Destinations > Queensland > Cairns > Coming & Going

Cairns

Coming & Going

Cairns is reasonably well connected to all forms of transport. There's a busy international airport as well as regular train, bus and ferry connections.

AIR

Cairns International Airport (tel (07) 4052 9744) is located about 6km north of the city centre on Captain Cook Highway and handles frequent flights within Australia and is increasingly becoming a popular international gateway with flights from Asia and Papua New Guinea.

Many backpackers either arrive or depart Cairns by air and flights between Cairns and Alice Springs, Darwin and Sydney are often bundled with backpacker bus package deals.

Buses between the airport and the centre of Cairns run frequently and cost $4.50 although many hostels also provide a free shuttle service. Alternatively there's an Airport Shuttle (tel (07) 4048 8355) that costs $8 between the city centre and the airport. A taxi between the airport and the city centre costs around $14 for up to four passengers.

BUS

The bus terminal is located at Trinity Wharf.

Coral Coaches (tel (07) 4031 7577) have buses to Port Douglas, Cape Tribulation and Cooktown. McCafferty's/Greyhound coaches go to the Northern Territory. Both McCafferty's/Greyhound and Premier have buses going south to Sydney and Melbourne.

TRAIN

The train station is located between Bunda and McLeod Streets, next to the Cairns Central shopping centre. There are five trains a week down the coast to Brisbane as well as daily trains to Kuranda.

FERRY

Quicksilver (tel (07) 4099 5500) operate a daily ferry to Port Douglas that departs from the Marlin Jetty at the Pier Marketplace at 8am. The 1½-hour trip costs $24 one-way or $36 return.

HITCHHIKING

It's not too difficult finding a good hitching spot for a lift out of Cairns and there are usually plenty of other backpackers driving in and out of town that may give you a ride. It is easier, however, to put a notice up in the hostels around town asking for a lift or to use a web-based ride sharing service.

The Bruce Highway runs south from Cairns and the Captain Cook Highway heads north. Take bus 1, 1A or 1Z up the Captain Cook Highway for rides north to Port Douglas and Cape Tribulation or bus 1B south to the Bruce Highway for a lift down the coast.

BUG Ride (website http://australia.bugride.com) is BUG's own web-based ride sharing service; it allows travellers to both offer lifts and search for rides throughout Australia.