There are 6 ways to get from Main Beach to Cairns 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 from Gold Coast Airport
best- Fly from Gold Coast Airport (OOL) to Cairns (CNS)OOL - CNS
5h 48m$122–602Train
cheapest- Take the train from Helensvale station, platform 2 to Roma StreetVlbd / ...
- Take the train from Roma Street to Cairns Central StationSpirit of Queensland
28h 7m$86–6,502Bus
- Take the bus from Southport to Brisbane Roma StreetPm12
- Take the bus from Brisbane Roma Street to Cairns Central StationPm16
32h 51m$242–350Drive 1,751.5 km
- Drive from Main Beach to Cairns1,751.5 km
20h 37m$341–492Train to Brisbane Airport, fly
- Take the train from Helensvale station, platform 2 to International Airport Station
- Fly from Brisbane Airport (BNE) to Cairns (CNS)BNE - CNS
6h 51m$130–478Train, bus
- Take the train from Helensvale station, platform 2 to Roma StreetVlbd / ...
- Take the bus from Brisbane to CairnsCairns
32h 59m$262–652
Main Beach to Cairns by tram and train
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Main Beach to Cairns is to train and fly which costs $130 - $480 and takes 6h 51m.
The fastest way to get from Main Beach to Cairns is to fly which takes 5h 48m and costs $120 - $600.
No, there is no direct bus from Main Beach to Cairns station. However, there are services departing from Tedder Ave at Lennie Avenue and arriving at Cairns Central Station via Southport and Brisbane Roma Street. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 32h 51m.
No, there is no direct train from Main Beach station to Cairns station. However, there are services departing from Main Beach station, platform 1 and arriving at Cairns Central Station via Helensvale station, platform 2 and Roma Street. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 28h 7m.
The distance between Main Beach and Cairns is 1516 km. The road distance is 1751.5 km.
The best way to get from Main Beach to Cairns without a car is to train which takes 28h 7m and costs $85 - $6,500.
It takes approximately 5h 48m to get from Main Beach to Cairns, including transfers.
Main Beach to Cairns bus services, operated by Premier Motor Service, depart from Southport station.
Main Beach to Cairns train services, operated by Translink, depart from Helensvale station, platform 2.
The best way to get from Main Beach to Cairns is to fly which takes 5h 48m and costs $120 - $600. Alternatively, you can train, which costs $85 - $6,500 and takes 28h 7m, you could also bus, which costs $240 - $350 and takes 32h 51m.
What companies run services between Main Beach, QLD, Australia and Cairns, QLD, Australia?
Jetstar, Virgin Australia, and Qantas fly from Gold Coast Airport (OOL) to Cairns (CNS) 5 times a day. Alternatively, you can take a vehicle from Main Beach station, platform 1 to Cairns Central Station via Helensvale station, platform 4, Helensvale station, platform 2, and Roma Street in around 28h 7m.
- Website
- qantas.com
Flights from Gold Coast Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–600
Flights from Gold Coast Airport to Cairns via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 41m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–1,200
Flights from Brisbane Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 22m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–550
Flights from Brisbane Airport to Cairns via Townsville
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 5m
- When
- Tuesday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- $200–550
- Website
- virginaustralia.com
Flights from Gold Coast Airport to Cairns via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $370–600
Flights from Brisbane Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–390
- Website
- jetstar.com
Flights from Gold Coast Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–600
Flights from Gold Coast Airport to Cairns via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–600
Flights from Brisbane Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 18m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–440
- Phone
- 13 12 30
- Website
- translink.com.au
Train from Helensvale station, platform 2 to Roma Street
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 4m
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $1
- Website
- https://translink.com.au/
Train from Helensvale station, platform 2 to International Airport Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 28m
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $20–28
- Website
- https://translink.com.au/
- 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
- 13 34 10
- reservations@premierms.com.au
- Website
- premierms.com.au
Bus from Southport to Brisbane Roma Street
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 10m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $21–30
- Website
- https://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/
- Phone
- 1300 473946
- Website
- greyhound.com.au
Bus from Brisbane to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 30h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $260–650
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/
- Schedules at
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/timetables
- Early Bird
- $260–370
- Advantage
- $330–480
- Flexible
- $420–650
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Read the travel guideMore Questions & Answers
Main Beach to Cairns bus services, operated by Premier Motor Service, arrive at Brisbane Roma Street station.
Main Beach to Cairns train services, operated by Translink, arrive at Roma Street station.
Yes, the driving distance between Main Beach to Cairns is 1752 km. It takes approximately 20h 37m to drive from Main Beach to Cairns.
There are 989+ hotels available in Cairns.