There are 6 ways to get from Cairns to Adelaide 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
best- Fly from Cairns (CNS) to Adelaide Airport (ADL)CNS - ADL
5h 8m$189–487Train via Sydney
- Take the train from Cairns Central Station to Roma Street
- Take the train from Roma Street Station to Central Station32
- Take the train from Sydney Central Station to Adelaide Parklands
2d 19h$545–10,121Bus
- Take the bus from Cairns Central Station to Brisbane Roma Street
- Take the bus from Brisbane to Central Station
- Take the bus from Central Station to Albury
- Take the bus from Albury Station/Hume Hwy to 85 Franklin St
2d 23h$457–887Drive 2,700.7 km
- Drive from Cairns to Adelaide2,700.7 km
34h 48m$531–767Train
- Take the train from Cairns Central Station to Roma StreetSpirit of Queensland
- Take the train from Brisbane to AdelaideGreat Southern Rail
3d 6h$2,386–11,672Bus, train
- Take the bus from Cairns Central Station to Brisbane Roma StreetPm19
- Take the train from Brisbane to AdelaideGreat Southern Rail
3d 10h$2,524–5,812
Cairns to Adelaide by train
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Cairns to Adelaide is to fly which costs $180 - $490 and takes 5h 8m.
The fastest way to get from Cairns to Adelaide is to fly which takes 5h 8m and costs $180 - $490.
No, there is no direct bus from Cairns station to Adelaide. However, there are services departing from Cairns Central Station and arriving at 85 Franklin St via Brisbane, Central Station and Albury Station/Hume Hwy. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2 days 23h.
No, there is no direct train from Cairns station to Adelaide. However, there are services departing from Cairns Central Station and arriving at Adelaide Parklands via Roma Street Station and Sydney Central Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2 days 19h.
The distance between Cairns and Adelaide is 2146 km. The road distance is 2700.7 km.
The best way to get from Cairns to Adelaide without a car is to train via Sydney which takes 2 days 19h and costs $500 - $11,000.
It takes approximately 5h 8m to get from Cairns to Adelaide, including transfers.
Cairns to Adelaide bus services, operated by Premier Motor Service, depart from Cairns Central Station.
Cairns to Adelaide train services, operated by Queensland Rail Travel, depart from Cairns Central Station.
The best way to get from Cairns to Adelaide is to fly which takes 5h 8m and costs $180 - $490. Alternatively, you can train via Sydney, which costs $500 - $11,000 and takes 2 days 19h, you could also bus, which costs $450 - $900 and takes 2 days 23h.
What companies run services between Cairns, QLD, Australia and Adelaide, SA, Australia?
Jetstar, Virgin Australia, and Qantas fly from Cairns (CNS) to Adelaide Airport (ADL) every 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train from Cairns Central Station to Adelaide Parklands via Roma Street, Roma Street Station, Central Station, and Sydney Central Station in around 2d 19h.
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- Website
- qantas.com
Flights from Cairns to Adelaide Airport via Melbourne
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 40m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $550–1,500
Flights from Cairns to Adelaide Airport via Maroochydore
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 55m
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $180–490
Flights from Cairns to Adelaide Airport via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 47m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $550–1,600
Flights from Cairns to Adelaide Airport via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 10m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $550–1,600
- Website
- jetstar.com
Flights from Cairns to Adelaide Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $180–490
Flights from Cairns to Adelaide Airport via Maroochydore
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 55m
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $180–490
Flights from Cairns to Adelaide Airport via Melbourne
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 35m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $180–490
Flights from Cairns to Adelaide Airport via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 55m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $180–490
Flights from Cairns to Adelaide Airport via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 15m
- When
- Friday
- Estimated price
- $180–490
- Website
- virginaustralia.com
Flights from Cairns to Adelaide Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 25m
- When
- Thursday
- Estimated price
- $270–410
Flights from Cairns to Adelaide Airport via Melbourne
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 55m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $270–410
Flights from Cairns to Adelaide Airport via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 45m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $270–410
Flights from Cairns to Adelaide Airport via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 50m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $270–410
- Phone
- 1800 872 467
- Website
- queenslandrailtravel.com.au
Train from Cairns Central Station to Roma Street
- 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
- 131 500
- Website
- transportnsw.info
Train from Roma Street Station to Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 10m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $70–250
- Website
- https://transportnsw.info/regional
- Book at
- https://transportnsw.info/regional/regional-train-coach-facilities/xpt-regional-trains
- Economy
- $80–110
- First
- $110–150
- Sleeper
- $220–250
Train from Sydney Central Station to Adelaide Parklands
- Ave. Duration
- 25h 50m
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- $400–3,700
- Book at
- https://bookings.journeybeyondrail.com.au/
- Everyday Daynighter Seat
- $400
- Advanced Gold Single Cabin
- $650–900
- Low Gold Single Cabin
- $700–950
- Everyday Gold Single Cabin
- $850–1,100
- GOLD TWIN
- $1,100–2,100
- GOLD SINGLE
- $1,000–1,900
- PLATINUM
- $2,400–3,700
- GOLD PREMIUM TWIN
- $1,400–2,500
Train from Brisbane to Adelaide
- Ave. Duration
- 2d 4h
- 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
- 13 34 10
- reservations@premierms.com.au
- Website
- premierms.com.au
Bus from Cairns Central Station to Brisbane Roma Street
- Ave. Duration
- 29h 5m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $220–320
- Website
- https://premierms.com.au/
- Phone
- 1300 473946
- Website
- greyhound.com.au
Bus from Brisbane to Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 17h
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $140–330
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/
- Schedules at
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/timetables
- Early Bird
- $140–200
- Advantage
- $170–250
- Flexible
- $210–330
Bus from Central Station to Albury
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 35m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $80–180
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/
- Schedules at
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/timetables
- Early Bird
- $80–120
- Advantage
- $95–150
- Flexible
- $110–180
- Phone
- 1300 730 740
- enquiries@fireflyexpress.com.au
- Website
- fireflyexpress.com.au
Bus from Central Station to Albury
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 25m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $95–99
- Website
- http://www.fireflyexpress.com.au
- Phone
- +61 3 9662 2505
- Website
- vline.com.au
Bus from Albury Station/Hume Hwy to 85 Franklin St
- Ave. Duration
- 14h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $13–65
- Website
- https://www.vline.com.au/
Want to know more about travelling around Australia
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More Questions & Answers
Cairns to Adelaide bus services, operated by Premier Motor Service, arrive at Brisbane Roma Street station.
Adelaide is 30 min ahead of Cairns. It is currently 9:30 AM in Cairns and 10:00 AM in Adelaide.
Cairns to Adelaide train services, operated by Queensland Rail Travel, arrive at Roma Street station.
Yes, the driving distance between Cairns to Adelaide is 2701 km. It takes approximately 34h 48m to drive from Cairns to Adelaide.
There are 1435+ hotels available in Adelaide.
























