How do you get to Cairns?
Getting There9.7/10Among the 5% easiest cities to reach
- Main airport
- Cairns International Airport (CNS)
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: cairnsairport.com.au, flightconnections.com
Good to know
Good to Know
- Cairns Airport is only 7 km from the city center, making transfers quick and straightforward
- Public bus (Sunbus Route 110) at AUD 5 is the cheapest airport transfer option if you're on a tight budget
- Rideshare and taxis are competitively priced (AUD 20-30) and offer convenience
- Major car rental companies are on-site; booking in advance secures better rates during peak dry season (May-October)
- Great Barrier Reef day trips depart from the Reef Fleet Terminal in central Cairns; ferries to Green Island and Fitzroy Island run multiple times daily
- Kuranda Scenic Railway is a popular day trip; combining it with the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway for the return journey creates a memorable rainforest experience
- Port Douglas (1 hour north) and Daintree Rainforest (1.5-2 hours north) are accessible by car but public transport is limited for these regions
- The Spirit of Queensland train operates 5 days per week to Brisbane (24-hour journey)
- Road travel north to Port Douglas and Daintree features the scenic Captain Cook Highway with ocean views; take time for lookout stops
- Multiple shuttle operators serve the airport; pre-booking online typically offers better rates than booking on arrival
Nearby Towns
Kuranda
- Distance
- 30-40 km
- Highlights
- Mountain village, rainforest, markets, galleries, cafes, Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, wildlife parks
- Travel Time
- 40 minutes by car or scenic railway
Palm Cove
- Distance
- 25 km north
- Highlights
- Beachside resort town, shops, restaurants, spas, water sports
- Travel Time
- 30 minutes by car
Port Douglas
- Distance
- 70 km north
- Highlights
- Upscale beach town, shops, cafes, Four Mile Beach, gateway to Daintree Rainforest
- Travel Time
- 1+ hours by car
Atherton Tablelands
- Distance
- South of Cairns
- Highlights
- Rainforest, waterfalls (Milla Milla Falls), lakes, wildlife, wineries, farming regions
- Travel Time
- 1-2 hours by car
Daintree Rainforest
- Distance
- 100 km north
- Highlights
- Ancient rainforest, river cruises, wildlife, one of oldest rainforests in world
- Travel Time
- 1.5-2 hours by car
Cape Tribulation
- Distance
- 140+ km north
- Highlights
- Where rainforest meets reef, diving, snorkeling, hiking, adventure activities
- Travel Time
- 3 hours by car + ferry
Mission Beach
- Distance
- 140 km south
- Highlights
- Beachside village, rainforest walks, wildlife, beaches
- Travel Time
- 2 hours by car
Paronella Park
- Distance
- 120 km south
- Highlights
- Historic European-style castle ruin built around waterfall and pond, gardens, tours
- Travel Time
- 1.5 hours by car
Nearby Islands
Green Island National Park
- Access
- Ferry from Reef Fleet Terminal
- Highlights
- Coral cay, snorkeling, glass-bottom boat tours, eco walks, rainforest
- Travel Time
- 45 minutes
Fitzroy Island
- Access
- Ferry from Reef Fleet Terminal
- Highlights
- Nudey Beach, snorkeling, walking trails, restaurants and bars
- Travel Time
- 45 minutes
Natural Attractions
Great Barrier Reef
- Access
- Boat tours from Reef Fleet Terminal and various operators
- Highlights
- UNESCO site, snorkeling, diving, reef platforms, glass-bottom boats
Crystal Cascades
- Distance
- 20 km from city center
- Highlights
- Rainforest waterfalls, swimming pools, walking trails
- Travel Time
- 20 minutes by car
Babinda Boulders
- Distance
- 60 km south
- Highlights
- Crystal-clear pool in rainforest, swimming and relaxation
- Travel Time
- 1 hour by car
Rail Connections
Spirit of Queensland
- Route
- Cairns to Brisbane and return
- Booking
- Queensland Rail website
- Details
- Modern passenger train service between Cairns and Brisbane. Does not provide sleeping accommodation. Connects to Hervey Bay and Airlie Beach via RailBus Coach connections.
- Frequency
- 5 times per week (departures Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday mornings)
- Journey Duration
- 24 hours
Kuranda Scenic Railway
- Route
- Cairns to Kuranda
- Booking
- Station booking office
- Details
- Historic tourist railway through lush rainforest, waterfalls, and rugged mountains. Popular day trip destination from Cairns.
- Frequency
- Regular service
- Journey Duration
- Scenic journey through rainforest
Savannahlander
- Route
- Cairns to Forsayth
- Booking
- Queensland Rail
- Details
- Tourist train journey through the Tablelands system. Operates from Cairns railway station.
- Frequency
- Tourist service
- Journey Duration
- Full day journey
Ferry Connections
Green Island
- Details
- Ferry to coral cay in Great Barrier Reef. Multiple daily departures from Reef Fleet Terminal.
- Purpose
- Reef and rainforest day trip with snorkeling and diving
- Travel Time
- 45 minutes
Fitzroy Island
- Details
- Ferry from Reef Fleet Terminal to island with fringing reef and rainforest.
- Purpose
- Day trip with snorkeling, walking trails, and beach activities
- Travel Time
- 45 minutes
Airport Ground Transport
Approximately 12 Minutes
- How to get there
- Taxi
- Details
- 7 km journey. Taxis queue at both terminals. Government-regulated Cairns Taxis is the main operator. Ground access charge applies.
- Fare To City Center
- A$30
Approximately 12-15 Minutes Depending on Traffic
- How to get there
- Rideshare (Uber/Didi)
- Details
- Available from designated pickup zones. App-based booking, cashless payment options. Often comparable to taxis.
- Fare To City Center
- A$22
Longer Journey Time with Multiple Stops
- How to get there
- Public Bus (Sunbus Route 110)
- Details
- Operates regularly from airport to city center. Cash payment to driver. Runs from early morning until late night. Most budget-friendly option.
- Fare To City Center
- A$5.00
Varies Depending on Number of Stops
- How to get there
- Shared Shuttle Service
- Details
- Exemplar Coach and Coral Sea Coaches operate shuttle services. Good value for solo travelers. Pre-booking online recommended. Multiple hotel stops add travel time.
- Fare To City Center
- A$15
N/A
- Daily Rate
- A$56
- How to get there
- Car Rental
- Details
- Major providers: Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, SIXT, Thrifty. Pickup counters in both terminals. Prices from AUD 56/day for standard car with unlimited kilometres. 4WDs from AUD 250+/day.
Airport
- Name
- Cairns International Airport (CNS)
- Terminals
- 3 terminals (T1 International, T2 Domestic, R Regional)
- Airport Code
- CNS
- Domestic Flights
- 26 routes serving major Australian cities
- International Flights
- 9 destinations including Tokyo, Osaka, Singapore, Hong Kong, Nadi, Denpasar, and seasonal routes
- Distance From City Center
- 7 km
- Description
- Medium-sized international airport serving both domestic and international flights
Major Airlines
- Qantas
- Jetstar
- Virgin Australia
- Singapore Airlines
- Fiji Airways
- Air New Zealand
- Cathay Pacific
Long Distance Connections
- Coach Services
- Greyhound Australia and other long-distance coaches operate from Reef Fleet Terminal on the Cairns Esplanade
Common Routes
- Brisbane (approximately 1,700 km by Bruce Highway)
- Sydney and other major Australian cities
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this getting there & away research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
- 1.cairnsairport.com.au
- 2.flightconnections.com
- 3.flightconnections.com
- 4.cairnsaustralia.com
- 5.cairnsairport.com.au
- 6.traveloka.com
- 7.virginaustralia.com
- 8.cairnsaustralia.com
- 9.queenslandrailtravel.com.au
- 10.cairnsaustralia.com
- 11.en.wikipedia.org
- 12.cairns.qld.gov.au
- 13.stokedtotravel.com
- 14.frugalfrolicker.com
- 15.cairnsdaytrips.au
- 16.australiantraveller.com
- 17.tropicalnorthqueensland.org.au
- 18.xe.com
- 19.australiantraveller.com
More About Cairns
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.