Brisbane to Cairns: A Travel Guide

Planning a trip to Cairns? You are in for an adventure! Home to two world heritage sites, an abundance of nature, deep-rooted traditional customs, and a vibrant nightlife, there is no doubt you will enjoy your stay in the North Queensland city.

To make your trip as seamless as possible from Brisbane to Cairns, we have gathered some tips and tricks to help you be on your way.

Plan your Flights to Cairns from Brisbane

The flight from Brisbane to Cairns is only 2 1 ⁄ 2 hours, meaning you can be at the Cairns Great Barrier Reef in no time.

Due to its popularity, you want to book your flights well in advance and with specific carriers, especially during the peak season of June - August when the kids are out of school, and the weather is at its peak. While most will opt for a road trip from Brisbane to Cairns, it’s definitely not for everyone and can be quite costly.

For those who do plan to fly, below you can find a table for flight options through June - September, for a round trip of 1 week.

Flight costs from Brisbane → Cairns

	June	July	August	September
Jetstar	$894,52	$270,43	$230,66	$256,11
Qantas	$1120,54	$404,05	$330,87	$311,78
Virgin Australia	$947,04	$276,79	$267,24	$342,01

Brisbane Airport Parking

If you are flying out of Brisbane Airport and plan to keep your car at the airport whilst away, a great way to save money is to book airport parking Brisbane online and in advance to avoid exuberant drive-up costs. You can find dozens of reputable airport car parks throughout New Zealand and Australia on Flyparks. Simply type in the dates you need a car park for and you will get results within seconds and be able to book your spot in less than 2 minutes.

The Brisbane to Cairns Drive:

Whilst a road trip isn’t for everyone, it is for those who like a longer, more flexible adventure. A road trip from Brisbane to Cairns is taken by thousands of people every year, and it is popular for good reason, you can visit some pretty spectacular sites along the way.

While the direct route from Brisbane to Cairns via car is approximately 20 hours and 1,700 km, a much more practical route is to split up the drive between 12-15 days. Of course, there are plenty of routes to take, we have simply gathered one of the most popular, and highly rated to share.

The Coastal Route:

• Brisbane → Noosa Shire (2-hour drive): Stop at: Noosa Fairy Pools; Eumundi Market; Hastings Street; and Noosa National Park
• Noosa Shire → Fraser Island (4.5-hour drive): Stop at: Seventy-Five Miles Beach; South Ngkala Rocks; Rainbow Beach Kayaking with Dolphins Tour; Camp at Eli Creek
• Fraser Island → Bundaberg (4-hour drive): Stop at: Ohana Cider House & Tropical Winery; Bundaberg Botanic Gardens; Mon Repos Turtle Encounter; Splitters Farm
• Bundaberg → Yeppoon (3.5-hour drive): Stop at: Yeppoon Lagoon; Yeppoon Main Beach; Cooberrie Wildlife Farm Sanctuary; Fan Rock Lookout
• Yeppoon → Airlie Beach ( 5-hour 20 minute drive): Stop at: Airlie Beach Lagoon; Boat Haven Beach; Ocean Rafting with the Whitsundays; Bicentennial Walkway; Heart Reef
• Airlie Beach → Townsville ( 3 hours 5-minute drive): Stop at: Strand Park; Castle Hill; Billabong Sanctuary; Reef HQ Aquarium; Little Crystal Creek; Army Museum North Queensland
• Townsville → Cairns (4 hours 7-minute drive): To see all of our must-do attractions in Cairns, read below!

Be sure you are ready for a drive and/or are traveling with someone willing to take turns with you driving as this coastal route can get a bit tiresome (unless you love driving, then you will find it a breeze). Either way, the stops listed above are family-friendly and great for all ages to experience!

A Brisbane to Cairns Cruise:

Sailing from Brisbane to Cairns is one of the most enjoyable ways to travel between the two coastal cities. P & O Australia offers 7-day cruises starting at $719 per person. Their most popular cruise, the Barrier Reef Discovery, takes you from Brisbane to Airlie Beach to Cairns, and finally back to Brisbane, all in 7 days. You will also have an onboard Willis Island experience where you can view close-up this small island and all the marine life that inhabits it.

There is also the Cairns Carnival Luminosa Cruise you can take with a very similar route, but this cruise stops at Port Douglas on day 4 from 7 am-5 pm where you can explore the island and its activities independently or with your fellow travelers. A room for two people on the Luminosa starts at $863 per night. On board, you will find no shortage of bars or unique restaurants to choose from. You can also experience the spa, comedy club, swim-in movie theatre, and more when you travel on the Luminosa.

Cairns Accommodation: Hostel, Air B n B, or Hotel?

Depending on your preferred style of accommodation and budget, you will likely be deciding between an AirBnB or a Hotel during your stay in Cairns. We have narrowed down the choices below to include reasonable, highly-rated accommodation options for a couple of two.

Hotels in Cairns:

• Shangri-La the Marina: $209.98 per night, 4.⅗
• Hilton Cairns: $202.02 per night, 4.⅕
• DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cairns: $187.71 per night, 4.⅕
• Cairns Colonial Club Resort: $136.80 per night, 4.0/5
• Palm Royal Cairns: $143.17 per night, 4.⅕

Air B n B’s in Cairns:

• Privately Owned Hotel Room at Trilogy Hotel: $173.39 per night, 4.⅗
• 1 Bedroom Apartment in Cairns City: $117 per night, no ratings yet
• 1 Bedroom in Villa on Grafton: $88 per night, 4.5/5
• 1 Bedroom in Rental Unit hosted by Suzy, $100 per night, 4.7/5
• 1 Bedroom in Home hosted by David, $48 per night, no ratings yet

Hostels in Cairns:

• Gilligans: $51 per night, 4.0/5
• Mad Monkey Central: $186.12 per night, 4.⅗
• Summer House Backpackers Cairns: $43 per night, 4.0/5
• Monkey Backpackers Village: $68.40 per night, 4.⅘
• Global Backpackers Cairns: $98.63 per night, 4.⅗

Things to do in Cairns:

Cairns is filled with activities and experiences to suit every type of traveler. To find unique opportunities for exploration and adventure, see our page on things to do in Cairns. From Great Barrier Reef and Rainforest tours to finding things to do for free in Cairns, there is something for everyone in this city.

By now you should have everything you need to be fully prepared for your trip to Cairns. While you can see the city in a mere 3 short days, it's recommended that you stay 5-7 for the full authentic local experience. For more information on where to stay in Cairns, or what to do, check out the rest of our blog!