There are 6 ways to get from Cairns City to Airlie Beach by plane, bus, bus (Greyhound), train, 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 to Whitsunday Coast Airport, bus
best- Fly from Cairns (CNS) to Whitsunday Coast Airport (PPP)plane CNS - PPP
- Take the bus from Proserpine, Mill Street to Airlie Beach Centralbus
4h 32m$333–1,051Train
cheapest- Take the train from Cairns Central Station to Proserpinetrain Spirit of Queensland
11h 8m$73–2,205Bus
- Take the bus from Cairns to Airlie Beachbus Au050 / ...
9h 38m$80–220Drive 618.5 km
- Drive from Cairns City to Airlie Beachcar 618.5 km
7h 29m$110–159Fly to Mackay, bus
- Fly from Cairns (CNS) to Mackay (MKY)plane CNS - MKY
- Take the bus from Mackay to Airlie Beachbus
8h 48m$288–603Fly to Moranbah Airport, drive
- Fly from Cairns (CNS) to Moranbah Airport (MOV)plane CNS - MOV
- Drive from Moranbah Airport (MOV) to Airlie Beachcar
6h 41m$605–1,657
Cairns City to Airlie Beach by bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Cairns City to Airlie Beach is to drive which costs $110 - $160 and takes 7h 29m.
The fastest way to get from Cairns City to Airlie Beach is to fly and bus which takes 4h 32m and costs $330 - $1,100.
Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Cairns and arriving at Airlie Beach. Services depart twice daily, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 9h 38m.
No, there is no direct train from Cairns City station to Airlie Beach. However, there are services departing from Cairns Central Station and arriving at Proserpine via . The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 11h 8m.
The distance between Cairns City and Airlie Beach is 547 km. The road distance is 618.5 km.
The best way to get from Cairns City to Airlie Beach without a car is to bus which takes 9h 38m and costs $80 - $220.
It takes approximately 4h 32m to get from Cairns City to Airlie Beach, including transfers.
Cairns City to Airlie Beach bus services, operated by FlixBus Australia, depart from Cairns station.
Cairns City to Airlie Beach train services, operated by Queensland Rail Travel, depart from Cairns Central Station.
The best way to get from Cairns City to Airlie Beach is to bus which takes 9h 38m and costs $80 - $220. Alternatively, you can train, which costs $70 - $2,300 and takes 11h 8m.
What companies run services between Cairns City, QLD, Australia and Airlie Beach, QLD, Australia?
FlixBus Australia operates a bus from Cairns to Airlie Beach twice daily. Tickets cost $85–140 and the journey takes 9h 38m. Two other operators also service this route. Alternatively, Queensland Rail Travel operates a train from Cairns Central Station to Proserpine 4 times a week. Tickets cost $70–2,200 and the journey takes 9h 26m.
- Website
- skytrans.com.au
Flights from Cairns to Whitsunday Coast Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- When
- Friday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday
- Estimated price
- $340–700
Flights from Cairns to Moranbah Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- When
- Tuesday and Monday
- Estimated price
- $550–1,600
- Website
- flexflight.dk
Flights from Cairns to Whitsunday Coast Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- When
- Friday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday
- Estimated price
- $340–700
Flights from Cairns to Moranbah Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- When
- Tuesday and Monday
- Estimated price
- $550–1,600
- Website
- qantas.com
Flights from Cairns to Mackay via Townsville
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 45m
- When
- Tuesday
- Estimated price
- $390–700
Flights from Cairns to Mackay via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 33m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $390–700
- Website
- virginaustralia.com
Flights from Cairns to Mackay via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 57m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $250–410
- Phone
- 1800 872 467
- Website
- Queensland Rail Travel
Train from Cairns Central Station to Proserpine
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 26m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $70–2,200
- Book at
- Queensland Rail Travel
- Website
- Queensland Rail Travel
- Schedules at
- Queensland Rail Travel
- BQuick
- $70–100
- AChoice
- $110–140
- Gold Class
- $1,756
- Heritage Class
- $2,200
Bus from Proserpine, Mill Street to Airlie Beach Central
- Ave. Duration
- 36 min
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $1
- Website
- Translink
- Website
- FlixBus Australia
Bus from Proserpine, Mill Street to Airlie Beach Central
- Ave. Duration
- 22 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $3–6
- Schedules at
- FlixBus Australia
Bus from Cairns to Airlie Beach
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 38m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $85–140
- Schedules at
- FlixBus Australia
- Phone
- 13 34 10
- [email protected]
- Website
- Premier Motor Service
Bus from Cairns to Airlie Beach
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 10m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $80–120
- Website
- Premier Motor Service
Bus from Mackay to Airlie Beach
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 10m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $29–45
- Website
- Premier Motor Service
- Phone
- 1300 473946
- [email protected]
- Website
- Greyhound Australia
Bus from Cairns to Airlie Beach
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $100–220
- Website
- Greyhound Australia
- Schedules at
- Greyhound Australia
- Early Bird
- $100–150
- Advantage
- $120–180
- Flexible
- $150–220
Bus from Mackay to Airlie Beach
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $35–60
- Website
- Greyhound Australia
- Schedules at
- Greyhound Australia
- Early Bird
- $35–55
- Advantage
- $35–55
- Flexible
- $40–60
Want to know more about travelling around Australia
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
Related travel guides
Best ways to travel around Australia
Read the travel guide
10 amazing places to get away from it all in Australia
Read the travel guide
4 of the smartest ways to explore Australia
Read the travel guide
More Questions & Answers
Cairns City to Airlie Beach bus services, operated by FlixBus Australia, arrive at Airlie Beach station.
Cairns City to Airlie Beach train services, operated by Queensland Rail Travel, arrive at Proserpine station.
Yes, the driving distance between Cairns City to Airlie Beach is 618 km. It takes approximately 7h 29m to drive from Cairns City to Airlie Beach.
Book your Cairns City to Airlie Beach train tickets online with 12go.asia.
Book your Cairns City to Airlie Beach bus tickets online with Omio and 12go.asia.
There are 400+ hotels available in Airlie Beach.














