There are 8 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)SYD - CTN
6h 31m$218–737Fly Sydney International Airport to Cairns, bus
cheapest- Fly from Sydney International Airport (SYD) to Cairns (CNS)SYD - CNS
- Take the bus from Cairns to Cooktown
11h 28m$208–682Train, bus
- 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
46h 11m$225–6,859Bus via Brisbane
- 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 2h$422–730Drive 2,699.4 km
- Drive from Sydney to Cooktown2,699.4 km
31h 6m$529–764Drive to Orange Airport, fly to Cooktown Airport
- Drive from Sydney to Orange Airport (OAG)
- Fly from Orange Airport (OAG) to Cooktown Airport (CTN)OAG - CTN
11h 23m$319–1,036Train, bus via Palmer River
- Take the train from Central Station to Roma Street Station31
- Take the bus from Brisbane to Cairns
- Take the bus from Cairns to Palmer River
- Take the bus from Palmer River to Cooktown
2d 3h$410–1,024Bus
- Take the bus from Central Station to Brisbane Roma Street
- Take the bus from Brisbane Roma Street to Cairns Central Station
- Take the bus from Cairns to Cooktown
2d 5h$415–604
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 $200 - $700 and takes 11h 28m.
The fastest way to get from Sydney to Cooktown is to fly which takes 6h 31m and costs $210 - $750.
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 2699.4 km.
The best way to get from Sydney to Cooktown without a car is to train and bus which takes 46h 11m and costs $220 - $7,000.
It takes approximately 6h 31m 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 6h 31m and costs $210 - $750. Alternatively, you can bus via Brisbane, which costs $420 - $750 and takes 2 days 2h.
Sydney to Cooktown bus services, operated by Greyhound Australia, arrive at Brisbane station.
Cooktown is 1h behind Sydney. It is currently 11:46 AM in Sydney and 10:46 AM in Cooktown.
What companies run services between Sydney, NSW, Australia and Cooktown, QLD, Australia?
Jetstar, 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
- 5h 16m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–1,100
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cooktown Airport via Adelaide, Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- When
- Thursday
- Estimated price
- $280–800
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cooktown Airport via Brisbane, Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $390–1,200
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cooktown Airport via Melbourne, Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 55m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $200–800
Flights from Orange Airport to Cooktown Airport via Sydney International Airport, Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 23m
- When
- Monday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- $220–1,600
Flights from Orange Airport to Cooktown Airport via Brisbane, Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 20m
- When
- Thursday
- Estimated price
- $300–900
Flights from Orange Airport to Cooktown Airport via Melbourne, Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 15h 20m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $360–1,000
- Website
- qantas.com
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 4m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–800
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 56m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $360–800
- Website
- virginaustralia.com
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $190–500
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 1m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $190–500
- Website
- jetstar.com
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 3m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–500
- 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
- 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 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/
- 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
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
- 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 Roma Street
- Ave. Duration
- 17h 35m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $120–180
- 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 Sydney to Cooktown is 2699 km. It takes approximately 31h 6m to drive from Sydney to Cooktown.
There are 27+ hotels available in Cooktown.














