Brisbane Cruise Terminal Transfers from the Gold Coast
The Short Answer
CGC runs private door-to-door transfers between the Gold Coast, Northern NSW and the Brisbane International Cruise Terminal at Pinkenba, at the same fixed Brisbane-zone fares as Brisbane Airport.
| To or from the terminal | Sedan or similar | Kia Carnival |
|---|---|---|
| Coomera, Hope Island, Southport | $190 | $240 |
| Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, Main Beach | $200 | $260 |
| Robina, Burleigh Heads | $215 | $275 |
| Palm Beach, Coolangatta | $230 | $300 |
| Tweed Heads | $240 | $320 |
| Kingscliff | $270 | $380 |
| Byron Bay | $420 | $605 |
Per vehicle, GST and the Gateway toll included, locked at booking, and the same figure covers the trip home — timed to your cruise line’s check-in time on the way out and to the ship’s arrival on the way home.
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Terminal: Brisbane International Cruise Terminal, 1 Cruise Terminal Drive, Pinkenba (Portside Wharf at Hamilton closed to cruise ships at the end of 2022)
Pricing: your suburb’s fixed Brisbane-zone fare, the same in both directions — e.g. a fixed $200 sedan / $260 Kia Carnival from central Gold Coast
Timing: departure pickups worked back from your cruise line’s check-in time; homeward pickups timed to the ship’s arrival
Booking: online by card; both legs on one reservation takes 5% off the return leg
- ✔ Same fixed zone fare as your suburb’s Brisbane Airport price
- ✔ GST and the Gateway toll inside every quote
- ✔ Drop-off at the terminal’s front set-down area, next to the baggage drop
- ✔ Baby seats and child seats provided and fitted, arranged at booking
- ✔ Groups of 8 or more book online
Fixed Fares to the Brisbane Cruise Terminal by Pickup Area
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| Pickup area | Sedan or similar (1–3) | Kia Carnival (up to 7) |
|---|---|---|
| Coomera, Upper Coomera and Pimpama | $190 | $240 |
| Hope Island and Sanctuary Cove | $190 | $240 |
| Southport | $190 | $240 |
| Main Beach | $200 | $260 |
| Surfers Paradise | $200 | $260 |
| Broadbeach | $200 | $260 |
| Robina and Varsity Lakes | $215 | $275 |
| Burleigh Heads | $215 | $275 |
| Palm Beach, Elanora and Currumbin | $230 | $300 |
| Coolangatta | $230 | $300 |
| Tweed Heads, Banora Point and Fingal Head (NSW) | $240 | $320 |
| Kingscliff, Casuarina and Salt Village (NSW) | $270 | $380 |
| Byron Bay and Suffolk Park (NSW) | $420 | $605 |
Per vehicle, each way, GST and the Gateway toll included — the same figure from the terminal back home. Other Gold Coast and Northern NSW addresses price instantly in the booking form or on the full fixed-price schedule.
How Cruise Transfers Work
Brisbane’s cruise ships now berth at the Brisbane International Cruise Terminal at Luggage Point, Pinkenba, on the northern bank at the mouth of the Brisbane River, about 12 km by road from Brisbane Airport. It sits inside CGC’s Brisbane fixed-fare zone, so your suburb’s Brisbane Airport price applies to the cruise terminal run as well. The terminal only opens on days a ship is in port, and there’s no public transport to it.
- Embarkation: your cruise line sets an arrival or check-in time. We work the pickup back from it with a traffic buffer for the M1 and Gateway Motorway.
- Drop-off: the 2-minute passenger pick-up and set-down area at the front of the terminal, about 40 metres from the entrance; the baggage drop is in the plaza close to the main entrance.
- Disembarkation: the pickup is booked against the ship’s arrival. Call or text your driver once you have your bags and the car comes to the front set-down area.
- Late ships: we track the ship and move the pickup at no extra cost.
Heading to Tangalooma instead? The Moreton Island launches leave from Holt Street Wharf, also in Pinkenba: see Gold Coast to Tangalooma ferry transfers.
“Cruise mornings are the one job where I plan for the ship, not the traffic — disembarkation runs in waves, so I set your pickup against your cabin’s call time and hold the car at the terminal. Nobody in my vehicle has ever watched their ride leave because the gangway ran forty minutes late.”
— Chris, owner-driver
Vehicles and Cruise Luggage
- Toyota Camry or Tesla sedan — 3 passengers, 2 check-in cases and 2 carry-ons
- Kia Carnival — up to 7 passengers; up to 9 large bags for 1 to 4 people, 7 for five, 6 for six or seven
- 12-seat VW Crafter (up to 11 passengers), priced in the booking form — see maxi taxi Gold Coast
- Prams, golf bags and surfboards rule out the sedan; tell us at booking
- Baby seats and child seats $35 each, fitted before pickup
FAQs
How much is a Gold Coast to Brisbane cruise terminal transfer?
It is the same fixed Brisbane-zone fare as your suburb’s Brisbane Airport price: for example a fixed $200 sedan or $260 Kia Carnival from Surfers Paradise or Broadbeach, $190 or $240 from Southport and the northern Gold Coast, and $230 or $300 from Coolangatta. The same figure applies in both directions, GST and the Gateway toll included.
Which terminal do Brisbane cruise ships use?
The Brisbane International Cruise Terminal at 1 Cruise Terminal Drive, Pinkenba, at Luggage Point on the mouth of the Brisbane River. Portside Wharf at Hamilton stopped taking cruise ships at the end of 2022, so if an old guide names Portside, use the Pinkenba address unless your cruise line tells you otherwise.
What time should we leave the Gold Coast for embarkation?
Work back from the arrival or check-in time your cruise line gives you, not the sailing time. From central Gold Coast the run is about 1 hour 20 to 1 hour 25 minutes off-peak, so a pickup about 2 hours before your check-in time covers the drive and a traffic buffer. Give us the ship and your check-in time and we confirm the exact pickup.
Where does the driver drop us at the terminal?
In the 2-minute passenger pick-up and set-down area at the front of the terminal, about 40 metres from the entrance. The baggage drop is in the plaza close to the main entrance, so your cases go a few steps from the car.
How does the pickup work when we get off the ship?
Your pickup is booked against the ship’s arrival. Collect your bags and clear the terminal, then call or text your driver: the car comes to the 2-minute pick-up area at the front of the terminal. Drivers can’t park and wait in that area, so being ready at the kerb keeps it quick.
What if the ship arrives late or disembarkation runs slow?
We track the ship’s arrival and move the pickup to suit at no extra cost. Disembarkation runs in groups and takes as long as it takes.
Is the price per person or per vehicle?
Per vehicle. A couple in the sedan and a family of six in the Kia Carnival each pay one fixed figure, with no per-person maths.
Is there a discount for booking both directions?
Yes. Book the drop-off and the return pickup on one reservation and the return leg is 5% off.
Will our cruise luggage fit?
The Toyota Camry or Tesla sedan takes 3 passengers with 2 check-in cases and 2 carry-ons. The Kia Carnival takes up to 9 large bags for 1 to 4 passengers, 7 for five and 6 for six or seven. A pram or stroller counts as one check-in bag and means the Carnival rather than the sedan.
Do you provide baby seats and child seats for the cruise run?
Yes — rear-facing baby seats, forward-facing child seats and boosters, supplied and fitted before pickup for $35 per seat. Tell us the children’s ages at booking.
Can a group of 8 or more travel together?
Yes. Up to 7 fit one Kia Carnival. For 8 or more, the booking form offers a second vehicle or the 12-seat VW Crafter (up to 11 passengers), each at a fixed price on one reservation.
Can you pick up from Byron Bay or the Tweed Coast for a cruise?
Yes. Northern NSW pickups run on the same fixed-zone model, so each town’s Brisbane figure applies to the cruise terminal exactly as it does to the airport. All bookings run on Queensland time, including NSW pickups.
Do you run cruise transfers early in the morning or on public holidays?
Yes, by pre-booking. Pickups between 9pm and 6am may carry an after-hours surcharge, shown in the quote before you pay. A higher rate applies on Easter Sunday, and we’re closed on Christmas Day.
Can you take us from the cruise terminal to Brisbane Airport or Gold Coast Airport?
Yes, but those runs aren’t on our fixed price list, so call or text 0416 131 285 for a quote.
How do I pay?
By card online at booking through the secure payment link. Every transfer is pre-booked and paid before travel, so there’s nothing to pay in the car.
What is the cancellation policy if the cruise is cancelled?
Cancel more than 24 hours before pickup and the full amount is held as credit for a future booking. Within 24 hours of pickup no credit applies.
Cruise Terminal Transfers by Suburb
- Coomera to the Brisbane cruise terminal — fixed $190 sedan
- Hope Island to the Brisbane cruise terminal — fixed $190 sedan
- Southport to the Brisbane cruise terminal — fixed $190 sedan
- Main Beach to the Brisbane cruise terminal — fixed $200 sedan
- Surfers Paradise to the Brisbane cruise terminal — fixed $200 sedan
- Broadbeach to the Brisbane cruise terminal — fixed $200 sedan
- Robina to the Brisbane cruise terminal — fixed $215 sedan
- Burleigh Heads to the Brisbane cruise terminal — fixed $215 sedan
- Palm Beach to the Brisbane cruise terminal — fixed $230 sedan
- Coolangatta to the Brisbane cruise terminal — fixed $230 sedan
- Tweed Heads to the Brisbane cruise terminal — fixed $240 sedan
- Kingscliff to the Brisbane cruise terminal — fixed $270 sedan
- Byron Bay to the Brisbane cruise terminal — fixed $420 sedan
Ready to book?
Fixed price, door-to-door, driver allocated ahead of time.
✓ Price locked at booking ✓ GST included ✓ Ship arrival tracked ✓ 5% off return leg
External Authority Resources
Port of Brisbane — getting to the cruise terminal sets out the set-down areas, taxi and rideshare zones and parking, and the cruise ship schedule lists every call. Queensland child restraint rules govern the under-7 restraint framework on family bookings. Queensland Traffic reports live M1 and Gateway Motorway conditions. Queensland Transport and Main Roads publishes the Booked Hire licensing framework under which CGC operates.
CGC Airport Transfers — Brisbane cruise terminal transfers from the Gold Coast, Tweed and Northern NSW. Fixed per-vehicle pricing locked at booking, GST included, Gateway toll inside Brisbane quotes. Standard hours 6am–9pm; after-hours pickups (9pm–6am) by pre-booking with the fee confirmed inside the locked quote. Licensed and insured under Queensland Booked Hire arrangements.
Phone: 0416 131 285 · SMS: 0416 131 285 · WhatsApp: 0416 131 285 · Email: admin@cgctransfers.com.au
💬 Text to book with our AI assistant Cooly: 0485 057 498 (or WhatsApp) — instant fixed-fare quote and secure payment link, 24/7. Reply TALK for a person.
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