When is the best time to fly to Brisbane?
Peak season
Brisbane’s peak tourist season is over the winter months of June through to August when warm temperatures and dry skies draw locals from southern Australia north to escape the cold. Accommodation and flights are often inflated and the city’s major sights can get crowded. September is another particularly busy (but exciting) time to visit when the month-long Brisbane Festival is held and accommodation can get booked out weeks in advance.
Off season
Brisbane’s off season coincides with the wet and humid months of December through to early March when temperatures can be unbearable and rain showers common. If you decide to visit during this period you will benefit from the best hotel deals and cheapest flights to Brisbane, provided you’re not coming over the Christmas/New Year period.
When is the best time to book a flight to Brisbane?
You’ll get the best flight deals throughout the year if you book as far in advance as possible, but the cheapest flights to Brisbane are generally found over the “wet” season when there are fewer other travellers. If you are coming for the Brisbane Festival or over the winter school holiday months then flights will be more expensive, but competition between airlines on some routes means that a few good deals are available for early birds. Remember that weekday flights tend to be cheaper than those on the weekend, particularly over extended public holiday weekends.
How long is the flight to Brisbane?
Flights from Auckland to Brisbane 3h 40 m
Flights from Christchurch to Brisbane 3h 50m
Flights from Wellington to Brisbane 3h 50m
Flights from Queenstown to Brisbane 3h 50m
Which airlines operate to Brisbane?
There are daily direct flights to Brisbane from Auckland with Virgin, Air New Zealand, Emirates, Qantas and China Airlines, with the latter 3 generally offering slightly cheaper fares.
Both Air New Zealand and Virgin operate flights to Brisbane daily from Christchurch, while Virgin also offers flights to Brisbane once daily from Wellington and twice weekly from Queenstown.
How to get from the airport to the city centre?
Brisbane’s airport is located 12 kilometres from the central business district and is separated into an international and domestic terminal which are linked by the Airtrain. If you have booked connecting flights then you will receive a free transfer between the terminals, otherwise you will need to purchase a ticket for the short journey.
The Brisbane Airtrain is the fastest option into the city centre (24 minutes) or the Gold Coast (90 minutes) with departures every 15 minutes during peak hours until around 10pm at night.
There are also airport bus transfers that will drop you directly at your hotel door, whether it is in Brisbane, the Gold Coast or the Sunshine Coast. They meet every flight arriving at the airport, 7 days a week, and tickets can be bought at the ConX-ion ticket counters within the terminal building.
Taxis are a more expensive, but faster option, than the bus, with taxi ranks located right outside both terminals. These taxis are metered, with the final price including an airport access fee, and are a safe and reliable means of transport.