There are 8 ways to get from Sunshine Coast 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 from Sunshine Coast Airport
best- Fly from Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY) to Cairns (CNS)plane MCY - CNS
4h 50m$240–700Train to Brisbane Airport, fly
cheapest- Take the train from Landsborough station, platform 2 to Eagle Junction station, platform 3train
- Fly from Brisbane Airport (BNE) to Cairns (CNS)plane BNE - CNS
7h 45m$138–676Train
- Take the train from Nambour to Cairns Central Stationtrain Spirit of Queensland
25h 5m$160–6,000Bus
- Take the bus from Maroochydore Sixth Avenue to Cairns Central Stationbus Pm16
28h$210–650Drive 1,590.2 km
- Drive from Sunshine Coast to Cairnscar 1,590.2 km
18h 57m$285–412Bus, bus to Gold Coast Airport, fly
- Take the bus from Maroochydore to Brisbanebus
- Take the bus from Brisbane Roma Street to Gold Coast Airportbus
- Fly from Gold Coast Airport (OOL) to Cairns (CNS)plane OOL - CNS
9h$207–751Bus to Hervey Bay, fly
- Take the bus from Mooloolaba to Hervey Baybus
- Fly from Hervey Bay (HVB) to Cairns (CNS)plane HVB - CNS
11h 26m$498–994Bus via Mooloolaba, River Esplanade
- Take the bus from Mooloolaba to Cairnsbus Au050 / ...
28h 15m$250–420
Sunshine Coast to Cairns by bus and train
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Sunshine Coast to Cairns is to bus via Mooloolaba, River Esplanade which costs $250 - $420 and takes 28h 15m.
The fastest way to get from Sunshine Coast to Cairns is to fly which takes 4h 50m and costs $240 - $700.
Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Maroochydore Sixth Avenue and arriving at Cairns Central Station station. Services depart twice daily, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 28h.
No, there is no direct train from Sunshine Coast to Cairns station. However, there are services departing from Nambour and arriving at Cairns Central Station via . The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 25h 5m.
The distance between Sunshine Coast and Cairns is 1335 km. The road distance is 1590.2 km.
The best way to get from Sunshine Coast to Cairns without a car is to train which takes 25h 5m and costs $160 - $6,000.
It takes approximately 4h 50m to get from Sunshine Coast to Cairns, including transfers.
Sunshine Coast to Cairns bus services, operated by Premier Motor Service, depart from Maroochydore Sixth Avenue station.
Sunshine Coast to Cairns train services, operated by Queensland Rail Travel, depart from Nambour station.
The best way to get from Sunshine Coast to Cairns is to fly which takes 4h 50m and costs $240 - $700. Alternatively, you can train, which costs $160 - $6,000 and takes 25h 5m, you could also bus, which costs $210 - $650 and takes 28h.
What companies run services between Sunshine Coast, QLD, Australia and Cairns, QLD, Australia?
Jetstar flies from Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY) to Cairns (CNS) 3 times a week. Alternatively, Queensland Rail Travel operates a train from Nambour to Cairns Central Station 4 times a week. Tickets cost $160–5,782 and the journey takes 23h 34m.
- Website
- qantas.com
Flights from Sunshine Coast Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 20m
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $200–600
Flights from Brisbane Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 28m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–650
Flights from Brisbane Airport to Cairns via Townsville
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 6m
- When
- Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $240–650
Flights from Gold Coast Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–600
Flights from Gold Coast Airport to Cairns via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 46m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–1,500
Flights from Hervey Bay to Cairns via Brisbane Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 12m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $420–950
Flights from Hervey Bay to Cairns via Melbourne
- Ave. Duration
- 7h
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $420–800
Flights from Hervey Bay to Cairns via Brisbane Airport, Townsville
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 25m
- When
- Thursday and Friday
- Estimated price
- $450–950
- Website
- jetstar.com
Flights from Sunshine Coast Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 20m
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $200–600
Flights from Brisbane Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 26m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–650
Flights from Gold Coast Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–600
Flights from Gold Coast Airport to Cairns via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 50m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–600
Flights from Hervey Bay to Cairns via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 50m
- When
- Friday
- Estimated price
- $420–800
Flights from Hervey Bay to Cairns via Melbourne
- Ave. Duration
- 7h
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $420–800
- Website
- virginaustralia.com
Flights from Brisbane Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–600
Flights from Gold Coast Airport to Cairns via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 50m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $370–650
- Phone
- 1800 872 467
- Website
- queenslandrailtravel.com.au
Train from Nambour to Cairns Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 23h 34m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $160–5,782
- 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
- $160–210
- AChoice
- $290–370
- Gold Class
- $4,616
- Heritage Class
- $5,782
- Phone
- 13 12 30
- Website
- translink.com.au
Train from Landsborough station, platform 2 to Eagle Junction station, platform 3
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 10m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $1
- Website
- https://translink.com.au/
- Phone
- 13 34 10
- [email protected]
- Website
- premierms.com.au
Bus from Maroochydore Sixth Avenue to Cairns Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 28h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $210–300
- Website
- https://premierms.com.au/
- Phone
- 1300 473946
- [email protected]
- Website
- greyhound.com.au
Bus from Maroochydore Sixth Avenue to Cairns Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 28h 20m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $260–650
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/
- Schedules at
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/timetables
- Early Bird
- $260–370
- Advantage
- $330–490
- Flexible
- $420–650
Bus from Maroochydore to Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $26–45
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/
- Schedules at
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/timetables
- Early Bird
- $29–45
- Advantage
- $26–40
- Flexible
- $28–45
- Phone
- +612 6685 7447
- [email protected]
- Website
- byronbayshuttle.com.au
Bus from Brisbane Roma Street to Gold Coast Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $50–60
- Website
- https://www.byronbayshuttle.com.au
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.com.au/
Bus from Mooloolaba to Hervey Bay
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 32m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $35–65
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com.au
Bus from Mooloolaba to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 27h 4m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $250–420
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com.au
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More Questions & Answers
Sunshine Coast to Cairns bus services, operated by Premier Motor Service, arrive at Cairns Central Station.
Sunshine Coast to Cairns train services, operated by Queensland Rail Travel, arrive at Cairns Central Station.
Yes, the driving distance between Sunshine Coast to Cairns is 1590 km. It takes approximately 18h 57m to drive from Sunshine Coast to Cairns.
Book your Sunshine Coast to Cairns bus tickets online with 12go.asia.
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