There are 7 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 to Cooktown Airport
best- Fly from Sydney International Airport (SYD) to Cooktown Airport (CTN)plane SYD - CTN
6h 31m$218–737Fly to Cairns, bus
cheapest- Fly from Sydney International Airport (SYD) to Cairns (CNS)plane SYD - CNS
- Take the bus from Cairns to Cooktownbus
11h 33m$208–582Train, 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$225–6,859Bus 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$422–731Drive 2,699.5 km
- Drive from Sydney to Cooktowncar 2,699.5 km
31h 11m$509–735Train, 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$410–1,024Bus
- 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 5h$415–603
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 - $600 and takes 11h 33m.
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 2699.5 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 8:59 AM in Sydney and 7:59 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) 4 times a day. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Central Station to Cooktown via Brisbane, Brisbane Roma Street, and Cairns in around 2d 2h.
- 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
- $300–800
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns via Gold Coast
- Ave. Duration
- 5h
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $120–450
- Website
- hinterlandaviation.com.au
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cooktown Airport via Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 16m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $150–1,200
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cooktown Airport via Brisbane, Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 10m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $390–1,200
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cooktown Airport via Melbourne, Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 55m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $190–800
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cooktown Airport via Gold Coast, Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 5m
- When
- Monday
- Estimated price
- $160–700
- Website
- jetstar.com
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 3m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–450
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 55m
- When
- Tuesday and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $120–450
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns via Gold Coast
- Ave. Duration
- 5h
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $120–450
- Website
- virginaustralia.com
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $200–390
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 52m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $200–390
- 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
- $130–310
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/
- Schedules at
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/timetables
- Early Bird
- $130–190
- Advantage
- $160–240
- Flexible
- $200–310
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
- Ave. Duration
- 17h 35m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $120–180
- Website
- https://premierms.com.au/
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More Questions & Answers
Yes, the driving distance between Sydney to Cooktown is 2700 km. It takes approximately 31h 11m to drive from Sydney to Cooktown.
There are 29+ hotels available in Cooktown.














