📍Do I Need A Car In Brisbane? What Is Its Public Transport Like? (2024.)

WANT HELP DECIDING IF YOU NEED A CAR IN BRISBANE?

Brisbane is a gorgeous capital city with a vibrant riverside lifestyle. It’s one of Australia’s most visited places, and with plenty of things to see and do, from the CBD to the hinterland and offshore islands, it’s no wonder the Queensland capital is such a great destination.

But do you need to car to visit the attractions in Brisbane, or is public transport sufficient? That’s a great question, but the answer is multi-faceted. But as someone who was raised and continues to live an hour outside of the beautiful city and has visited the CBD and the greater region many times and continues to do so, I know that it is highly dependant on what type of activities you wish to undertake, so let’s dive deep into what you need to know.

While exploring the CBD, there is generally no need for a car to get around, thanks to the city’s excellent public transport system, which includes trains, buses and ferries, along with ride-share services like Uber and e-vehicles, such as Neuron or Beam scooters and bikes.

If you’d like to include some of Greater Brisbane’s top attractions in your trip, numerous tour companies offer guided excursions that depart directly out of the CBD. That further reduces the need for a vehicle.

Other places of interest are often, but not always, within reach of a train station or bus stop, meaning you can reach many more tourist sites without requiring a car for personal use.

But for those who don’t like tours or the time constraints of schedules and prefer to go to the beat of their drum, getting a car is the ultimate way to get around outside the inner city. (See more on Car Rental further down.)

There are several ways to get around Brisbane without a car. Some of the most common forms of transport are.

Public Transport. – (More Detailed Overlook Below.)

• Trains. – Excellent for getting in and out of the city and reaching other notable places, including the Gold Coast, Logan, Caboolture and Ipswich.
• Ferries. – The ultimate way of travelling around the CBD. Many of the city’s attractions are close to the banks of the Brisbane River and with the most popular ones in easy walking distance of a ferry terminal. It’s also delightfully scenic and the most relaxing way to get around Brisbane. City Cats and Cross River Ferries are paid services, but the City Hopper is FREE!
• Buses. – Good for accessing the different parts of the city and places not serviced by trains and ferries.

Walking.

The most cost-effective method of getting around Brisbane is, of course, walking. Many of the city’s top attractions, restaurants and hotels are close to a train station, bus stop or ferry terminal, but that’s not the only reason walking is a great option. 

Brisbane is a very scenic place. Walking is the best way to take in the vibe and atmosphere of the CBD, especially along the riverside pathways, which is the best way to see the city.

E-Bikes & E-Scooters.

Another fantastic way to get around Brisbane without a car is with an electric bike or scooter. These things are hireable from many locations across the city and are a fantastic, fun and more speedy way to get around Brisbane than walking.

Download the Neuron E-Scooters and E-Bike or Beam app, input some information, find a stall and BAM! You’re ready to go! You can take them anywhere you can take regular bikes and scooters, including the previously mentioned riverside pathways and zip across the CBD.

It’s a much faster and less taxing way to navigate the city and is a blast to ride. You’ll be at your destination in no time.

Ride Sharing Services.

For places that are further away from the CBD and less accessible by the other modes of transport, ride-sharing services such as traditional Taxis and Ubers are fantastic ways of getting to those harder-to-reach locations.

Government-funded public transport in Brisbane is excellent. The city has three modes: trains, ferries and buses, which span out across South East Queensland. There are also some fantastic free services for budget travellers.

Go Card & Translink App.

To access these services, all you need is to download the Translink app, which you can get in the Apple Store or Google Store and link your credit or debit card or buy a Translink Go Card, which you can pick up at attended railway stations, selected retailers, or fare machines (G:link tram stations, bus stations and selected busway interchanges (adult cards only).

To use the service, simply tap the GoCard or the Translink app to the reader at the stations, terminals and on the buses and ferries, and away you go. Remember to tap off the same way each time you get off for the latter two, otherwise, they will charge you the maximum fee. As for the railway network, you only have to tap off when you leave the station, not when changing trains.

And to check or top up your balance, Go Card users can do it at the machines at the stations, terminals or buses, while Translink app users can do it through their devices.

You can also buy single tickets from the station machines (except ferries).

Fares.

Fares are charged according to the zones, a uniformed radial system determined by the distance from the CBD and has a broad service area, including the Gold Coast and Ipswich. Travelling on numerous forms of public transport within a zone costs the same price while crossing over into another increases the charge. There are other parameters too.

One journey requires completion within 6 hours of first tapping on at the station, terminal or bus to be considered one fare. While you can change modes of transport during those six hours, you can only do it three times within that period, and each changeover must be within one hour of tapping off from the previous service. Lastly, the final trip must start within 3.5 hours of when you first departed. It is a little confusing but is a cost-efficient way of travelling.

Trains.

Brisbane has a simple but extensive railway network, which makes getting in and out of the city from regional centres very straightforward and easy as every inbound train line passes through Brisbane Central, Roma Street and Fortitude Valley.

Brisbane Central is where most people get off to explore the CBD as it’s close to several notable attractions, including Queen Street Mall, King George Square, Town Hall and Eagle St. Pier. Roma Street is the city’s major train interchange and provides access to places such as the beloved South Bank Parklands and glittering Gold Coast, while the Fortitude Valley train station is closest to the iconic Story Bridge and many of the city’s best-known nightclubs.

Trains are also the easiest way to get to and from Brisbane Airport.

Ferries.

For inner-city travel, the ferry system is a fantastic way to get around and a beautiful way to see the city. It’s such a quintessential part of life in the Queensland capital that no trip to Brisbane is complete without taking a scenic ferry ride on one of its ferries, which is why it is by far my favourite way to get around my state capital.

There are three types of ferries.

The iconic City Cats are the main mode of river transport. These sleek and fast catamarans stop at numerous terminals across the CBD which are within short walking distance of many of Brisbane’s best attractions.

The other ferry is the City Hopper. While these adorable Kitty Cats catamarans are slower than the City Cat and only service the major terminals, it’s completely FREE to travel on, making them an excellent option for budget travellers.

Lastly, there are Cross River Ferries. These connect Holman Street at Kangaroo Point (under the Story Bridge on the southern side) to Riverside (Eagle St Pier) and the Howard Smith Wharves (under the Story Bridge on the Northern Bank), and separately Bulimba to Teneriffe. Confusingly, they are the same Kitty Cat vessels, design, colour and all as the City Hopper, but unlike those free services, the Cross River Ferries are paid services using the Go Card.

To differentiate them, look for the big red banner on the front of them, and that’ll let you know which one they are. The workers also announce it when they are on the dock and ready to allow passengers to board.

Buses.

For many of the other places that aren’t serviced by trains and ferries, there are buses.

Brisbane has an extensive bus service network that will take you to or close to where you need to go. The service train stations, shopping centres, many major attractions and more, both close to the CBD and much further out.

Free City Centre Loop Services.

For inner-city travel, the city provides three FREE City Centre Loop services in highly-frequented tourist areas.

The first is the City Loop, which uses distinctive purple buses and stops at the same purple-coloured bus stops between 7.00 am and 6.00 pm. There are two services, one that goes clockwise (Route 40) while the other goes counterclockwise (Route 50) and runs every 10 minutes.

Popular stops include Central Station, Queen Street Mall, City Hall and the Brisbane Botanic Gardens. However, something important to note is that while it seems like the buses go the same route in the opposite direction, THEY DO NOT, which means they don’t service many of the same stops, which is something to consider when getting on and where you want to get off.

The second free City Centre Service is the Spring Hill Loop service (route 30) which runs through the CBD and the Spring Hill area from 6.00 am to 9.15 pm on weekdays, and 8.00 am to 9.15 pm on weekends. The buses are yellow and stop at the yellow signposted bus stops and depart every 10 minutes in peak hour and every 20 minutes during off-peak. The top tourist stops include Central Stations and the Roma St Parklands.

The last of Brisbane’s free city centre loop bus services is the South Brisbane Loop which is currently available as part of a trial run until mid-2024 and services the South Bank, South Brisbane and West End suburbs, stopping nearby to attractions such as the South Bank Parklands, Gallery Of Modern Art, Queensland Theatre, between the hours of 7.00 am and 9.00pm.

Getting around the River City is reasonably affordable, but the longer you’re there, the more the price stacks up and the more it takes a bite out of your budget. Thankfully, as I’ve mentioned previously in this article, the city has a few free services folks can utilize to get around.

The best is the City Hopper ferry that goes up and down the Brisbane River and services numerous terminals near major attractions. It’s also one of the best ways to see the CBD’s landscapes, so it’s essentially a 2-for-1 river transport and scenic cruise, and one of my favourite ways to get around.

The other free travel the city offers is with one of the City Centre Loop bus services that take you to tourist hotspots such as Central Stations, Queens Street Mall, City Hall, Roma St Parklands, South Bank and more.

On certain occasions, such as Brisbane Riverfire and New Year, trains sometimes have free services for several hours after the event to ease congestion.

Utilizing these services, many people can visit the best parts of Brisbane for free, making the beautiful river city an even more affordable place to visit.

The easiest way to get from Brisbane Airport to Brisbane CBD and vice versa is with the Airtrain.

The Airtrain is a purpose-built train service that links the Brisbane Domestic and International Terminals to the city’s Central Station and Roma Street. With frequent departures starting early in the morning, continuing late into the night, and a one-way trip only taking around 20 minutes, it’s the simplest and most convenient way to get from the airport to the heart of the beautiful River City.

Deciding how many days to spend in Brisbane depends on various factors, such as how you like to travel, what you enjoy seeing and doing, the pace you move and your budget.

As a generalisation, five days to one week is a comfortable amount of time for people to enjoy the highlights of the inner city, such as climbing the Story Bridge, swimming at South Bank’s lagoons, eating at one of the Eagle Street Pier restaurants and cruising around the City Cats and City Hoppers.

For those also wanting to include some of the other classic experiences in the Greater Brisbane region, such as tours to Moreton Island and North Stradbroke Island, 12 or so days is a reasonable time to explore the Queensland capital.

Lastly, people who prefer going off on their own and exploring places more thoroughly by using or hiring a vehicle and curating their adventure can satisfactorily do many of the things the Brisbane region has to offer in 4 or so weeks without feeling rushed, including hiking in D’Aguilar National and camping on the aforementioned islands.

If you’ve ultimately decided you need a car in Brisbane to make the most of your time there, especially outside of the CBD, what kind should you hire?

Greater Brisbane doesn’t have many attractions along dirt roads, and of those that are, almost all of them are suitable for conventional 2WD vehicles, ruling out 4WDs for the specific purpose.

Small cars, like hatchbacks, are a fantastic option for zipping around the city and getting parking spaces for solo travellers and couples with little luggage. They are also the most economical and cost-efficient.

As for 2-3 people or families of up to five with a reasonable amount of luggage, a sedan is a solid choice as they usually have room for two large suitcases and a smaller one. It’s still great for getting around the city and is easy to park

Groups or families larger than that can opt for an SUV or a van, as it has ample space for people and luggage. However, navigation is more challenging in tight city streets and generally more difficult to park, especially if you’re not used to driving such a large vehicle.

Lastly, for those who enjoy camping, caravan parks and staying at free overnight rest areas, campervans and motorhomes are unbeatable travelling accommodation options.

While collecting a car in Brisbane is straightforward, researching and checking over the vehicles is contentious as it requires much consideration to avoid getting caught out.

Research Phase.

• Physical Size – Is the vehicle spacious enough to comfortably fit all the people I’m travelling with and their luggage? Additionally, what is it going to be like driving? In the CBD, it’s busy and frequently congested and many of the roads are narrow and only go one way, and finding parking, particularly on the street challenging, so the smaller the better. Outside of the inner city, it’s not so bad.
• Engine Size – Will the car get me to where I want to go or will it struggle? Brisbane isn’t somewhere where you need significant engine power. The only place where you may need more is driving through D’Aguilar National Park.
• Transmission – Do you drive an automatic or manual?
• Fuel Efficiency – How much fuel do you burn per 100km? The less you go through, the more you save.
• Fuel Type – Does the vehicle take petrol, diesel or gas? This is something you need to be consciously aware of the entire time you have the car because you do not want to be putting the wrong fuel into the tank! It’ll damage the car and cost you significantly to rectify it.
• Kilometres – Does the car come with unlimited km or only 100km per day? Fewer companies these days have unlimited kilometres, meaning you’ll have to pay for every km you go over.
• Relocation Fees – If you are not returning the car to the same place you picked it up from, relocation fees often apply.
• Additional Driver Fees – If you wish to have more than one person driving the vehicle throughout your rental period, you will have to pay extra.
• Young Renter Surcharge – Young drivers are more likely to have an accident. Therefore, car rental companies often charge a fee for people under a certain age. 
• READ, READ, READ the Terms and Conditions! – Go over it extremely thoroughly and understand it as best you can, as vehicle hire is known for having many hidden fees. If you are unsure, ask. BE VERY CAREFUL of how they word things because it sometimes has vague language that can be easily misinterpreted to mean something different as I found out the hard way, despite every effort to avoid getting caught out and asking them many questions beforehand.
• In the event of an accident – If you aren’t there when damage is done to the hire vehicle or don’t get the other person’s details, you’ll have to foot the repair bills.

For most people, using a car in Brisbane CBD is unnecessary, and they can get away without needing one. However, out of the city centre, having a vehicle for personal use makes it significantly easier to get to the places you want to see. Therefore, those planning to explore the inner city and the greater parts of the region should combine using public transport and a car.

If you plan to visit Brisbane, consider looking at these other posts.

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📍13 Best Day Trips From Brisbane Within 2 Hours Distance From A Road Trip Enthusiast. (2024.)

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📍42 Best Fun Things To Do In Brisbane, Australia. (Activities, Tours & Attractions, 2024.)

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