There are 5 ways to get from Darwin to Cairns Bay by plane, train, bus (Greyhound), bus, car ferry, 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 to Melbourne Airport, train
best- Fly from Darwin International Airport (DRW) to Melbourne Airport (MEL)plane DRW - MEL
- Take the train from Flinders Street Station to Frankston Stationtrain
10h 46m$370–980Bus
- Take the bus from Darwin to Alice Springsbus
- Take the bus from Alice Springs to Adelaidebus
- Take the bus from Adelaide to Ballaratbus
- Take the bus from Ballarat to Melbourne Airportbus
- Take the bus from Melbourne Airport T1 Skybus/Arrival Dr to Frankstonbus
2d 10h$656–1,228Train, bus, car ferry
- Take the train from Darwin to Alice Springstrain
- Take the bus from Alice Springs to Adelaidebus
- Take the bus from Stop D1 Currie St - North side to Railway Tce - South sidebus
- Take the train from Murray Bridge Station to North Shore Stationtrain
- Take the carferry from Queenscliff to Sorrentocarferry
2d 11h$2,631–3,132Drive 3,825.3 km
- Drive from Darwin to Cairns Baycar 3,825.3 km
38h 33m$678–979Fly to Avalon Airport, drive, car ferry
- Fly from Darwin International Airport (DRW) to Avalon Airport (AVV)plane DRW - AVV
- Drive from Avalon-Airport-AVV to Queenscliffcar
- Take the carferry from Queenscliff to Sorrentocarferry
12h 31m$524–1,642
Darwin International Airport (DRW) to Melbourne Airport (MEL) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Darwin to Cairns Bay is to fly and train which costs $370 - $1,000 and takes 10h 46m.
The fastest way to get from Darwin to Cairns Bay is to fly and train which takes 10h 46m and costs $370 - $1,000.
No, there is no direct bus from Darwin to Cairns Bay. However, there are services departing from Darwin and arriving at Siesta Caravan Park/Point Nepean Rd via Alice Springs, Adelaide, Ballarat, Melbourne Airport T1 Skybus/Arrival Dr and Frankston. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2 days 10h.
The distance between Darwin and Cairns Bay is 3272 km. The road distance is 3825.3 km.
The best way to get from Darwin to Cairns Bay without a car is to bus which takes 2 days 10h and costs $650 - $1,300.
It takes approximately 10h 46m to get from Darwin to Cairns Bay, including transfers.
Darwin to Cairns Bay bus services, operated by Greyhound Australia, depart from Darwin station.
Darwin to Cairns Bay bus services, operated by Greyhound Australia, arrive at Alice Springs station.
Yes, the driving distance between Darwin to Cairns Bay is 3825 km. It takes approximately 38h 33m to drive from Darwin to Cairns Bay.
There are 1425+ hotels available in Cairns Bay.
What companies run services between Darwin, NT, Australia and Cairns Bay, VIC, Australia?
You can take a bus from Darwin to Cairns Bay via Alice Springs, Adelaide, Ballarat, Melbourne Airport T1 Skybus/Arrival Dr, Frankston, and Siesta Caravan Park/Point Nepean Rd in around 2d 10h.
- Website
- qantas.com
Flights from Darwin International Airport to Melbourne Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $290–950
Flights from Darwin International Airport to Melbourne Airport via Adelaide
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $400–950
Flights from Darwin International Airport to Melbourne Airport via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 50m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $400–950
Flights from Darwin International Airport to Melbourne Airport via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 25m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $400–950
Flights from Darwin International Airport to Avalon Airport via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 16m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $500–3,100
Flights from Darwin International Airport to Avalon Airport via Adelaide
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 30m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $850–2,800
Flights from Darwin International Airport to Avalon Airport via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 20m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $550–1,700
Flights from Darwin International Airport to Avalon Airport via Alice Springs, Adelaide
- Ave. Duration
- 11h
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $850–2,800
Flights from Darwin International Airport to Avalon Airport via Melbourne Airport, Adelaide
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 35m
- When
- Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $1,000–3,300
- Website
- jetstar.com
Flights from Darwin International Airport to Melbourne Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $290–900
Flights from Darwin International Airport to Melbourne Airport via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 55m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $290–900
Flights from Darwin International Airport to Melbourne Airport via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 35m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $290–900
Flights from Darwin International Airport to Avalon Airport via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 32m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $500–1,600
Flights from Darwin International Airport to Avalon Airport via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 20m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $550–1,700
- Website
- virginaustralia.com
Flights from Darwin International Airport to Melbourne Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $390–800
Flights from Darwin International Airport to Melbourne Airport via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 50m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $390–800
Flights from Darwin International Airport to Melbourne Airport via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 15m
- When
- Friday
- Estimated price
- $390–800
- Phone
- 1800 800 007
- [email protected]
- Website
- Metro Trains Melbourne
Train from Flinders Street Station to Frankston Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 7m
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Website
- Metro Trains Melbourne
- Schedules at
- Metro Trains Melbourne
- Phone
- 1800 703 357
- [email protected]
- Website
- journeybeyondrail.com.au
Train from Darwin to Alice Springs
- Ave. Duration
- 23h 10m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- $2,222
- Book at
- Great Southern Rail - The Ghan
- Saver Gold Single Cabin
- $2,222
- Everyday Gold Single Cabin
- $2,340
- Phone
- 1800 703 357
- [email protected]
- Website
- Journey Beyond
Train from Murray Bridge Station to North Shore Station
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 58m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- $120–310
- Website
- Journey Beyond
- Red Standard Readyrail
- $120–140
- Red Standard Everyday
- $160–190
- Red Premium Readyrail
- $210–260
- Red Premium Everyday
- $260–310
- Phone
- 1300 473946
- [email protected]
- Website
- Greyhound Australia
Bus from Darwin to Alice Springs
- Ave. Duration
- 21h 5m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $220–500
- Website
- Greyhound Australia
- Schedules at
- Greyhound Australia
- Early Bird
- $220–310
- Advantage
- $270–400
- Flexible
- $340–500
Bus from Alice Springs to Adelaide
- Ave. Duration
- 20h 55m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $220–500
- Website
- Greyhound Australia
- Schedules at
- Greyhound Australia
- Early Bird
- $220–310
- Advantage
- $270–400
- Flexible
- $350–500
Bus from Alice Springs to Adelaide
- Ave. Duration
- 20h 55m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $220–500
- Website
- Greyhound Australia
- Schedules at
- Greyhound Australia
- Early Bird
- $220–310
- Advantage
- $270–400
- Flexible
- $350–500
- Phone
- 1300 730 740
- [email protected]
- Website
- Firefly Express
Bus from Adelaide to Ballarat
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 15m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $95–99
- Website
- Firefly Express
- Phone
- 03 5333 4181
- [email protected]
- Website
- airportshuttlebus.com.au
Bus from Ballarat to Melbourne Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- $52
- Schedules at
- airportshuttlebus.com.au
- Book at
- airportshuttlebus.com.au
- Phone
- 1300 759 287
- [email protected]
- Website
- Skybus
Bus from Melbourne Airport T1 Skybus/Arrival Dr to Frankston
- Phone
- 1300 311 108
- Website
- Adelaide Metro
Bus from Stop D1 Currie St - North side to Railway Tce - South side
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 26m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $5
- Website
- Adelaide Metro
- Schedules at
- Adelaide Metro
- Phone
- (08) 8532 2633
- Website
- linksa.com.au
Bus from Stop D1 Currie St - North side to Railway Tce - South side
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 26m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $9–11
- Schedules at
- linksa.com.au
- Phone
- +61 3 5257 4500
- [email protected]
- Website
- searoad.com.au
Car ferry from Queenscliff to Sorrento
- Ave. Duration
- 40 min
- Frequency
- Every 2 hours
- Estimated price
- $11–20
- Schedules at
- searoad.com.au
- Adult
- $20
- Vehicle Incl. Driver
- $108
Car ferry from Queenscliff to Sorrento
- Ave. Duration
- 40 min
- Frequency
- Every 2 hours
- Estimated price
- $11–20
- Schedules at
- searoad.com.au
- Adult
- $20
- Vehicle Incl. Driver
- $108
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