There are 5 ways to get from Papeete to Cairns by plane, train, car ferry, 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 Fa'A'Ā International Airport to Cairns
best- Fly from Fa'A'Ā International Airport (PPT) to Cairns (CNS)plane PPT - CNS
17h 39m$950–5,000Fly Fa'A'Ā International Airport to Townsville Airport, train
cheapest- 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$507–3,009Car 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
41h 55m$1,261–6,284Fly 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
29h$789–4,750Fly 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
31h 9m$1,228–5,801
Fa'A'Ā International Airport (PPT) to Cairns (CNS) flights
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Papeete to Cairns is to fly and train which costs $500 - $3,100 and takes 26h 39m.
The fastest way to get from Papeete to Cairns is to fly which takes 17h 39m and costs $950 - $5,000.
The distance between Papeete and Cairns is 6841 km.
It takes approximately 17h 39m to get from Papeete to Cairns, including transfers.
Cairns is 20h ahead of Papeete. It is currently 2:12 AM in Papeete and 10:12 PM in Cairns.
There are 1028+ hotels available in Cairns.
What companies run services between Papeete, French Polynesia and Cairns, QLD, Australia?
Air Tahiti Nui and Jetstar fly from Fa'A'Ā International Airport (PPT) to Cairns (CNS) twice a week.
- Website
- qantas.com
Flights from Fa'A'Ā International Airport to Cairns via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 15m
- When
- Monday and Thursday
- Estimated price
- $950–5,000
Flights from Fa'A'Ā International Airport to Townsville Airport via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 24h 20m
- When
- Monday
- Estimated price
- $1,000–5,500
Flights from Fa'A'Ā International Airport to Townsville Airport via Auckland, Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 17h
- When
- Wednesday and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $1,000–5,500
Flights from Moorea-Temae Airport to Cairns via Huahine, Fa'A'Ā International Airport, Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 39h 3m
- When
- Sunday and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $1,200–6,000
Flights from Moorea-Temae Airport to Cairns via Fa'A'Ā International Airport, Auckland, Gold Coast
- Ave. Duration
- 2d
- When
- Friday
- Estimated price
- $1,100–6,000
Flights from Fa'A'Ā International Airport to Whitsunday Coast Airport via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 28h 55m
- When
- Monday and Thursday
- Estimated price
- $1,500–8,500
Flights from Fa'A'Ā International Airport to Whitsunday Coast Airport via Auckland, Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 23h 30m
- When
- Wednesday, Saturday, Monday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $650–8,500
- Website
- hinterlandaviation.com.au
Flights from Fa'A'Ā International Airport to Cooktown Airport via Sydney, Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 26h 30m
- When
- Monday and Thursday
- Estimated price
- $1,100–6,000
- Website
- airnewzealand.com
Flights from Fa'A'Ā International Airport to Townsville Airport via Auckland, Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 15h 50m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $460–1,800
- Website
- jetstar.com
Flights from Fa'A'Ā International Airport to Whitsunday Coast Airport via Auckland, Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 15h 50m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $650–2,500
- Website
- virginaustralia.com
Flights from Fa'A'Ā International Airport to Whitsunday Coast Airport via Auckland, Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 16h 5m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $650–2,500
- 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
- Phone
- +689 40 46 11 60
- [email protected]
- Website
- vaearai.com
Car ferry from Papeete Ferry Terminal to Moorea
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $14–95
- Schedules at
- vaearai.com
- Adult one way
- $26
- Child (2-12 years) one way
- $14
- Vehicle
- $50–95
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