Staying in Brisbane, cheaper to train or drive to Dreamworld?

[casanovawa]

Just looking for a bit of advice, I'm planning to visit Dreamworld with my son in January, all the prices for decent hotels on the GC look pretty expensive so might stay in Brisbane instead...

Saw there was a train line that you can catch down to Dreamworld etc, but then the thought occurred about maybe hiring a car for the 4 days or so we're over there...

Are there many toll roads on the drive down to Dreamworld (or other things i need to take into consideration) and with a rough guess do you think it would just come out cheaper and much simpler to catch the train down and back??

 

[puppysparkes]

I'd hire a car for the convenience and overall cost. There are no tolls down to dreamworld from the cbd. There are a few to and from the airport but easily avoided.

Using the go card on the train to the coast costs, adult fare: $9.74 one way. Total travel time
1 hr 15 mins | total walk 108m | 1 transfer

 

[casanovawa]

Hmmm, ok are those go cards easy to get out of interest??

 

[BillytheFIsh]

If you have a use for the car for the other 3 days (i.e. you plan on going places that aren't in or adjacent to the CBD), then I'd probably hire a car for the trip.

If Dreamworld would be your only use for the car, then just get the train on that day. You do need to get a bus from Coomera station to Dreamworld though (or walk about 1500 m - not an ideal start to the day in January).

Hmmm, ok are those go cards easy to get out of interest??

Yep - most train stations and 7-11s have them:

Where to buy and top up | translink.com.au

 

[Bundy Bear]

In January; hire a car; the heat and the humidity will be annoying for someone from Perth.

Dreamworld is sort of on a train line but not that close.

Also hiring a car will save the train cost in actually leaving the airport.

You can do so much more with a car, the only catch is depending on where you are staying, so you aren't paying a fortune in car parking.

 

[markis10]

In January; hire a car; the heat and the humidity will be annoying for someone from Perth.

Dreamworld is sort of on a train line but not that close.

Also hiring a car will save the train cost in actually leaving the airport.

You can do so much more with a car, the only catch is depending on where you are staying, so you aren't paying a fortune in car parking.

The saving in train costs will be quickly eaten up by the location surcharge and possibly parking costs at the hotel.

 

[JohnK]

I would hire a car. Then you are not limited to the places you can visit and you can come and go at your leisure. If you don't think you need a car for the whole 4 days then you can hire a car from the city and save on airport location charges. You can also return car to airport and no need to pay one way fee.

Go card is easy enough to get from train stations or newsagents.

 

[markis10]

. You can also return car to airport and no need to pay one way fee.

Go card is easy enough to get from train stations or newsagents.

Some companies charge a fee for downtown to airport dropoff, ie Hertz.

 

[JohnK]

Some companies charge a fee for downtown to airport dropoff, ie Hertz.

Do they?

Avis didn't charge me 3 weeks ago. I thought I saw Hertz the same.

 

[boomy]

Do they?

Avis didn't charge me 3 weeks ago. I thought I saw Hertz the same.

Hertz didn't use to charge or at least they used to wave it most of the times but recently they became very strict at enforcing the $25 relocation fee (in BNE at least).

 

[VMC73]

The majority of CBD hotels do charge parking. I live in Brisbane and love it but as a tourist I would most definitely spend the extra $$ and stay on the Gold Coast, especially that time of year it will be uncomfortably hot up here.

Try wotif/last minute etc you can usually always find a pretty good deal on hotels on the Goldy.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Just looking for a bit of advice, I'm planning to visit Dreamworld with my son in January, Saw there was a train line that you can catch down to Dreamworld etc, but then the thought occurred about maybe hiring a car for the 4 days or so we're over there...

Are there many toll roads on the drive down to Dreamworld (or other things i need to take into consideration) and with a rough guess do you think it would just come out cheaper and much simpler to catch the train down and back??

Dreamworld is a one day destination. What else you are planning/doing will determine the car necessity. Train/bus and Go Card is the cheapest option for just 2 of you if you only look at airport/hotel/dreamword/hotel/airport, but everyone is assuming you'd stay at a Brisbane CBD hotel. There are stacks of non-CBD hotel/motel style rooms where parking is free, rates are reasonable but sometimes public transport is not so handy in which case a car would make sense.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Hertz didn't use to charge or at least they used to wave it most of the times but recently they became very strict at enforcing the $25 relocation fee (in BNE at least).

Hertz BNE are a strange outfit altogether.

 

[Mumfreqflyer]

Hire a car it would be like someone asking you if they should catch the train to Adventure world here in Perth!!!

It's an easy drive too.

My favourite place to stay when in Brisbane is oaks Mon Komo in Redcliffe.

Personally I think it's easy to get everywhere from there, also a drive up to Australia Zoo, Sunshine Coast, down to the theme parks and it seems to be a family friendly area. Also has a great pool and also the public water at ground opposite it as well. The rooms are large and parking very easy underneath.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Translink has a Go Explore card as well. May be of some use since you're here for 4 days.

Don't discount Brisbane as a short holiday destination either. 4 Days is not long to experience SEQ but WotIf has a range of accommodation options for January in and around South Bank. The beauty of the South Bank area is the precinct has two train stations (both are on the Airport to Gold Coast line), it's an easy walk to Queen St mall and it has a host of activities itself, like the beach pool, the Gallery of Modern Art and the Qld Museum (usually something at both for kids during the holidays) and is an easy public transport commute to GC attractions.

 

[mjgriffo]

Be aware that (at least) Thrifty are currently only operating from their airport office, due to their city office being damaged by the storm.

 

[markis10]

Be aware that (at least) Thrifty are currently only operating from their airport office, due to their city office being damaged by the storm.

Thats their city/fortitude valley outlet, Ascot and other suburban branches are fine and have a nil premium location surcharge. Unlike Hertz, fortunately Thrifty only ping airport offices for the premium charge

Adelaide Airport 10.25% on all rental charges
Alice Springs Airport 12.21% on time and kilometre charges only
Avalon Airport 11.5% on all charges, except fuel costs
Ayers Rock Airport & City 17.5% on time and kilometre charges only
Ballina Airport 7% on all rental charges with the exception of fuels costs
Brisbane Airport 11.5% on all rental charges with the exception of fuels costs
Broome Airport 10 % on time and kilometre charges only
Bundaberg Airport 10% on all rental charges.
Burnie Airport Not applicable
Cairns Airport 11.5% on all rental charges
Canberra Airport 16% on time and kilometre charges only
Coffs Harbour Airport 8% on all rental charges with the exception of fuels costs
Coolangatta Airport 13.5% on all rental charges
Darwin Airport 12.21% on time and kilometre charges only
Devonport Airport Not applicable
Emerald Airport 10% on all rental charges.
Gladstone Airport 10% on all rental charges.
Grafton Airport 10% on all rental charges with the exception of fuels costs
Hervey Bay Airport 10% on all rental charges.
Hobart Airport 10.5% on all rental charges
Kalgoorlie Airport 11.5% on time and kilometre charges
Karratha Airport 8.5% on time and kilometre charges only
Launceston Airport 9% on all rental charges with the exception of fuel costs
Lismore Airport 7% on all rental charges with the exception of fuels costs
Mackay Airport 15% on all rental charges
Maroochydore Airport 12.0% on all charges with the exception of fuel costs
Melbourne Airport 15% on all charges, except fuel costs and road tolls
Newcastle / Williamtown Apt 16% on all rental charges
Orange Airport 11% on all rental charges
Perth Airport 12.5% on all rental charges
Port Headland Airport 8.5% on time and kilometre charges
Port Macquarie Airport 8% on all rental charges with the exception of fuels costs
Rockhampton Airport 10% on time and kilometre charges only
Sydney Airport 18% on all rental charges with the exception of fuels costs
Taree Airport 10% on all rental charges with the exception of fuels costs
Tennant creek Airport 11.5% on time and kilometre charges only
Townsville Airport 13% on all rental charges
Weipa Airport 8.5% on all rental charges