Nambour to Brisbane train: Sunshine Coast Line timetable, fares & stops

Nambour to Brisbane train: Sunshine Coast Line timetable, fares & stops

The Nambour to Brisbane train supposedly connects the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane, but it doesn’t service the popular coastal towns. However, the Nambour to Brisbane train shows reasonably regular, fairly fast services.

The Nambour to Brisbane train is one you might take if heading back to the Queensland capital from the Sunshine Coast. But the fact the train goes from Nambour, rather than Noosa, Mooloolaba or Maroochydore, should be an indication that the Sunshine Coast is surprisingly poorly set up for rail travel.

Nambour to Brisbane train on the Sunshine Coast Line

The Sunshine Coast Line stretches from Nambour to Ipswich, south-east of Brisbane. It stops at several stations on the Sunshine Coast. Crucially, however, none of the stations on the Sunshine Coast line are actually on the coast. All are a good distance inland, and not exactly where most visitors want to be.

9 brilliant Brisbane experiences to book in advance

  • Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary tickets (or entry plus river cruise combo) – hold a koala and see lots of adorable native wildlife.
  • Brisbane River cruise – see the key sights and learn about the city on the way.
  • Story Bridge Adventure Climb – walk along the top of Brisbane’s famous bridge, with 360 degree views.
  • Combine the Southbank Parklands, City Botanic Gardens and Kangaroo Point Cliffs on a fun Segway tour.
  • Helicopter flight – see the city from a bird’s eye view.
  • Kayaking tour – choose the night tour to see the city light up, the day tour to enjoy the sunshine.
  • XXXX brewery tour – see how Australia’s most famous beer is made.
  • Guided wine flight tasting – get an Aussie wine introductory course.
  • See Brisbane’s spooky side on a city centre ghost tour.

Nambour lies roughly level with Mudjimba Beach. It’s 40km south-west of Noosa, and the Bruce Highway runs just to the west. To be honest, if you can drive it, you might as well.

Nambour to Brisbane train timetable

Nonetheless, the Nambour to Brisbane train is an option. Unlike many trains in Australia, the Nambour to Brisbane train timetable isn’t totally absurd. There are several trains per day, leaving roughly once every hour-and-a-half.

The Nambour to Brisbane train service is more frequent in the early mornings on weekdays. Then it leaves roughly every half hour.

12 fantastic Sunshine Coast experiences to book now

  1. Taste coffee and ginger, do rainforest walks, and visit the best lookouts on a highlight-packed hinterland tour.
  2. Take a serene Noosa Everglades cruise along the mirror-like waterways – or canoe through the Everglades.
  3. Learn to surf at a Sunshine Coast surf school – or try paddleboarding instead.
  4. Combine sight-seeing and thrills on a fast boat tour.
  5. Go e-mountain biking on the downhill trails of Tewantin National Park.
  6. Kayak with dolphins as part of a beach 4WD tour.
  7. Explore the Sunshine Coast from above on a seaplane flight.
  8. Take an indigenous cultural tour – with bush tucker tasting.
  9. Visit the region’s best craft breweries and distilleries on a drinks tasting tour.
  10. Go jetskiing through the gorgeous Pumicestone Passage.
  11. Taste wines, cheeses and chocolates on a hinterland food tour.
  12. Watch migrating humpbacks on a whale-watching cruise.

Sunshine Coast Line stops

The trains to Brisbane from Nambour pass through several stations on the way to Brisbane Central Station and Roma Street Station. Most services stop at Woombye, Palmwoods, Eudlo, Mooloolah, Landsborough, Beerwah and Glass House Mountains stations. They then continue on through Beerburrum, Elimbah, Caboolture, Morayfield, Burpengary and Narangba.

The last stations the Nambour to Brisbane train passes through are Dakalbin, Petrie, Northgate, Eagle Junction, Bowen Hills and Fortitude Valley.

6 supreme Brisbane day trips that will improve your holiday

How long does it take to get from Nambour to Brisbane?

Despite all the stops, the Sunshine Coast Line trains are reasonably quick. The Nambour to Brisbane train takes one hour and 50 minutes to reach Brisbane Central Station. This puts it just about within commuting distance for the more masochistically-minded. One way fares with the Go Card cost from $11.30.

Streets Beach on Southbank, Brisbane
It is free to swim at Streets Beach on Brisbane’s Southbank. Photo courtesy of Tourism and Events Queensland.

Things to do in Brisbane once there include drinking at the Newstead Brewery or Story Bridge Hotel, swimming at Streets Beach or doing the Manly to Wynnum Walk.