There are 6 ways to get from Whitsundays to Great Barrier Reef by ferry, bus, train, 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.
Ferry, bus via Cairns Central Shopping Centre
best- Take the ferry from Daydream Island to Port of Airlieferry
- Take the bus from Airlie Beach to Cairns Central Stationbus
- Take the ferry from Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal to Great Barrier Reef Green Islandferry
13h 42m$221–282Ferry, train
cheapest- Take the ferry from Daydream Island to Port of Airlieferry
- Take the train from Proserpine to Cairns Central Stationtrain
- Take the ferry from Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal to Great Barrier Reef Green Islandferry
15h 32m$212–2,363Fly from Great Barrier Reef Airport, ferry
- Fly from Great Barrier Reef Airport (HTI) to Cairns (CNS)plane HTI - CNS
- Take the ferry from Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal to Great Barrier Reef Green Islandferry
9h 38m$560–1,126Ferry, bus
- Take the ferry from Daydream Island to Port of Airlieferry
- Take the bus from Airlie Beach to Cairnsbus
- Take the ferry from Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal to Great Barrier Reef Green Islandferry
13h 47m$240–381Ferry to Whitsunday Coast Airport, fly, ferry
- Take the ferry from Daydream Island to Port of Airlieferry
- Fly from Whitsunday Coast Airport (PPP) to Cairns (CNS)plane PPP - CNS
- Take the ferry from Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal to Great Barrier Reef Green Islandferry
8h 22m$427–1,313Ferry, bus to Mackay, fly
- Take the ferry from Daydream Island to Port of Airlieferry
- Take the bus from Airlie Beach to Mackaybus
- Fly from Mackay (MKY) to Cairns (CNS)plane MKY - CNS
- Take the ferry from Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal to Great Barrier Reef Green Islandferry
12h 19m$420–772
Whitsundays to Great Barrier Reef by ferry, bus, and foot
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Whitsundays to Great Barrier Reef is to ferry and bus via Cairns Central Shopping Centre which costs $220 - $290 and takes 13h 42m.
The fastest way to get from Whitsundays to Great Barrier Reef is to ferry and fly which takes 8h 22m and costs $420 - $1,400.
The distance between Whitsundays and Great Barrier Reef is 700 km.
The best way to get from Whitsundays to Great Barrier Reef without a car is to ferry and bus via Cairns Central Shopping Centre which takes 13h 42m and costs $220 - $290.
It takes approximately 13h 42m to get from Whitsundays to Great Barrier Reef, including transfers.
There are two+ hotels available in Great Barrier Reef.
What companies run services between Whitsundays, QLD, Australia and Great Barrier Reef, QLD, Australia?
There is no direct connection from Whitsundays to Great Barrier Reef. However, you can take the ferry to Port of Airlie, walk to Airlie Beach, take the bus to Cairns Central Station, walk to Cairns Central Shopping Centre, take the line 111 bus to Cairns City bus station, platform 2, walk to Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal, take the ferry to Great Barrier Reef Green Island, then walk to Great Barrier Reef. Alternatively, you can take a ferry from Daydream Island to Great Barrier Reef via Port of Airlie, Coconut Grove at Airlie Esplanade, Proserpine, Mill Street, Proserpine, Cairns Central Station, Cairns Central Shopping Centre, Cairns City bus station, platform 2, Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal, and Great Barrier Reef Green Island in around 15h 32m.
- Website
- qantas.com
Flights from Great Barrier Reef Airport to Cairns via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 2m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $440–1,200
Flights from Great Barrier Reef Airport to Cairns via Melbourne
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 16m
- When
- Wednesday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- $450–1,100
Flights from Great Barrier Reef Airport to Cairns via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $450–1,100
Flights from Mackay to Cairns via Townsville
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 28m
- When
- Sunday, Friday, Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $390–650
Flights from Mackay to Cairns via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 6h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $170–650
Flights from Mackay to Cairns via Brisbane, Townsville
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 50m
- When
- Wednesday and Thursday
- Estimated price
- $390–650
- Website
- virginaustralia.com
Flights from Great Barrier Reef Airport to Cairns via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 25m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $350–850
Flights from Mackay to Cairns via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $250–400
- Website
- skytrans.com.au
Flights from Whitsunday Coast Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- When
- Friday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday
- Estimated price
- $340–750
- Website
- jetstar.com
Flights from Great Barrier Reef Airport to Cairns via Melbourne
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 5m
- When
- Thursday and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $450–1,100
- Phone
- 1800 872 467
- Website
- Queensland Rail Travel
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
- 13 34 10
- [email protected]
- Website
- Premier Motor Service
Bus from Airlie Beach to Cairns Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 10h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $80–120
- Website
- Premier Motor Service
Bus from Airlie Beach to Mackay
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 55m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $29–45
- Website
- Premier Motor Service
- Phone
- 1300 473946
- [email protected]
- Website
- Greyhound Australia
Bus from Airlie Beach to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 10m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $100–220
- Website
- Greyhound Australia
- Schedules at
- Greyhound Australia
- Early Bird
- $100–150
- Advantage
- $120–180
- Flexible
- $150–220
Bus from Airlie Beach to Mackay
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $35–60
- Website
- Greyhound Australia
- Schedules at
- Greyhound Australia
- Early Bird
- $35–55
- Advantage
- $35–55
- Flexible
- $40–60
- Phone
- +617 4846 7000
- [email protected]
- Website
- cruisewhitsundays.com
Ferry from Daydream Island to Port of Airlie
- Ave. Duration
- 30 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $28–50
- Schedules at
- cruisewhitsundays.com
Ferry from Daydream Island to Port of Airlie
- Ave. Duration
- 30 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $28–50
- Schedules at
- cruisewhitsundays.com
Ferry from Daydream Island to Port of Airlie
- Ave. Duration
- 30 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $28–50
- Schedules at
- cruisewhitsundays.com
Ferry from Daydream Island to Port of Airlie
- Ave. Duration
- 30 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $28–50
- Schedules at
- cruisewhitsundays.com
Ferry from Daydream Island to Port of Airlie
- Ave. Duration
- 30 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $28–50
- Schedules at
- cruisewhitsundays.com
- Phone
- (61) 7 4044 9944
- [email protected]
- Website
- green-island.com.au
Ferry from Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal to Great Barrier Reef Green Island
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $112
- Schedules at
- green-island.com.au
Ferry from Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal to Great Barrier Reef Green Island
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $112
- Schedules at
- green-island.com.au
Ferry from Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal to Great Barrier Reef Green Island
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $112
- Schedules at
- green-island.com.au
Ferry from Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal to Great Barrier Reef Green Island
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $112
- Schedules at
- green-island.com.au
Ferry from Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal to Great Barrier Reef Green Island
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $112
- Schedules at
- green-island.com.au
Ferry from Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal to Great Barrier Reef Green Island
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $112
- Schedules at
- green-island.com.au
Want to know more about travelling around Australia
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
Related travel guides
Best ways to travel around Australia
Read the travel guide
10 amazing places to get away from it all in Australia
Read the travel guide
4 of the smartest ways to explore Australia
Read the travel guide











