There are 5 ways to get from Cairns to Whitsunday Islands by plane, bus, train, 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 Whitsunday Coast Airport (PPP)plane CNS - PPP
2h 35m$260–1,100Train
cheapest- Take the train from Cairns Central Station to Proserpinetrain Spirit of Queensland
11h 10m$71–2,200Bus via Airlie Beach
- Take the bus from Cairns to Airlie Beachbus Au050 / ...
9h 53m$92–152Drive 546 km
- Drive from Cairns to Bowencar 546 km
6h 36m$98–141Bus
- Take the bus from Cairns Central Station to Airlie Beachbus Pm19
10h 10m$80–230
Cairns to Whitsunday Islands by train, foot, and bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Cairns to Whitsunday Islands is to bus via Airlie Beach which costs $90 - $160 and takes 9h 53m.
The fastest way to get from Cairns to Whitsunday Islands is to fly which takes 2h 35m and costs $260 - $1,100.
Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Cairns Central Station station and arriving at Airlie Beach. Services depart twice daily, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 10h 10m.
No, there is no direct train from Cairns station to Whitsunday Islands. However, there are services departing from Cairns Central Station and arriving at Proserpine via . The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 11h 10m.
The distance between Cairns and Whitsunday Islands is 504 km. The road distance is 546 km.
The best way to get from Cairns to Whitsunday Islands without a car is to bus via Airlie Beach which takes 9h 53m and costs $90 - $160.
It takes approximately 2h 35m to get from Cairns to Whitsunday Islands, including transfers.
Cairns to Whitsunday Islands bus services, operated by Premier Motor Service, depart from Cairns Central Station.
Cairns to Whitsunday Islands train services, operated by Queensland Rail Travel, depart from Cairns Central Station.
The best way to get from Cairns to Whitsunday Islands is to fly which takes 2h 35m and costs $260 - $1,100. Alternatively, you can bus via Airlie Beach, which costs $90 - $160 and takes 9h 53m, you could also train, which costs $70 - $2,200 and takes 11h 10m.
What companies run services between Cairns, QLD, Australia and Whitsunday Islands, QLD, Australia?
Skytrans flies from Cairns (CNS) to Whitsunday Coast Airport (PPP) 4 times a week. Alternatively, FlixBus Australia operates a bus from Cairns to Airlie Beach twice daily. Tickets cost $90–160 and the journey takes 9h 38m.
- Website
- skytrans.com.au
Flights from Cairns to Whitsunday Coast Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- When
- Friday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday
- Estimated price
- $340–750
- 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
- $90–160
- 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
- 1300 473946
- [email protected]
- Website
- greyhound.com.au
Bus from Cairns Central Station to Airlie Beach
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $100–230
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/
- Schedules at
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/timetables
- Early Bird
- $100–150
- Advantage
- $120–180
- Flexible
- $150–230
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Read the travel guideMore Questions & Answers
Cairns to Whitsunday Islands bus services, operated by Premier Motor Service, arrive at Airlie Beach station.
Cairns to Whitsunday Islands train services, operated by Queensland Rail Travel, arrive at Proserpine station.
Yes, the driving distance between Cairns to Whitsunday Islands is 546 km. It takes approximately 6h 36m to drive from Cairns to Whitsunday Islands.
Book your Cairns to Whitsunday Islands bus tickets online with Omio and 12go.asia.
There are 549+ hotels available in Whitsunday Islands.