Getting around Toowoomba
Just 90 minutes west of Brisbane and easy to explore once you arrive. Here's everything you need to move around the Garden City.
Getting here
Toowoomba sits about 125km west of Brisbane — roughly a 1.5–2 hour drive up the Great Dividing Range via the Warrego Highway. The Toowoomba Bypass (Second Range Crossing) lets you skirt the CBD and the steep old range road. Daily coaches run from Brisbane and Brisbane Airport with operators including Greyhound, Murrays and Bus Queensland (around 1h 45m). By air, Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport (WTB) is about 15–20km west of the city, with services to destinations such as Sydney and western Queensland — always check current airline schedules, as routes change seasonally.
Local buses
Toowoomba's urban bus network is run by Bus Queensland on behalf of TransLink. Under the Queensland 50-cent fare initiative, standard journeys are a flat 50c per trip — a genuine bargain. Note: the Go Card and real-time tracking used in Brisbane are NOT yet available here, so pay with cash/paper tickets on board or use Bus Queensland's own reloadable smartcard. There's also an On Demand bus service (roughly 7:30am–5:45pm weekdays and Saturday mornings). For current routes and timetables, check the TransLink website or call 13 12 30 — the network was recently redesigned, so don't rely on old route numbers.
Taxis & rideshare
Taxis operate across Toowoomba and can be booked by phone or app. Uber and rideshare also operate here, including pickups at Wellcamp Airport, though supply can be thinner late at night than in a capital city — allow extra time after events.
Parking
The CBD has a mix of free time-limited street parking and metered bays, plus large car parks at Grand Central Shopping Centre. Parking is generally easy and inexpensive by big-city standards — just watch the posted time limits on street bays around the Ruthven and Margaret Street core.
Accessibility
TransLink/Bus Queensland services use accessible low-floor buses, and the On Demand service can help those who find fixed routes difficult — confirm specific vehicle accessibility with the operator when planning. The CBD is relatively flat and walkable through the Ruthven Street core, though some laneways and older venues may have steps, so check ahead for step-free access.