Travel and Visa Information

American citizens

American citizens are required to have a valid U.S. passport to enter Australia. Americans must enter with an Australian visa or, if eligible, through Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). The ETA replaces a visa and allows a stay of up to three months and may be obtained for a small service fee. Airlines and many travel agents in the United States are also able to issue ETA’s. Please note that American citizens, who overstay their ETA or visa, even for short periods, may be subject to exclusion, detention, and removal. More information about the ETA, other visas, and entry requirements may be obtained from the Embassy of Australia at 1601 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036, telephone (202) 797-3000, or via the Australian Embassy. Visa enquires may be directed to the Australian Visa Information Service at 888-990-8888. Visit the Embassy of Australia for the most current visa information.

For more information visit  http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_954.html

Taxes and Customs

Australia has a 10% Goods and Services Tax (GST). Travellers may be eligible for a GST refund on departure.  Incoming visitors may bring in limited quantities of duty free products. Business travellers need permits for carrying commercial goods through Customs.  If you enter Australia with doctor’s prescriptions or medicines, get a permit.

Australian Customs enforces strict controls. Australia is the largest island in the world which is free of many diseases. Please declare animal and plant material, herbal medicines, food, eggs, seeds and wood. Coral, shell, reptile and whale products are banned. Restrictions may or do apply for currency, firearms and ammunition, heritage items and defence and strategic goods. Ask officers if you are not sure. The future health of Australia’s native animals, plants and primary industries depends on your honesty.

Getting to the Gold Coast 

Access to the Gold Coast is easy with two international airport gateways. Gold Coast Airport offers direct international flights from Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore via Australian Airlines, and from five ports in New Zealand via Jetstar, Freedom Air and Pacific Blue. Domestic connections are available from Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide, Cairns and Newcastle.

Brisbane’s international and domestic airports are within one hour’s drive north of Australia’s Gold Coast with international connections to 26 destinations worldwide using more than 30 airlines. There are extensive domestic connections to capital cities and regional networks. 

Gold Coast Airport and Brisbane Airport transfers include coach, door-to-door services, limousines, taxis, wheelchair-accessible taxis and maxi-taxis. Rental car companies are based at the airport. From Brisbane Airport, also catch the Airtrain (direct rail service to Gold Coast) or Airtrain Connect (train with limousine service).

AirtrainConnect is a premium service for getting passengers from the Brisbane Airport to the door of their Gold Coast destination. AirtrainConnect also serves passengers that need to travel from the Gold Coast to the Airport. The cost for an AirtrainConnect is the same regardless of where on the Gold Coast you are headed.

The AirtrainConnect service involves a train ride to a Gold Coast station, and then a chauffered transfer to your accommodation or place of business. When you arrive at the airport, you will be met and put on a train and told at which Gold Coast train station to hop off. When you arrive, your driver will be waiting with your name on a sign to drive you the rest of the way.  Tickets can be booked on-line simply and reliably.

This service is available to be booked 24 hours a day. If your arrival into Brisbane Airport is outside train operating hours (6:00am - 7:30pm), we can secure a coach transfer for you at the same rate as a normal AirtrainConnect. Bookings for the AirtrainConnect service that are outside of the hours need to be made at least 48 hours in advance. Bookings that start at the Gold Coast need to be made at least 6 hours in advance.

AirtrainConnect Fares