There are 5 ways to get from Adelaide to Cairns by plane, bus (Greyhound), train, 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
best- Fly from Adelaide Airport (ADL) to Cairns (CNS)ADL - CNS
5h 26m$185–495Bus
- Take the bus from 85 Franklin St to Albury Station/Hume Hwy
- Take the bus from Albury Station, Coach Bay 1 to Central Station, Forecourt, Coach Bay 1
- Take the bus from Central Station to Brisbane
- Take the bus from Brisbane Roma Street to Cairns Central Station
2d 19h$403–744Train
- Take the train from Adelaide to BrisbaneGreat Southern Rail
- Take the train from Roma Street to Cairns Central StationSpirit of Queensland
3d 10h$2,451–11,891Drive 2,699.8 km
- Drive from Adelaide to Cairns2,699.8 km
34h 47m$530–766Train, bus
- Take the train from Adelaide to BrisbaneGreat Southern Rail
- Take the bus from Brisbane Roma Street to Cairns Central StationPm16
3d 14h$2,585–5,710
Adelaide to Cairns by bus and foot
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Adelaide to Cairns is to fly which costs $180 - $500 and takes 5h 26m.
The fastest way to get from Adelaide to Cairns is to fly which takes 5h 26m and costs $180 - $500.
No, there is no direct bus from Adelaide to Cairns station. However, there are services departing from 85 Franklin St and arriving at Cairns Central Station via Albury Station, Coach Bay 1, Central Station and Brisbane Roma Street. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2 days 19h.
No, there is no direct train from Adelaide to Cairns station. However, there are services departing from Adelaide and arriving at Cairns Central Station via Central station, platform 5 and Roma Street. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 3 days 10h.
The distance between Adelaide and Cairns is 2145 km. The road distance is 2699.8 km.
The best way to get from Adelaide to Cairns without a car is to bus which takes 2 days 19h and costs $400 - $750.
It takes approximately 5h 26m to get from Adelaide to Cairns, including transfers.
Adelaide to Cairns bus services, operated by V-Line Buses, depart from 85 Franklin St station.
Adelaide to Cairns train services, operated by Journey Beyond - Great Southern, depart from Adelaide station.
The best way to get from Adelaide to Cairns is to fly which takes 5h 26m and costs $180 - $500. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $400 - $750 and takes 2 days 19h, you could also train, which costs $2,400 - $12,000 and takes 3 days 10h.
What companies run services between Adelaide, SA, Australia and Cairns, QLD, Australia?
Jetstar, Virgin Australia, and Qantas fly from Adelaide Airport (ADL) to Cairns (CNS) every 4 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus from 85 Franklin St to Cairns Central Station via Albury Station, Coach Bay 1, Central Station, Brisbane, and Brisbane Roma Street in around 2d 19h.
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- Website
- jetstar.com
Flights from Adelaide Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 50m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $180–550
Flights from Adelaide Airport to Cairns via Melbourne
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 50m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $180–550
Flights from Adelaide Airport to Cairns via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $180–550
- Website
- virginaustralia.com
Flights from Adelaide Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 10m
- When
- Thursday
- Estimated price
- $300–410
Flights from Adelaide Airport to Cairns via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 55m
- When
- Monday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- $300–410
Flights from Adelaide Airport to Cairns via Melbourne
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 35m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $300–410
- Website
- qantas.com
Flights from Adelaide Airport to Cairns via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 55m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $440–1,300
Flights from Adelaide Airport to Cairns via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 35m
- When
- Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $430–1,200
Train from Adelaide to Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 2d 7h
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- $2,365–5,390
- Book at
- https://bookings.greatsouthernrail.com.au/?_ga=2.27793852.1430812322.1538203551-1884130056.1538203551
- Gold
- $2,365
- Gold Premium
- $3,390
- Platinum
- $5,390
- Phone
- 1800 872 467
- Website
- queenslandrailtravel.com.au
Train from Roma Street to Cairns Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 25h 20m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $85–6,171
- 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
- $85–390
- AChoice
- $85–390
- Gold Class
- $4,927
- Heritage Class
- $6,171
- Phone
- +61 3 9662 2505
- Website
- vline.com.au
Bus from 85 Franklin St to Albury Station/Hume Hwy
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 5m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $13–65
- Website
- https://www.vline.com.au/
- Phone
- 131 500
- Website
- transportnsw.info
Bus from Albury Station, Coach Bay 1 to Central Station, Forecourt, Coach Bay 1
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 15m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $40–60
- Website
- https://transportnsw.info/regional
- Phone
- 1300 473946
- Website
- greyhound.com.au
Bus from Central Station to Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 14h
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $130–300
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/
- Schedules at
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/timetables
- Early Bird
- $130–190
- Advantage
- $160–240
- Flexible
- $190–300
- Phone
- 13 34 10
- reservations@premierms.com.au
- Website
- premierms.com.au
Bus from Brisbane Roma Street to Cairns Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 29h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $220–320
- Website
- https://premierms.com.au/
Want to know more about travelling around Australia
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More Questions & Answers
Adelaide to Cairns bus services, operated by V-Line Buses, arrive at Albury Station/Hume Hwy.
Cairns is 30 min behind Adelaide. It is currently 5:20 AM in Adelaide and 4:50 AM in Cairns.
Adelaide to Cairns train services, operated by Journey Beyond - Great Southern, arrive at Brisbane station.
Yes, the driving distance between Adelaide to Cairns is 2700 km. It takes approximately 34h 47m to drive from Adelaide to Cairns.
There are 989+ hotels available in Cairns.












