Brisbane Airport Airport Car Hire (BNE)

Why rent a car at Brisbane Airport?

Brisbane is the capital of Queensland in Australia. It has a substantial cultural scene, particularly for live music – it’s where the legendary Bee Gees first formed and also Savage Garden. The Queensland Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) is the largest modern art gallery in Australia and home to some of the most well-known pieces of Australian and foreign modern art. Among Brisbane’s dozen or so theatres, the biggest is the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), which houses three theatres and a concert hall. For more leisurely pursuits, why not visit the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, which was the world's first koala sanctuary. The city’s numerous parks include the City Botanic Gardens, Brisbane Forest Park and the Brisbane Botanic Gardens which houses the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium. You can visit the display areas and mini theatre for free, but there is an admission charge for the Cosmic Skydome and the observatory. With a Brisbane rental car, it’s easy to head out of the city to explore the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast and beyond.

How to get to and around Brisbane Airport?

Brisbane Airport is located 12 miles northeast of Brisbane, a drive of 20 minutes. The Airtrain runs between the airport, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, departing every 15 minutes during peak hours. With a Brisbane hire car, however, the whole of Queensland is open to explore.

Hiring a car at Brisbane Airport

The car rental offices are on level 2 of the international terminal and level 1 of the domestic terminal. As soon as you land you can head to the right level, pick up your hire car keys and be on your way. Shuttle buses operate between the terminals and the car rental pick-up area.

What brands are available?

Car hire at Brisbane Airport is available from the following companies:

Must-sees within an easy drive of Brisbane

Queensland’s magnificent Gold Coast runs all the way south from Brisbane to Byron Bay just over the state border in New South Wales, a four-hour journey of 103 miles. With a hire car on the Gold Coast, you can make the most of the shores of Surfers Paradise beach or head inland to the Gondwana Rainforests – they are an Australia World Heritage Area and it’s where you’ll also find Lamington National Park. The whole area is the most extensive subtropical rainforest in the world, with stunning waterfalls, more than 100 miles of walking trails and O'Reilly's Tree Top Walk, where you can walk 50 feet above ground along nine suspension bridges through a canopy of tropical trees and try to spot the many birds and animals that inhabit the tree tops.

The small town of Byron Bay at the southern end of the Gold Coast is a popular surfing spot and attracts backpackers also looking to skydive or go whale-watching. Julian Rocks, easily reached by a quick boat trip from Main Beach is the place to go scuba diving and snorkelling in the clear blue waters. With a rental car in Byron Bay it’s a short hop inland to the Nightcap National Park and the Minyon Falls.

Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, which starts 62 miles north of Brisbane, has lots of attractions, including legendary naturalist Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo, the UnderWater World marine park and five national parks, including Mapleton Falls National Park, Kondalilla National Park, Glass House Mountains National Park, Noosa National Park, and the Great Sandy National Park. Pick up a rental car in Noosa it’s easy to reach not only the magnificent national park, but also the Noosa Biosphere Reserve. Noosa has an annual surfing festival and a thriving local arts scene.

Tips and tricks for driving in Queensland and Australia

Much of Brisbane is linked by toll tunnels, which makes driving around the city easy, but parking can be expensive. Queensland police are strict on drink-driving – the alcohol limit is just .05%. Out of urban areas, watch out for wildlife straying onto the roads. UK driving licence holders do not need an international driving permit. As in the UK, Australians drive on the left-hand side and overtake on the right.

Ready to plan your Brisbane city break?

Feeling inspired to start planning a visit to Brisbane? Check out this city guide and use the Expedia search tool to help you find the best hire car, flight and hotel deals and research the best attractions and activities.