There are 6 ways to get from Hamilton Island to Cooktown 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 Shute Harbour Marine Terminal
best- Take the ferry from Hamilton Island Marina to Shute Harbourferry
- Take the bus from Airlie Beach to Cairnsbus
- Take the bus from Cairns to Cooktownbus
17h 35m$194–328Ferry, bus, train
- Take the ferry from Hamilton Island Marina to Shute Harbourferry
- Take the bus from Shute Harbour Marine Terminal to Proserpine, Mill Streetbus 860
- Take the train from Proserpine to Cairns Central Stationtrain
- Take the bus from Cairns to Cooktownbus
19h 14m$194–2,398Fly Great Barrier Reef Airport to Cooktown Airport
- Fly from Great Barrier Reef Airport (HTI) to Cooktown Airport (CTN)plane HTI - CTN
16h 53m$358–1,130Ferry, bus
- Take the ferry from Hamilton Island Marina to Port of Airlieferry
- Take the bus from Airlie Beach to Cairns Central Stationbus
- Take the bus from Cairns to Cooktownbus
18h 10m$250–393Fly Great Barrier Reef Airport to Cairns, bus
- Fly from Great Barrier Reef Airport (HTI) to Cairns (CNS)plane HTI - CNS
- Take the bus from Cairns to Cooktownbus
13h 20m$420–940Ferry, ferry to Whitsunday Coast Airport, fly to Cairns, bus
- Take the ferry from Hamilton Island Marina to Shute Harbourferry
- Take the ferry from Shute Harbour to Palm Bayferry
- Fly from Whitsunday Coast Airport (PPP) to Cairns (CNS)plane PPP - CNS
- Take the bus from Cairns to Cooktownbus
13h 40m$454–908
Hamilton Island to Cooktown by ferry, bus, foot, and train
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Hamilton Island to Cooktown is to ferry and bus via Shute Harbour Marine Terminal which costs $190 - $330 and takes 17h 35m.
The fastest way to get from Hamilton Island to Cooktown is to fly and bus which takes 13h 20m and costs $420 - $950.
The distance between Hamilton Island and Cooktown is 1005 km.
The best way to get from Hamilton Island to Cooktown without a car is to ferry and bus via Shute Harbour Marine Terminal which takes 17h 35m and costs $190 - $330.
It takes approximately 17h 35m to get from Hamilton Island to Cooktown, including transfers.
There are 12+ hotels available in Cooktown.
What companies run services between Hamilton Island, QLD, Australia and Cooktown, QLD, Australia?
Qantas, Hinterland Aviation, and two other airlines fly from Great Barrier Reef Airport (HTI) to Cooktown Airport (CTN) 3 times a day.
- Website
- hinterlandaviation.com.au
Flights from Great Barrier Reef Airport to Cooktown Airport via Brisbane, Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 16h 40m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $600–1,700
Flights from Great Barrier Reef Airport to Cooktown Airport via Sydney, Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 20h 57m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $300–1,100
Flights from Great Barrier Reef Airport to Cooktown Airport via Melbourne, Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 23h 22m
- When
- Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $350–1,200
Flights from Great Barrier Reef Airport to Cooktown Airport via Brisbane, Townsville, Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 19h 25m
- When
- Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $600–1,700
- Website
- qantas.com
Flights from Great Barrier Reef Airport to Cairns via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 2m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $410–950
Flights from Great Barrier Reef Airport to Cairns via Melbourne
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 15m
- When
- Wednesday to Sunday
- Estimated price
- $410–950
Flights from Great Barrier Reef Airport to Cairns via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 25m
- When
- Monday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $410–950
- Website
- skytrans.com.au
Flights from Whitsunday Coast Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $280–600
- 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
- $290–600
- Website
- jetstar.com
Flights from Great Barrier Reef Airport to Cairns via Melbourne
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 15m
- When
- Thursday and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $410–950
- Phone
- 1800 872 467
- Website
- queenslandrailtravel.com.au
Train from Proserpine to Cairns Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 49m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $70–2,200
- 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
- $70–100
- AChoice
- $110–140
- Gold Class
- $1,756
- Heritage Class
- $2,200
- Website
- flixbus.com.au
Bus from Airlie Beach to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 39m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $70–130
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com.au
- Phone
- +61 7 3036 2070
- Website
- transnorthbus.com.au
Bus from Cairns to Cooktown
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 45m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $70–110
- Website
- https://www.transnorthbus.com.au/
- Book at
- https://www.tnbc.com.au/
- Phone
- 13 12 30
- Website
- translink.com.au
Bus from Shute Harbour Marine Terminal to Proserpine, Mill Street
- Ave. Duration
- 59 min
- Frequency
- Every 2 hours
- Estimated price
- $1
- Website
- https://translink.com.au/
- Phone
- 13 34 10
- reservations@premierms.com.au
- Website
- premierms.com.au
Bus from Airlie Beach to Cairns Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 10h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $80–120
- Website
- https://premierms.com.au/
Ferry from Hamilton Island Marina to Shute Harbour
- Ave. Duration
- 35 min
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $50–90
- Schedules at
- cruisewhitsundays.com
Ferry from Hamilton Island Marina to Port of Airlie
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $100–170
- Schedules at
- cruisewhitsundays.com
- Phone
- 0488 022 868
- info@islandtransfers.com
- Website
- islandtransfers.com
Ferry from Shute Harbour to Palm Bay
- Ave. Duration
- 30 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $69
- Schedules at
- islandtransfers.com
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














