There are 6 ways to get from Great Barrier Reef to Whitsundays by ferry, bus, train, or plane
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Ferry, bus via Cairns Central Station
best- Take the ferry from Great Barrier Reef Green Island to Cairns Reef Fleet Terminalferry
- Take the bus from Cairns Central Station to Airlie Beachbus
- Take the ferry from Port of Airlie to Daydream Islandferry
13h 37m$221–283Ferry, train
cheapest- Take the ferry from Great Barrier Reef Green Island to Cairns Reef Fleet Terminalferry
- Take the train from Cairns Central Station to Proserpinetrain
- Take the ferry from Port of Airlie to Daydream Islandferry
14h 35m$212–2,364Ferry, fly to Great Barrier Reef Airport
- Take the ferry from Great Barrier Reef Green Island to Cairns Reef Fleet Terminalferry
- Fly from Cairns (CNS) to Great Barrier Reef Airport (HTI)plane CNS - HTI
8h 17m$553–1,213Ferry, bus
- Take the ferry from Great Barrier Reef Green Island to Cairns Reef Fleet Terminalferry
- Take the bus from Cairns to Airlie Beachbus
- Take the ferry from Port of Airlie to Daydream Islandferry
13h 52m$240–392Ferry, fly to Whitsunday Coast Airport
- Take the ferry from Great Barrier Reef Green Island to Cairns Reef Fleet Terminalferry
- Fly from Cairns (CNS) to Whitsunday Coast Airport (PPP)plane CNS - PPP
- Take the ferry from Port of Airlie to Daydream Islandferry
7h 49m$432–1,314Ferry, fly to Mackay, bus
- Take the ferry from Great Barrier Reef Green Island to Cairns Reef Fleet Terminalferry
- Fly from Cairns (CNS) to Mackay (MKY)plane CNS - MKY
- Take the bus from Mackay to Airlie Beachbus
- Take the ferry from Port of Airlie to Daydream Islandferry
11h 48m$420–773
Great Barrier Reef to Whitsundays by foot, ferry, and bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Great Barrier Reef to Whitsundays is to ferry and bus via Cairns Central Station which costs $220 - $290 and takes 13h 37m.
The fastest way to get from Great Barrier Reef to Whitsundays is to ferry and fly which takes 7h 49m and costs $430 - $1,400.
The distance between Great Barrier Reef and Whitsundays is 703 km.
The best way to get from Great Barrier Reef to Whitsundays without a car is to ferry and bus via Cairns Central Station which takes 13h 37m and costs $220 - $290.
It takes approximately 13h 37m to get from Great Barrier Reef to Whitsundays, including transfers.
There are 401+ hotels available in Whitsundays.
What companies run services between Great Barrier Reef, QLD, Australia and Whitsundays, QLD, Australia?
There is no direct connection from Great Barrier Reef to Whitsundays. However, you can walk to Great Barrier Reef Green Island, take the ferry to Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal, walk to Cairns City bus station, platform 1, take the line 110 bus to Cairns Central Terminus, take the bus to Airlie Beach, walk to Port of Airlie, then take the ferry to Daydream Island. Alternatively, you can take a vehicle from Great Barrier Reef to Daydream Island via Great Barrier Reef Green Island, Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal, Cairns City bus station, platform 1, Cairns Central Terminus, Cairns Central Station, Proserpine, Proserpine, Mill Street, Coconut Grove at Airlie Esplanade, and Port of Airlie in around 14h 35m.
- Website
- qantas.com
Flights from Cairns to Great Barrier Reef Airport via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $350–1,100
Flights from Cairns to Great Barrier Reef Airport via Townsville, Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 5m
- When
- Monday to Friday
- Estimated price
- $440–1,200
Flights from Cairns to Mackay via Townsville
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 45m
- When
- Tuesday
- Estimated price
- $390–650
Flights from Cairns to Mackay via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 33m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $390–650
- Website
- virginaustralia.com
Flights from Cairns to Great Barrier Reef Airport via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $350–1,200
Flights from Cairns to Great Barrier Reef Airport via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 20m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $440–1,200
Flights from Cairns to Mackay via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 57m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $250–400
- Website
- skytrans.com.au
Flights from Cairns to Whitsunday Coast Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- When
- Friday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday
- Estimated price
- $340–750
- Phone
- 1800 872 467
- Website
- Queensland Rail Travel
Train from Cairns Central Station to Proserpine
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 26m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $70–2,200
- Book at
- Queensland Rail Travel
- Website
- Queensland Rail Travel
- Schedules at
- Queensland Rail Travel
- BQuick
- $70–100
- AChoice
- $110–140
- Gold Class
- $1,756
- Heritage Class
- $2,200
- Phone
- 13 34 10
- [email protected]
- Website
- Premier Motor Service
Bus from Cairns Central Station to Airlie Beach
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 10m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $80–120
- Website
- Premier Motor Service
Bus from Mackay to Airlie Beach
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 10m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $29–45
- Website
- Premier Motor Service
- Phone
- 1300 473946
- [email protected]
- Website
- Greyhound Australia
Bus from Cairns to Airlie Beach
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $100–230
- Website
- Greyhound Australia
- Schedules at
- Greyhound Australia
- Early Bird
- $100–150
- Advantage
- $120–180
- Flexible
- $150–230
Bus from Mackay to Airlie Beach
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $35–60
- Website
- Greyhound Australia
- Schedules at
- Greyhound Australia
- Early Bird
- $35–55
- Advantage
- $35–55
- Flexible
- $40–60
- Phone
- (61) 7 4044 9944
- [email protected]
- Website
- green-island.com.au
Ferry from Great Barrier Reef Green Island to Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $112
- Schedules at
- green-island.com.au
Ferry from Great Barrier Reef Green Island to Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $112
- Schedules at
- green-island.com.au
Ferry from Great Barrier Reef Green Island to Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $112
- Schedules at
- green-island.com.au
Ferry from Great Barrier Reef Green Island to Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $112
- Schedules at
- green-island.com.au
Ferry from Great Barrier Reef Green Island to Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $112
- Schedules at
- green-island.com.au
Ferry from Great Barrier Reef Green Island to Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $112
- Schedules at
- green-island.com.au
- Phone
- +617 4846 7000
- [email protected]
- Website
- cruisewhitsundays.com
Ferry from Port of Airlie to Daydream Island
- Ave. Duration
- 30 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $28–50
- Schedules at
- cruisewhitsundays.com
Ferry from Port of Airlie to Daydream Island
- Ave. Duration
- 30 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $28–50
- Schedules at
- cruisewhitsundays.com
Ferry from Port of Airlie to Daydream Island
- Ave. Duration
- 30 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $28–50
- Schedules at
- cruisewhitsundays.com
Ferry from Port of Airlie to Daydream Island
- Ave. Duration
- 30 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $28–50
- Schedules at
- cruisewhitsundays.com
Ferry from Port of Airlie to Daydream Island
- Ave. Duration
- 30 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $28–50
- Schedules at
- cruisewhitsundays.com
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.
Related travel guides
Best ways to travel around Australia
Read the travel guide
10 amazing places to get away from it all in Australia
Read the travel guide
4 of the smartest ways to explore Australia
Read the travel guide











