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$461–1,456Drive 2,266.4 km
cheapest- Drive from Cairns to Alice Springscar 2,266.4 km
23h 22m$412–595Bus
- 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 Wangaratta Station, Norton Stbus
- Take the bus from Wangaratta Station/Norton St to 85 Franklin Stbus
- Take the bus from Adelaide to Alice Springsbus
3d 18h$600–1,159Train 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
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Cairns to Alice Springs is to drive which costs $410 - $600 and takes 23h 22m.
The fastest way to get from Cairns to Alice Springs is to fly which takes 3h 44m and costs $460 - $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 Roma Street Station, Stand F, Central Station, Forecourt, Coach Bay 1, Wangaratta Station/Norton St 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 - $1,200.
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 $460 - $1,500. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $600 - $1,200 and takes 3 days 18h, 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 Coach Terminal, Roma Street Station, Stand F, Central Station, Forecourt, Coach Bay 1, Wangaratta Station/Norton St, 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
- $400–1,000
- 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
- Phone
- 131 500
- Website
- NSW TrainLink XPT
Train from Roma Street Station to Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 25m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $85–250
- Website
- NSW TrainLink XPT
- Book at
- NSW TrainLink XPT
- Economy
- $85–110
- First
- $120–140
- Sleeper
- $220–250
- Phone
- 1800 703 357
- [email protected]
- Website
- Journey Beyond
Train from Central Station to Adelaide Parklands
- Ave. Duration
- 26h 25m
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- $400–4,600
- Book at
- Journey Beyond
- Website
- Journey Beyond
- 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
- $2,093
- Book at
- Great Southern Rail - The Ghan
- Everyday Gold Single Cabin
- $1,893
- Flexible Gold Single Cabin
- $2,093
Train from Adelaide Station to Alice Springs
- Ave. Duration
- 26h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- $2,093
- Book at
- Great Southern Rail - The Ghan
- Everyday Gold Single Cabin
- $1,893
- Flexible Gold Single Cabin
- $2,093
- Phone
- 1800 703 357
- [email protected]
- Website
- Great Southern
Train from Brisbane to Adelaide
- Ave. Duration
- 3d 22h
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- $3,290–18,000
- Book at
- Great Southern
- Website
- Great Southern
- 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
- Great Southern
- Website
- Great Southern
- Gold
- $3,290
- Gold Premium
- $4,390
- Suites
- $15,000–18,000
- Website
- FlixBus Australia
Bus from Cairns to Brisbane Coach Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 28h 40m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $250–390
- Schedules at
- FlixBus Australia
- Phone
- 131 500
- Website
- NSW TrainLink
Bus from Roma Street Station, Stand F to Central Station, Forecourt, Coach Bay 1
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 50m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $65–95
- Website
- NSW TrainLink
Bus from Central Station, Forecourt, Coach Bay 1 to Wangaratta Station, Norton St
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 2m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $45–65
- Website
- NSW TrainLink
- Phone
- 1800 800 007
- [email protected]
- Website
- V/Line
Bus from Wangaratta Station/Norton St to 85 Franklin St
- Phone
- 1300 473946
- [email protected]
- Website
- Greyhound Australia
Bus from Adelaide to Alice Springs
- Ave. Duration
- 20h 30m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $220–550
- Website
- Greyhound Australia
- Schedules at
- Greyhound Australia
- Early Bird
- $220–310
- Flexible
- $270–550
Bus from Adelaide to Alice Springs
- Ave. Duration
- 20h 30m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $220–550
- Website
- Greyhound Australia
- Schedules at
- Greyhound Australia
- Early Bird
- $220–310
- Flexible
- $270–550
- Phone
- 13 34 10
- [email protected]
- Website
- Premier Motor Service
Bus from Cairns Central Station to Brisbane Roma Street
- Ave. Duration
- 29h 5m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $240–350
- Website
- Premier Motor Service
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Booking & Getting There
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 12:39 AM in Cairns and 12:09 AM 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 22m to drive from Cairns to Alice Springs.
There are 22+ hotels available in Alice Springs.




















