There are 6 ways to get from Pakenham to Cairns by train, plane, bus (Greyhound), car, or bus
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Train, fly to Cairns
best- Take the train from Pakenham Station to Southern Cross Stationtrain
- Fly from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Cairns (CNS)plane MEL - CNS
7h 20m$144–397Train
- Take the train from Pakenham Station to Southern Cross Stationtrain
- 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
2d 6h$226–7,009Bus
- Take the bus from Pakenham Station/Railway Ave to Southern Cross Coach Terminal/Spencer Stbus
- Take the bus from Southern Cross Coach Terminal/Spencer St to Central Stationbus
- Take the bus from Central Station to Brisbanebus
- Take the bus from Brisbane Roma Street to Cairns Central Stationbus
2d 11hDrive 2,838.9 km
- Drive from Pakenham to Cairnscar 2,838.9 km
33h 30m$506–731Train, fly to Townsville Airport, drive
- Take the train from Pakenham Station to Southern Cross Stationtrain
- Fly from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Townsville Airport (TSV)plane MEL - TSV
- Drive from Townsville-Airport-TSV to Cairnscar
9h 58m$214–537Train, bus
- Take the train from Pakenham Station to Southern Cross Stationtrain
- Take the bus from Southern Cross Coach Terminal to Liverpoolbus
- Take the bus from Central Station to Brisbanebus
- Take the train from Roma Street to Cairns Central Stationtrain
2d 7h$320–6,926
Pakenham to Cairns by train
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Pakenham to Cairns is to train and fly which costs $140 - $400 and takes 7h 20m.
The fastest way to get from Pakenham to Cairns is to train and fly which takes 7h 20m and costs $140 - $400.
No, there is no direct bus from Pakenham station to Cairns station. However, there are services departing from Pakenham Station/Railway Ave and arriving at Cairns Central Station via Southern Cross Coach Terminal/Spencer St, Central Station and Brisbane Roma Street. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2 days 11h.
No, there is no direct train from Pakenham station to Cairns station. However, there are services departing from Pakenham Station and arriving at Cairns Central Station via Southern Cross, Central Station and Roma Street. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2 days 6h.
The distance between Pakenham and Cairns is 2400 km. The road distance is 2838.9 km.
The best way to get from Pakenham to Cairns without a car is to train which takes 2 days 6h and costs $220 - $7,000.
It takes approximately 7h 20m to get from Pakenham to Cairns, including transfers.
Pakenham to Cairns bus services, operated by V-Line Buses, depart from Pakenham Station/Railway Ave.
Pakenham to Cairns train services, operated by Metro Trains Melbourne, depart from Pakenham Station.
The best way to get from Pakenham to Cairns is to train which takes 2 days 6h and costs $220 - $7,000. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs and takes 2 days 11h.
What companies run services between Pakenham, VIC, Australia and Cairns, QLD, Australia?
You can take a train from Pakenham Station to Cairns Central Station via Southern Cross Station, Southern Cross, Central Station, Roma Street Station, and Roma Street in around 2d 6h. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Pakenham Station/Railway Ave to Cairns Central Station via Southern Cross Coach Terminal/Spencer St, Central Station, Brisbane, and Brisbane Roma Street in around 2d 11h.
- 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 Townsville Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 35m
- When
- Monday and Thursday
- Estimated price
- $320–950
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $350–1,100
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 40m
- When
- Monday to Friday
- Estimated price
- $350–1,000
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Townsville Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–1,200
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Townsville Airport via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 55m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $340–1,200
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Townsville Airport via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $340–1,200
- Website
- jetstar.com
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 18m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–370
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 27m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–370
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Townsville Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $120–360
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Townsville Airport via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 50m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–360
- 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 Adelaide
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 15m
- When
- Thursday
- Estimated price
- $130–360
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 30m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $130–360
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Townsville Airport via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 26m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–430
- Phone
- 1800 800 007
- customer.feedback@metrotrains.com.au
- Website
- metrotrains.com.au
Train from Pakenham Station to Southern Cross Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $6
- Website
- https://www.metrotrains.com.au/
- Schedules at
- https://www.metrotrains.com.au/timetables/?line=Alamein&dir=1&ts=1678780587323
- Phone
- 1800 800 007
- Website
- vline.com.au
Train from Pakenham Station to Southern Cross Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 7m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $7–10
- Website
- https://www.vline.com.au/
- Off Peak
- $7–10
- 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
- 1800 800 007
- customer.relations@vline.com.au
- Website
- vline.com.au
Bus from Pakenham Station/Railway Ave to Southern Cross Coach Terminal/Spencer St
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 36m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $1–13
- Website
- https://www.vline.com.au/
- Schedules at
- https://www.vline.com.au/Timetables/Train-coach-timetables
- Book at
- https://www.vline.com.au/Plan-trip-buy-tickets
- 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
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $130–310
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/
- Schedules at
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/timetables
- Early Bird
- $130–190
- Advantage
- $160–240
- Flexible
- $200–310
- 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/
- Phone
- 1300 730 740
- enquiries@fireflyexpress.com.au
- Website
- fireflyexpress.com.au
Bus from Southern Cross Coach Terminal to Liverpool
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 15m
- 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
Pakenham to Cairns bus services, operated by V-Line Buses, arrive at Southern Cross Coach Terminal/Spencer St station.
Cairns is 1h behind Pakenham. It is currently 6:35 AM in Pakenham and 5:35 AM in Cairns.
Pakenham to Cairns train services, operated by Metro Trains Melbourne, arrive at Southern Cross Station.
Yes, the driving distance between Pakenham to Cairns is 2839 km. It takes approximately 33h 30m to drive from Pakenham to Cairns.
There are 975+ hotels available in Cairns.


























