There are 6 ways to get from Papeete to Cairns by plane, car ferry, train, bus, or ferry
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly Fa'A'Ā International Airport to Cairns
best- Fly from Fa'A'Ā International Airport (PPT) to Cairns (CNS)plane PPT - CNS
16h 39m$480–1,800Car ferry to Moorea-Temae Airport, fly to Cairns
- Take the carferry from Papeete Ferry Terminal to Mooreacarferry
- Fly from Moorea-Temae Airport (MOZ) to Cairns (CNS)plane MOZ - CNS
36h 15m$712–2,385Fly Fa'A'Ā International Airport to Townsville Airport, train
- Fly from Fa'A'Ā International Airport (PPT) to Townsville Airport (TSV)plane PPT - TSV
- Take the train from Townsville to Cairns Central Stationtrain
26h 39m$548–3,109Fly Fa'A'Ā International Airport to Cooktown Airport, bus
- Fly from Fa'A'Ā International Airport (PPT) to Cooktown Airport (CTN)plane PPT - CTN
- Take the bus from Cooktown to Cairnsbus
30h 9m$655–2,088Fly Fa'A'Ā International Airport to Whitsunday Coast Airport, train
- Fly from Fa'A'Ā International Airport (PPT) to Whitsunday Coast Airport (PPP)plane PPT - PPP
- Take the train from Proserpine to Cairns Central Stationtrain
28h 50m$864–4,953Ferry to Huahine – Fare Airport, fly to Cairns
- Take the ferry from Papeete Ferry Terminal to Fareferry
- Fly from Huahine – Fare Airport (HUH) to Cairns (CNS)plane HUH - CNS
21h 40m$1,236–6,279
Fa'A'Ā International Airport (PPT) to Cairns (CNS) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Papeete to Cairns is to fly which costs $480 - $1,800 and takes 16h 39m.
The fastest way to get from Papeete to Cairns is to fly which takes 16h 39m and costs $480 - $1,800.
The distance between Papeete and Cairns is 6841 km.
It takes approximately 16h 39m to get from Papeete to Cairns, including transfers.
Cairns is 20h ahead of Papeete. It is currently 11:37 PM in Papeete and 7:37 PM in Cairns.
There are 1026+ hotels available in Cairns.
What companies run services between Papeete, French Polynesia and Cairns, QLD, Australia?
Air Tahiti Nui, Jetstar, and Air New Zealand fly from Fa'A'Ā International Airport (PPT) to Cairns (CNS) 5 times a week.
- Website
- qantas.com
Flights from Fa'A'Ā International Airport to Cairns via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 15m
- When
- Monday and Thursday
- Estimated price
- $1,000–6,000
Flights from Fa'A'Ā International Airport to Cairns via Auckland, Gold Coast
- Ave. Duration
- 19h 50m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $480–1,800
Flights from Moorea-Temae Airport to Cairns via Fa'A'Ā International Airport, Auckland, Gold Coast
- Ave. Duration
- 40h
- When
- Friday and Tuesday
- Estimated price
- $550–7,000
Flights from Moorea-Temae Airport to Cairns via Huahine – Fare Airport, Fa'A'Ā International Airport, Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 37h 50m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $1,200–7,000
Flights from Fa'A'Ā International Airport to Townsville Airport via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 24h 20m
- When
- Monday and Thursday
- Estimated price
- $1,000–6,000
Flights from Fa'A'Ā International Airport to Townsville Airport via Auckland, Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 17h
- When
- Wednesday and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $1,000–6,000
Flights from Fa'A'Ā International Airport to Whitsunday Coast Airport via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 28h 55m
- When
- Monday and Thursday
- Estimated price
- $1,500–9,500
Flights from Fa'A'Ā International Airport to Whitsunday Coast Airport via Auckland, Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 23h 37m
- When
- Wednesday, Saturday, Monday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $700–9,500
Flights from Huahine – Fare Airport to Cairns via Fa'A'Ā International Airport, Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 15h 58m
- When
- Monday and Thursday
- Estimated price
- $1,000–6,000
- 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
Train from Proserpine to Cairns Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 49m
- 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
- (07) 3036 2070
- Website
- Trans North Bus & Coach
Bus from Cooktown to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 30m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $75–110
- Website
- Trans North Bus & Coach
- Book at
- Trans North Bus & Coach
- Phone
- +689 40 50 16 16
- [email protected]
- Website
- aremiti.pf
Car ferry from Papeete Ferry Terminal to Moorea
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $12–23
- Schedules at
- aremiti.pf
- Passenger (Adult)
- $23
- Passenger (Child)
- $12
- Passenger (Senior)
- $19
- Vehicle
- $50–110
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