There are 5 ways to get from Cairns to Brisbane 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 to Brisbane Airport
best- Fly from Cairns (CNS) to Brisbane Airport (BNE)plane CNS - BNE
4h 2m$145–650Fly to Gold Coast Airport, train
cheapest- Fly from Cairns (CNS) to Gold Coast Airport (OOL)plane CNS - OOL
- Take the train from Varsity Lakes station, platform 2 to Central station, platform 3train
6h 3m$139–630Train
- Take the train from Cairns Central Station to Roma Streettrain Spirit of Queensland
25h 20m$170–6,171Bus
- Take the bus from Cairns to Brisbane Coach Terminalbus Au050 / ...
28h 40m$210–650Drive 1,676.8 km
- Drive from Cairns to Brisbanecar 1,676.8 km
19h 51m$302–436
Cairns to Brisbane by train
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Cairns to Brisbane is to fly which costs $140 - $650 and takes 4h 2m.
The fastest way to get from Cairns to Brisbane is to fly which takes 4h 2m and costs $140 - $650.
Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Cairns and arriving at Brisbane Coach Terminal. Services depart twice daily, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 28h 40m.
Yes, there is a direct train departing from Cairns Central Station station and arriving at Roma Street. Services depart four times a week, and operate Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The journey takes approximately 25h 20m.
The distance between Cairns and Brisbane is 1413 km. The road distance is 1676.8 km.
The best way to get from Cairns to Brisbane without a car is to train which takes 25h 20m and costs $170 - $6,500.
It takes approximately 4h 2m to get from Cairns to Brisbane, including transfers.
Cairns to Brisbane bus services, operated by FlixBus Australia, depart from Cairns station.
Cairns to Brisbane train services, operated by Queensland Rail Travel, depart from Cairns Central Station.
The best way to get from Cairns to Brisbane is to fly which takes 4h 2m and costs $140 - $650. 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 Cairns, QLD, Australia and Brisbane, QLD, Australia?
Jetstar, Virgin Australia, and Qantas fly from Cairns (CNS) to Brisbane Airport (BNE) hourly. Alternatively, Queensland Rail Travel operates a train from Cairns Central Station to Roma Street 4 times a week. Tickets cost $170–6,171 and the journey takes 25h 20m.
- Website
- qantas.com
Flights from Cairns to Brisbane Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 13m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–700
Flights from Cairns to Gold Coast Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–650
Flights from Cairns to Gold Coast Airport via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 15m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $130–1,600
- Website
- virginaustralia.com
Flights from Cairns to Brisbane Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–600
Flights from Cairns to Gold Coast Airport via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 30m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $370–650
- Website
- jetstar.com
Flights from Cairns to Brisbane Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–650
Flights from Cairns to Gold Coast Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–650
- 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
- Phone
- 13 12 30
- Website
- translink.com.au
Train from Varsity Lakes station, platform 2 to Central station, platform 3
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 23m
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $1
- Website
- https://translink.com.au/
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.com.au/
Bus from Cairns to Brisbane Coach Terminal
- 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 Cairns to Brisbane Coach Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 29h 5m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $210–310
- Website
- https://premierms.com.au/
- Phone
- 1300 473946
- [email protected]
- Website
- greyhound.com.au
Bus from Cairns to Brisbane Coach Terminal
- 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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Read the travel guideMore Questions & Answers
Cairns to Brisbane bus services, operated by FlixBus Australia, arrive at Brisbane Coach Terminal station.
Cairns to Brisbane train services, operated by Queensland Rail Travel, arrive at Roma Street station.
Yes, the driving distance between Cairns to Brisbane is 1677 km. It takes approximately 19h 51m to drive from Cairns to Brisbane.
Book your Cairns to Brisbane train tickets online with 12go.asia.
Book your Cairns to Brisbane bus tickets online with Omio and 12go.asia.
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