Australia Zoo From Brisbane: Is the Transfer Ticket Worth It, or Should You Drive?
5 min read
Australia Zoo is not in Brisbane. It is at Beerwah on the Sunshine Coast, and the zoo itself gives the drive from Brisbane as about 60 minutes by the Bruce Highway. That one fact decides whether the transfer ticket is a good deal or an expensive habit.
What the transfer ticket covers
The Australia Zoo transfer and entry ticket costs €116.51 per person and carries 4.9 stars from 1,957 reviews. The booking page lists:
- pickup and drop-off at selected Brisbane city hotels
- travel in an air-conditioned vehicle
- the zoo entry ticket
The day is nine hours. Pickup runs from 7:30 to 8:00 am from four named hotels, and the page lists a stop at the back entrance of the Marriott on Queen Street, at the Pullman on Roma Street, at Royal on the Park and at Rydges South Bank. The Pullman stop is the front loading zone on Roma Street; the itinerary calls the same hotel Pullman Brisbane King George Square. The page gives about six hours inside the zoo, with the vehicle leaving at about 3 pm, or as the driver advises.
Food and drinks appear on the page after the inclusions, without a marker. Plan to buy lunch rather than assume it is paid for.
What the day leaves to you
You are not guided. The page describes the zoo visit as a self-guided tour at your own pace, with your driver advising how best to use the day. There is also a short stop at the wildlife hospital on the itinerary, listed as ten minutes.
The page promises live shows and points out the Wildlife Warriors show at 1 pm. The zoo’s own planning page lists the show at 1:15 pm, and shows change, so check the zoo’s timetable on the day. The zoo is open from 9 am to 5 pm, and closed on Christmas Day.
Transfer ticket, train or hire car?
| Way to go | What you gain | What you give up |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer ticket | Entry and the ride in one booking; pickup from a city hotel | A fixed 3 pm departure and a 7:30 start |
| Train to Beerwah | Car-free; the zoo’s own courtesy coach meets most trains | You buy zoo entry separately, and the train timetable sets your day |
| Hire car | Your own hours; stay until closing | You drive about an hour each way |
The zoo’s website says its coach meets most trains at Beerwah station, and gives a drive of about 60 minutes from Brisbane. For train times, check Translink.
A hire car makes sense if you want more than six hours, if you are travelling with several people, or if you want to add a stop on the way. You can compare hire cars for Brisbane before you decide. Zoo entry would then be bought from the zoo.
Who it suits, and who it doesn’t
The transfer ticket suits a first visit without a car, a group that does not want to work out trains, and anyone who values being collected at the hotel. It suits people who are happy with about six hours at the zoo.
It does not suit someone who wants to stay for the end of the day. With a 3 pm departure you will miss the last two hours of opening time, and with them the shows the zoo’s timetable lists at 3 pm and 3:30 pm. If you want a guided experience, there are other trips among the Brisbane wildlife tours, 18 of them from €38.84.
Practical details
The booking page recommends comfortable walking clothes and closed-toe shoes, insect repellent, sun protection and a camera or phone. It adds swimwear and a towel if the water park is open. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before.
If you would rather see koalas than a big zoo, the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary guide covers the closer option, which sits inside Brisbane itself.
