There are 5 ways to get from Cairns to Hamilton Island by plane, bus, ferry, or train
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 Great Barrier Reef Airport
best- Fly from Cairns (CNS) to Great Barrier Reef Airport (HTI)plane CNS - HTI
6h 5m$450–1,100Train, ferry
cheapest- Take the train from Cairns Central Station to Proserpinetrain Spirit of Queensland
- Take the ferry from Shute Harbour to Hamilton Island Marinaferry Direct Hamilton Island
12h 58m$126–2,285Bus, ferry via Shute Harbour Marine Terminal
- Take the bus from Cairns to Airlie Beachbus Au050 / ...
- Take the ferry from Shute Harbour to Hamilton Island Marinaferry Direct Hamilton Island
11h 55m$147–234Fly to Whitsunday Coast Airport, ferry
- Fly from Cairns (CNS) to Whitsunday Coast Airport (PPP)plane CNS - PPP
- Take the ferry from Palm Bay to Shute Harbourferry
- Take the ferry from Shute Harbour to Hamilton Island Marinaferry
7h 40m$427–1,205Bus, ferry
- Take the bus from Cairns Central Station to Airlie Beachbus Pm19
- Take the ferry from Port of Airlie to Hamilton Island Marinaferry
12h 20m$184–277
Cairns to Hamilton Island by train, foot, bus, and ferry
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Cairns to Hamilton Island is to bus and ferry via Shute Harbour Marine Terminal which costs $140 - $240 and takes 11h 55m.
The fastest way to get from Cairns to Hamilton Island is to fly which takes 6h 5m and costs $450 - $1,100.
The distance between Cairns and Hamilton Island is 518 km.
The best way to get from Cairns to Hamilton Island without a car is to bus and ferry via Shute Harbour Marine Terminal which takes 11h 55m and costs $140 - $240.
It takes approximately 6h 5m to get from Cairns to Hamilton Island, including transfers.
There are 169+ hotels available in Hamilton Island.
What companies run services between Cairns, QLD, Australia and Hamilton Island, QLD, Australia?
Jetstar, Qantas, and two other airlines fly from Cairns (CNS) to Great Barrier Reef Airport (HTI) every 4 hours.
- Website
- qantas.com
Flights from Cairns to Great Barrier Reef Airport via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $350–1,100
Flights from Cairns to Great Barrier Reef Airport via Townsville, Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 5m
- When
- Monday to Friday
- Estimated price
- $450–1,200
- Website
- virginaustralia.com
Flights from Cairns to Great Barrier Reef Airport via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $350–1,200
Flights from Cairns to Great Barrier Reef Airport via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $450–1,200
- Website
- skytrans.com.au
Flights from Cairns to Whitsunday Coast Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- When
- Friday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday
- Estimated price
- $350–750
- Phone
- 1800 872 467
- Website
- queenslandrailtravel.com.au
Train from Cairns Central Station to Proserpine
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 26m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $70–2,200
- 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
- $70–100
- AChoice
- $110–140
- Gold Class
- $1,756
- Heritage Class
- $2,200
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.com.au/
Bus from Cairns to Airlie Beach
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 38m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $90–150
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com.au
- Phone
- 13 34 10
- [email protected]
- Website
- premierms.com.au
Bus from Cairns Central Station to Airlie Beach
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 10m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $80–120
- Website
- https://premierms.com.au/
- Phone
- +617 4846 7000
- [email protected]
- Website
- cruisewhitsundays.com
Ferry from Shute Harbour to Hamilton Island Marina
- Ave. Duration
- 35 min
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $55–85
- Schedules at
- cruisewhitsundays.com
Ferry from Shute Harbour to Hamilton Island Marina
- Ave. Duration
- 35 min
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $55–85
- Schedules at
- cruisewhitsundays.com
Ferry from Shute Harbour to Hamilton Island Marina
- Ave. Duration
- 35 min
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $55–85
- Schedules at
- cruisewhitsundays.com
Ferry from Port of Airlie to Hamilton Island Marina
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 10m
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- $100–160
- Schedules at
- cruisewhitsundays.com
- Phone
- 0488 022 868
- [email protected]
- Website
- islandtransfers.com
Ferry from Palm Bay to Shute Harbour
- Ave. Duration
- 30 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $69
- Schedules at
- islandtransfers.com
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