There are 5 ways to get from Melbourne Central Station 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
best- Fly from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Cairns (CNS)plane MEL - CNS
6h 21m$158–578Train
- Take the train from Southern Cross to Central Stationtrain 622 / ...
- Take the train from Central Station to Roma Street Stationtrain 31
- Take the train from Roma Street to Cairns Central Stationtrain
2d 5h$310–7,006Bus
- Take the bus from Melbourne to Sydney Central Stationbus
- Take the bus from Central Station to Brisbanebus
- Take the bus from Brisbane Coach Terminal to Cairnsbus
2d 8h$526–962Drive 2,780.1 km
- Drive from Melbourne Central Station to Cairnscar 2,780.1 km
32h 30m$496–717Bus via Cabramatta
- Take the bus from Southern Cross Coach Terminal to Liverpoolbus
- Take the bus from Chatswood to Brisbanebus
- Take the bus from Brisbane Roma Street to Cairns Central Stationbus
2d 13h$442–611
Melbourne Central Station to Cairns by train
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Melbourne Central Station to Cairns is to fly which costs $150 - $600 and takes 6h 21m.
The fastest way to get from Melbourne Central Station to Cairns is to fly which takes 6h 21m and costs $150 - $600.
No, there is no direct bus from Melbourne Central Station to Cairns. However, there are services departing from Melbourne and arriving at Cairns via Central Station and Brisbane Coach Terminal. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2 days 8h.
No, there is no direct train from Melbourne Central Station station to Cairns station. However, there are services departing from Melbourne Central Station and arriving at Cairns Central Station via Southern Cross, Central Station and Roma Street. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2 days 5h.
The distance between Melbourne Central Station and Cairns is 2341 km. The road distance is 2780.1 km.
The best way to get from Melbourne Central Station to Cairns without a car is to train which takes 2 days 5h and costs $310 - $7,000.
It takes approximately 6h 21m to get from Melbourne Central Station to Cairns, including transfers.
Melbourne Central Station to Cairns bus services, operated by FlixBus Australia, depart from Melbourne station.
Melbourne Central Station to Cairns train services, operated by NSW TrainLink XPT, depart from Southern Cross station.
The best way to get from Melbourne Central Station to Cairns is to fly which takes 6h 21m and costs $150 - $600. Alternatively, you can train, which costs $310 - $7,000 and takes 2 days 5h, you could also bus, which costs $500 - $1,000 and takes 2 days 8h.
What companies run services between Melbourne Central Station, VIC, Australia and Cairns, QLD, Australia?
Jetstar, Virgin Australia, and Qantas fly from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Cairns (CNS) every 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train from Melbourne Central Station to Cairns Central Station via Southern Cross Station, Southern Cross, Central Station, Roma Street Station, and Roma Street in around 2d 5h.
- Website
- qantas.com
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 24m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–1,200
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns via Townsville
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 50m
- When
- Monday
- Estimated price
- $360–1,200
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 42m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $390–1,300
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 43m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $400–1,300
- Website
- jetstar.com
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 22m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–600
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–600
- Website
- virginaustralia.com
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $250–440
- Phone
- 131 500
- Website
- NSW TrainLink XPT
Train from Southern Cross to Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 2m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $65–250
- Website
- NSW TrainLink XPT
- Book at
- NSW TrainLink XPT
- Economy
- $75–100
- First
- $100–140
- Sleeper
- $210–250
Train from Central Station to Roma Street Station
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 6m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $70–250
- Website
- NSW TrainLink XPT
- Book at
- NSW TrainLink XPT
- Economy
- $80–110
- First
- $110–150
- Sleeper
- $220–250
- 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
- Website
- FlixBus Australia
Bus from Melbourne to Sydney Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 55m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $130–230
- Schedules at
- FlixBus Australia
Bus from Brisbane Coach Terminal to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 28h 40m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $260–440
- Schedules at
- FlixBus Australia
- Phone
- 1300 473946
- [email protected]
- Website
- Greyhound Australia
Bus from Central Station to Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 13h
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $130–300
- Website
- Greyhound Australia
- Schedules at
- Greyhound Australia
- Early Bird
- $130–200
- Advantage
- $160–250
- Flexible
- $210–300
- Phone
- 1300 730 740
- [email protected]
- Website
- Firefly Express
Bus from Southern Cross Coach Terminal to Liverpool
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 15m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $95–99
- Website
- Firefly Express
- Phone
- 13 34 10
- [email protected]
- Website
- Premier Motor Service
Bus from Chatswood to Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 17h 15m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $120–180
- Website
- Premier Motor Service
Bus from Brisbane Roma Street to Cairns Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 29h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $220–320
- Website
- Premier Motor Service
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More Questions & Answers
Melbourne Central Station to Cairns bus services, operated by FlixBus Australia, arrive at Sydney Central Station.
Melbourne Central Station to Cairns train services, operated by NSW TrainLink XPT, arrive at Central Station.
Yes, the driving distance between Melbourne Central Station to Cairns is 2780 km. It takes approximately 32h 30m to drive from Melbourne Central Station to Cairns.
There are 1011+ hotels available in Cairns.


















