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
4h 55m$120–600Train
- 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 36m$172–6,502Bus
- Take the bus from Tweed Heads to Brisbanebus Pm12
- Take the bus from Brisbane Coach Terminal to Cairnsbus Au050 / ...
31h 50m$277–428Drive 1,777.1 km
- Drive from Coolangatta to Cairnscar 1,777.1 km
20h 57m$324–468Train 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 24m$150–628Train, 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 46m$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 24m.
The fastest way to get from Coolangatta to Cairns is to fly which takes 4h 55m and costs $120 - $600.
No, there is no direct bus from Coolangatta to Cairns. However, there are services departing from Tweed Heads and arriving at Cairns via Brisbane Coach Terminal. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 31h 50m.
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 36m.
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 36m and costs $170 - $6,500.
It takes approximately 4h 55m to get from Coolangatta to Cairns, including transfers.
Coolangatta to Cairns bus services, operated by Premier Motor Service, depart from Tweed Heads 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 4h 55m and costs $120 - $600. Alternatively, you can train, which costs $170 - $6,500 and takes 28h 36m, you could also bus, which costs $270 - $430 and takes 31h 50m.
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) 5 times a day. 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 36m.
- Website
- qantas.com
Flights from Gold Coast Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 32m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–600
Flights from Gold Coast Airport to Cairns via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 55m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $450–1,400
Flights from Brisbane Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 28m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–700
Flights from Brisbane Airport to Cairns via Townsville
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 10m
- When
- Wednesday to Friday
- Estimated price
- $300–700
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
- 13 34 10
- [email protected]
- Website
- Premier Motor Service
Bus from Tweed Heads to Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 10m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $27–40
- 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
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.
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Booking & Getting There
Coolangatta to Cairns bus services, operated by Premier Motor Service, arrive at Brisbane 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.
Book your Coolangatta to Cairns bus tickets online with 12go.asia.
There are 1029+ hotels available in Cairns.




