There are 5 ways to get from Cairns to Sydney CBD 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 34m$138–482Train
- 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 50m$262–6,428Bus
- 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 39m$341–499Drive 2,398.4 km
- Drive from Cairns to Sydney CBDcar 2,398.4 km
27h 39m$505–729Bus via Brisbane
- Take the bus from Cairns Central Station to Brisbane Roma Streetbus Pm19
- Take the bus from Brisbane to Central Stationbus Sydney
2d$402–701
Cairns to Sydney CBD by train
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Cairns to Sydney CBD is to fly which costs $130 - $490 and takes 4h 34m.
The fastest way to get from Cairns to Sydney CBD is to fly which takes 4h 34m and costs $130 - $490.
No, there is no direct bus from Cairns to Sydney CBD station. However, there are services departing from Cairns and arriving at Martin Place Station, Elizabeth St, Stand C via Roma Street Station, Stand F and Pitt St At Barlow St. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 44h 39m.
No, there is no direct train from Cairns station to Sydney CBD station. However, there are services departing from Cairns Central Station and arriving at Wynyard Station via Roma Street Station and Central Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 40h 50m.
The distance between Cairns and Sydney CBD is 1991 km. The road distance is 2398.4 km.
The best way to get from Cairns to Sydney CBD without a car is to train which takes 40h 50m and costs $260 - $6,500.
It takes approximately 4h 34m to get from Cairns to Sydney CBD, including transfers.
Cairns to Sydney CBD bus services, operated by FlixBus Australia, depart from Cairns station.
Cairns to Sydney CBD train services, operated by Queensland Rail Travel, depart from Cairns Central Station.
The best way to get from Cairns to Sydney CBD is to fly which takes 4h 34m and costs $130 - $490. Alternatively, you can train, which costs $260 - $6,500 and takes 40h 50m, you could also bus, which costs $340 - $500 and takes 44h 39m.
What companies run services between Cairns, QLD, Australia and Sydney CBD, NSW, Australia?
Jetstar, Virgin Australia, and Qantas fly from Cairns (CNS) to Sydney International Airport (SYD) every 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train from Cairns Central Station to Wynyard Station via Roma Street, Roma Street Station, and Central Station in around 40h 50m.
- Website
- qantas.com
Flights from Cairns to Sydney International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 59m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–800
Flights from Cairns to Sydney International Airport via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 48m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–800
Flights from Cairns to Sydney International Airport via Maroochydore
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 50m
- When
- Friday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $120–460
- Website
- jetstar.com
Flights from Cairns to Sydney International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 58m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–460
Flights from Cairns to Sydney International Airport via Maroochydore
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 50m
- When
- Friday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $120–460
Flights from Cairns to Sydney International Airport via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 15m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $120–460
- Website
- virginaustralia.com
Flights from Cairns to Sydney International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–410
Flights from Cairns to Sydney International Airport via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 5h
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- 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
- $270–410
- 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
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Booking & Getting There
Cairns to Sydney CBD bus services, operated by FlixBus Australia, arrive at Brisbane Coach Terminal station.
Sydney CBD is 1h ahead of Cairns. It is currently 10:53 PM in Cairns and 11:53 PM in Sydney CBD.
Cairns to Sydney CBD train services, operated by Queensland Rail Travel, arrive at Roma Street station.
Yes, the driving distance between Cairns to Sydney CBD is 2398 km. It takes approximately 27h 39m to drive from Cairns to Sydney CBD.
Book your Cairns to Sydney CBD bus tickets online with Omio.
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