How to travel from Apollo Bay to Cairns, Australia

The distance between Apollo Bay and Cairns is around 2,920km (1,814 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the bus, then take the train and then fly which takes around 9hrs.

6 routes found

We've found 6 different ways to get from Apollo Bay to Cairns by bus, train, plane and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

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

🚀 Fastest
1
bus
+
train
+
plane
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Bus, Train and Plane

Take the bus to Geelong then take the train to Wyndham Vale then fly from Avalon (AVV) to Cairns (CNS).

  • Duration9hrs
  • Flight time4h 30m
  • Typical cost
    A$720($485)
Operated by

Multiple operators

2
5 x bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Geelong, Southern Cross Coach Terminal/Spencer St, Sydney then Brisbane and then to Cairns Central Station.

  • Duration2 days 15h
  • Departs5 times a week
  • Typical cost
    A$530($355)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

3
bus
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4 x train
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Bus and Train

Take the bus to Geelong then take the train to Southern Cross, Central Station then Brisbane and then to Cairns Central Station.

  • Duration2 days 6h
  • Departs5 times a week
  • Typical cost
    A$405($270)
Operated by

Multiple operators

2 similiar routes

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

4
car
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Drive

Drive to Cairns.

  • Duration1 day 11h
  • Distance2,989km (1,857 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Apollo Bay and Cairns

There are several options for getting from Apollo Bay to Cairns by bus, train, plane and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus and then take the train which costs around A$395 ($265) and will take around 2 days 15h. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the bus, then take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 9hrs, though it is a bit more costly at approximately A$720 ($485).

The distance between Apollo Bay and Cairns is around 2,920km (1,814 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 2,436km (1,514 miles)

It takes around 9hrs to get from Apollo Bay and Cairns by bus, train and plane. If you are travelling by car it will take around 1 day 11h to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Apollo Bay to Cairns is to take the bus, then take the train and then fly which takes around 9hrs and will set you back approx A$720 ($485).

The cheapest way to travel between Apollo Bay and Cairns, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus and then take the train which will typically cost around A$395 ($265) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

There is no train service that runs between Apollo Bay and Cairns. We recommend that you take the bus to Geelong then take the train to Wyndham Vale then fly from Avalon (AVV) to Cairns (CNS). instead which will take 9hrs.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Apollo Bay and Cairns. It typically takes around 2 days 15h and departs 5 times a week.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Apollo Bay to Cairns. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Geelong, Southern Cross Coach Terminal/Spencer St, Sydney, Brisbane and Roma Street busway station. These services run 5 times a week and will take a minimum of 2 days 15h.

Public Transport Victoria, V/Line, Greyhound Australia, Firefly Express and Premier Motor Service run regular bus services between Apollo Bay and Cairns. Buses run 5 times a week and take around 2 days 15h on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Apollo Bay to Cairns. We recommend that you take the bus to Geelong then take the train to Wyndham Vale then fly from Avalon (AVV) to Cairns (CNS). instead which will take 9hrs.

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 Apollo Bay and Cairns. The distance is around 2,989km (1,857 miles) by road and it will take around 1 day 11h in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Apollo Bay to Cairns is to take the bus, then take the train and then fly which takes, on average, 9hrs and will usually cost around A$720 ($485).

How do I get from Apollo Bay to Cairns

Compare travel optionsbetween Apollo Bay and Cairns

Transport options from Apollo Bay to Cairns
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Bus, Train and Plane
9hrs
A$720($485)
twice daily2,920km (1,814 miles)
Bus
2 days 15h
A$530($355)
5 times a week4,146km (2,577 miles)
Bus and Train + 2 similar
2 days 6h
A$405($270)
5 times a week3,775km (2,346 miles)
Bus to Geelong, train2 days 6h
A$405($270)
5 times a week3,775km (2,346 miles)
Bus to Geelong, train2 days 15h
A$395($265)
once daily4,159km (2,584 miles)
Drive
1 day 11h
A$565($380)
on demand2,989km (1,857 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Apollo Bay and Cairns

Bus companies

Airlines

Train operators

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