How to travel from Albury to Cairns, Australia

The distance between Albury and Cairns is around 2,531km (1,573 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly which takes around 4h 55m.

5 routes found

We've found 5 different ways to get from Albury to Cairns by plane, train, bus and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out CairnsAlbury if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
plane
+

Fly

Fly from Albury (ABX) to Cairns (CNS).

  • Duration4h 55m
  • Flight time4h 30m
  • Typical cost
    A$525($355)
Operated by

Qantas

+ 1 others
💰 Cheapest
2
3 x train
+

Train

Take the train to Central Station then Brisbane and then to Cairns Central Station.

  • Duration1 day 22h
  • Departs5 times a week
  • Typical cost
    A$415($280)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

3
3 x bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Sydney then Brisbane and then to Cairns.

  • Duration2 days 5h
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    A$635($425)

1 similiar route

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

4
car
+

Drive

Drive to Cairns.

  • Duration1 day 6h
  • Distance2,680km (1,665 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Albury and Cairns

There are several options for getting from Albury to Cairns by plane, train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the train which costs around A$415 ($280) and will take around 1 day 22h. If you need to get there more quickly, you can fly and arrive in approximately 4h 55m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately A$525 ($355).

The distance between Albury and Cairns is around 2,531km (1,573 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 2,133km (1,326 miles)

It takes around 4h 55m to get from Albury and Cairns by plane. If you are travelling by car it will take around 1 day 6h to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Albury to Cairns is to fly which takes around 4h 55m and will set you back approx A$525 ($355).

The cheapest way to travel between Albury and Cairns, if you exclude driving, is to take the train which will typically cost around A$415 ($280) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Albury and Cairns. It typically takes around 1 day 22h and departs 5 times a week.

There are no direct train services that runs from Albury to Cairns. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Central Station and Brisbane. These services run 5 times a week and will take a minimum of 1 day 22h.

XPT, NSW TrainLink and Queensland Rail Travel run train services between Albury and Cairns. Trains depart 5 times a week and will take around 1 day 22h, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Albury and Cairns. It typically takes around 2 days 5h and departs once daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Albury to Cairns. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Sydney, Brisbane and Roma Street busway station. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 2 days 5h.

Greyhound Australia, Firefly Express and Premier Motor Service run regular bus services between Albury and Cairns. Buses run once daily and take around 2 days 5h on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

Yes you can fly from Albury and Cairns. Flights depart from Albury (ABX) and arrive at Cairns (CNS) - via Brisbane (BNE). The flight takes around 4h 30m.

There is no direct flight from Albury to Cairns. There is however a flight that goes via Brisbane (BNE). This services will take at least 4h 55m (not including layover time).

The flight from Albury to Cairns typically takes around 4h 30m. Flights depart from Albury (ABX) and and arrive into Cairns (CNS).

The closest major airport to Cairns is Cairns Airport (CNS) (CNS) which is approximately 5km (3 miles) from Cairns. Cooktown Airport (CTN) (CTN) and Palm Island Airport (PMK) (PMK) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.

Drive yourself

Yes it is possible to drive from Albury and Cairns. The distance is around 2,680km (1,665 miles) by road and it will take around 1 day 6h in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Albury to Cairns is to fly which takes, on average, 4h 55m and will usually cost around A$525 ($355).

How do I get from Albury to Cairns

Compare travel optionsbetween Albury and Cairns

Transport options from Albury to Cairns
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Fly
4h 55m
A$525($355)
5 times a day2,531km (1,573 miles)
Train
1 day 22h
A$415($280)
5 times a week3,274km (2,034 miles)
Bus + 1 similar
2 days 5h
A$635($425)
once daily3,623km (2,251 miles)
Bus via Sydney2 days 6h
A$440($295)
once daily3,644km (2,265 miles)
Drive
1 day 6h
A$355($240)
on demand2,680km (1,665 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Albury and Cairns

Train operators

Airlines

Bus companies

Airports near Cairns

The following major airports near Cairns offer regular flights to various popular destinations within Australia and internationally.

CNS
Cairns Airport (CNS)
International Airport
Distance
5km (3 miles) from Cairns
CTN
Cooktown Airport (CTN)
Domestic Airport
Distance
176km (109 miles) from Cairns
PMK
Palm Island Airport (PMK)
Domestic Airport
Distance
221km (137 miles) from Cairns