Cairns is served by Cairns Airport (CNS), which handles both domestic and international flights. The city also has a central bus terminal at Lake Street for local services and the Reef Fleet Terminal for long-distance coaches, as well as a train station for regional rail connections.
Cairns Airport offers direct flights to all Australian state and territory capitals. A one-way flight from Brisbane can start from approximately AUD $82, Sydney from AUD $109, and Melbourne from AUD $129. Flight durations are around 2 hours 25 minutes from Brisbane, 3 hours 5 minutes from Sydney, and 3 hours 15 minutes from Melbourne. International return flights, such as from Honolulu, can be found from approximately AUD $771.
Long-distance coach services, primarily operated by Greyhound Australia, connect Cairns to other major cities. For example, a bus journey from Townsville to Cairns takes about 5 hours 40 minutes and costs around AUD $52, while from Airlie Beach, it is approximately 11 hours 50 minutes and costs about AUD $102. Local public buses operate throughout the city, with fares based on zones.
The 'Spirit of Queensland' offers regular passenger services between Brisbane and Cairns, with the journey taking over 24 hours. A 'Northern XPlorer Fare' is available for travel between Townsville and Cairns for AUD $50 one-way.
Car hire services are available at Cairns Airport and various city locations, with daily rates starting from around AUD $38 to AUD $51.
From Cairns Airport to the city center, options include taxis (approximately AUD $25-$30), ride-sharing services like Uber, or shuttle buses. Shuttle services, such as Con-X-ion or Exemplar, offer transfers to Cairns CBD for around AUD $16 per person or to Port Douglas for about AUD $50 per person.
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