There are 7 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 Melbourne Airport to Cooktown Airport
best- Fly from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Cooktown Airport (CTN)MEL - CTN
6h 42m$228–783Fly Melbourne Airport to Cairns, bus
cheapest- Fly from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Cairns (CNS)MEL - CNS
- Take the bus from Cairns to Cooktown
11h 54m$218–528Train, bus
- Take the train from Southern Cross to Central Station622 / ...
- Take the train from Central Station to Roma Street Station31
- Take the train from Roma Street to Cairns Central Station
- Take the bus from Cairns to Cooktown
2d 10h$292–7,103Bus
- Take the bus from Southern Cross Coach Terminal/Spencer St to Central Station
- Take the bus from Central Station to Brisbane
- Take the bus from Brisbane Roma Street to Cairns Central Station
- Take the bus from Cairns to Cooktown
2d 14hDrive 3,036 km
- Drive from Melbourne to Cooktown3,036 km
36h 19m$576–831Fly Essendon Fields Airport to Cooktown Airport
- Fly from Essendon Fields Airport (MEB) to Cooktown Airport (CTN)MEB - CTN
20h 19m$345–870Bus via Campbellfield
- Take the bus from Campbellfield to Central Station
- Take the bus from Central Station to Brisbane
- Take the bus from Brisbane Roma Street to Cairns Central Station
- Take the bus from Cairns to Cooktown
2d 20h$515–719
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 - $550 and takes 11h 54m.
The fastest way to get from Melbourne to Cooktown is to fly which takes 6h 42m and costs $220 - $800.
No, there is no direct bus from Melbourne to Cooktown. However, there are services departing from Southern Cross Coach Terminal/Spencer St and arriving at Cooktown via Central Station, Brisbane Roma Street 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 $290 - $7,500.
It takes approximately 6h 42m to get from Melbourne to Cooktown, including transfers.
Melbourne to Cooktown bus services, operated by FlixBus Australia, depart from Southern Cross Coach Terminal/Spencer St station.
The best way to get from Melbourne to Cooktown is to fly which takes 6h 42m and costs $220 - $800. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs and takes 2 days 14h.
Melbourne to Cooktown bus services, operated by FlixBus Australia, arrive at Central Station.
Cooktown is 1h behind Melbourne. It is currently 9:10 AM in Melbourne and 8:10 AM in Cooktown.
What companies run services between Melbourne, VIC, Australia and Cooktown, QLD, Australia?
Jetstar, 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 Southern Cross Coach Terminal/Spencer St to Cooktown via Central Station, Brisbane, Brisbane Roma Street, and Cairns in around 2d 14h.
- Website
- hinterlandaviation.com.au
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Cooktown Airport via Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 41m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $160–700
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Cooktown Airport via Sydney, Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $240–1,300
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Cooktown Airport via Adelaide, Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 5m
- When
- Thursday
- Estimated price
- $240–700
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Cooktown Airport via Brisbane, Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 50m
- When
- Monday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- $440–1,300
Flights from Essendon Fields Airport to Cooktown Airport via King Island, Melbourne Airport, Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 18h 20m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $290–800
Flights from Essendon Fields Airport to Cooktown Airport via Flinders Island, Launceston, Melbourne Airport, Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 23h 50m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $250–1,000
Flights from Essendon Fields Airport to Cooktown Airport via Flinders Island, Launceston, Sydney, Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 23h 50m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $250–1,000
Flights from Essendon Fields Airport to Cooktown Airport via Flinders Island, Launceston, Brisbane, Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 23h 50m
- When
- Friday
- Estimated price
- $600–1,800
Flights from Essendon Fields Airport to Cooktown Airport via King Island, Burnie, Melbourne Airport, Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 24h 15m
- When
- Monday and Tuesday
- Estimated price
- $240–950
- Website
- jetstar.com
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 18m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–410
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 27m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–410
- Website
- qantas.com
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–950
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 30m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $360–1,100
- Website
- virginaustralia.com
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–360
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 25m
- When
- Monday
- Estimated price
- $130–360
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–360
- Phone
- 131 500
- Website
- transportnsw.info
Train from Southern Cross to Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 2m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- 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 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
- $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
- +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 Southern Cross Coach Terminal/Spencer St to Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 20m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com.au
- Phone
- 1300 473946
- Website
- greyhound.com.au
Bus from Central Station to Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 14h
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $130–300
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/
- Schedules at
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/timetables
- Early Bird
- $130–190
- Advantage
- $160–240
- Flexible
- $190–300
- 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/
Bus from Central Station to Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 17h 35m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $120–180
- Website
- https://premierms.com.au/
- Phone
- 1300 730 740
- enquiries@fireflyexpress.com.au
- Website
- fireflyexpress.com.au
Bus from Campbellfield to Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 45m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $95–99
- Website
- http://www.fireflyexpress.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
Yes, the driving distance between Melbourne to Cooktown is 3036 km. It takes approximately 36h 19m to drive from Melbourne to Cooktown.
There are 27+ hotels available in Cooktown.

















