There are 6 ways to get from Gold Coast to Cairns by plane, train, bus (Greyhound), car, 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.
Fly from Gold Coast Airport
best- Fly from Gold Coast Airport (OOL) to Cairns (CNS)plane OOL - CNS
5h 43m$122–602Train
- Take the train from Helensvale station, platform 2 to Roma Streettrain Vlbd / ...
- Take the train from Roma Street to Cairns Central Stationtrain Spirit of Queensland
28h 7m$172–6,502Bus
- Take the bus from Surfers Paradise to Brisbanebus Brisbane
- Take the bus from Brisbane Coach Terminal to Cairnsbus Au050 / ...
30h 52m$287–445Drive 1,752.8 km
- Drive from Gold Coast to Cairnscar 1,752.8 km
20h 43m$318–459Train to Brisbane Airport, fly
- Take the train from Helensvale station, platform 2 to International Airport Stationtrain
- Fly from Brisbane Airport (BNE) to Cairns (CNS)plane BNE - CNS
6h 54m$150–628Train, bus
- Take the train from Helensvale station, platform 2 to Roma Streettrain Vlbd / ...
- Take the bus from Brisbane Roma Street to Cairns Central Stationbus Pm16
32h 17m$242–352
Gold Coast to Cairns by tram and train
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Gold Coast to Cairns is to train and fly which costs $150 - $650 and takes 6h 54m.
The fastest way to get from Gold Coast to Cairns is to fly which takes 5h 43m and costs $120 - $600.
No, there is no direct bus from Gold Coast to Cairns. However, there are services departing from Surfers Paradise and arriving at Cairns via Brisbane Coach Terminal. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 30h 52m.
No, there is no direct train from Gold Coast station to Cairns station. However, there are services departing from Cypress Avenue station, platform 1 and arriving at Cairns Central Station via Helensvale station, platform 2 and Roma Street. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 28h 7m.
The distance between Gold Coast and Cairns is 1513 km. The road distance is 1752.8 km.
The best way to get from Gold Coast to Cairns without a car is to train which takes 28h 7m and costs $170 - $6,500.
It takes approximately 5h 43m to get from Gold Coast to Cairns, including transfers.
Gold Coast to Cairns bus services, operated by Greyhound Australia, depart from Surfers Paradise station.
Gold Coast to Cairns train services, operated by Translink, depart from Helensvale station, platform 2.
The best way to get from Gold Coast to Cairns is to fly which takes 5h 43m and costs $120 - $600. Alternatively, you can train, which costs $170 - $6,500 and takes 28h 7m, you could also bus, which costs $280 - $450 and takes 30h 52m.
What companies run services between Gold Coast, 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 vehicle from Cypress Avenue station, platform 1 to Cairns Central Station via Helensvale station, platform 4, Helensvale station, platform 2, and Roma Street in around 28h 7m.
- 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 56m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–1,300
Flights from Brisbane Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 27m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–700
Flights from Brisbane Airport to Cairns via Townsville
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 5m
- 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
- 5h 57m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–600
Flights from Brisbane Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–550
- Website
- virginaustralia.com
Flights from Gold Coast Airport to Cairns via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $380–600
Flights from Brisbane Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 27m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–440
Train from Helensvale station, platform 2 to Roma Street
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 7m
- Frequency
- Every 20 minutes
- Estimated price
- $1
- Website
- Translink
Train from Helensvale station, platform 2 to International Airport Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 31m
- Frequency
- Every 20 minutes
- Estimated price
- $20–28
- Website
- Translink
Train from Helensvale station, platform 2 to Roma Street
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 7m
- Frequency
- Every 20 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
- 1300 473946
- [email protected]
- Website
- Greyhound Australia
Bus from Surfers Paradise to Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $26–45
- Website
- Greyhound Australia
- Schedules at
- Greyhound Australia
- Early Bird
- $28–40
- Flexible
- $26–45
- Website
- FlixBus Australia
Bus from Brisbane Coach Terminal to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 28h 40m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $260–400
- 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
Gold Coast to Cairns bus services, operated by Greyhound Australia, arrive at Brisbane station.
Gold Coast to Cairns train services, operated by Translink, arrive at Roma Street station.
Yes, the driving distance between Gold Coast to Cairns is 1753 km. It takes approximately 20h 43m to drive from Gold Coast to Cairns.
Book your Gold Coast to Cairns bus tickets online with Omio and 12go.asia.
There are 952+ hotels available in Cairns.














