There are 9 ways to get from Sydney 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 Sydney International Airport to Cooktown Airport
best- Fly from Sydney International Airport (SYD) to Cooktown Airport (CTN)plane SYD - CTN
7h 41m$228–687Fly Sydney International Airport to Cairns, bus
cheapest- Fly from Sydney International Airport (SYD) to Cairns (CNS)plane SYD - CNS
- Take the bus from Cairns to Cooktownbus
11h 43m$218–632Train, bus
- 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
46h 11m$310–6,859Bus via Brisbane
- Take the bus from Central Station to Brisbanebus
- Take the bus from Brisbane Roma Street to Cairns Central Stationbus
- Take the bus from Cairns to Cooktownbus
2d 2h$431–735Drive 2,700 km
- Drive from Sydney to Cooktowncar 2,700 km
31h 12m$493–712Drive to Orange Airport, fly to Cooktown Airport
- Drive from Sydney to Orange-Airport-OAGcar
- Fly from Orange Airport (OAG) to Cooktown Airport (CTN)plane OAG - CTN
13h 29m$416–1,082Train, bus via Central Station
- 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
46h 14m$310–6,859Train, bus via Palmer River
- Take the train from Central Station to Roma Street Stationtrain 31
- Take the bus from Brisbane to Cairnsbus
- Take the bus from Cairns to Palmer Riverbus
- Take the bus from Palmer River to Cooktownbus
2d 3h$430–1,024Bus
- Take the bus from Sydney Central Station to Brisbanebus
- Take the bus from Brisbane Coach Terminal to Cairnsbus
- Take the bus from Cairns to Cooktownbus
2d 5h$419–685
Sydney to Cooktown by train and bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Sydney to Cooktown is to fly and bus which costs $210 - $650 and takes 11h 43m.
The fastest way to get from Sydney to Cooktown is to fly which takes 7h 41m and costs $220 - $700.
No, there is no direct bus from Sydney station to Cooktown. However, there are services departing from Central Station and arriving at Cooktown via Brisbane Roma Street and Cairns. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2 days 2h.
The distance between Sydney and Cooktown is 2166 km. The road distance is 2700 km.
The best way to get from Sydney to Cooktown without a car is to train and bus which takes 46h 11m and costs $310 - $7,000.
It takes approximately 7h 41m to get from Sydney to Cooktown, including transfers.
Sydney to Cooktown bus services, operated by Greyhound Australia, depart from Central Station.
The best way to get from Sydney to Cooktown is to fly which takes 7h 41m and costs $220 - $700. Alternatively, you can bus via Brisbane, which costs $430 - $750 and takes 2 days 2h.
Sydney to Cooktown bus services, operated by Greyhound Australia, arrive at Brisbane station.
Yes, the driving distance between Sydney to Cooktown is 2700 km. It takes approximately 31h 12m to drive from Sydney to Cooktown.
What companies run services between Sydney, NSW, Australia and Cooktown, QLD, Australia?
Virgin Australia, Hinterland Aviation, and two other airlines fly from Sydney International Airport (SYD) to Cooktown Airport (CTN) every 4 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Central Station to Cooktown via Brisbane, Brisbane Roma Street, and Cairns in around 2d 2h.
- Website
- hinterlandaviation.com.au
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cooktown Airport via Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 21m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $160–700
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cooktown Airport via Brisbane, Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 47m
- When
- Monday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- $240–1,300
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cooktown Airport via Townsville, Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 30m
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $160–600
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cooktown Airport via Melbourne, Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 20m
- When
- Monday to Friday
- Estimated price
- $220–1,500
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cooktown Airport via Adelaide, Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 50m
- When
- Tuesday and Thursday
- Estimated price
- $240–800
Flights from Orange Airport to Cooktown Airport via Sydney International Airport, Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 17m
- When
- Monday to Friday
- Estimated price
- $480–1,700
Flights from Orange Airport to Cooktown Airport via Brisbane, Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 15m
- When
- Thursday
- Estimated price
- $320–950
Flights from Orange Airport to Cooktown Airport via Melbourne, Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 15m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $370–1,000
Flights from Orange Airport to Cooktown Airport via Dubbo, Brisbane, Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 15h 25m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $320–950
- Website
- qantas.com
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–650
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns via Gold Coast
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 40m
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $130–550
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 7m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $200–650
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns via Townsville
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 5m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $200–650
- Website
- virginaustralia.com
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $220–420
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $220–420
- Website
- jetstar.com
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–550
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns via Gold Coast
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 40m
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $130–550
- 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
Train from Central Station to Roma Street Station
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 9m
- 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
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
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/
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/
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/
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/
Bus from Cairns to Palmer River
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- $50–75
- Website
- https://www.transnorthbus.com.au/
- Book at
- https://www.tnbc.com.au/
Bus from Palmer River to Cooktown
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- $30–50
- Website
- https://www.transnorthbus.com.au/
- Book at
- https://www.tnbc.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/
- 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
Bus from Brisbane to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 30h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $280–650
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/
- Schedules at
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/timetables
- Early Bird
- $280–400
- Advantage
- $350–550
- Flexible
- $440–650
- 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/
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.com.au/
Bus from Sydney Central Station to Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 17h 28m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $110–200
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com.au
Bus from Brisbane Coach Terminal to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 28h 40m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $230–380
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com.au
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