There are 8 ways to get from Cairns to Northern Territory by plane, train, bus, 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 Alice Springs Airport
best- Fly from Cairns (CNS) to Alice Springs Airport (ASP)plane CNS - ASP
3h 46m$466–1,447Fly to Darwin International Airport
cheapest- Fly from Cairns (CNS) to Darwin International Airport (DRW)plane CNS - DRW
5h 16m$375–893Train 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 Darwintrain
5d 3h$3,778–14,160Bus, train via Alice Springs
- Take the bus from Cairns to Brisbane Coach Terminalbus
- Take the train from Brisbane to Southern Crosstrain
- Take the train from Southern Cross Station to Adelaide Stationtrain
- Take the bus from Adelaide to Alice Springsbus
- Take the bus from Alice Springs to Darwinbus
5d 17h$3,515–5,623Drive 2,353.5 km
- Drive from Cairns to Darwincar 2,353.5 km
34h 42m$499–721Fly to Katherine
- Fly from Cairns (CNS) to Katherine (KTR)plane CNS - KTR
21h 32m$1,100–3,557Train
- Take the train from Cairns Central Station to Roma Streettrain
- Take the train from Brisbane to Adelaidetrain
- Take the train from Adelaide Station to Darwintrain
7d 8h$6,509–27,316Bus, train
- Take the bus from Cairns Central Station to Brisbane Roma Streetbus
- Take the train from Brisbane to Adelaidetrain
- Take the train from Adelaide Station to Darwintrain
7d 12h$6,583–21,488
Cairns (CNS) to Alice Springs Airport (ASP) flights
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Cairns to Northern Territory is to drive which costs $490 - $750 and takes 34h 42m.
The fastest way to get from Cairns to Northern Territory is to fly which takes 3h 46m and costs $460 - $1,500.
No, there is no direct train from Cairns station to Northern Territory. However, there are services departing from Cairns Central Station and arriving at Darwin via Roma Street Station, Central Station and Adelaide Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 5 days 3h.
The distance between Cairns and Northern Territory is 1473 km. The road distance is 2353.5 km.
The best way to get from Cairns to Northern Territory without a car is to train via Sydney which takes 5 days 3h and costs $3,700 - $15,000.
It takes approximately 3h 46m to get from Cairns to Northern Territory, including transfers.
Cairns to Northern Territory train services, operated by Queensland Rail Travel, depart from Cairns Central Station.
The best way to get from Cairns to Northern Territory is to fly which takes 3h 46m and costs $460 - $1,500. Alternatively, you can train via Sydney, which costs $3,700 - $15,000 and takes 5 days 3h.
Northern Territory is 30 min behind Cairns. It is currently 3:19 PM in Cairns and 2:49 PM in Northern Territory.
Cairns to Northern Territory train services, operated by Queensland Rail Travel, arrive at Roma Street station.
What companies run services between Cairns, QLD, Australia and Northern Territory, Australia?
Airnorth flies from Cairns (CNS) to Alice Springs Airport (ASP) 4 times a week. Alternatively, you can take a train from Cairns Central Station to Darwin via Roma Street, Roma Street Station, Central Station, Adelaide Parklands, Adelaide Station, and Darwin in around 5d 3h.
- 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
Flights from Cairns to Darwin International Airport via Gove
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $430–850
Flights from Cairns to Katherine via Darwin International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 22h 45m
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $1,000–3,600
Flights from Cairns to Katherine via Gove, Darwin International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 20h
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $1,300–4,800
Flights from Cairns to Katherine via Alice Springs Airport, Tennant Creek
- Ave. Duration
- 28h 15m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $1,300–5,500
- Website
- qantas.com
Flights from Cairns to Alice Springs Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 20m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $400–1,000
Flights from Cairns to Darwin International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $350–900
Flights from Cairns to Darwin International Airport via Gove
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $430–850
- 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 Darwin
- Ave. Duration
- 2d 6h
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- $3,089
- Book at
- Great Southern Rail - The Ghan
- Everyday Gold Single Cabin
- $2,789
- Flexible Gold Single Cabin
- $3,089
Train from Adelaide Station to Darwin
- Ave. Duration
- 2d 6h
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- $3,089
- Book at
- Great Southern Rail - The Ghan
- Everyday Gold Single Cabin
- $2,789
- Flexible Gold Single Cabin
- $3,089
Train from Adelaide Station to Darwin
- Ave. Duration
- 2d 6h
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- $3,089
- Book at
- Great Southern Rail - The Ghan
- Everyday Gold Single Cabin
- $2,789
- Flexible Gold Single Cabin
- $3,089
- Phone
- 1800 703 357
- [email protected]
- Website
- Great Southern
Train from Brisbane to Southern Cross
- Ave. Duration
- 2d 3h
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- $2,690–3,690
- Book at
- Great Southern
- Website
- Great Southern
- Gold Premium
- $3,690
- Gold
- $2,690
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
- Phone
- 1800 703 357
- [email protected]
- Website
- Journey Beyond
Train from Southern Cross Station to Adelaide Station
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- $210–420
- Website
- Journey Beyond
- Red Standard
- $210–250
- Red Premium
- $350–420
- Website
- FlixBus Australia
Bus from Cairns to Brisbane Coach Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 28h 40m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $270–410
- Schedules at
- FlixBus Australia
- 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 Alice Springs to Darwin
- Ave. Duration
- 21h 35m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $210–550
- Website
- Greyhound Australia
- Schedules at
- Greyhound Australia
- Early Bird
- $210–310
- Flexible
- $260–550
- 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
Yes, the driving distance between Cairns to Northern Territory is 2353 km. It takes approximately 34h 42m to drive from Cairns to Northern Territory.
There are 488+ hotels available in Northern Territory.



















