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How to get fromWhitsunday to Cairnsby ferry, bus, train, car, or plane

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There are 7 ways to get from Whitsunday to Cairns by ferry, bus, train, car, or plane

Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.

  1. Ferry, bus

    best
    1. Take the ferry from Daydream Island to Port of Airlieferry ferry
    2. Take the bus from Airlie Beach to Cairns Central Stationbus bus Pm16
    11h 30m
    $108–161

  2. Ferry, train

    1. Take the ferry from Daydream Island to Port of Airlieferry ferry
    2. Take the train from Proserpine to Cairns Central Stationtrain train Spirit of Queensland
    12h 59m
    $110–2,257

  3. Drive 667.4 km

    1. Drive from Whitsunday to Cairnscar car 667.4 km
    8h 39m
    $120–174

  4. Ferry, ferry to Whitsunday Coast Airport, fly

    1. Take the ferry from Daydream Island to Shute Harbourferry ferry
    2. Take the ferry from Shute Harbour to Palm Bayferry ferry
    3. Fly from Whitsunday Coast Airport (PPP) to Cairns (CNS)plane plane PPP - CNS
    7h 25m
    $392–1,242

  5. Ferry, bus via Cairns

    1. Take the ferry from Daydream Island to Port of Airlieferry ferry
    2. Take the bus from Airlie Beach to Cairnsbus bus Cairns
    11h 40m
    $128–261

  6. Drive to Moranbah Airport, fly

    1. Drive from Whitsunday to Moranbah Airport (MOV)car car
    2. Fly from Moranbah Airport (MOV) to Cairns (CNS)plane plane MOV - CNS
    7h 2m
    $323–2,763

  7. Ferry, bus to Mackay, fly

    1. Take the ferry from Daydream Island to Port of Airlieferry ferry
    2. Take the bus from Airlie Beach to Mackaybus bus
    3. Fly from Mackay (MKY) to Cairns (CNS)plane plane MKY - CNS
    10h 23m
    $317–651

Whitsunday to Cairns by ferry and bus

Calendar7Weekly Services
Duration11h 30mAverage Duration
Ticket$108Cheapest Price
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Questions & Answers

Map of how to get from Whitsunday to Cairns.ExpandLaunch map view
  • Distance: 670.5 km
  • Duration: 11h 30m

What companies run services between Whitsunday, QLD, Australia and Cairns, QLD, Australia?

There is no direct connection from Whitsunday to Cairns. However, you can take the ferry to Port of Airlie, walk to Airlie Beach, then take the bus to Cairns Central Station. Alternatively, you can take a ferry from Daydream Island to Cairns Central Station via Port of Airlie, Port of Airlie, Proserpine station, and Proserpine in around 12h 59m.

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Train operators
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Ferry operators

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