There are 6 ways to get from Coolangatta to Cairns by plane, train, bus, 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 Gold Coast Airport
best- Fly from Gold Coast Airport (OOL) to Cairns (CNS)plane OOL - CNS
5h$121–601Train
- Take the train from Varsity Lakes station, platform 2 to Roma Streettrain Vlbd / ...
- Take the train from Roma Street to Cairns Central Stationtrain Spirit of Queensland
28h 38m$172–6,502Bus
- Take the bus from Gold Coast Airport to Brisbane Roma Streetbus
- Take the bus from Brisbane Coach Terminal to Cairnsbus Au050 / ...
32h 37m$306–471Drive 1,777.1 km
- Drive from Coolangatta to Cairnscar 1,777.1 km
20h 57m$326–471Train to Brisbane Airport, fly
- Take the train from Varsity Lakes station, platform 2 to International Airport Stationtrain
- Fly from Brisbane Airport (BNE) to Cairns (CNS)plane BNE - CNS
7h 27m$151–629Train, bus
- Take the train from Varsity Lakes station, platform 2 to Roma Streettrain Vlbd / ...
- Take the bus from Brisbane Roma Street to Cairns Central Stationbus Pm16
32h 48m$242–352
Coolangatta to Cairns by bus and train
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Coolangatta to Cairns is to train and fly which costs $150 - $650 and takes 7h 27m.
The fastest way to get from Coolangatta to Cairns is to fly which takes 5h and costs $120 - $600.
No, there is no direct bus from Coolangatta to Cairns. However, there are services departing from Griffith St at Coolangatta East and arriving at Cairns via Gold Coast Airport and Brisbane Coach Terminal. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 32h 37m.
No, there is no direct train from Coolangatta station to Cairns station. However, there are services departing from Varsity Lakes station, platform 2 and arriving at Cairns Central Station via Roma Street. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 28h 38m.
The distance between Coolangatta and Cairns is 1495 km. The road distance is 1777.1 km.
The best way to get from Coolangatta to Cairns without a car is to train which takes 28h 38m and costs $170 - $6,500.
It takes approximately 5h to get from Coolangatta to Cairns, including transfers.
Coolangatta to Cairns bus services, operated by Byron Easy Bus, depart from Gold Coast Airport station.
Coolangatta to Cairns train services, operated by Translink, depart from Varsity Lakes station, platform 2.
The best way to get from Coolangatta to Cairns is to fly which takes 5h and costs $120 - $600. Alternatively, you can train, which costs $170 - $6,500 and takes 28h 38m, you could also bus, which costs $300 - $480 and takes 32h 37m.
What companies run services between Coolangatta, QLD, Australia and Cairns, QLD, Australia?
Jetstar, Virgin Australia, and Qantas fly from Gold Coast Airport (OOL) to Cairns (CNS) every 4 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Griffith St at Coolangatta East to Cairns Central Station via Varsity Lakes station, stop A, Varsity Lakes station, platform 2, and Roma Street in around 28h 38m.
- Website
- qantas.com
Flights from Gold Coast Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–600
Flights from Gold Coast Airport to Cairns via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 57m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–1,400
Flights from Brisbane Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 28m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–700
Flights from Brisbane Airport to Cairns via Townsville
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 10m
- When
- Wednesday to Friday
- Estimated price
- $250–700
- Website
- jetstar.com
Flights from Gold Coast Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–600
Flights from Gold Coast Airport to Cairns via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 6h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–600
Flights from Brisbane Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 26m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–550
- Website
- virginaustralia.com
Flights from Gold Coast Airport to Cairns via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 50m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $380–600
Flights from Brisbane Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–480
Train from Varsity Lakes station, platform 2 to Roma Street
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 21m
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $1
- Website
- Translink
Train from Varsity Lakes station, platform 2 to International Airport Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $20–28
- Website
- Translink
Train from Varsity Lakes station, platform 2 to Roma Street
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 21m
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $1
- Website
- Translink
- Phone
- 1800 872 467
- Website
- Queensland Rail Travel
Train from Roma Street to Cairns Central Station
- 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
- +612 6685 7447
- [email protected]
- Website
- Byron Easybus
Bus from Gold Coast Airport to Brisbane Roma Street
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 39m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $55–80
- Website
- Byron Easybus
- Website
- FlixBus Australia
Bus from Brisbane Coach Terminal to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 28h 40m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $250–390
- Schedules at
- FlixBus Australia
- Phone
- 13 34 10
- [email protected]
- Website
- Premier Motor Service
Bus from Brisbane Roma Street to Cairns Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 29h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $240–350
- Website
- Premier Motor Service
Want to know more about travelling around Australia
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Booking & Getting There
Coolangatta to Cairns bus services, operated by Byron Easy Bus, arrive at Brisbane Roma Street station.
Coolangatta to Cairns train services, operated by Translink, arrive at Roma Street station.
Yes, the driving distance between Coolangatta to Cairns is 1777 km. It takes approximately 20h 57m to drive from Coolangatta to Cairns.
There are 1028+ hotels available in Cairns.












