The guide · 10
The basics
What's different, how to get around, and the road rules. Day-one reading.
First things first
Know before you go
Emergency? Dial 000
Police, fire and ambulance, free from any phone. On a mobile, 112 works too.
On the road
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Keep left
Drive on the left, and at roundabouts give way to traffic already on them. Speeds and distances are in kilometres.
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Road rules
Seatbelts in every seat, hands off your phone, 50 km/h in town and 100 on highways, and under 0.05 to drive. The details and fines are below.
Read the driving rules
At the beach
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Swim between the flags
Lifeguards patrol the stretch between the red and yellow flags. Always swim between them.
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Caught in a rip?
Stay calm and float, and raise an arm to signal for help. Don't swim against the current.
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Bluebottles
Stung? Rinse with seawater, then soak the sting in hot water. Skip the vinegar.
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Sun safe, all year
The UV index here hits 3 or above every day of the year. SPF 50+, a hat and sunglasses, even when it's cloudy.
Wildlife
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Snakes
Keep your distance and let them move on. If you're bitten, call 000 and keep still.
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Green ants
Their sting is painful. They live in lawns and gardens, so check before you sit down, and ice any sting.
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Kangaroos
Don't feed them, and back away if one comes close.
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Koalas on roads
Slow down at dawn and dusk. For injured wildlife, call Wildcare on 07 5527 2444, 24/7.
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Drop bears
They aren't real: just a local joke played on visitors.
Good to know
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NSW time
Queensland stays on AEST (UTC+10) all year. Over the border, NSW is an hour ahead until 4 April 2027.
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Water and tips
Tap water is safe to drink, so refill your bottle. Tipping isn't expected; leave a little extra only for great service.
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Fast food
The big global chains are here: KFC, Subway, Domino's, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, Krispy Kreme, Nando's and Carl's Jr. (at Hope Island). Two go by local names: Macca's is McDonald's, and Hungry Jack's is Burger King.
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Dust off your shoes
Gravel and prickles stick to your soles, so check your shoes before you go inside.
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Plugs are Type I
Australia uses 230 volts and Type I plugs with angled flat pins. Pack an adaptor.
Transport
Getting around
The coastal strip is easy on public transport. For the hinterland and day trips, you'll want a car.
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Tram and buses
The G:link tram runs along the coast from Helensvale to Burleigh Heads, through Southport, Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, every 7.5 minutes from 7am to 7pm, with buses filling the gaps. Every trip is a flat 50c: tap on and off with a contactless card, phone, watch or go card. Times and stops are at ridetheg.com.au.
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Train to Brisbane
Trains run from Varsity Lakes, Robina, Nerang and Helensvale to central Brisbane. The trip takes about 80 minutes from Varsity Lakes.
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Taxis and rideshare
Uber and DiDi both work across the coast, and Shebah is a women-only option. Pick-ups can take longer than in a big city, so book ahead for early calls.
For a taxi, call or use the app:
Both have booking apps. There are taxi ranks at the airport (southern end of the terminal) and at Pacific Fair's bus interchange.
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Driving and parking
[Hire car pickup, parking at base, and any paid parking zones to know about.]
Read the driving rules
On the road
Driving rules
Police enforce these strictly, and cameras catch a lot. Fines shown are Queensland's 2026–27 amounts.
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Seatbelts in every seat
Everyone in the car must wear a seatbelt, and children under 7 need an approved child seat. The driver is fined for any passenger under 16 who isn't buckled up. Roadside cameras check for seatbelts too.
Fine: $1,295 and 4 demerit points.
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Speed limits
It's 50 km/h in built-up areas unless signs say otherwise, and 100 km/h on most open roads and motorways. Most school zones drop to 40 km/h, 7–9am and 2–4pm on school days. Always follow the signs, including electronic ones.
Fines start at $345. Speed cameras, some in unmarked cars, operate across the state.
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Random breath tests
Police can stop any driver, at any time, for a breath test, and often test for drugs too. On a full licence, including an overseas one, you must be under 0.05. Learner, provisional and professional drivers must be at zero.
Refusing a test means an immediate licence suspension. Planning a drink? Take a taxi or rideshare.
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Hands off your phone
It's illegal to hold your phone, or rest it on your lap, while you drive, even when you're stopped at lights or in traffic. Hands-free is fine if the phone sits in a cradle fixed to the car, for calls and maps. Cameras across the state look for phones in drivers' hands.
Fine: $1,295 and 4 demerit points, the steepest phone fine in Australia, and double points for a second offence within a year.