below is illustrative — your specific lobby, tower or driveway is captured at booking.
Surfers Paradise — $780 / $1,170 return
- Hotels and apartment towers — Q1, Hilton, JW Marriott and the beachfront towers
- Holiday rentals and homes — anywhere in Surfers Paradise
Broadbeach — $780 / $1,170 return
- Hotels and apartment towers — The Star, Sofitel and the Broadbeach towers
- Holiday rentals and homes — anywhere in Broadbeach
Everywhere else — priced in the booking form
- The rest of the Gold Coast — Main Beach, Burleigh Heads, Palm Beach, Coolangatta and the northern suburbs
- Brisbane — the city, South Bank and Brisbane Airport, about an hour from the zoo
- Northern NSW — Tweed Heads, Kingscliff and Byron Bay; the trip finishes in Queensland, so it is within our licence
Australia Zoo: What to Expect
Australia Zoo is the Irwin family’s zoo, the home of the Crocodile Hunter, on Steve Irwin Way at Beerwah in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. It draws about 700,000 visitors a year. The day is built around live shows and feeds — the Wildlife Warriors Show in the Crocoseum is currently at 1:15pm, with tigers, elephants, birds of prey and otters on the program through the day — and the zones run from Africa and the Cheetah Grasslands to Bindi’s Island, Tiger Temple, Roo Heaven and Robert’s Reptile House. Check the day’s show times before you go.
A free shuttle runs around the zoo, out to the Africa savannah, and takes prams. Prams and wheelchairs can be hired at Admissions, though stock is limited, so book with the zoo ahead. There are lockers near the entrance, you can bring your own food (no glass or alcohol), and parking is free if you drive yourself.
Closer to home, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary has koalas, kangaroos and its own fixed fares from Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, and the Gold Coast theme parks are all within about 30 minutes. For more ideas see things to do on the Gold Coast.
Fleet Available for Australia Zoo Transfers
Two core vehicles handle most zoo days — the Sedan or similar for couples and small families, and the Kia Carnival for families with prams and child seats. For groups of 8–11, the 12-seater VW Crafter (up to 11 passengers) keeps everyone together, priced in the booking form.
| Vehicle | Capacity | Luggage | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sedan or similar | 1–3 passengers | Day bags | Couples, small families |
| Kia Carnival | Up to 7 passengers | Prams, day bags and a cooler | Families with child seats and prams |
| 12-seater VW Crafter (up to 11 passengers) | 8–11 passengers | Group bags | Extended families, school and club groups, priced in the booking form |
Example Day: Broadbeach to Australia Zoo and Back
A family of five staying in Broadbeach books the Kia Carnival return for $1,170, with two child seats added at booking. The driver collects them at 7am with the seats already fitted, and they are at the zoo close to its 9am opening.
They catch the tigers and the elephants in the morning, the Wildlife Warriors Show in the Crocoseum after lunch, and the free shuttle out to Africa. The return pickup is booked for 4:30pm at the entrance, just as the first animals go to bed.
The kids sleep through the Bruce Highway, nobody has driven 300 km, and they are back in Broadbeach in the early evening.
CGC Return Transfer vs Driving Yourself
| Factor | CGC return transfer | Driving yourself |
|---|---|---|
| Time behind the wheel | ✓ None — the driver does both runs | ✗ Around four hours and 300 km in a day |
| Brisbane traffic | ✓ Our problem, built into the pickup time | ✗ Through the city twice, once at the end of the day |
| Child seats | ✓ Fitted before pickup, matched to each child’s age | ✗ Hire them with the car, or bring your own |
| The trip home | ✓ Everyone rests | ✗ Someone drives two hours after a day on their feet |
| Price | ✓ One fixed figure per vehicle, locked at booking | ✗ Car hire, fuel and the time it costs |
For the full comparison see our private transfer vs hiring a car guide.
Booking Information You’ll Need
Book both legs on one reservation — the morning run up and the return pickup from the zoo — and the return leg is 5% off.
- Your date — the zoo is open every day except Christmas Day
- Exact pickup address — hotel name and entrance, apartment and unit, or holiday rental address
- When you want to arrive — we set the morning pickup from it
- Return pickup time — the time you want the driver at the zoo entrance
- Passenger count — so the right vehicle is booked
- Child seat requirements — each child’s age, so the correct seat is fitted
- Prams — so the Kia Carnival is booked rather than the sedan
- Mobile contact for the day-before message and day-of changes
Frequently Asked Questions on Australia Zoo Transfers
How much is a return transfer to Australia Zoo?
From Surfers Paradise or Broadbeach a fixed $780 Sedan or similar or $1,170 Kia Carnival for the return trip — there in the morning and back in the afternoon on one reservation — per vehicle, GST included and locked at booking.
How much is a one-way transfer to Australia Zoo?
A fixed $400 Sedan or similar or $600 Kia Carnival, per vehicle, between Surfers Paradise or Broadbeach and the zoo in either direction.
Why is the return $780 and not $800?
Booking both legs on one reservation takes 5% off the return leg: $400 out and $380 back is $780 in the sedan, and $600 out and $570 back is $1,170 in the Kia Carnival.
How long is the drive from Surfers Paradise to Australia Zoo?
About 150 km each way and around two hours outside peak traffic — north on the M1 through Brisbane, up the Bruce Highway, then Steve Irwin Way past the Glass House Mountains to Beerwah.
What time should we leave the Gold Coast?
The zoo opens at 9am, so a pickup around 7am has you at the gates close to opening. Tell us the time you want to arrive and we set the pickup for it, with a margin for the Brisbane traffic.
What time should we book the return pickup?
The zoo is open until 5pm and some animals go to bed from 4:30pm, so a return pickup between 4 and 5pm at the entrance fits most days. The Wildlife Warriors Show is currently at 1:15pm, which leaves the afternoon for everything else.
Where does the driver drop us off and pick us up?
At the zoo’s main entrance on Steve Irwin Way, Beerwah. The return pickup meets you at the same entrance at the time on your booking, and your driver’s name and contact number arrive by 5pm the day before.
Can you pick us up from other Gold Coast suburbs or Brisbane?
Yes. The fixed fare covers Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach; other Gold Coast addresses and Brisbane pickups are priced in the booking form from your exact address, and the price is locked at booking.
Can you take us to Australia Zoo from Brisbane Airport?
Yes — the zoo is about 64 km and around an hour from Brisbane Airport, and airport pickups are priced in the booking form from your flight details. The zoo has lockers near the entrance, but a zoo day is easier without suitcases.
Can you pick us up from Northern NSW?
Yes, because the trip finishes in Queensland. Pickups from Tweed Heads, Kingscliff, Byron Bay and the rest of Northern NSW are priced in the booking form from your exact address.
Is it worth it over driving ourselves?
Parking at the zoo is free, but the day is around 300 km and four hours of driving — through Brisbane both ways — on top of a full day on your feet. With a driver, nobody in the family has to do the run home.
Are baby and child seats available?
Yes — rear-facing baby seats, forward-facing child seats and boosters are fitted before pickup at $35 per seat, added to your quote at booking. Queensland requires an approved restraint for every child under 7, so tell us each child’s age when you book.
Can we bring a pram?
Yes. A pram needs the Kia Carnival rather than the sedan. The zoo also hires prams at Admissions — stock is limited, so book with the zoo ahead — and its free shuttle around the zoo takes prams.
Can you take groups larger than seven?
Yes. The 12-seater VW Crafter (up to 11 passengers) is priced in the booking form, or add a second vehicle: a Kia Carnival + Sedan or similar is $1,000 one way or $1,950 return, and 2 × Kia Carnival is $1,200 one way or $2,340 return.
Is Australia Zoo open every day?
Australia Zoo is open 9am to 5pm every day except Christmas Day (25 December). CGC is also closed on Christmas Day.
Is the fare per person or per vehicle?
Per vehicle. The Kia Carnival return is $1,170 whether there are two of you or seven — the price never multiplies by headcount.
Is this a private transfer or a tour bus?
Private. The vehicle is reserved for your booking and travels directly between your accommodation and the zoo — no other passengers and no hotel loop.
What is your cancellation policy?
Change of date is free with notice. Cancel more than 24 hours before pickup and the full amount is held as credit for a future booking; within 24 hours no credit applies.
How do I pay?
By card online at booking, through the secure payment link — every transfer is pre-booked and paid before travel, with no in-car payment.
Related Resources
- Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary transfers — wildlife close to home, with fixed fares
- Gold Coast theme park transfers — every park and fare on one page
- Sea World transfers
- Movie World & Wet’n’Wild transfers
- Dreamworld & WhiteWater World transfers
- Things to do on the Gold Coast
- Transfers with kids on the Gold Coast
- Baby seats & child seats
- Large group transfers
- Private transfer vs hiring a car
- Brisbane Airport (BNE) transfers — hub
- All fixed-price routes
External Authority Resources
Australia Zoo publishes its opening hours, show times and ticketing, and its how to get here page has the directions and its own transport options.
Queensland child restraint rules set out the under-7 restraint requirements that apply on family bookings.
Book Your Australia Zoo Transfer — Get Your Exact Quote
Driver allocated prior to pickup. A fixed $780 sedan or $1,170 Kia Carnival return from Surfers Paradise or Broadbeach at standard rates (6am–9pm), GST included and locked at booking, and other pickups priced instantly online. Your final price is displayed before booking confirmation. Door-to-door to the zoo entrance, with the return pickup at the time you set.
Get Exact Quote OnlineCGC Airport Transfers · ABN 71 640 883 667 · Private airport transfers across the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Byron Bay & Northern NSW
Phone: 0416 131 285 · SMS: 0416 131 285 · WhatsApp: 0416 131 285 · Email: admin@cgctransfers.com.au
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