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How to get fromChicago to Great Barrier Reefby plane, ferry, train, taxi, or bus

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There are 7 ways to get from Chicago to Great Barrier Reef by plane, ferry, train, taxi, or bus

Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.

  1. Fly Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Cairns, ferry

    best
    1. Fly from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Cairns (CNS)plane plane ORD - CNS
    2. Take the ferry from Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal to Great Barrier Reef Green Islandferry ferry
    29h 55m
    $1,017–3,120

  2. Fly Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Townsville Airport, train, ferry

    cheapest
    1. Fly from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Townsville Airport (TSV)plane plane ORD - TSV
    2. Take the train from Townsville to Cairns Central Stationtrain train
    3. Take the ferry from Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal to Great Barrier Reef Green Islandferry ferry
    37h 3m
    $1,014–4,322

  3. Fly Chicago Midway International Airport to Cairns, ferry

    1. Fly from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to Cairns (CNS)plane plane MDW - CNS
    2. Take the ferry from Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal to Great Barrier Reef Green Islandferry ferry
    29h 40m
    $1,217–3,920

  4. Train to South Bend, fly to Cairns, ferry

    1. Take the train from Van Buren St. to South Bend Airporttrain train
    2. Fly from South Bend (SBN) to Cairns (CNS)plane plane SBN - CNS
    3. Take the ferry from Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal to Great Barrier Reef Green Islandferry ferry
    33h 32m
    $1,232–3,833

  5. Train to General Mitchell International Airport, fly to Cairns, ferry

    1. Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Milwaukeetrain train
    2. Fly from General Mitchell International Airport (MKE) to Cairns (CNS)plane plane MKE - CNS
    3. Take the ferry from Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal to Great Barrier Reef Green Islandferry ferry
    33h 19m
    $1,455–4,712

  6. Train, taxi to Muskegon, fly to Cairns, ferry

    1. Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Holland Amtrak Stationtrain train
    2. Take the taxi from Holland Amtrak Station to Muskegon (MKG)taxi taxi
    3. Fly from Muskegon (MKG) to Cairns (CNS)plane plane MKG - CNS
    4. Take the ferry from Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal to Great Barrier Reef Green Islandferry ferry
    37h 7m
    $1,082–2,983

  7. Fly Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Cooktown Airport, bus, ferry

    1. Fly from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Cooktown Airport (CTN)plane plane ORD - CTN
    2. Take the bus from Cooktown to Smithfieldbus bus
    3. Take the ferry from Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal to Great Barrier Reef Green Islandferry ferry
    38h 14m
    $1,132–3,380

Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Cairns (CNS) flights

Calendar36Weekly Planes
Duration25h 17mAverage Duration
Ticket$927Cheapest Price
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Questions & Answers

Map of how to get from Chicago to Great Barrier Reef.ExpandLaunch map view
  • Distance: 14,297.3 km
  • Duration: 29h 55m

What companies run services between Chicago, IL, USA and Great Barrier Reef, QLD, Australia?

There is no direct connection from Chicago to Great Barrier Reef. However, you can take the subway to O'Hare, walk to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) airport, fly to Cairns (CNS), walk to Cairns Airport, take the shuttle to Cairns Base Hospital, walk to Cairns Hospital, take the line 110 bus to Cairns City bus station, platform 1, walk to Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal, take the ferry to Great Barrier Reef Green Island, then walk to Great Barrier Reef. Alternatively, you can take the subway to Midway, walk to Chicago-Midway-Airport-MDW airport, fly to Cairns (CNS), walk to Cairns Airport, take the shuttle to Cairns Base Hospital, walk to Cairns Hospital, take the line 110 bus to Cairns City bus station, platform 1, walk to Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal, take the ferry to Great Barrier Reef Green Island, then walk to Great Barrier Reef.

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