During our road trip from Queensland to Melbourne, one way, stopover in Sydney. We choose to land in Gold Coast Airport situated in the suburb of Bilinga near Coolangatta, about 90km south of the center of Brisbane. The old name is called Coolangatta Airport. Aboriginal word meaning “Place of Good View”.
Why do we choose the Gold Coast Airport?
We choose to land in Gold Coast because we planned to stay a few days in Surfers Paradise and there are cheap flights land here. Surfer Paradise is only 25 km away from the airport.
One Terminal for both International & Domestic
Gold Coast Airport is small so it is easy to navigate, all domestic and international flights operate from the same terminal and there is only one terminal. There are few duty-free shops in case you need some cigarettes and alcohol. Please expect minimum from this airport and only a very basic and old-school terminal, not many food outlets and shops. If you have this expectation in mind, you will not be disappointed.
However, it is the 6th busiest airport in Australia, serving more than 5.7 million passengers in 2013-14. This is because there are many people flying in for the iconic Surfers Paradise Beach in Queensland.
Airlines
Some of the airlines that operate here are AirAsia X, Jetstar, Scoot, Tigerair, Virgin, Air New Zealand & Qantas.
Departure Hall
There are many self-check-in kiosks in the departure hall for both domestically and internationally. If you are unsure of how to use the self-check-in kiosk, there is a staff per 5 check-in machines to assist you.
The Coast Cafe & Bar
The cafe is conveniently located at the check-in area and the closest to the rental car return car park. In case you need a coffee upon arrival after your long hour flight.
SkyBus Transport
SkyBus is the Gold Coast Airport Shuttle that connecting the Gold Coast Airport to Gold Coast’s most popular tourist location. The one-way ticket cost about $15 with free wifi.
Gold Coast Airport does not have any train connection. The closest station is Varsity Lakes which is 15 minutes away by car.
Rental Car Counter
There are many well-known car rental companies in the arrival hall. If you have already booked online, go to the counter and show them your voucher. The rental company will direct you to the correct parking location to collect your vehicle.
You may like: How I pick up my car rental from Gold Coast Airport, Australia.