Car Hire Gold Coast Airport

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Discover the Gold Coast with car hire rental from DriveNow

Find all the best deals on Gold Coast Airport car rental with DriveNow
With 300 sunny days a year, as well as all the beautiful sand and surf to enjoy, the Gold Coast is undeniably one of Australia's top holiday destinations. The Gold Coast offers heaps of activities and sights for everyone no matter how long your stay will be. Whether you’re visiting by yourself, with family, or a bunch of friends, you’ll definitely find something to do and see during your time here. There are heaps of beaches with golden sands sloping into the Pacific Ocean, complete with waves that make for great surfing. Venture out into the lush gardens and parks filled with heaps of walking tracks, splendid Australian wildlife, and epic views of the ocean with its crashing waves; or make your way into beautiful valleys where glorious waterfalls lie hidden behind greenery. A road trip with car hire on the Gold Coast is an awesome Australian getaway that might just make you never want to leave. Road trips here are one of the best and most popular ways to experience the magnificent scenery and beautiful landscapes of this awesome city and its surrounding area, especially along the coast but also into the less explored hinterland. DriveNow's rental partners at Gold Coast Airport are conveniently located opposite the arrivals area making for easy access. Remember to book before you arrive so you can hop in your car hire right after you’ve collected your luggage. With all Gold Coast Airport rental cars parked on site, it’s simple to collect your rental car and start your great adventure. If you need any other information, a Visitors Info Desk is located opposite the rental counters. Whenever you travel, it’s handy to know some essential information about the airport you’re passing through, so that your time in the terminals can be well spent. Gold Coast's Airport is filled with a variety of retail, dining, and entertainment options to make your travel experience as smooth as silk.
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Why Use DriveNow for Car Hire at the Gold Coast Airport?

Kickstart your adventure with a great deal on car hire at the Gold Coast Airport this season and enjoy all the sunshine and remarkable sights of this southern Queensland city and coastline.

We offer cheap car rental by bringing together the best rates at Gold Coast Airport from Australia’s most trusted rental brands, including leading suppliers such as Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Alamo, and Thrifty. In just a few clicks, you can get ready to start your new adventure without all the hassle of losing many hours on comparing prices on various websites.

What DriveNow brings:

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DriveNow have been helping travellers find the best car rental deals at Gold Coast Airport since 2003. Your booking is always directly with the rental provider and we always guaranteed lowest rates, saving you time, effort and money.

An Introduction to Gold Coast Airport

Airport
Information

Address:
Eastern Avenue, Bilinga QLD 4225

Code: OOL

Telephone: +61 7 5589 1100

Location:
Gold Coast airport is located in Coolangatta, 30km south of the Gold Coast

No. of Terminals: 1

Timezone: GMT/UTC +10:00

Gold Coast Airport (OOL) in Coolangatta is the most common entry point for travellers arriving by air. With more than 700,000 passengers passing through each year, it has become Australia’s sixth busiest airport and the most active outside of a state capital. Gold Coast Airport can also lay claim to being the only airport in Australia to be located in two states: the runway straddles both Queensland and New South Wales.

But Gold Coast Airport wasn’t always the huge hub of activity that it is today. Its origins stretch back to 1936, when the location was setup as an emergency landing strip for flights between Sydney and Brisbane. In 1939 regular passenger flights to and from the Gold Coast began. After updates in the 1950s, the airport underwent another round of improvements in the 1980s that helped make it the aeronautical space it is today. However, there are even more improvements on the way. Project LIFT kicked off in 2016 with the goal of expanding the terminal and adding more parking.

Gold Coast Airport has just the one terminal so finding your way around is simple. The airport car hire service desks are all located opposite the arrivals area. Gold Coast rental cars are available for collection from the car-park across Terminal Drive. The airport’s operating hours are 4:30am until the last flight of the day, which is usually around 11pm.

Gold Coast Airport terminal map

Car hire in Gold Coast Airport – terminal map
Source: goldcoastairport.com.au

Once you’ve picked up your vehicle, exit onto the Pacific Motorway (M1). This freeway offers the most direct route to the Gold Coast, which lies around 30km north of the airport. The drive can take around 40 minutes or more depending on the traffic. Fortunately, traffic congestion in the Gold Coast is nothing compared to the other big cities on Australia’s east coast.

Having taken advantage of cheap car hire at Gold Coast Airport, you’ll have the flexibility of travelling whatever route takes your fancy and the freedom of following no one’s schedule but your own. The Gold Coast is best explored by car, with over 50 kilometres of beaches to discover, theme parks such as Warner Bros Movie World, Sea World, Dreamworld, White Water World, and Wet’n’Wild, plus some of the most scenic roads in the country threading the mountainous hinterland. The circuit which runs inland from Gold Coast to Coolangatta taking in Mount Tamborine, the Natural Bridge and the verdant Numinbah Valley, is the ultimate scenic day trip on one tank of petrol.

Gold Coast Airport Lounges

Lounges at Gold Coast Airport

Put your feet up and relax in one of the amazing lounges at the Gold Coast Airport
Source: Gold Coast Airport

Virgin Australia

If you’re looking to put up your feet and indulge a little before your flight, head to one of the lounges in the airport. The Virgin Australia Lounge is open to all Virgin Australia members, and is located near gates 1 and 2 at the domestic departure area. It’s an excellent place to rest, socialise, or do some work. There is free Wi-Fi, entertainment options, business services, and bathroom and shower facilities at the lounge. If you’re hungry, you can head to the delicious buffet spread available and designed by a leading Australian chef and restauranteur Luke Mangan. In addition, a fantastic selection of delicious coffee, premium Australian wines, and alcoholic beverages are available.

Qantas

The Qantas Club Lounge is located on the left once you pass security and offers you a delicious array of refreshments, a bar, meeting rooms, and shower facilities so you can be clean and fresh before your flight. Business services such as PCs and printers are also available at the Qantas lounge, so you can catch up on some emails if you need to. There’s also a space for children to play in at the Qantas Club Family Zone. It offers a range of children’s books, Apple iMacs, and Sony PlayStation to keep your children occupied and happy while you rest and relax. The Qantas Club is open to all Qantas Club and Partner members who are travelling on any Qantas or Jetstar flight.

Shopping at Gold Coast Airport

Aelia Duty Free

Shop for the best gifts at the Aelia Duty Free shop next time you’re in Gold Coast Airport
Source: Gold Coast Airport

Shopping at Gold Coast Airport is easy and fun with a huge selection of fashion, essentials, gifts, jewellery, Australian products, and accessories at the various shops throughout the terminal. Head to Sunglass Hut for some new cool shades, MAC for makeup and cosmetics, and Tech 2 Go for all your electronic needs to make sure your flight’s not a bore. You can also surprise your loved ones with a true Aussie gift from Out of Australia, which has Australian-made souvenirs that reflect the culture and people of this great country. And Aelia Duty Free can help you save money on an exciting and attractive range of products that may otherwise be priced much higher elsewhere. It’s located right across customs and quarantine desk so you won’t miss it.

From well-packaged chocolates to keyrings and authentic dried Australian meats, the Gold Coast Airport is filled with souvenirs for all ages. All shops are relatively close to each other, with a stretch of shops lining straight from the International Arrival Gate right through to Gate 4.

Food at Gold Coast Airport

Fast-food and bar options are available throughout Gold Coast Airport, with a variety of cuisines to suit every taste. Relax with a good cup of coffee, or a light meal from one of the many eating and drinking establishments to be found throughout the terminal. Here are a few restaurants to try while you’re at the airport.

Noodle Box

Taste delightful and quick Asian meals at Noodle Box before your flight!
Source: Gold Coast Airport

Noodle Box

If you’re looking for something light and easy, try Noodle Box located near Gate 4. There are the classic noodles which include hot & spicy, kway teow, Mongolian beef, and honey soy chicken just to name a few. As for rice, Nasi Goreng is a favourite Malaysian dish accompanied by char siu roast pork, bean sprouts, shrimp, and an egg. Another favourite is the dim sims, which are either steamed or fried and come filled with chicken and veggies and a side of sauce for dipping those delicious dumplings.

Velluto Espresso & Bar

Located right next to the check-in area and as well as at the International Departure Lounge, Velluto Espresso & Bar is an excellent place to have a drink or meal. They serve great coffee, food, beer, and wine, and they’re open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There’s an extensive menu of mouth-watering meals to satisfy your rumbling tummy, and there are light snacks on offer if you just need something that’s not too heavy. Velluto Espresso & Bar is convenient to get to and is a good place to unwind and fuel up before take-off.

Blackstone Bar & Lounge

Start your trip on a happy note with some of Blackstone’s selection of fresh food carefully prepared by their chefs to gratify any picky eater. Destress with delicious tapas and a full bar filled with a large collection of premium wines to. Other than wines, there are a few good choices of beer to quench your thirst while you wait for your meal. Or you can just have a seat and chill with an exceptionally good cup of coffee to get you going. The Blackstone Bar & Lounge is located at Gate 6, which is easy to spot with its large sign.