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How Far Can 50 Cents Take You on Brisbane Public Transport?
One flat fare, any distance. So how far can 50c really go?
10 July 2026 · 5 min read
Here is the quietly remarkable thing about Brisbane's 50 cent fare: it costs the same whether you hop one stop or cross the entire southeast of the state. There are no zones, no distance loading, no catch. So the fun question is, how far can 50 cents actually take you?
The answer is: surprisingly far. Here are the longest rides, the best value on the network, and the single place the 50c fare doesn't reach.
The same 50c, one stop or 200 kilometres
The South East Queensland train network stretches more than 200 kilometres end to end, from Gympie North at the top of the Sunshine Coast line down to Varsity Lakes on the Gold Coast line. Whether you travel a single station or that whole span, a journey is a flat 50 cents.
That is genuinely unusual. Most cities charge by distance or zones, so a long trip costs many times a short one. In Brisbane, distance is free. Once you realise that, the smart move is to stop optimising for cost and start optimising for the nicest way there, which is the whole idea behind our journey planner.
The longest 50c rides
If you want to get the most kilometres for your 50 cents, the two big lines out of the city are the champions. All the ride times below come from our own timetable data, and every one is a single 50 cent fare.
- Sunshine Coast line: nearly two hours into the city from Nambour, and further still from Gympie North at the far end, all for 50c.
- Gold Coast line: around 85 minutes and roughly 80 kilometres from Varsity Lakes to central Brisbane, for 50c.
- Cleveland, Beenleigh, Caboolture and Ipswich lines: an hour or so each from their outer ends, for 50c.
- By water: a CityCat the length of the Brisbane River, top to bottom, is still 50c and arguably the best-value sightseeing in the city.
The value: fractions of a cent per kilometre
Ride the Sunshine Coast line the better part of 150 kilometres into town and your 50 cents works out to well under a cent per kilometre. It is, comfortably, the cheapest public transport in the country, and it makes a spontaneous day trip to the coast or the bay islands cost less than a chocolate bar each way.
It also means a change of trains costs you nothing extra: a journey, including transfers made within the journey window, is a single 50c fare, so you can string legs together and keep going.
The one place 50c doesn't reach: the Airtrain
There is exactly one exception. The Airtrain to Brisbane Airport is run by a private operator and charges its own, much higher fare, around $23 one way, so it sits outside the 50c network. Everything else, trains, buses, ferries and the G:link tram, is the flat 50 cents. Our guide to where the 50c fare doesn't apply has the full detail.
Make the most of it
When distance is free, the network becomes a cheap day out rather than just a commute. Take the long scenic line for the ride, catch a CityCat instead of the direct bus, or go and see the Ekka from the far side of the region for 50c. Check live departures and just go.
Want the whole menu? The SEQ Explorer map plots every koala sanctuary, theme park, island and beach you can reach on the flat fare, with the exact route for each.
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Plan your trip →Common questions
Is every Brisbane trip 50 cents regardless of distance?
Yes, on the standard TransLink network. A journey is a flat 50 cents whether you travel one stop or the full 200-plus kilometres from the Sunshine Coast to the Gold Coast. The only exception is the Airtrain to Brisbane Airport, which is a separate, higher fare.
What's the longest trip you can take for 50 cents?
The Sunshine Coast line is the big one: nearly two hours into the city from Nambour and further still from Gympie North at the far end, all for a single 50 cent fare. The Gold Coast line from Varsity Lakes is about 85 minutes and 80 kilometres, also 50c.
Does the 50c fare include transfers?
Yes. A journey that includes transfers made within the journey window counts as a single 50 cent fare, so changing from a train to a bus or another line doesn't cost extra. Just tap on and off each leg as normal.
Where doesn't the 50c fare apply?
Only the Airtrain to Brisbane Airport, which is privately run and charges around $23 one way. Every other train, bus, ferry and the G:link tram is the flat 50 cents.