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 44m$620–730Train 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$184–531Train
- 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$282–6,796Bus
- 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$441–658Drive 2,212.8 km
- Drive from Parkes to Cairnscar 2,212.8 km
25h 1m$403–582Bus 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 16m$518–926Train, 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 9h$405–599
Parkes to Cairns by train
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Parkes to Cairns is to train and fly which costs $180 - $550 and takes 12h 24m.
The fastest way to get from Parkes to Cairns is to drive and fly which takes 7h 44m and costs $600 - $750.
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 2212.8 km.
The best way to get from Parkes to Cairns without a car is to train which takes 47h 45m and costs $280 - $7,000.
It takes approximately 7h 44m 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 $280 - $7,000. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $440 - $700 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 26m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $210–1,500
Flights from Dubbo City Regional Airport to Cairns via Sydney International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–1,700
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–800
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns via Maroochydore
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 20m
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $120–460
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 5h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–800
- Website
- virginaustralia.com
Flights from Orange Airport to Cairns via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 40m
- When
- Monday to Thursday
- Estimated price
- $290–900
Flights from Orange Airport to Cairns via Dubbo City Regional Airport, Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 32m
- When
- Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday
- Estimated price
- $290–900
Flights from Dubbo City Regional Airport to Cairns via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 37m
- When
- Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday
- Estimated price
- $320–1,000
Flights from Dubbo City Regional Airport to Cairns via Sydney International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 50m
- When
- Monday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- $340–1,000
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–410
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 1m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–410
- Website
- jetstar.com
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–460
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns via Maroochydore
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 20m
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $120–460
- Phone
- 131 500
- Website
- NSW TrainLink
Train from Parkes Station to Strathfield Station
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 32m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- $30–50
- Website
- NSW TrainLink
- Economy
- $30–50
- First Class
- $45–70
Train from Parkes Station to Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 45m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- $30–50
- Website
- NSW TrainLink
- Economy
- $30–50
- First Class
- $45–75
Train from Parkes Station to Katoomba Station
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 9m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- $26–40
- Website
- NSW TrainLink
- Economy
- $26–40
- First Class
- $40–60
- Phone
- 131 500
- Website
- NSW TrainLink XPT
Train from Strathfield Station to Roma Street Station
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 53m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $80–250
- Website
- NSW TrainLink XPT
- Book at
- NSW TrainLink XPT
- Economy
- $80–110
- First
- $120–140
- 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
- Phone
- 131 500
- Website
- Transport NSW Regional
Train from Katoomba Station to Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 2m
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $8–11
- Website
- Transport NSW Regional
- Phone
- 131 500
- Website
- NSW TrainLink
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
- NSW TrainLink
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
- NSW TrainLink
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
- NSW TrainLink
- 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
- $150–220
- Schedules at
- murrays.com.au
- Website
- FlixBus Australia
Bus from Brisbane Coach Terminal to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 28h 40m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $250–380
- Schedules at
- FlixBus Australia
- Phone
- 13 34 10
- [email protected]
- Website
- Premier Motor Service
Bus from Central Station to Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 18h 35m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $130–200
- Website
- Premier Motor Service
Bus from Brisbane Roma Street to Cairns Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 29h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $240–350
- Website
- Premier Motor Service
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Booking & Getting There
Parkes to Cairns bus services, operated by NSW TrainLink, arrive at Dubbo Station, Coach Bay 1.
Cairns is 1h behind Parkes. It is currently 4:23 AM in Parkes and 3:23 AM in Cairns.
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 1m to drive from Parkes to Cairns.
There are 1028+ hotels available in Cairns.

















