There are 6 ways to get from Perth to Cairns by plane, train, 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.
Fly
best- Fly from Perth Airport (PER) to Cairns (CNS)plane PER - CNS
6h 53m$314–855Train
- Take the train from Perth to Sydney Central Stationtrain
- Take the train from Central Station to Roma Street Stationtrain
- Take the train from Roma Street to Cairns Central Stationtrain
5d 8h$1,018–17,440Drive 4,728.2 km
- Drive from Perth to Cairnscar 4,728.2 km
2d 7h$898–1,298Train, bus
- Take the train from Perth to Sydney Central Stationtrain
- Take the train from Central Station to Roma Street Stationtrain
- Take the bus from Brisbane to Cairnsbus
5d 13h$1,193–11,590Train, bus via Adelaide
- Take the train from Perth to Adelaide Parklandstrain
- Take the bus from 85 Franklin St to Albury Station/Hume Hwybus
- Take the bus from Albury to Central Stationbus
- Take the bus from Central Station to Brisbanebus
- Take the bus from Brisbane Roma Street to Cairns Central Stationbus
5d 19h$1,046–9,770Train via Adelaide
- Take the train from Perth to Adelaide Parklandstrain
- Take the train from Adelaide to Brisbanetrain
- Take the train from Roma Street to Cairns Central Stationtrain
6d 8h$2,989–20,896
Perth to Cairns by train
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Perth to Cairns is to fly which costs $310 - $900 and takes 6h 53m.
The fastest way to get from Perth to Cairns is to fly which takes 6h 53m and costs $310 - $900.
No, there is no direct train from Perth to Cairns station. However, there are services departing from Perth and arriving at Cairns Central Station via Central Station and Roma Street. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 5 days 8h.
The distance between Perth and Cairns is 3451 km. The road distance is 4728.2 km.
The best way to get from Perth to Cairns without a car is to train which takes 5 days 8h and costs $1,000 - $18,000.
It takes approximately 6h 53m to get from Perth to Cairns, including transfers.
Perth to Cairns train services, operated by Journey Beyond - Indian Pacific, depart from Perth station.
The best way to get from Perth to Cairns is to fly which takes 6h 53m and costs $310 - $900. Alternatively, you can train, which costs $1,000 - $18,000 and takes 5 days 8h.
Cairns is 2h ahead of Perth. It is currently 12:13 AM in Perth and 2:13 AM in Cairns.
Perth to Cairns train services, operated by Journey Beyond - Indian Pacific, arrive at Sydney Central Station.
What companies run services between Perth, WA, Australia and Cairns, QLD, Australia?
Jetstar, Airnorth, and two other airlines fly from Perth Airport (PER) to Cairns (CNS) every 4 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train from Perth to Cairns Central Station via Sydney Central Station, Central Station, Roma Street Station, and Roma Street in around 5d 8h.
- Website
- qantas.com
Flights from Perth Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 20m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $210–950
Flights from Perth Airport to Cairns via Alice Springs
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 15m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $330–650
Flights from Perth Airport to Cairns via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 22m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $600–1,800
- Website
- jetstar.com
Flights from Perth Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 20m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $210–950
Flights from Perth Airport to Cairns via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $210–950
- Website
- virginaustralia.com
Flights from Perth Airport to Cairns via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 22m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $340–700
- Website
- flyairnorth.com
Flights from Perth Airport to Cairns via Alice Springs
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 15m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $330–650
Train from Perth to Sydney Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 3d 15h
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- $863–11,000
- Book at
- https://bookings.journeybeyondrail.com.au/
- Everyday Daynighter Seat
- $863
- Advanced Gold Single Cabin
- $1,400–2,000
- Low Gold Single Cabin
- $1,500–2,100
- Everyday Gold Single Cabin
- $1,800–2,400
- GOLD TWIN
- $3,300–6,000
- GOLD SINGLE
- $3,000–5,500
- PLATINUM
- $7,000–11,000
- GOLD PREMIUM TWIN
- $4,000–7,000
Train from Perth to Adelaide Parklands
- Ave. Duration
- 2d 21h
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- $598–9,000
- Book at
- https://bookings.journeybeyondrail.com.au/
- Everyday Daynighter Seat
- $598
- Advanced Gold Single Cabin
- $1,000–1,400
- Low Gold Single Cabin
- $1,000–1,400
- Everyday Gold Single Cabin
- $1,200–1,700
- GOLD TWIN
- $2,200–4,200
- GOLD SINGLE
- $2,000–3,700
- PLATINUM
- $5,500–9,000
- GOLD PREMIUM TWIN
- $2,700–5,000
- 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
- $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
Train from Adelaide to Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 2d 7h
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- $2,365–5,390
- Book at
- https://bookings.greatsouthernrail.com.au/?_ga=2.27793852.1430812322.1538203551-1884130056.1538203551
- Gold
- $2,365
- Gold Premium
- $3,390
- Platinum
- $5,390
- 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
Bus from Albury to Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $80–180
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/
- Schedules at
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/timetables
- Early Bird
- $80–120
- Advantage
- $95–150
- Flexible
- $110–180
Bus from Central Station to Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 14h
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- 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
- 1800 800 007
- customer.relations@vline.com.au
- Website
- vline.com.au
Bus from 85 Franklin St to Albury Station/Hume Hwy
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 5m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $13–65
- 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 Albury to Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 10m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com.au
- Phone
- 1300 730 740
- enquiries@fireflyexpress.com.au
- Website
- fireflyexpress.com.au
Bus from Albury to Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 35m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $95–99
- Website
- http://www.fireflyexpress.com.au
- 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
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More Questions & Answers
Yes, the driving distance between Perth to Cairns is 4728 km. It takes approximately 2 days 7h to drive from Perth to Cairns.
There are 996+ hotels available in Cairns.
























