There are 8 ways to get from Cairns to Northern Territory by plane, train, bus, or car
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly to Darwin International Airport
best- Fly from Cairns (CNS) to Darwin International Airport (DRW)CNS - DRW
5h 21m$372–786Fly to Alice Springs Airport
cheapest- Fly from Cairns (CNS) to Alice Springs Airport (ASP)CNS - ASP
3h 57m$328–1,234Train via Sydney
- Take the train from Cairns Central Station to Roma Street
- Take the train from Roma Street Station to Central Station
- Take the train from Sydney Central Station to Adelaide Parklands
- Take the train from Adelaide Parklands to Darwin
5d 1h$3,424–13,010Bus, train via Alice Springs
- Take the bus from Cairns Central Station to Brisbane Roma Street
- Take the train from Brisbane to Adelaide
- Take the bus from Adelaide to Alice Springs
- Take the bus from Alice Springs to Darwin
5d 6h$2,924–6,802Drive 2,353.5 km
- Drive from Cairns to Darwin2,353.5 km
34h 36m$464–670Fly to Katherine
- Fly from Cairns (CNS) to Katherine (KTR)CNS - KTR
23h 3m$1,072–1,842Train
- Take the train from Cairns Central Station to Roma Street
- Take the train from Brisbane to Adelaide
- Take the train from Adelaide Parklands to Darwin
5d 13h$5,270–14,566Bus, train
- Take the bus from Cairns Central Station to Brisbane Roma Street
- Take the train from Brisbane to Adelaide
- Take the train from Adelaide Parklands to Darwin
5d 17h$5,408–8,706
Cairns to Northern Territory by bus, foot, and train
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Cairns to Northern Territory is to fly which costs $370 - $800 and takes 5h 21m.
The fastest way to get from Cairns to Northern Territory is to fly which takes 3h 57m and costs $320 - $1,300.
The distance between Cairns and Northern Territory is 1689 km. The road distance is 2353.5 km.
The best way to get from Cairns to Northern Territory without a car is to train via Sydney which takes 5 days 1h and costs $3,400 - $13,000.
It takes approximately 5h 21m to get from Cairns to Northern Territory, including transfers.
The best way to get from Cairns to Northern Territory is to fly which takes 5h 21m and costs $370 - $800. Alternatively, you can train via Sydney, which costs $3,400 - $13,000 and takes 5 days 1h.
Northern Territory is 30 min behind Cairns. It is currently 1:44 PM in Cairns and 1:14 PM in Northern Territory.
Yes, the driving distance between Cairns to Northern Territory is 2353 km. It takes approximately 34h 36m to drive from Cairns to Northern Territory.
What companies run services between Cairns, QLD, Australia and Northern Territory, Australia?
Qantas and Airnorth fly from Cairns (CNS) to Darwin International Airport (DRW) twice daily. Alternatively, you can take a train from Cairns Central Station to Darwin via Roma Street, Roma Street Station, Central Station, Sydney Central Station, Adelaide Parklands, and Darwin in around 5d 1h.
Transport is disrupted due to the Russia-Ukraine war. Read more
- Website
- flyairnorth.com
Flights from Cairns to Darwin International Airport via Gove
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $390–800
Flights from Cairns to Alice Springs Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 20m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $260–750
Flights from Cairns to Katherine via Darwin International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 23h 55m
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $950–2,800
Flights from Cairns to Katherine via Gove, Darwin International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 21h 20m
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $1,000–1,800
- Website
- qantas.com
Flights from Cairns to Darwin International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $400–700
Flights from Cairns to Darwin International Airport via Gove
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $390–800
Flights from Cairns to Alice Springs Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 20m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $260–750
- 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 Adelaide Parklands to Darwin
- Ave. Duration
- 2d 5h
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- $2,844
- Book at
- https://bookings.greatsouthernrail.com.au/?_ga=2.27793852.1430812322.1538203551-1884130056.1538203551
- Saver Gold Single Cabin
- $2,844
- Everyday Gold Single Cabin
- $2,994
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 Adelaide to Alice Springs
- Ave. Duration
- 20h 30m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $200–500
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/
- Schedules at
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/timetables
- Early Bird
- $200–300
- Advantage
- $250–380
- Flexible
- $330–500
Bus from Alice Springs to Darwin
- Ave. Duration
- 21h 35m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $200–490
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/
- Schedules at
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/timetables
- Early Bird
- $200–290
- Advantage
- $250–370
- Flexible
- $320–490
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