There are 8 ways to get from Cairns to Northern Territory by plane, bus, train, 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 42m$489–1,370Fly to Darwin International Airport
cheapest- Fly from Cairns (CNS) to Darwin International Airport (DRW)plane CNS - DRW
5h 17m$384–895Bus, train via Alice Springs
- Take the bus from Cairns to Brisbane Coach Terminalbus
- Take the bus from Roma Street Station, Stand F to Grafton Station, Coach Stopbus
- Take the train from Grafton Station to Central Stationtrain
- Take the train from Central Station to Adelaide Parklandstrain
- Take the bus from Adelaide to Alice Springsbus
- Take the bus from Alice Springs to Darwinbus
4d 21h$1,179–6,194Train 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$3,513–13,910Drive 2,353.5 km
- Drive from Cairns to Darwincar 2,353.5 km
34h 42m$422–609Fly to Katherine
- Fly from Cairns (CNS) to Katherine (KTR)plane CNS - KTR
21h 28m$1,134–3,642Train
- 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$6,259–27,066Bus, 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$6,308–21,206
Cairns (CNS) to Alice Springs Airport (ASP) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Cairns to Northern Territory is to drive which costs $420 - $650 and takes 34h 42m.
The fastest way to get from Cairns to Northern Territory is to fly which takes 3h 42m and costs $480 - $1,400.
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 bus and train via Alice Springs which takes 4 days 21h and costs $1,100 - $6,500.
It takes approximately 3h 42m 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 42m and costs $480 - $1,400. Alternatively, you can train via Sydney, which costs $3,500 - $14,000 and takes 5 days 3h.
Northern Territory is 30 min behind Cairns. It is currently 6:16 PM in Cairns and 5:46 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
- $390–1,100
Flights from Cairns to Darwin International Airport via Gove
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $470–950
Flights from Cairns to Katherine via Darwin International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 22h 50m
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $1,100–3,600
Flights from Cairns to Katherine via Gove, Darwin International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 20h
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $1,400–5,500
Flights from Cairns to Katherine via Alice Springs Airport, Tennant Creek
- Ave. Duration
- 28h 15m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $1,500–6,000
- Website
- qantas.com
Flights from Cairns to Alice Springs Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 20m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $390–1,100
Flights from Cairns to Darwin International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 40m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $450–950
Flights from Cairns to Darwin International Airport via Gove
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $470–950
Flights from Cairns to Darwin International Airport via Townsville
- Ave. Duration
- 5h
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $470–950
- Phone
- 131 500
- Website
- transportnsw.info
Train from Grafton Station to Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 31m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $50–110
- Website
- https://transportnsw.info/regional
- Economy
- $70–110
- First Class
- $95–150
- Phone
- 1800 703 357
- [email protected]
- Website
- journeybeyondrail.com.au
Train from Central Station to Adelaide Parklands
- Ave. Duration
- 26h 25m
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- $400–4,600
- Book at
- https://bookings.journeybeyondrail.com.au/
- Website
- https://www.journeybeyondrail.com.au/indian-pacific/
- 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
Train from Central Station to Adelaide Parklands
- Ave. Duration
- 26h 25m
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- $400–4,600
- Book at
- https://bookings.journeybeyondrail.com.au/
- Website
- https://www.journeybeyondrail.com.au/indian-pacific/
- 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 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
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
- 131 500
- Website
- transportnsw.info
Train from Roma Street Station to Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 25m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $70–250
- Website
- https://transportnsw.info/regional
- Book at
- https://transportnsw.info/regional/regional-train-coach-facilities/xpt-regional-trains
- Economy
- $80–110
- First
- $110–150
- Sleeper
- $220–250
- 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
- $2,839
- Book at
- https://bookings.greatsouthernrail.com.au/?_ga=2.27793852.1430812322.1538203551-1884130056.1538203551
- Saver Gold Single Cabin
- $2,839
- Everyday Gold Single Cabin
- $2,989
Train from Adelaide Station to Darwin
- Ave. Duration
- 2d 6h
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- $2,839
- Book at
- https://bookings.greatsouthernrail.com.au/?_ga=2.27793852.1430812322.1538203551-1884130056.1538203551
- Saver Gold Single Cabin
- $2,839
- Everyday Gold Single Cabin
- $2,989
Train from Adelaide Station to Darwin
- Ave. Duration
- 2d 6h
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- $2,839
- Book at
- https://bookings.greatsouthernrail.com.au/?_ga=2.27793852.1430812322.1538203551-1884130056.1538203551
- Saver Gold Single Cabin
- $2,839
- Everyday Gold Single Cabin
- $2,989
- Phone
- 1800 703 357
- [email protected]
- Website
- journeybeyondrail.com.au
Train from Brisbane to Adelaide
- Ave. Duration
- 3d 22h
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- $3,290–18,000
- Book at
- https://bookings.greatsouthernrail.com.au/?_ga=2.27793852.1430812322.1538203551-1884130056.1538203551
- 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
- https://bookings.greatsouthernrail.com.au/?_ga=2.27793852.1430812322.1538203551-1884130056.1538203551
- Gold
- $3,290
- Gold Premium
- $4,390
- Suites
- $15,000–18,000
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.com.au/
Bus from Cairns to Brisbane Coach Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 28h 40m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $270–450
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com.au
- Phone
- 131 500
- Website
- transportnsw.info
Bus from Roma Street Station, Stand F to Grafton Station, Coach Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $25–40
- Website
- https://transportnsw.info/regional
- Phone
- 1300 473946
- [email protected]
- Website
- greyhound.com.au
Bus from Adelaide to Alice Springs
- Ave. Duration
- 20h 30m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $220–500
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/
- Schedules at
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/timetables
- Early Bird
- $220–310
- Advantage
- $270–400
- Flexible
- $350–500
Bus from Alice Springs to Darwin
- Ave. Duration
- 21h 35m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $220–500
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/
- Schedules at
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/timetables
- Early Bird
- $220–310
- Advantage
- $270–400
- Flexible
- $340–500
- Phone
- 13 34 10
- [email protected]
- Website
- premierms.com.au
Bus from Cairns Central Station to Brisbane Roma Street
- Ave. Duration
- 29h 5m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $220–320
- Website
- https://premierms.com.au/
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More Questions & Answers
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 527+ hotels available in Northern Territory.


















