Cairns Airport to city: Distance, driving time & transfers
The distance from Cairns Airport to the city centre is 5.7km. Expect a taxi fare of around $30 for the eight minute drive. Alternatively, save money with a shared transfer from Cairns Airport to the city.
Unlike some Australian airports (ahem, Melbourne Tullamarine), Cairns Airport is pretty close to the city centre. It doesn’t take long to get to your hotel, assuming you are staying in the city centre.
Where is Cairns Airport?
Cairns Airport is just to the north of Cairns city centre, in a suburb called Aeroglen.
Cairns Airport to city distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Cairns Airport to the city is 5.7km. That makes for a driving time of around eight minutes.
Cairns Airport to city taxi fares
Taxis from Cairns Airport to the city are metered, and don’t operate on a set rate. However, most Cairns Airport taxi fares cost around $30.
Cairns Airport to city transfers
However, if you want to save money on getting to Cairns city centre, you might want to consider a shared transfer. These Cairns Airport transfer services must be pre-booked, and at the time of writing cost $19.30.
The shared transfer comes with a meet and greet service, and provides a service for both domestic and international flights.
To book a Cairns airport transfer, head here.
Trip-booster! 8 great day trips from Cairns to power-up your holiday
- Kuranda combo package – take the Kuranda Scenic Railway up and the Skyrail cable car down.
- Green Island tours with beach time, glass bottom boat and snorkelling. (Or pick a Fitzroy Island trip instead).
- Moore Reef day tour – with underwater observatory, snorkelling gear, glass bottom boat & semi-submersible cruises.
- Great Barrier Reef snorkelling cruise – with snorkelling stops at two excellent spots on the Reef.
- Cape Tribulation rainforest day tour – with Mossman Gorge Aboriginal cultural experience and Daintree River crocodile-watching cruise.
- Atherton Tableland waterfalls and rainforest tour – including wildlife-spotting and a swim in a volcanic lake.
- Outback 4WD tour – visiting Chillagoe Caves, Aboriginal rock art and Granite Gorge.
What to do in Cairns
Things to do in Cairns include hopping aboard the Green Island ferry or Fitzroy Island ferry to one of the city’s nearby islands, or the Evolution cruise to Hastings Reef.
For other attractions, try the Cairns Aquarium, hair-raising bungy jumping at Skypark Cairns, splashing in the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon and discovering tropical ecosystems at the Cairns Botanic Gardens.
Save time queuing – Book these Cairns attractions in advance
- From the air: Outer Reef helicopter flight | Sunrise hot air balloon ride | Skyrail Rainforest Cableway.
- At night: Sunset dinner cruise | Pub and club tour | Aquarium by Twilight experience.
- For wildlife: Birdworld Kuranda | Kuranda Koala Gardens | Cairns Zoom and Wildlife Dome | Cairns Aquarium | Rainforestation Nature Park
- For culture: Cairns Museum tickets | Street art walking tour | City and surrounds highlights bus tour.
- For thrills: AJ Hackett giant jungle swing | High speed jet boat tour | Barron Gorge white water rafting | Mulgrave River tubing.
Top level Cairns accommodation options include the Pacific Hotel, the Hilton Cairns and the Sebel Cairns Harbour Lights.
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