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$438–1,416Drive 2,266.4 km
cheapest- Drive from Cairns to Alice Springscar 2,266.4 km
23h 21m$404–583Bus
- Take the bus from Cairns to Brisbane Coach Terminalbus
- Take the bus from Brisbane to Sydney Central Stationbus
- Take the bus from Central Station to Alburybus
- Take the bus from Albury Station/Hume Hwy to 85 Franklin Stbus
- Take the bus from Adelaide to Alice Springsbus
3d 20h$635–1,370Train 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$2,742–13,114Bus, 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$3,669–18,894Train
- 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$5,473–26,270
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 $430 - $1,500.
No, there is no direct bus from Cairns to Alice Springs. However, there are services departing from Cairns and arriving at Alice Springs via Brisbane, Central Station, Albury Station/Hume Hwy and Adelaide. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 3 days 20h.
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 20h 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 $430 - $1,500. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $600 - $1,400 and takes 3 days 20h, you could also train via Sydney, which costs $2,700 - $14,000 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, Sydney Central Station, Central Station, Albury, Albury Station/Hume Hwy, and Adelaide in around 3d 20h.
- Website
- flyairnorth.com
Flights from Cairns to Alice Springs Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 20m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $390–1,000
- Phone
- 1800 872 467
- Website
- Queensland Rail Travel
Train from Cairns Central Station to Roma Street
- Ave. Duration
- 25h 20m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $170–6,171
- Book at
- Queensland Rail Travel
- Website
- Queensland Rail Travel
- Schedules at
- Queensland Rail Travel
- 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
- Queensland Rail Travel
- Website
- Queensland Rail Travel
- Schedules at
- Queensland Rail Travel
- BQuick
- $170–230
- AChoice
- $310–390
- Gold Class
- $4,927
- Heritage Class
- $6,171
- Website
- FlixBus Australia
Bus from Cairns to Brisbane Coach Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 28h 40m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $230–370
- Schedules at
- FlixBus Australia
Bus from Brisbane to Sydney Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 17h 29m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $110–190
- Schedules at
- FlixBus Australia
Bus from Central Station to Albury
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 10m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $65–110
- Schedules at
- FlixBus Australia
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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 9:59 PM in Cairns and 9:29 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.






