There are 6 ways to get from Melbourne to Cooktown by plane, train, bus, bus (Greyhound), 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 Cooktown Airport
best- Fly from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Cooktown Airport (CTN)plane MEL - CTN
7h 32m$228–693Fly to Cairns, bus
cheapest- Fly from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Cairns (CNS)plane MEL - CNS
- Take the bus from Cairns to Cooktownbus
11h 59m$218–488Train, bus
- Take the train from Southern Cross to Central Stationtrain 622
- Take the train from Central Station to Roma Street Stationtrain 31
- Take the train from Roma Street to Cairns Central Stationtrain
- Take the bus from Cairns to Cooktownbus
2d 10h$377–7,103Bus via Brisbane
- Take the bus from Melbourne to Sydney Central Stationbus
- Take the bus from Central Station to Brisbanebus
- Take the bus from Brisbane Coach Terminal to Cairnsbus
- Take the bus from Cairns to Cooktownbus
2d 14h$539–984Drive 3,036 km
- Drive from Melbourne to Cooktowncar 3,036 km
36h 27m$541–781Bus
- Take the bus from Southern Cross Coach Terminal, Spencer St to Central Station, Forecourt, Coach Bay 1bus
- Take the bus from Central Station, Forecourt, Coach Bay 1 to Roma Street Station, Stand Fbus
- Take the bus from Brisbane Roma Street to Cairns Central Stationbus
- Take the bus from Cairns to Cooktownbus
2d 16h$417–612
Melbourne to Cooktown by train and bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Melbourne to Cooktown is to fly and bus which costs $210 - $490 and takes 11h 59m.
The fastest way to get from Melbourne to Cooktown is to fly which takes 7h 32m and costs $220 - $700.
No, there is no direct bus from Melbourne to Cooktown. However, there are services departing from Melbourne and arriving at Cooktown via Central Station, Brisbane Coach Terminal and Cairns. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2 days 14h.
The distance between Melbourne and Cooktown is 2505 km. The road distance is 3036 km.
The best way to get from Melbourne to Cooktown without a car is to train and bus which takes 2 days 10h and costs $370 - $7,500.
It takes approximately 7h 32m to get from Melbourne to Cooktown, including transfers.
Melbourne to Cooktown bus services, operated by FlixBus Australia, depart from Melbourne station.
The best way to get from Melbourne to Cooktown is to fly which takes 7h 32m and costs $220 - $700. Alternatively, you can bus via Brisbane, which costs $500 - $1,000 and takes 2 days 14h.
Melbourne to Cooktown bus services, operated by FlixBus Australia, arrive at Sydney Central Station.
Yes, the driving distance between Melbourne to Cooktown is 3036 km. It takes approximately 36h 27m to drive from Melbourne to Cooktown.
What companies run services between Melbourne, VIC, Australia and Cooktown, QLD, Australia?
Qantas, Hinterland Aviation, and two other airlines fly from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Cooktown Airport (CTN) 4 times a day. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Melbourne to Cooktown via Sydney Central Station, Central Station, Brisbane, Brisbane Coach Terminal, Cairns, and Cairns in around 2d 14h.
- Website
- qantas.com
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 23m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–950
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns via Townsville
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 50m
- When
- Monday
- Estimated price
- $320–950
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 40m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $340–1,000
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 40m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $350–1,000
- Website
- hinterlandaviation.com.au
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Cooktown Airport via Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–1,100
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Cooktown Airport via Brisbane, Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 15m
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $240–1,200
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Cooktown Airport via Adelaide, Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 5m
- When
- Thursday
- Estimated price
- $240–650
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Cooktown Airport via Sydney, Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 45m
- When
- Monday to Friday
- Estimated price
- $160–600
- Website
- jetstar.com
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 22m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–340
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–340
- Website
- virginaustralia.com
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $170–430
- Phone
- 131 500
- Website
- transportnsw.info
Train from Southern Cross to Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 58m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $65–250
- Website
- https://transportnsw.info/regional
- Book at
- https://transportnsw.info/regional/regional-train-coach-facilities/xpt-regional-trains
- Economy
- $75–100
- First
- $100–140
- Sleeper
- $210–250
Train from Central Station to Roma Street Station
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 6m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- 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
- +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/
- Website
- flixbus.com.au
Bus from Melbourne to Sydney Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 55m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $100–190
- Schedules at
- 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
- 1300 473946
- customerservice@greyhound.com.au
- Website
- greyhound.com.au
Bus from Central Station to Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 14h
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $140–310
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/
- Schedules at
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/timetables
- Early Bird
- $140–200
- Advantage
- $170–250
- Flexible
- $210–310
- Phone
- 131 500
- Website
- transportnsw.info
Bus from Southern Cross Coach Terminal, Spencer St to Central Station, Forecourt, Coach Bay 1
- Ave. Duration
- 12h
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $60–90
- Website
- https://transportnsw.info/regional
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
- Phone
- 13 34 10
- reservations@premierms.com.au
- Website
- 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/
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
More Questions & Answers
There are 12+ hotels available in Cooktown.





















