Cairns: transport to and from the airport

The airport of Cairns, Cairns Airport, is located on 6.3 km from the city centre of Cairns and at 66.3 km from Port Douglas. From the airport you can travel to the centre of Cairns inflight about 12-45 minutes and within 65-90 minutes you will be in Port Douglas. Are you curious about how to travel between Cairns Airport and the city centers of Cairns and Port Douglas city after your arrival or before your departure?

Below you will find an overview of all the possibilities for public transport, shuttle buses, Uber and the taxi for transport to both Cairns and Port Douglas.

Cairns Airport

Address Cairns Airport: Airport Ave, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia.
Distance airport – centre Cairns: 6.3 km.
IATA code: CNS.

Overview: transport airport Cairns

Rental car: prices based on availability and rental period, duration 10-12 minutes.
Airport Connect: AU$6.20/€ 4,50 per person one way, duration 15 min excl. travel time to final destination.
Shuttle bus accommodations and rental companies: prices, times and travel time on request.
Backpacker Shuttle Cairns: (Cairns) AU$6/€ 4, duration 45 min. (Port Douglas) AU$28/ € 19 per person one way, duration 90 min.
Cairns Airport Shuttle: AU$15-20/ € 10-14 per person one way, duration 20 min. More travelers = more discount.
Sun Palm Transport Shuttle:
(Cairns) AU$15-20 / €10-14, duration 45 min. (Port Douglas) AU$36 / €25 per person one way, duration 90 min.
Uber: (Cairns) AU$12-17 / € 8-12, duration 12-15 min. (Port Douglas) AU$83-111 / € 56-75, duration 65 min.
Taxi: (Cairns) AU$25-30 / € 17-21, duration 12-15 min. (Port Douglas) AU$145-190 / € 98-128, duration 65 min.
         (excl. AU$4.40 / € 3 airport tax).

Map

Rental car

Do you want to make a road trip along the east coast of Australia and also have transport from the airport immediately? Then rent a car immediately after you arrive in Cairns. You can book a rental car easily and quickly via for example Sunny Cars or Rentalcars.com.

Airport Connect

The Airport Connect of Sun Palm Transport brings you from the airport to a bus stop in the north of Cairns or you can be picked up here to be brought to the airport. However, you still need to travel on your own occasion and costs to/from the bus stop (with Sun Bus). Tickets at the desired time and day are available:

• via the online reservation system of Sun Palm Transport.
• at the desk of Sun Palm Transport in both terminals of the airport.
• by contacting the customer service at 07 4099 1191 (within Australia) or +61 7 4099 1191.

Airport Connect operates 2 routes:

Cairns Airport -Sheridan St near Lily St (Tobruk Pool):

Every 30 minutes between 05.30-23.00h (05.30am-11.00pm).

Sheridan St C9 Bus Stop – Cairns Airport:

(381 Sheridan St, Cairns Northern Health Centre).
Departure times between 04.15-17.15h (04.15am-05.15pm). This service can only be booked till 24 hours before departure, online or by contacting the customer service.

Airport Connect: AU$4 / € 3 per person one way. AU$6 / € 4 per person return.
Sun Bus: from AU$2.20 / € 1,50 per person one way.
Duration: approximately 15 minutes.

Shuttle bus accommodations and rental companies

In addition to the shuttle bus companies below, there are also accommodations and rental companies which bring guests/customers with their own transfer bus for free or at (reduced) costs to/from the airport of Cairns. Check this in advance with your accommodation or rental company before you book a transfer with another provider.

Backpacker Shuttle Cairns

The Backpacker Shuttle Cairns is especially for backpackers. 7 Days a week, this shared transfer service, brings you to one of the participating hostels in Cairns or Port Douglas, at a very affordable rate. You can make a reservation:

• via the online reservation system.
• by contacting the customer service at 07 4099 1191 (within Australia) or +61 7 4099 1191.

If you make a reservation 24 hours before your arrival or departure, a seat on the shuttle bus is guaranteed and an e-ticket is ready for you at the airport desk or in your mailbox.

After your arrival, proceed to the orange desk of Sun Palm Transport. This desk can be found in the arrivals hall, as well at the domestic as the international terminal.

Cairns Airport – hostels Cairns (duration: approx. 45 minutes) v.v.:

AU$6 / € 4 per person one way.
AU$10 / € 7 per person return.

Cairns Airport – hostels Port Douglas (duration: approx. 90 minutes) v.v.:

AU$28 / € 19 per person one way. The transfer is possible to/from the followings hotels and hostels:

Cairns Airport Shuttle

Cairns Airport Shuttle provides transfers to different addresses and accommodations in the centre of Cairns and Southside, connecting on all arriving and departing flights. You can make a reservation for a transfer via the online reservation system.

The more travelers you book on 1 shuttle, the higher the discount.

Cairns Airport – Cairns City:

1 person, AU$15 / € 1o one way.
2 persons, AU$10 / € 7 per person one way.

Cairns Airport – Cairns Southside:

1 person, AU$20 / €13,50 one way.
2 persons, AU$12.40 / € 8,50 per person one way.

Cairns Airport – Port Douglas

Rates and availability are on request at grace@cairnsairportshuttle.com.au.

The transfers run every 30 minutes and all depart from bus parking number 6 at the domestic terminal, at 500m / 6 minutes walk from the international terminal.

Sun Palm Transport Shuttle

The Cairns Airport Shuttle of Sun Palm Transport offers a transfer service to a large number of accommodations in Cairns City, Cairns Northern Beaches and Port Douglas. Reservations can be made:

• via the online reservation system.
• at the desk of Sun Palm Transport in both terminals at the airport.
• by contacting the customer service at 07 4099 1191 (within Australia) or +61 7 4099 1191.

Reconfirm your reservation 24-48 hours before your arrival or departure via the customer service.

Cairns Airport – Cairns city centre (duration: approx. 45 minutes) v.v.:

Adults: AU$15 / € 10 per person one way.
Children travel for free up to 2 adults with 2 children or up to 3 adults with 3 children.
If more children are traveling a surcharge of AU$7.50 / € 5 per child (age 3-11) applies. Babies up to 2 years of age travel for free.

Cairns Airport – Northern Beaches (duration: approx. 45 minutes) v.v.:

Adults: AU$20 / € 13,50 per person one way.
Children travel for free up to 2 adults with 2 children or up to 3 adults with 3 children.
If more children are traveling a surcharge of AU$10 / € 7 per child (age 3-11) applies. Babies up to 2 years of age travel for free.

Cairns Airport – Port Douglas v.v. (duration: approx. 90 minutes) v.v.:

Adults: AU$36 / € 25 per person one way.
Children travel for free up to 2 adults with 2 children or up to 3 adults with 3 children.
If more children are traveling a surcharge of AU$18 / € 13 per child (age 3-11) applies. Babies up to 2 years of age travel for free.

Uber

UberX: Cairns Airport – Cairns

AU$12-17 / € 8-12. Duration: 12-15 minutes.

UberX: Cairns Airport – Port Douglas

AU$83-111 / € 56-75. Duration: 65 minutes.

After your arrival, follow the signs Ride-booking outside the terminals.
T1 (international): you will find your driver east of the terminal. To the right of the bus pick up area.
T2 (domestic): you will find your driver at the northernmost end of the public pick up site.

Taxi

Cairns Airport – Cairns:

AU$25-30 / € 17-21 (excl. AU$4.40 / € 3 airport tax). Duration: 12-15 minutes.

Cairns Airport – Port Douglas:

AU$145-190 / € 98-128 (excl. AU$4.40 / € 3 airport tax). Duration: 65 minutes.

The taxi rankings are located opposite the domestic and the international terminal and can be found by following the signs in both terminals.

Via the Cairns Taxis online reservation system you can calculate the exact costs for transport to/from the airport and if you prefer, you can book directly.

All times and prices listed above are subject to changes.
Check the website(s) of the supplier(s) for current departure times, prices and other traveler information.