There are 6 ways to get from Cairns to Alice Springs by plane, bus (Greyhound), train, car, or bus
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly
best- Fly from Cairns (CNS) to Alice Springs Airport (ASP)plane CNS - ASP
3h 44m$496–1,379Drive 2,266.4 km
cheapest- Drive from Cairns to Alice Springscar 2,266.4 km
23h 21m$408–589Bus
- Take the bus from Cairns to Brisbane Coach Terminalbus
- Take the bus from Roma Street Station, Stand F to Central Station, Forecourt, Coach Bay 1bus
- Take the bus from Central Station, Forecourt, Coach Bay 1 to Albury Station, Coach Bay 1bus
- Take the bus from Albury Station/Hume Hwy to 85 Franklin Stbus
- Take the bus from Adelaide to Alice Springsbus
3d 18h$610–1,360Train via Sydney
- Take the train from Cairns Central Station to Roma Streettrain
- Take the train from Roma Street Station to Central Stationtrain
- Take the train from Central Station to Adelaide Parklandstrain
- Take the train from Adelaide Station to Alice Springstrain
3d 23h$2,622–13,009Bus, train
- Take the bus from Cairns Central Station to Brisbane Roma Streetbus
- Take the train from Brisbane to Adelaidetrain
- Take the bus from Adelaide to Alice Springsbus
6d 1h$3,644–18,812Train
- Take the train from Cairns Central Station to Roma Streettrain
- Take the train from Brisbane to Adelaidetrain
- Take the train from Adelaide Station to Alice Springstrain
6d 4h$5,368–26,165
Cairns to Alice Springs by train
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Cairns to Alice Springs is to drive which costs $400 - $600 and takes 23h 21m.
The fastest way to get from Cairns to Alice Springs is to fly which takes 3h 44m and costs $490 - $1,400.
No, there is no direct bus from Cairns to Alice Springs. However, there are services departing from Cairns and arriving at Alice Springs via Roma Street Station, Stand F, Central Station, Forecourt, Coach Bay 1, Albury Station/Hume Hwy and Adelaide. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 3 days 18h.
No, there is no direct train from Cairns station to Alice Springs. However, there are services departing from Cairns Central Station and arriving at Alice Springs via Roma Street Station, Central Station and Adelaide Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 3 days 23h.
The distance between Cairns and Alice Springs is 1476 km. The road distance is 2266.4 km.
The best way to get from Cairns to Alice Springs without a car is to bus which takes 3 days 18h and costs $600 - $1,400.
It takes approximately 3h 44m to get from Cairns to Alice Springs, including transfers.
Cairns to Alice Springs bus services, operated by FlixBus Australia, depart from Cairns station.
Cairns to Alice Springs train services, operated by Queensland Rail Travel, depart from Cairns Central Station.
The best way to get from Cairns to Alice Springs is to fly which takes 3h 44m and costs $490 - $1,400. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $600 - $1,400 and takes 3 days 18h, you could also train via Sydney, which costs $2,600 - $13,000 and takes 3 days 23h.
What companies run services between Cairns, QLD, Australia and Alice Springs, NT, Australia?
Airnorth flies from Cairns (CNS) to Alice Springs Airport (ASP) 4 times a week. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Cairns to Alice Springs via Brisbane Coach Terminal, Roma Street Station, Stand F, Central Station, Forecourt, Coach Bay 1, Albury Station/Hume Hwy, and Adelaide in around 3d 18h.
- Website
- flyairnorth.com
Flights from Cairns to Alice Springs Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 20m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $390–1,100
- Phone
- 1800 872 467
- Website
- queenslandrailtravel.com.au
Train from Cairns Central Station to Roma Street
- 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
Train from Cairns Central Station to Roma Street
- 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
- 131 500
- Website
- transportnsw.info
Train from Roma Street Station to Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 25m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $70–250
- Website
- https://transportnsw.info/regional
- Book at
- https://transportnsw.info/regional/regional-train-coach-facilities/xpt-regional-trains
- Economy
- $80–110
- First
- $110–150
- Sleeper
- $220–250
- Phone
- 1800 703 357
- [email protected]
- Website
- journeybeyondrail.com.au
Train from Central Station to Adelaide Parklands
- Ave. Duration
- 26h 25m
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- $400–4,600
- Book at
- https://bookings.journeybeyondrail.com.au/
- Everyday Daynighter Seat
- $400
- Advanced Gold Single Cabin
- $650–900
- Low Gold Single Cabin
- $700–950
- Everyday Gold Single Cabin
- $850–1,100
- GOLD TWIN
- $1,200–2,200
- GOLD SINGLE
- $1,100–2,000
- PLATINUM
- $3,000–4,600
- GOLD PREMIUM TWIN
- $1,500–2,600
- Phone
- 1800 703 357
- [email protected]
- Website
- journeybeyondrail.com.au
Train from Adelaide Station to Alice Springs
- Ave. Duration
- 26h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- $1,988
- Book at
- https://bookings.greatsouthernrail.com.au/?_ga=2.27793852.1430812322.1538203551-1884130056.1538203551
- Saver Gold Single Cabin
- $1,988
- Everyday Gold Single Cabin
- $2,093
Train from Adelaide Station to Alice Springs
- Ave. Duration
- 26h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- $1,988
- Book at
- https://bookings.greatsouthernrail.com.au/?_ga=2.27793852.1430812322.1538203551-1884130056.1538203551
- Saver Gold Single Cabin
- $1,988
- Everyday Gold Single Cabin
- $2,093
- Phone
- 1800 703 357
- [email protected]
- Website
- journeybeyondrail.com.au
Train from Brisbane to Adelaide
- Ave. Duration
- 3d 22h
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- $3,290–18,000
- Book at
- https://bookings.greatsouthernrail.com.au/?_ga=2.27793852.1430812322.1538203551-1884130056.1538203551
- Gold
- $3,290
- Gold Premium
- $4,390
- Suites
- $15,000–18,000
Train from Brisbane to Adelaide
- Ave. Duration
- 3d 22h
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- $3,290–18,000
- Book at
- https://bookings.greatsouthernrail.com.au/?_ga=2.27793852.1430812322.1538203551-1884130056.1538203551
- Gold
- $3,290
- Gold Premium
- $4,390
- Suites
- $15,000–18,000
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.com.au/
Bus from Cairns to Brisbane Coach Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 28h 40m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $270–440
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com.au
Bus from Central Station, Forecourt, Coach Bay 1 to Albury Station, Coach Bay 1
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 10m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $75–130
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com.au
- Phone
- 131 500
- Website
- transportnsw.info
Bus from Roma Street Station, Stand F to Central Station, Forecourt, Coach Bay 1
- Ave. Duration
- 15h 43m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $65–95
- Website
- https://transportnsw.info/regional
Bus from Central Station, Forecourt, Coach Bay 1 to Albury Station, Coach Bay 1
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 5m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $40–60
- Website
- https://transportnsw.info/regional
- Phone
- 13 34 10
- [email protected]
- Website
- premierms.com.au
Bus from Roma Street Station, Stand F to Central Station, Forecourt, Coach Bay 1
- Ave. Duration
- 18h 45m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $110–160
- Website
- https://premierms.com.au/
Bus from Cairns Central Station to Brisbane Roma Street
- Ave. Duration
- 29h 5m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $220–320
- Website
- https://premierms.com.au/
- Phone
- 1300 730 740
- [email protected]
- Website
- fireflyexpress.com.au
Bus from Central Station, Forecourt, Coach Bay 1 to Albury Station, Coach Bay 1
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 25m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $95–99
- Website
- http://www.fireflyexpress.com.au
- Phone
- 1300 473946
- [email protected]
- Website
- greyhound.com.au
Bus from Central Station, Forecourt, Coach Bay 1 to Albury Station, Coach Bay 1
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 35m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $90–190
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/
- Schedules at
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/timetables
- Early Bird
- $90–130
- Advantage
- $100–160
- Flexible
- $130–190
Bus from Adelaide to Alice Springs
- Ave. Duration
- 20h 30m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $220–500
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/
- Schedules at
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/timetables
- Early Bird
- $220–310
- Advantage
- $270–400
- Flexible
- $350–500
Bus from Adelaide to Alice Springs
- Ave. Duration
- 20h 30m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $220–500
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/
- Schedules at
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/timetables
- Early Bird
- $220–310
- Advantage
- $270–400
- Flexible
- $350–500
- Phone
- 1800 800 007
- [email protected]
- Website
- vline.com.au
Bus from Albury Station/Hume Hwy to 85 Franklin St
- Ave. Duration
- 14h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $13–70
- Website
- https://www.vline.com.au/
- Schedules at
- https://www.vline.com.au/Timetables/Train-coach-timetables
- Book at
- https://www.vline.com.au/Plan-trip-buy-tickets
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More Questions & Answers
Cairns to Alice Springs bus services, operated by FlixBus Australia, arrive at Brisbane Coach Terminal station.
Alice Springs is 30 min behind Cairns. It is currently 5:58 PM in Cairns and 5:28 PM in Alice Springs.
Cairns to Alice Springs train services, operated by Queensland Rail Travel, arrive at Roma Street station.
Yes, the driving distance between Cairns to Alice Springs is 2266 km. It takes approximately 23h 21m to drive from Cairns to Alice Springs.
Book your Cairns to Alice Springs bus tickets online with 12go.asia.
There are 21+ hotels available in Alice Springs.































