Let’s Go Explore Caravan and RV Expo at Brisbane Showgrounds, 29 October to 1 November 2026: Free Train With Your Ticket, Exhibition Station Loop Trains and Parking Costs (Brisbane, QLD)

With an online ticket to the Let’s Go Explore Caravan and RV Expo, you can travel free by Queensland Rail Citytrain to the Brisbane Showgrounds on the day you attend, and the Exhibition station loop trains run from Roma Street, Central and Fortitude Valley during the show. The organiser says parking at the showgrounds is extremely limited and Gregory Terrace is closed to traffic, so plan to arrive by train or use a park-and-shuttle option.

The expo runs from Thursday 29 October to Sunday 1 November 2026. This guide uses Translink’s event transport page and the organiser’s getting there and parking page, both checked on Friday 23 October 2026.

When is the expo open?

The organiser lists Thursday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm and Sunday from 9am to 4pm. Translink’s event page lists gates opening at 9:00am and closing at 5:00pm without separating Sunday. The organiser’s times are specific to each day, so use them for Sunday.

How does the free train work?

The organiser says your expo ticket includes free return train travel from any Queensland Rail Citytrain station to Brisbane Showgrounds, including Gympie, Rosewood, Varsity Lakes and all Brisbane stations. Translink says free travel applies with a pre-purchased event ticket or accreditation pass on all Queensland Rail Citytrain services, excluding Airtrain, and that it includes railbuses. It is only available on the day you are attending the event.

• Buy your tickets online and have them ready on your phone or as a print-out, because Queensland Rail staff may ask to see them before boarding.
• Include every child in your booking so each has their own ticket.
• The free travel excludes Airtrain services between the airport and Eagle Junction, buses and Gold Coast trams.

What are the Exhibition loop trains?

Translink says Exhibition station will be open for this event, with loop shuttle trains running throughout the day at regular intervals between Roma Street, Central, Fortitude Valley and Exhibition. The organiser says to connect with the loop train at Central, Roma Street or Fortitude Valley and travel directly to Exhibition station, inside the showgrounds. Access through Exhibition station is limited to event ticket holders only.

Day	Loop train times
Thursday and Friday	8:45am to 5:06pm
Saturday	8:47am to 5:00pm
Sunday	8:45am to 4:00pm

If you arrive before 9am, the organiser says to catch the train to Fortitude Valley and walk about 800 metres to the Alexandria Street entrance, because the loop train begins operating after the event opens.

Are the Ipswich and Springfield trains running?

Translink’s event page notes the weekend track closure on the Ipswich/Rosewood and Springfield lines on Saturday 31 October and Sunday 1 November, with timetabled railbuses replacing trains, and asks you to plan your travel. The closure notice gives the start as 11:30pm on Friday 30 October, so late trains on Friday night are also affected, while Translink’s event page names Saturday 31 October and Sunday 1 November. See our Ipswich, Rosewood and Springfield closures guide for the stations affected. Translink says free expo travel includes railbuses.

What if I come by bus?

The organiser says RBWH and Herston busway stations are close to the showgrounds, and Translink says RBWH station is about 300 metres away. From the Gold Coast, catch a bus to your nearest train station and board a Brisbane-bound train. From the Sunshine Coast, catch route 610, 612 or 631 to Nambour station, then a Brisbane-bound train. Bus and tram fares are paid separately.

Where can I park, and what does it cost?

Option	Details from the organiser
Pavilion Carpark	Enter via O’Connell Terrace, Bowen Hills, just past the fenced-off area. $21 per vehicle a day, or $36 for cars with trailers. Height clearance 4.0 metres. Pay by card on exit.
King Street Carpark	2.2-metre height clearance. 380 spaces, plus eight accessible spaces.
Ballymore Stadium, 6 Gould Road, Herston	$10 includes parking and a return shuttle to the showgrounds. The shuttle drops off and picks up on O’Connell Terrace.
Street parking	Limited, around Brookes Street, O’Connell Terrace and Hurworth Street. Check signs.

The organiser also lists alternative parking at the Wilson Herston Medical Precinct (325 Herston Rd), RBWH parking (43 Butterfield St) and the Valley Metro car park (52 Alfred St), and says parking is extremely limited.

What is on at the expo?

The organiser lists the newest caravans, motorhomes, campervans, camper and tent trailers and slide-ons, daily VANSafe weight and towing masterclasses, and the Creek to Coast Stage. Visitors can go in a daily draw to win $5,000 off a purchased RV, and one visitor wins a 14-day Queensland road trip. The organiser’s rules for parking at the event say no vehicle may display signage offering a recreational vehicle for sale while in the grounds. For event questions, the show office is on (07) 3862 1833, and Translink is on 13 12 30.

Sources

• Translink — Let’s Go Caravan & RV Expo, event transport (checked 23 October 2026)
• Caravanning Queensland — Getting there and parking
• Caravanning Queensland — Let’s Go Explore Caravan & RV Expo
• Translink — Weekend track closure, Ipswich/Rosewood and Springfield lines

Featured image: Exhibition railway station, Brisbane (photo: Kgbo / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)

OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Caravanning Queensland, Queensland Rail or Translink. Times, prices and services can change; check the official pages above before you travel.