There are 5 ways to get from Brisbane to Cairns by plane, train, bus (Greyhound), or car
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly from Brisbane Airport
best- Fly from Brisbane Airport (BNE) to Cairns (CNS)plane BNE - CNS
5h$138–674Train to Gold Coast Airport, fly
cheapest- Take the train from Central station, platform 1 to Varsity Lakes station, platform 2train
- Fly from Gold Coast Airport (OOL) to Cairns (CNS)plane OOL - CNS
7h 15m$132–652Train
- Take the train from Roma Street to Cairns Central Stationtrain Spirit of Queensland
25h 20m$170–6,171Bus
- Take the bus from Brisbane Coach Terminal to Cairnsbus Au050 / ...
28h 40m$210–650Drive 1,676.1 km
- Drive from Brisbane to Cairnscar 1,676.1 km
19h 49m$302–436
Brisbane to Cairns by train
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Brisbane to Cairns is to fly which costs $130 - $700 and takes 5h.
The fastest way to get from Brisbane to Cairns is to fly which takes 5h and costs $130 - $700.
Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Brisbane Coach Terminal and arriving at Cairns. Services depart twice daily, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 28h 40m.
Yes, there is a direct train departing from Roma Street and arriving at Cairns Central Station station. Services depart four times a week, and operate Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. The journey takes approximately 25h 20m.
The distance between Brisbane and Cairns is 1413 km. The road distance is 1676.1 km.
The best way to get from Brisbane to Cairns without a car is to train which takes 25h 20m and costs $170 - $6,500.
It takes approximately 5h to get from Brisbane to Cairns, including transfers.
Brisbane to Cairns bus services, operated by FlixBus Australia, depart from Brisbane Coach Terminal station.
Brisbane to Cairns train services, operated by Queensland Rail Travel, depart from Roma Street station.
The best way to get from Brisbane to Cairns is to fly which takes 5h and costs $130 - $700. Alternatively, you can train, which costs $170 - $6,500 and takes 25h 20m, you could also bus, which costs $210 - $650 and takes 28h 40m.
What companies run services between Brisbane, QLD, Australia and Cairns, QLD, Australia?
Jetstar, Virgin Australia, and Qantas fly from Brisbane Airport (BNE) to Cairns (CNS) hourly. Alternatively, Queensland Rail Travel operates a train from Roma Street to Cairns Central Station 4 times a week. Tickets cost $170–6,171 and the journey takes 25h 20m.
- Website
- qantas.com
Flights from Brisbane Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 28m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–700
Flights from Brisbane Airport to Cairns via Townsville
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 6m
- When
- Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $240–700
Flights from Gold Coast Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–650
Flights from Gold Coast Airport to Cairns via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 46m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–1,500
- Website
- jetstar.com
Flights from Brisbane Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 26m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–650
Flights from Gold Coast Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–650
Flights from Gold Coast Airport to Cairns via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 50m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–650
- Website
- virginaustralia.com
Flights from Brisbane Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–600
Flights from Gold Coast Airport to Cairns via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 50m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $370–650
- Phone
- 1800 872 467
- Website
- queenslandrailtravel.com.au
Train from Roma Street to Cairns Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 25h 20m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $170–6,171
- Book at
- https://queenslandrailtravel-booking.opendestinations.com/BookingSite/rail/search
- Website
- https://www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au/
- Schedules at
- https://www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au/Pages/Timetable.aspx
- BQuick
- $170–230
- AChoice
- $310–390
- Gold Class
- $4,927
- Heritage Class
- $6,171
- Phone
- 13 12 30
- Website
- translink.com.au
Train from Central station, platform 1 to Varsity Lakes station, platform 2
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 26m
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $1
- Website
- https://translink.com.au/
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.com.au/
Bus from Brisbane Coach Terminal to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 28h 40m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $260–440
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com.au
- Phone
- 13 34 10
- [email protected]
- Website
- premierms.com.au
Bus from Brisbane Coach Terminal to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 29h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $210–310
- Website
- https://premierms.com.au/
- Phone
- 1300 473946
- [email protected]
- Website
- greyhound.com.au
Bus from Brisbane Coach Terminal to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 30h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $270–650
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/
- Schedules at
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/timetables
- Early Bird
- $270–380
- Advantage
- $340–500
- Flexible
- $430–650
Want to know more about travelling around Australia
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Brisbane to Cairns bus services, operated by FlixBus Australia, arrive at Cairns station.
Brisbane to Cairns train services, operated by Queensland Rail Travel, arrive at Cairns Central Station.
Yes, the driving distance between Brisbane to Cairns is 1676 km. It takes approximately 19h 49m to drive from Brisbane to Cairns.
Book your Brisbane to Cairns train tickets online with 12go.asia.
Book your Brisbane to Cairns bus tickets online with Omio and 12go.asia.
There are 1000+ hotels available in Cairns.