Cairns Airport is only around 6km from the centre of Cairns, so getting into the city is quick and easy. You can take a taxi, use a rideshare such as Uber, book an airport shuttle or private transfer, or hire a car.
And from 23 November 2026, there will finally be an even cheaper option – a direct public bus from Cairns Airport to city.
When I visited Cairns, I caught a taxi from the airport into the city and used Uber for the return trip. Both were easy, and because the airport is so close to the centre, neither trip took long.
In this guide, I’ll run through the options for getting from Cairns Airport to Cairns City, including which one might suit you best.
I’ve also included information about getting to Palm Cove and Port Douglas, as plenty of travellers fly into Cairns Airport but don’t actually stay in Cairns.
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Quick answer: Cairns Airport is around 6km from Cairns City. A taxi or Uber takes roughly 10–15 minutes and is currently the easiest option. From 23 November 2026, Translink Route 100 will provide a direct 50-cent bus between Cairns Airport and the city.
Public Bus from Cairns Airport to the City
At the moment, there is no convenient public bus directly from the Cairns Airport terminals into the city. But that’s about to change.
From 23 November 2026, Translink Route 100 will run directly between Cairns Airport and Cairns City.
The new service will run every 30 minutes from 4 am until 10:30 pm, seven days a week, except Good Friday and Christmas Day. The fare will be just 50 cents each way.
A new airport bus stop is being built between the domestic and international terminals, so there will be no need to walk out to the highway with your luggage.
Route 100 will travel along Lake Street, with stops including Cairns Hospital, Cairns Private Hospital, Cairns City station and Cairns Lagoon.
Once it starts, this will easily be the cheapest way to get from Cairns Airport to the city.
If you want to use Cairns public transport to help you get around during your visit, the map can be found here.
What if you’re travelling before 23 November 2026?
For now, I wouldn’t recommend using the existing public bus network.
There are buses running along the main road outside the airport, but you need to walk more than a kilometre from the domestic terminal to reach them.
With luggage, it’s simply not worth the hassle when the city centre is only around 6km away.
Until the new airport bus starts, I’d choose a taxi, Uber or airport shuttle instead.
Cairns Airport Shuttle
If you’d prefer to have your transport organised before you arrive, you can book a shared shuttle from Cairns Airport to your accommodation.
This can be particularly useful for solo travellers who want door-to-door transport without organising a taxi or Uber after landing.
I’ve previously recommended Exemplar for Cairns Airport transfers. I’d book in advance rather than relying on finding an available seat when you arrive.
Keep in mind that a shared shuttle may take longer than a taxi or Uber because other passengers can be dropped off along the way. If there are two or more of you, compare the total shuttle price with a taxi or rideshare before booking.
Once the new 50-cent airport bus begins, I’d choose that over a shared shuttle if it stops conveniently near your accommodation. For door-to-door convenience, though, the shuttle still has an advantage.
Cairns Airport Private Transfer
A private transfer is probably more than you need for such a short trip, but there are times when paying extra for convenience makes sense.
If you’re arriving after a long flight, travelling with children or lots of luggage, or travelling as a group, having a driver waiting when you land can make for a very easy arrival.
Private transfers take you directly to your accommodation without waiting for other passengers or making additional stops.
Check prices for a private Cairns Airport transfer →
Taxi From Cairns Airport to City
Taking a taxi is one of the easiest ways to get from Cairns Airport to the city, particularly if you haven’t booked anything in advance.
There are sheltered taxi ranks directly outside both terminals, so you can simply collect your luggage, walk outside and join the queue.
This is what I did when I arrived in Cairns. I’d planned to order an Uber, but the taxis were right there, so we jumped straight into one instead.
The trip into central Cairns generally takes around 10–15 minutes, depending on traffic and where you’re staying.
Taxi fares are metered, with an airport access charge added to your fare – currently $4 from the domestic terminal and $5 from the international terminal.
As a rough guide, I’d budget around $25–$35 for a taxi into central Cairns, although the actual fare will depend on your destination, traffic and when you’re travelling.
You don’t need to pre-book. If there are two or more of you, a taxi can also compare well with a shuttle because you’re paying for the vehicle rather than per person.
Uber and other rideshare services operate at Cairns Airport.
There are designated pick-up areas at both terminals. At the domestic terminal, it’s at the northern end of arrivals, while at the international terminal it’s at the eastern end.
Just follow the signs once you leave the terminal.
Although we took a taxi when we arrived, we used Uber from Cairns City back to the airport. It was easy and slightly cheaper than the taxi we’d taken in the other direction.
Because Cairns Airport is so close to the city, I wouldn’t choose between a taxi and Uber based purely on price.
Check the rideshare fare when you arrive, but if there’s a taxi sitting outside and the difference is only a few dollars, I’d take whichever is more convenient.
Rideshare prices can also change depending on demand, so Uber won’t necessarily always be cheaper.
Hiring a Car at Cairns Airport
Whether you need a hire car really depends on what you’re doing after you land.
On my first trip, when I was staying in Cairns, I didn’t hire one. The city centre is compact, and if you’re taking organised tours to places such as the Great Barrier Reef, you may find you don’t need a car at all.
On a later trip, we flew into Cairns but were staying in Port Douglas, so hiring a car made much more sense.
I booked several months ahead through Booking.com with Bargain Car Rentals. The company picked us up from Cairns Airport and took us to their depot a few minutes away to collect the car.
That’s worth checking when comparing rental cars. Not every company has a desk inside the airport, and some off-airport rentals involve a short shuttle ride to the depot.
I’d book well in advance, particularly during Australian school holidays and other busy periods.
A hire car is particularly useful if you’re staying outside Cairns or want to independently explore places such as the Atherton Tablelands, Palm Cove, Port Douglas or the Daintree.
Compare Cairns Airport car hire prices →
Cairns Airport to Port Douglas Transfers
Port Douglas is around 65–70km north of Cairns Airport, with the drive taking about an hour.
This is where we stayed on my later trip, and having a hire car worked well because we wanted the flexibility to get around independently.
If you don’t want to drive, you can book a shared shuttle or private transfer. A shared shuttle will generally make sense for one or two people, while families and groups should also compare the cost of a private transfer.
I’d organise your Port Douglas transport before you arrive rather than trying to sort it out after landing.
Check Cairns Airport to Port Douglas transfer options →
- Shuttle bus from Cairns Airport to Port Douglas
- Private Transfer up to 7 people (child seats and boosters available)
Cairns Airport to Palm Cove Transfers
Palm Cove is around 25km north of Cairns Airport.
You can get there by shared airport shuttle, private transfer, taxi, rideshare or hire car.
If you’re staying in Palm Cove and don’t plan to explore much further independently, a shuttle or transfer may be all you need. If you want to visit Port Douglas, the Daintree, Atherton Tablelands or other places around Tropical North Queensland at your own pace, a hire car may be more useful.
For one or two people, compare a shared shuttle with Uber or a taxi. Families and groups should also check private transfer prices rather than automatically paying several individual shuttle fares.
Check Cairns Airport to Palm Cove transfer options →
Which Cairns Airport Transport Option Should You Choose?
The best option depends on where you’re staying, how many people you’re travelling with and how much convenience matters to you.
For the cheapest option: From 23 November 2026, the 50-cent Route 100 bus will be hard to beat if it stops conveniently near your accommodation.
For the easiest option into Cairns: I’d choose a taxi or rideshare. The airport is so close to the city that the trip is quick, with no need to book ahead.
For solo travellers: A shared shuttle offers door-to-door convenience, but compare the price with the other options.
For families or groups: Compare a taxi or private transfer rather than looking only at per-person shuttle fares.
For Port Douglas or exploring further afield: Consider hiring a car. That’s what we did when we flew into Cairns but stayed in Port Douglas, and having our own transport gave us much more flexibility.
If I were staying in central Cairns again, I’d take whichever was easiest when I walked out of the terminal – taxi or Uber.
Once Route 100 starts, though, I’d be very tempted by that 50-cent fare!
If you’re heading further north to Palm Cove or Port Douglas, organise your transport before you arrive. Then you’re sorted and can get on with enjoying Tropical North Queensland.
Read these next – great things to do during your Cairns visit.
Great Barrier Reef Experience, Cairns
12 Adventure Activities in Cairns
TRAVEL PLANNING ESSENTIALS
Flights – Book direct with the airline, always.
Book accommodation – My go to is Booking.com
Hire a rental car – DiscoverCars.com is where I search many car rental companies in one place
Get travel insurance – I use CoverMore for my insurance.
Pick up an eSIM – My eSIM of choice is Airalo
Book activities, tours & attractions – I use a few different websites for this. Viator, Get Your Guide and Klook are my first options.
Stay safe with a VPN – I use NordVPN to keep me safe online
Manage your money – I use Wise and ING (Australia) for my travel accounts.
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