Meter starts at around A$3.00 for Yellow Cabs at BNE
Metered Yellow Cabs line up directly outside both the International and Domestic terminals at Brisbane Airport, with a clear taxi rank sign and staff often managing the queue. You pay the standard Queensland taxi meter rates, with a flagfall around A$3.00 plus distance and time, plus an airport fee that appears automatically on the meter.
A typical Yellow Cab ride from the International Terminal to Brisbane CBD takes about 20–30 minutes in light traffic and usually runs A$45–A$65, depending on time of day and congestion. Fares to South Bank sit roughly in the same range, and trips to Fortitude Valley often land a few dollars cheaper due to the shorter distance from the terminals.
Taxi ranks at the International Terminal sit on Level 2, kerbside, directly outside the arrivals area, with signs pointing to "Taxi" and "Rideshare" as you exit customs. At the Domestic Terminal, follow the ground transport signs to the taxi rank in front of the main forecourt between the Virgin Australia and Qantas check-in halls, usually a 2–4 minute walk from the baggage carousels.
Yellow Cabs accept payment by card, including major credit cards and Australian EFTPOS, as well as cash in Australian dollars, with card surcharges typically around 1–2%. You can ask the driver for an approximate cost to the CBD or your suburb before you leave the rank, and they can print a receipt at the end of the trip for expense claims.
Late-night arrivals after 22:00 still find Yellow Cabs at both terminals, though wait times can stretch to 10–20 minutes if several widebody flights land together. Early morning departures around 05:00–07:00 usually see a steady flow of taxis already in the rank, as many drivers target first-wave international and domestic flights.
For families, most Yellow Cabs are standard sedans, so three checked suitcases plus carry-ons usually fit; larger groups sometimes need a maxi-taxi, which costs more but can take 5–10 passengers. If your party has more than four people or more than three large bags, say "maxi" to the marshal at the rank so they slot you into the correct queue.
Practical tip: screenshot your hotel or street address, including postcode, before you land so you can show the driver quickly at the rank and avoid data issues on the forecourt.