There are 7 ways to get from Parkes to Cairns by car, plane, train, 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.
Drive to Orange Airport, fly
best- Drive from Parkes to Orange-Airport-OAGcar
- Fly from Orange Airport (OAG) to Cairns (CNS)plane OAG - CNS
7h 39m$450–879Train to Sydney International Airport, fly
cheapest- Take the train from Parkes Station to Central Stationtrain
- Fly from Sydney International Airport (SYD) to Cairns (CNS)plane SYD - CNS
12h 24m$185–643Train
- Take the train from Parkes Station to Strathfield Stationtrain 446
- Take the train from Strathfield Station to Roma Street Stationtrain 31
- Take the train from Roma Street to Cairns Central Stationtrain
47h 45m$271–6,819Bus
- Take the bus from Parkes Station, Coach Stop to Dubbo Station, Coach Bay 1bus 791
- Take the bus from Dubbo Station, Coach Bay 3 to Morilla St Opp Lightning Ridge Post Officebus 513
- Take the bus from Lightning Ridge to Brisbane Citybus
- Take the bus from Brisbane Coach Terminal to Cairnsbus
2d$461–708Drive 2,213.5 km
- Drive from Parkes to Cairnscar 2,213.5 km
25h 5m$398–575Bus to Dubbo City Regional Airport, fly
- Take the bus from Parkes Station, Coach Stop to Dubbo Station, Coach Bay 1bus
- Fly from Dubbo City Regional Airport (DBO) to Cairns (CNS)plane DBO - CNS
10h 11m$518–1,026Train, bus
- Take the train from Parkes Station to Katoomba Stationtrain 446
- Take the train from Katoomba Station to Central Stationtrain Bmt
- Take the bus from Central Station to Brisbanebus
- Take the bus from Brisbane Roma Street to Cairns Central Stationbus
2d 4h$388–688
Parkes to Cairns by train
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Parkes to Cairns is to train and fly which costs $180 - $650 and takes 12h 24m.
The fastest way to get from Parkes to Cairns is to drive and fly which takes 7h 39m and costs $450 - $900.
No, there is no direct bus from Parkes station to Cairns. However, there are services departing from Parkes Station, Coach Stop and arriving at Cairns via Dubbo Station, Coach Bay 3, Lightning Ridge and Brisbane Coach Terminal. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2 days 0h.
No, there is no direct train from Parkes station to Cairns station. However, there are services departing from Parkes Station and arriving at Cairns Central Station via Strathfield Station and Roma Street. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 47h 45m.
The distance between Parkes and Cairns is 1984 km. The road distance is 2213.5 km.
The best way to get from Parkes to Cairns without a car is to train which takes 47h 45m and costs $270 - $7,000.
It takes approximately 7h 39m to get from Parkes to Cairns, including transfers.
Parkes to Cairns bus services, operated by NSW TrainLink, depart from Parkes Station, Coach Stop.
Parkes to Cairns train services, operated by NSW TrainLink, depart from Parkes Station.
The best way to get from Parkes to Cairns is to train which takes 47h 45m and costs $270 - $7,000. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $460 - $750 and takes 2 days 0h.
What companies run services between Parkes, NSW, Australia and Cairns, QLD, Australia?
You can take a train from Parkes Station to Cairns Central Station via Strathfield Station, Roma Street Station, and Roma Street in around 47h 45m. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Parkes Station, Coach Stop to Cairns via Dubbo Station, Coach Bay 3, Lightning Ridge, Brisbane City, and Brisbane Coach Terminal in around 2d.
- Website
- qantas.com
Flights from Orange Airport to Cairns via Sydney International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 40m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $200–1,500
Flights from Orange Airport to Cairns via Sydney International Airport, Townsville
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 20m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $440–1,500
Flights from Dubbo City Regional Airport to Cairns via Sydney International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 22m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $280–1,000
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–700
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 7m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $200–700
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns via Townsville
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 5m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $200–700
- Website
- virginaustralia.com
Flights from Orange Airport to Cairns via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 5m
- When
- Thursday
- Estimated price
- $280–850
Flights from Orange Airport to Cairns via Dubbo City Regional Airport, Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 45m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $280–850
Flights from Dubbo City Regional Airport to Cairns via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 50m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $500–900
Flights from Dubbo City Regional Airport to Cairns via Sydney International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 50m
- When
- Monday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- $500–900
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $220–410
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 3m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $220–410
- Website
- jetstar.com
Flights from Orange Airport to Cairns via Sydney International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $200–750
Flights from Dubbo City Regional Airport to Cairns via Sydney International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $280–1,000
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–550
- Phone
- 131 500
- Website
- transportnsw.info
Train from Parkes Station to Strathfield Station
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 32m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- $35–70
- Website
- https://transportnsw.info/regional
- Economy
- $45–70
- First Class
- $65–100
Train from Parkes Station to Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 45m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- $35–70
- Website
- https://transportnsw.info/regional
- Economy
- $45–70
- First Class
- $65–100
Train from Parkes Station to Katoomba Station
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 9m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- $30–60
- Website
- https://transportnsw.info/regional
- Economy
- $35–60
- First Class
- $50–80
- Phone
- 131 500
- Website
- transportnsw.info
Train from Strathfield Station to Roma Street Station
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 53m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $65–250
- Website
- https://transportnsw.info/regional
- Book at
- https://transportnsw.info/regional/regional-train-coach-facilities/xpt-regional-trains
- Economy
- $80–110
- First
- $110–150
- Sleeper
- $220–250
- Phone
- 1800 872 467
- Website
- queenslandrailtravel.com.au
Train from Roma Street to Cairns Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 25h 20m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $170–6,171
- Book at
- https://queenslandrailtravel-booking.opendestinations.com/BookingSite/rail/search
- Website
- https://www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au/
- Schedules at
- https://www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au/Pages/Timetable.aspx
- BQuick
- $170–230
- AChoice
- $310–390
- Gold Class
- $4,927
- Heritage Class
- $6,171
- Phone
- 131 500
- Website
- transportnsw.info
Train from Katoomba Station to Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 2m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $8–11
- Website
- https://transportnsw.info/regional
- Phone
- 131 500
- Website
- transportnsw.info
Bus from Parkes Station, Coach Stop to Dubbo Station, Coach Bay 1
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 29m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $12–18
- Website
- https://transportnsw.info/regional
Bus from Dubbo Station, Coach Bay 3 to Morilla St Opp Lightning Ridge Post Office
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $28–40
- Website
- https://transportnsw.info/regional
Bus from Parkes Station, Coach Stop to Dubbo Station, Coach Bay 1
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 29m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $12–18
- Website
- https://transportnsw.info/regional
- Phone
- (61) 13 22 51
- [email protected]
- Website
- murrays.com.au
Bus from Lightning Ridge to Brisbane City
- Ave. Duration
- 11h
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- $150–210
- Schedules at
- murrays.com.au
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.com.au/
Bus from Brisbane Coach Terminal to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 28h 40m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $270–440
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com.au
- Phone
- 1300 473946
- [email protected]
- Website
- greyhound.com.au
Bus from Central Station to Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 13h
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $130–300
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/
- Schedules at
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/timetables
- Early Bird
- $130–200
- Advantage
- $160–250
- Flexible
- $210–300
- Phone
- 13 34 10
- [email protected]
- Website
- premierms.com.au
Bus from Brisbane Roma Street to Cairns Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 29h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $220–320
- Website
- https://premierms.com.au/
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More Questions & Answers
Parkes to Cairns bus services, operated by NSW TrainLink, arrive at Dubbo Station, Coach Bay 1.
Parkes to Cairns train services, operated by NSW TrainLink, arrive at Strathfield Station.
Yes, the driving distance between Parkes to Cairns is 2213 km. It takes approximately 25h 5m to drive from Parkes to Cairns.
There are 1001+ hotels available in Cairns.





















