There are 4 ways to get from Johannesburg to Cairns by plane, car, bus, or train
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly Johannesburg International Airport to Cairns
best- Fly from Johannesburg International Airport (JNB) to Cairns (CNS)plane JNB - CNS
17h 54m$833–2,139Fly Johannesburg International Airport to Townsville Airport, train
cheapest- Fly from Johannesburg International Airport (JNB) to Townsville Airport (TSV)plane JNB - TSV
- Take the train from Townsville to Cairns Central Stationtrain
27h 16m$780–3,741Drive to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, fly to Cairns
- Drive from Johannesburg to Nelspruit-Airport-MQPcar
- Fly from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) to Cairns (CNS)plane MQP - CNS
24h 58m$1,172–2,903Fly Johannesburg International Airport to Cooktown Airport, bus
- Fly from Johannesburg International Airport (JNB) to Cooktown Airport (CTN)plane JNB - CTN
- Take the bus from Cooktown to Cairnsbus
32h 35m$998–2,409
Johannesburg International Airport (JNB) to Cairns (CNS) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Johannesburg to Cairns is to fly which costs $800 - $2,200 and takes 17h 54m.
The fastest way to get from Johannesburg to Cairns is to fly which takes 17h 54m and costs $800 - $2,200.
The distance between Johannesburg and Cairns is 11772 km.
It takes approximately 17h 54m to get from Johannesburg to Cairns, including transfers.
Cairns is 8h ahead of Johannesburg. It is currently 1:45 AM in Johannesburg and 9:45 AM in Cairns.
There are 1011+ hotels available in Cairns.
What companies run services between Johannesburg, South Africa and Cairns, QLD, Australia?
Singapore Airlines, Qantas, and two other airlines fly from Johannesburg International Airport (JNB) to Cairns (CNS) twice daily.
- Website
- qantas.com
Flights from Johannesburg International Airport to Cairns via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 19h 40m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $750–2,500
Flights from Johannesburg International Airport to Cairns via Perth
- Ave. Duration
- 16h 20m
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $800–2,100
Flights from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport to Cairns via Johannesburg International Airport, Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 23h 57m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $1,000–3,300
Flights from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport to Cairns via Johannesburg International Airport, Perth
- Ave. Duration
- 19h 55m
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $1,100–2,800
Flights from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport to Cairns via Vilankulu, Johannesburg International Airport, Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 26h 25m
- When
- Monday and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $1,000–3,500
Flights from Johannesburg International Airport to Townsville Airport via Sydney, Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 18h 40m
- When
- Wednesday and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $700–2,400
Flights from Johannesburg International Airport to Townsville Airport via Perth, Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 26h 15m
- When
- Tuesday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $700–2,400
- Website
- hinterlandaviation.com.au
Flights from Johannesburg International Airport to Cooktown Airport via Sydney, Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 28h 45m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $750–2,600
Flights from Johannesburg International Airport to Cooktown Airport via Singapore Changi, Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 33h 45m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $650–4,500
Flights from Johannesburg International Airport to Cooktown Airport via Perth, Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 26h 35m
- When
- Tuesday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $850–2,200
- Website
- jetstar.com
Flights from Johannesburg International Airport to Cairns via Perth
- Ave. Duration
- 16h 20m
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $800–2,100
Flights from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport to Cairns via Johannesburg International Airport, Perth
- Ave. Duration
- 19h 55m
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $1,100–2,800
- Website
- singaporeair.com
Flights from Johannesburg International Airport to Cairns via Singapore Changi
- Ave. Duration
- 19h 15m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $600–4,400
- Phone
- 1800 872 467
- Website
- Queensland Rail Travel
Train from Townsville to Cairns Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 25m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $45–1,267
- Book at
- Queensland Rail Travel
- Website
- Queensland Rail Travel
- Schedules at
- Queensland Rail Travel
- BQuick
- $45–70
- AChoice
- $60–80
- Gold Class
- $1,012
- Heritage Class
- $1,267
- Phone
- (07) 3036 2070
- Website
- Trans North Bus & Coach
Bus from Cooktown to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 30m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $70–110
- Website
- Trans North Bus & Coach
- Book at
- Trans North Bus & Coach
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
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





