Whether you have a layover, overnight sleepover or you are just quickly passing through, our Gold Coast Airport Guide is a great place to start planning your visit. Here, you’ll find information on services and facilities available inside the airport – including details about airport lounges, WiFi, mobile charging points, lockers, 24-hour food options, nearby hotels, and everything in between.
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Don’t even try, it is not worth loosing a night hoping that you will manage to stay in.
– Martin
OOL Airport Overview
To help you plan your layover or overnight sleepover, here is a quick run-down about what to expect during your time at Gold Coast Airport.
What to Expect
The Gold Coast Airport (Code: OOL) is a haven of convenience, with its modest and relaxed single terminal. It offers a diverse range of shopping and dining options, along with amenities like luggage storage, massage chairs, duty-free shops, and free WiFi, all designed to make your time here as comfortable as possible. For those seeking an even more luxurious airport experience, the airport’s airline lounges are a perfect retreat.
Sleeping in Gold Coast Airport
As the airport closes at night, sleeping is not permitted inside the terminal nor on airport property after 11:00 PM. There are hotels near the airport, some of which provide free airport shuttles! See our Airport Hotels section below for more info.
Read the latest traveller airport reviews for more tips. For more airport information, continue scrolling down to explore more in our Gold Coast Airport Guide.
To help us keep this guide up-to-date, you can add or update information or write a review to submit airport tips and photos.
In this guide we may refer to locations as “landside” and “airside”. Landside is the public area of the terminal located in the non-secure zone, before security. Airside is the secure area of the terminal that you must reach by going through security.
Airport Hours
The terminal is open daily from 4:30 AM until the last scheduled flight has cleared. Overnight stays are not permitted on airport property, and the airport terminal is locked down for security reasons from 11:00 PM to 4:30 AM.
Airport Sleeper Policy
The airport is open from 4:30 AM – 11:00 PM. Overnight stays are not permitted on airport property, and the airport terminal is locked down for security reasons from 11:00 PM – 4:30 AM.
Rest & Relaxation Zones
There are no dedicated sleeping areas, quiet areas or rest zones. If this information has changed, click here to update this guide.
Cots
The airport does not provide cots to stranded travellers. If this has changed, click here to update the guide.
Airport Hotels
If sleeping in the airport sounds like a nightmare, there are hotels near Gold Coast Airport:
- Rydges Gold Coast Airport – Located directly adjacent to the terminal (about a 1-minute walk from Domestic and a few minutes from International). » Check Rates
- La Costa Motel – Free airport shuttle is available upon request. » Check Rates
- Gold Coast Airport Motel – Located 300m from the terminal. No airport shuttle. The hotel says a taxi is approx. $10. » Check Rates
For more options, visit Tripadvisor to see a list of hotels near Gold Coast Airport that can be sorted by price, distance, traveller rating and popularity.
Airport Lounges
Pay-per-use, Single Visit Passes & Lounge Memberships
Regardless of what class of service you are flying, there are lounges that you can enter by paying at the door or through a lounge membership program (i.e. Qantas Club or Virgin Australia).
- Qantas Club – Location: Airside, just to the left after security screening. Hours: Opens approximately 1 hour before each Qantas flight until departure (based on flight schedules). Showers: No. Dedicated Rest Zone: No. Sleep Facilities: No. Lounge Access: Qantas Club members, Qantas Frequent Flyer Platinum One/Platinum/Gold, oneworld Sapphire/Emerald, Business/First Class on Qantas or oneworld flights, single-entry pass, complimentary invitation. Qantas/Jetstar/oneworld flight.
- Virgin Australia Lounge –Location: Airside, opposite Gate 18. Hours: Opens 60 minutes before the first departure until the last boarding call (based on flight schedules). Showers: Yes. Dedicated Rest Zone: No. Sleep Facilities: No. Lounge Access: Pay at the Door with proof of Virgin Australia Airlines ticket • Lounge membership programs.
Drinking Water
Filtered drinking water fountains are reportedly located near restrooms in the airside area.
Food & Drinks
Food outlets operate on varying schedules. There are no 24-hour dining options.
Options include: Hungry Jack’s • Krispy Kreme • Red Rooster • Roll’d • Aromas • Blackstone Bar & Lounge • Coffee and Co. • Liv-Eat • NRG Express • The Coast Café & Bar • Zoom
Luggage Storage & Lockers
Self-service lockers are available for short-term storage. Rates per 24 hours (AUD): $10 (small) • $12 (medium) • $14 (large).
Location: Opposite the car rental area along the central walkway from the main car park. Hours: available 24 hours according to the SmarteCarte website. Oversize Baggage storage is offered from 6:00AM – 6:00PM. Rates from AUD $20.
Mobile Charging
Power outlets and USB ports have been reported in the following areas:
- Domestic arrivals (across from Hertz)
- Airside near Gates 12 and between Gates 14–15
- Inside Hungry Jack’s
- Inside Paradox Café
Showers
Showers are available in the Virgin Australia Lounge. See Airport Lounges.
WiFi / Internet
Free WiFi is available at Gold Coast Airport. Paid internet kiosks are also available.
Security & Safety
Sleeping in any airport can include a certain level of risk, especially when travelling alone. It’s important to take certain precautions to ensure your safety and the security of your valuables. Here are a few tips:
- Safety First. It’s a good idea to know where the security office is located and look for video cameras where you plan to sleep. You can also ask the security personnel for advice on the safest places to spend the night.
- Don’t Seclude Yourself. If you’re travelling alone, we recommend you stay near other travellers or close to security. This will help you feel more secure and deter potential thieves.
- Hide Your Valuables. It’s also important to hide your valuables. Don’t leave them out in plain view, as this could make you a target for theft. Additionally, if you are a deep sleeper, you may want to padlock your bag to something or sleep with your bag up against a wall to make it harder for someone to access zippers and pockets. We have received reports of sleepers who woke up without their phones and laptop bags. The travellers were left with just their headphones and laptop bag strap.
- Stay Alert. It’s best to stay alert and awake if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable. Drink coffee or other caffeinated beverages to help you stay awake, and remember that you can always catch up on sleep during your flight. These simple precautions can help you enjoy a safe night at the airport.
More Airport Information
ATMs / Cash Machines – ATMs operated by Travelex are available throughout the terminal. Some machines dispense foreign currency, including New Zealand Dollars, Australian Dollars, and Japanese Yen. Fees may apply. Check with your bank regarding international withdrawal fees and limits before travelling. Locations: Landside and Airside.
Baby Care Facilities – Parents Rooms are available throughout the terminal. A limited number of complimentary strollers may be available at check-in counters, subject to availability.
Baggage Services – A SmarteCarte Baggage Services kiosk offers luggage wrapping and weighing, travel essentials for sale, and limited travel-related services. Location: Near check-in.
Currency Exchange – Travelex operates foreign exchange kiosks in International Arrivals (Landside) and the Departures Lounge (Airside). Select Travelex ATMs also dispense NZD, AUD, and Japanese Yen. Hours generally align with scheduled international arrivals and departures.
Duty-Free & Shopping – Duty-free shopping is available for eligible international passengers. A selection of retail shops is also available throughout the terminal.
Entertainment – Coffee and Co. has reportedly hosted occasional live music performances. Schedules vary and performances are not guaranteed.
Information Desk – The Gold Coast Tourist Centre can assist with local travel information and bookings. Location: Opposite the car rental counters.
Luggage Wrapping – Available through SmarteCarte Baggage Services (see “Baggage Services” above).
Massage Chairs – Paid massage chairs are located in various seating areas throughout the terminal.
Pharmacy – A pharmacy is located Airside in Domestic Departures.
SIM Cards – A reader tells us you can purchase Telsim cards from the newsagency at the baggage collection. (January 2023)
Bus
TransLink bus line 760 runs every 30 minutes and links the airport to Varsity Lakes train station, where frequent train service is available to/from Brisbane. TransLink bus line 777 runs daily, every 15 minutes from 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM, to Broadbeach South tram station, where connections can be made to other bus lines or G: trams for Surfers Paradise and Southport. Try a Go Card or Go Explore integrated travel cards for discounted and convenient travel on public transportation.
Car Rentals
The following car rental agencies are available on-site: Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Redspot and Thrifty.
Hotel Shuttles
At the time of this update, we found only one hotel offering an airport shuttle service: La Costa Motel.
See also Airport Hotels above.
Shuttles
SkyBus Gold Coast Airport Shuttle connects OOL airport to the Gold Coast’s most popular tourist locations. The service is available for all flights, seven days a week. For more information, visit the SkyBus website.
Taxi
A taxi rank is located outside at the southern end of the terminal.
Train
Frequent trains run from Brisbane Central to Varsity Lakes Station with a connection to Surfside Bus 760, which stops at Gold Coast Airport. For more information, visit the Translink website.
Last updated: 2026-02-24
This guide is for informational purposes only to assist with your planning. All information, including rates and hours, is subject to change at any time without notice. The information in this airport guide is based on information collected and/or received from the airports, lounges, hotels, transportation providers, and their websites. We are not representatives of any of the above-mentioned service providers. To report errors or to add/update any items mentioned in the guide: update the airport guide or write a review.