The Gold Coast tram now runs to Burleigh Heads
Live tram times · updates automatically
From GoThere Brisbane, the free live journey planner for South East Queensland.
The G:link no longer stops at Broadbeach. Eight new stations carry it down the coast through Mermaid Beach, Nobby Beach and Miami to Burleigh Heads, which means the beach most locals actually pick is now turn-up-and-go from anywhere on the light rail. Here is what is running, how long it takes, and the honest answer on whether it changes the trip from Brisbane.
The eight new stations
South of Broadbeach South, in order. Each has its own live departures page.
How long it takes
17 min
Broadbeach South to Burleigh Heads
Nine stops, straight down the coast
about 1 hr
Helensvale to Burleigh Heads
The full length of the line, 32 stops, no changes
Live departures · Burleigh Heads
The next trams actually leaving the new southern terminus.
Loading live departures…
Coming from Brisbane? Read this bit
The extension does not make Burleigh Heads faster from Brisbane, whatever else you read. Put the trip into the planner and the quickest option is still the Gold Coast line train through to Varsity Lakes and a short bus, about two hours twenty door to door. Changing to the tram at Helensvale and riding it the whole way takes closer to two and a half hours.
What the tram gives you instead is a trip with one change and no bus, running every few minutes so there is nothing to miss, and a set-down in the middle of Burleigh rather than beside the highway. On a Sunday with a bag and a surfboard that is usually worth the extra ten minutes. If you are chasing the fastest arrival, take the train to Varsity Lakes.
Either way it is a flat 50 cents, and our full Burleigh Heads guide covers what to do once you are there.
Tram to Burleigh questions
Does the Gold Coast tram go to Burleigh Heads?+
Yes. The G:link runs the full length from Helensvale through Southport, Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach and on to Burleigh Heads. South of Broadbeach South there are eight new stations: Mermaid Beach, Mermaid Beach South, Nobby Beach, Miami North, Miami, Christine Avenue, Second Avenue and Burleigh Heads.
How long does the tram take from Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads?+
About 17 minutes end to end, nine stops. From Helensvale, the northern end of the line, the full run to Burleigh Heads is around an hour.
Is the tram now the fastest way to Burleigh Heads from Brisbane?+
No, and this is where most coverage gets it wrong. The quickest trip from Central is still the Gold Coast line train through to Varsity Lakes and a short bus, about two hours and twenty minutes door to door. Changing to the tram at Helensvale and riding it down takes a little longer, around two and a half hours. The tram's advantage is that it is one change with no bus, runs constantly, and drops you in the middle of Burleigh rather than on a highway.
How much does the tram to Burleigh Heads cost?+
Fifty cents, like everything else on the Translink network. Tap on and off with a go card or a contactless card. The same 50c covers the train from Brisbane and the tram connection, as long as you keep tapping within the transfer window.
What time does the tram to Burleigh Heads start and finish?+
The first trams reach the new southern stations from around 4:35am and the last run through until around 12:45am, with trams running later into the early hours on Friday and Saturday nights. Check the live board above for the stop you want, because it shows the actual next departures rather than a printed timetable.
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