There are 6 ways to get from Manly to Cairns by ferry, 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.
Ferry, fly to Cairns
best- Take the ferry from Manly, Wharf 2 to Circular Quay, Wharf 6, Side Bferry
- Fly from Sydney International Airport (SYD) to Cairns (CNS)plane SYD - CNS
6h 8m$145–423Ferry, train
- Take the ferry from Manly, Wharf 2 to Circular Quay, Wharf 6, Side Bferry Mff
- Take the train from Central Station to Roma Street Stationtrain 31
- Take the train from Roma Street to Cairns Central Stationtrain
41h 57m$250–6,775Bus via Central Station
- Take the bus from Central Station, Forecourt, Coach Bay 1 to Roma Street Station, Stand Fbus 3101 / ...
- Take the bus from Brisbane Coach Terminal to Cairnsbus Au050 / ...
46h 13m$288–486Drive 2,402.1 km
- Drive from Manly to Cairnscar 2,402.1 km
27h 43m$441–637Ferry, fly to Townsville Airport, drive
- Take the ferry from Manly, Wharf 2 to Circular Quay, Wharf 6, Side Bferry
- Fly from Sydney International Airport (SYD) to Townsville Airport (TSV)plane SYD - TSV
- Drive from Townsville-Airport-TSV to Cairnscar
8h 36m$215–518Bus
- Take the bus from Chatswood to Brisbanebus Pm12
- Take the bus from Brisbane Roma Street to Cairns Central Stationbus Pm16
2d 1h$340–504
Manly to Cairns by ferry and train
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Manly to Cairns is to ferry and fly which costs $140 - $430 and takes 6h 8m.
The fastest way to get from Manly to Cairns is to ferry and fly which takes 6h 8m and costs $140 - $430.
No, there is no direct bus from Manly to Cairns station. However, there are services departing from Manly Wharf, Belgrave St, Stand G and arriving at Cairns Central Station via Chatswood and Brisbane Roma Street. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2 days 1h.
The distance between Manly and Cairns is 2000 km. The road distance is 2402.1 km.
The best way to get from Manly to Cairns without a car is to ferry and train which takes 41h 57m and costs $250 - $7,000.
It takes approximately 6h 8m to get from Manly to Cairns, including transfers.
Manly to Cairns bus services, operated by Premier Motor Service, depart from Chatswood station.
Manly to Cairns bus services, operated by Premier Motor Service, arrive at Brisbane station.
Yes, the driving distance between Manly to Cairns is 2402 km. It takes approximately 27h 43m to drive from Manly to Cairns.
There are 1001+ hotels available in Cairns.
What companies run services between Manly, NSW, Australia and Cairns, QLD, Australia?
You can take a bus from Manly Wharf, Belgrave St, Stand E to Cairns via Wynyard Station, York St, Stand M, Wynyard Station, Central Station, Central Station, Forecourt, Coach Bay 1, Roma Street Station, Stand F, and Brisbane Coach Terminal in around 46h 13m.
- Website
- qantas.com
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–1,100
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns via Gold Coast
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 40m
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $120–370
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 7m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $360–1,100
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns via Townsville Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 5m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $360–1,100
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Townsville Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 45m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–950
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Townsville Airport via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 51m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $340–1,000
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Townsville Airport via Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 35m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $380–1,100
- Website
- virginaustralia.com
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $190–370
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $190–370
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Townsville Airport via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 38m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $220–340
- Website
- jetstar.com
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–370
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns via Gold Coast
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 40m
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $120–370
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Townsville Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 45m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–360
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Townsville Airport via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–360
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Townsville Airport via Melbourne
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–360
- Phone
- 131 500
- Website
- transportnsw.info
Train from Central Station to Roma Street Station
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 6m
- 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
- 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
- $170–6,171
- 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
- $170–230
- AChoice
- $310–390
- Gold Class
- $4,927
- Heritage Class
- $6,171
- Phone
- 131 500
- Website
- transportnsw.info
Bus from Central Station, Forecourt, Coach Bay 1 to Roma Street Station, Stand F
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 50m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $65–95
- Website
- https://transportnsw.info/regional
- Website
- flixbus.com.au
Bus from Brisbane Coach Terminal to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 28h 40m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $220–380
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com.au
- Phone
- 13 34 10
- reservations@premierms.com.au
- Website
- premierms.com.au
Bus from Chatswood to Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 17h 15m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $120–180
- 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
- 1800 326 822
- info@myfastferry.com.au
- Website
- myfastferry.com.au
Ferry from Manly, Wharf 2 to Circular Quay, Wharf 6, Side B
- Ave. Duration
- 20 min
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- $7–10
- Website
- https://www.myfastferry.com.au/
- Phone
- 131 500
- Website
- transportnsw.info
Ferry from Manly, Wharf 2 to Circular Quay, Wharf 6, Side B
- Ave. Duration
- 22 min
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- $7–10
- Schedules at
- https://transportnsw.info/routes/ferry
- Phone
- +61 2 9206 1111
- sydney@captaincook.com.au
- Website
- captaincook.com.au
Ferry from Manly, Wharf 2 to Circular Quay, Wharf 6, Side B
- Ave. Duration
- 40 min
- Frequency
- Every 2 hours
- Estimated price
- $8–20
- Website
- https://www.captaincook.com.au/
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
























