Gold Coast Airport, formerly Coolangatta Airport, has a single terminal, and Avis, Budget, Redspot, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt serve the airport, with major providers in the Domestic Arrivals Hall. After your booking is confirmed, your provider directs you to a designated parking area to collect the car. The airport runs on Queensland time all year even though its runway crosses the NSW border.
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Prices are shown in Australian dollars. Before you book, open the offer and check where that company's desk or depot is, the bond, and what the agreement says about the roads you plan to drive.
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These six airport providers have counters in the Domestic Arrivals Hall. Your provider directs you to its designated car park after the counter.
The six airport brands below have counters in the Domestic Arrivals Hall.
After the counter, your provider directs you to its designated parking area to collect the car.
A few providers use off-airport depots with a short shuttle transfer, so check where your provider collects.
Pre-book, especially in peak periods, if you need a particular vehicle category such as an SUV.
Bring a valid driver's licence covering your travel dates; the airport's rental page tells renters to have one.
Parking is not permitted directly in front of the terminal (Commonwealth security rules), and the drop-off area is for passengers who are ready and waiting kerbside. Confirm with your rental provider where to return the car.
The airport runs on Queensland time (AEST) all year, so use Queensland time for your return deadline if you have been in NSW during daylight saving.
Most domestic airlines want you at the check-in counter at least 60 minutes before departure, and international airlines recommend two hours, so leave time after the return.
Distances are approximate and measured along the road.
about 45 minutes to an hour
Allow about 45 minutes to an hour. Fingal Lighthouse, Kingscliff, Casuarina and Cabarita Beach are possible stops on the way, and an early arrival in Byron helps with parking and the lighthouse walk.
about 10 minutes
The monument on Boundary Street is about 10 minutes from the airport, and the time zone changes there when NSW is on daylight saving.
Tamborine National Park is about 80 km south of Brisbane, in the Gold Coast hinterland. From the coast, the Oxenford-Tamborine Road and the Nerang-Tamborine Road are the two approaches.
38 km from the M1's Nerang exit
Both bitumen roads to the Springbrook plateau are steep, winding and narrow, and Natural Bridge offers glow-worm viewing after dark.
about 40 km from Broadbeach to Canungra via Nerang, then 36 km of road to the park
The 36 km road from Canungra is winding and often narrow, and takes at least 50 minutes.
The airport runs on Queensland time all year. When NSW is on daylight saving, clocks in Tweed Heads across the border are an hour ahead, and the border monument on Boundary Street is about 10 minutes from the terminal.
The terminal front is for immediate pick-ups and drop-offs only. Passengers must be ready at the kerb, vehicles cannot be left unattended, and parking directly in front of the terminal is not permitted.
Tolls apply on most roads used to drive from Brisbane Airport towards the Gold Coast. Most rental cars have an electronic tag with the toll plus a service fee charged to you, and each company handles this differently, so ask when you sign.
Springbrook access roads are steep, winding and narrow; some can flood in heavy rain, and there is no through-road access to NSW from the plateau.
There is no fuel on the Lamington plateau; fuel and supplies are available at Canungra and Nerang. Mobile phone coverage is not reliable.
Children up to 7 years must be in an Australian Standard approved restraint. In Queensland, each child not properly restrained can mean a $1,295 fine and 4 demerit points.
Rental terms differ by company. Where an answer depends on your agreement, we say so.
Major rental companies have desks inside the terminal near the Domestic Arrivals Hall. Avis, Budget, Redspot, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt serve the airport; a few providers use off-airport depots with a shuttle.
Yes. Gold Coast Airport was known as Coolangatta Airport until 1989 and uses the code OOL. The entrance is in the suburb of Bilinga at the southern end of the Gold Coast.
Gold Coast Airport car hire options include Avis, Budget, Redspot, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt. Check your booking confirmation to see whether your company is on or off site.
The drive is about 45 minutes in the airport's FAQ and about an hour in its trip guide, and the guide promotes it as a day trip, suggesting an early start for the lighthouse walk and parking.
Babies up to 6 months need a rear-facing restraint, children 6 months to 4 years a rear or forward-facing restraint with a harness, and children 4 to under 7 a harnessed seat or booster. Ask your provider to fit a seat when you book.
It depends on the company. Budget's Australian terms give a minimum of 21, and drivers under 25 can only rent certain groups such as compact and intermediate cars and compact SUVs. Hertz rents to 21 to 24 year olds with a daily young renter surcharge. Check the terms for your brand.
Search live prices in Australian dollars, then check the pickup point and conditions on the offer.