There are 7 ways to get from Canberra to Cairns by plane, bus, train, bus (Greyhound), 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 from Canberra International Airport
best- Fly from Canberra International Airport (CBR) to Cairns (CNS)plane CBR - CNS
7h 42m$263–1,005Bus to Sydney International Airport, fly
cheapest- Take the bus from Canberra to Sydney International Airportbus
- Fly from Sydney International Airport (SYD) to Cairns (CNS)plane SYD - CNS
8h 29m$167–610Bus, train
- Take the bus from Canberra to Sydney Central Stationbus
- Take the train from Central Station to Roma Street Stationtrain 31
- Take the train from Roma Street to Cairns Central Stationtrain
44h 36m$278–6,813Bus
- Take the bus from Canberra to Sydney Central Stationbus
- Take the bus from Central Station to Brisbanebus
- Take the bus from Brisbane Coach Terminal to Cairnsbus
47h 2m$418–793Drive 2,494.5 km
- Drive from Canberra to Cairnscar 2,494.5 km
28h 28m$448–647Drive to Orange Airport, fly
- Drive from Canberra to Orange-Airport-OAGcar
- Fly from Orange Airport (OAG) to Cairns (CNS)plane OAG - CNS
10h 3m$476–917Bus, train via Wollongong
- Take the bus from Jolimont Centre to Wollongong Station, Station Stbus 855
- Take the train from Wollongong Station to Central Stationtrain Sco
- Take the bus from Chatswood to Brisbanebus
- Take the bus from Brisbane Roma Street to Cairns Central Stationbus
2d 6h$397–583
Canberra to Cairns by bus and train
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Canberra to Cairns is to bus and fly which costs $160 - $650 and takes 8h 29m.
The fastest way to get from Canberra to Cairns is to fly which takes 7h 42m and costs $260 - $1,100.
No, there is no direct bus from Canberra to Cairns. However, there are services departing from Canberra and arriving at Cairns via Central Station and Brisbane Coach Terminal. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 47h 2m.
The distance between Canberra and Cairns is 2092 km. The road distance is 2494.5 km.
The best way to get from Canberra to Cairns without a car is to bus and train which takes 44h 36m and costs $270 - $7,000.
It takes approximately 7h 42m to get from Canberra to Cairns, including transfers.
Canberra to Cairns bus services, operated by FlixBus Australia, depart from Canberra station.
The best way to get from Canberra to Cairns is to fly which takes 7h 42m and costs $260 - $1,100. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $410 - $800 and takes 47h 2m.
Canberra to Cairns bus services, operated by FlixBus Australia, arrive at Sydney Central Station.
Yes, the driving distance between Canberra to Cairns is 2495 km. It takes approximately 28h 28m to drive from Canberra to Cairns.
What companies run services between Canberra, ACT, Australia and Cairns, QLD, Australia?
Qantas, Jetstar, and Virgin Australia fly from Canberra International Airport (CBR) to Cairns (CNS) every 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Canberra to Cairns via Sydney Central Station, Central Station, Brisbane, and Brisbane Coach Terminal in around 47h 2m.
- Website
- qantas.com
Flights from Canberra International Airport to Cairns via Sydney International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 38m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $240–1,400
Flights from Canberra International Airport to Cairns via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 43m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–1,500
Flights from Canberra International Airport to Cairns via Melbourne
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 56m
- When
- Wednesday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- $240–1,600
Flights from Canberra International Airport to Cairns via Adelaide
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 45m
- When
- Thursday
- Estimated price
- $240–900
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–650
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 7m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $200–650
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns via Townsville
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 5m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $200–650
Flights from Orange Airport to Cairns via Sydney International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 51m
- When
- Monday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- $200–1,500
Flights from Orange Airport to Cairns via Sydney International Airport, Townsville
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 20m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $440–1,500
- Website
- virginaustralia.com
Flights from Canberra International Airport to Cairns via Sydney International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 27m
- When
- Monday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- $300–1,100
Flights from Canberra International Airport to Cairns via Melbourne
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 45m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $300–1,100
Flights from Canberra International Airport to Cairns via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $300–1,100
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $220–410
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 3m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $220–410
Flights from Orange Airport to Cairns via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 5m
- When
- Thursday
- Estimated price
- $280–850
Flights from Orange Airport to Cairns via Dubbo, Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 45m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $280–850
- Website
- jetstar.com
Flights from Canberra International Airport to Cairns via Melbourne
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 35m
- When
- Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $240–900
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–550
- Phone
- 131 500
- Website
- transportnsw.info
Train from Central Station to Roma Street Station
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 6m
- 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 872 467
- Website
- queenslandrailtravel.com.au
Train from Roma Street to Cairns Central Station
- 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 Wollongong Station to Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 27m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $7–10
- Website
- https://transportnsw.info/regional
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.com.au/
Bus from Canberra to Sydney Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 10m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $35–65
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com.au
Bus from Canberra to Sydney Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 10m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $35–65
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com.au
Bus from Brisbane Coach Terminal to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 28h 40m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $250–430
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com.au
Bus from Canberra to Sydney International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 4m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $35–60
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com.au
- Phone
- 1300 473946
- [email protected]
- Website
- greyhound.com.au
Bus from Central Station to Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 13h
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $130–300
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/
- Schedules at
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/timetables
- Early Bird
- $130–200
- Advantage
- $160–250
- Flexible
- $210–300
- Phone
- (61) 13 22 51
- [email protected]
- Website
- transportnsw.info
Bus from Jolimont Centre to Wollongong Station, Station St
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 20m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $45–65
- Schedules at
- transportnsw.info
- Phone
- 13 34 10
- [email protected]
- Website
- premierms.com.au
Bus from Chatswood to Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 17h 15m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $120–180
- Website
- https://premierms.com.au/
Bus from Brisbane Roma Street to Cairns Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 29h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $220–320
- Website
- https://premierms.com.au/
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
More Questions & Answers
Book your Canberra to Cairns bus tickets online with Omio and 12go.asia.
There are 999+ hotels available in Cairns.























