There are 5 ways to get from Cairns to Sydney by plane, train, bus, car, or bus (Greyhound)
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 Sydney International Airport (SYD)plane CNS - SYD
4h 28m$132–460Train
- Take the train from Cairns Central Station to Roma Streettrain Spirit of Queensland
- Take the train from Roma Street Station to Central Stationtrain 32
40h 45m$259–6,421Bus
- Take the bus from Cairns to Brisbane Coach Terminalbus Au050 / ...
- Take the bus from Roma Street Station, Stand F to Central Station, Forecourt, Coach Bay 1bus 3204 / ...
44h 30m$323–479Drive 2,398.6 km
- Drive from Cairns to Sydneycar 2,398.6 km
27h 40m$436–630Bus via Brisbane
- Take the bus from Cairns Central Station to Brisbane Roma Streetbus Pm19
- Take the bus from Brisbane to Central Stationbus Sydney
2d$399–694
Cairns to Sydney by train
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Cairns to Sydney is to fly which costs $130 - $460 and takes 4h 28m.
The fastest way to get from Cairns to Sydney is to fly which takes 4h 28m and costs $130 - $460.
No, there is no direct bus from Cairns to Sydney station. However, there are services departing from Cairns and arriving at Central Station, Forecourt, Coach Bay 1 via Roma Street Station, Stand F. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 44h 30m.
No, there is no direct train from Cairns station to Sydney station. However, there are services departing from Cairns Central Station and arriving at Central Station via Roma Street Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 40h 45m.
The distance between Cairns and Sydney is 1989 km. The road distance is 2398.6 km.
The best way to get from Cairns to Sydney without a car is to train which takes 40h 45m and costs $250 - $6,500.
It takes approximately 4h 28m to get from Cairns to Sydney, including transfers.
Cairns to Sydney bus services, operated by FlixBus Australia, depart from Cairns station.
Cairns to Sydney train services, operated by Queensland Rail Travel, depart from Cairns Central Station.
The best way to get from Cairns to Sydney is to fly which takes 4h 28m and costs $130 - $460. Alternatively, you can train, which costs $250 - $6,500 and takes 40h 45m, you could also bus, which costs $320 - $480 and takes 44h 30m.
What companies run services between Cairns, QLD, Australia and Sydney, NSW, Australia?
Jetstar, Virgin Australia, and Qantas fly from Cairns (CNS) to Sydney International Airport (SYD) hourly. Alternatively, you can take a train from Cairns Central Station to Central Station via Roma Street and Roma Street Station in around 40h 45m.
- Website
- qantas.com
Flights from Cairns to Sydney International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 55m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–800
Flights from Cairns to Sydney International Airport via Gold Coast
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 50m
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $120–460
Flights from Cairns to Sydney International Airport via Maroochydore
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 50m
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $120–460
Flights from Cairns to Sydney International Airport via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 53m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–800
- Website
- jetstar.com
Flights from Cairns to Sydney International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 56m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–460
Flights from Cairns to Sydney International Airport via Gold Coast
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 50m
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $120–460
Flights from Cairns to Sydney International Airport via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 50m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $120–460
Flights from Cairns to Sydney International Airport via Maroochydore
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 50m
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $120–460
- Website
- virginaustralia.com
Flights from Cairns to Sydney International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 55m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–410
Flights from Cairns to Sydney International Airport via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 46m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–410
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Phone
- 1300 473946
- [email protected]
- Website
- Greyhound Australia
Bus from Brisbane to Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 18h
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $150–350
- Website
- Greyhound Australia
- Schedules at
- Greyhound Australia
- Early Bird
- $150–220
- Flexible
- $180–350
Want to know more about travelling around Australia
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
Related travel guides
Best ways to travel around Australia
Read the travel guide
10 amazing places to get away from it all in Australia
Read the travel guide
4 of the smartest ways to explore Australia
Read the travel guide
Booking & Getting There
Cairns to Sydney bus services, operated by FlixBus Australia, arrive at Brisbane Coach Terminal station.
Sydney is 1h ahead of Cairns. It is currently 8:15 PM in Cairns and 9:15 PM in Sydney.
Cairns to Sydney train services, operated by Queensland Rail Travel, arrive at Roma Street station.
Yes, the driving distance between Cairns to Sydney is 2399 km. It takes approximately 27h 40m to drive from Cairns to Sydney.
Book your Cairns to Sydney train tickets online with 12go.asia.
Book your Cairns to Sydney bus tickets online with Omio and 12go.asia.
There are 5345+ hotels available in Sydney.
















