How to travel from Byron Bay to Cairns, Australia
The distance between Byron Bay and Cairns is around 1,561km (970 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the bus and then fly which takes around 3h 35m.
7 routes found
We've found 7 different ways to get from Byron Bay to Cairns by bus, plane, train and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.
👋 Also check out Cairns → Byron Bay if you're planning a return trip.
Fly
Fly from Ballina (BNK) to Cairns (CNS).
- Duration5h 20m
- Flight time4h 20m
- Typical costA$330($220)
+ 2 others2 similiar routes
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Bus
Take the bus to Brisbane and then to Cairns Central Station.
- Duration1 day 7h
- Departsonce daily
- Typical costA$245($165)
Premier Motor Service
1 similiar route
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Bus and Train
Take the bus to Brisbane then take the train to Cairns Central Station.
- Duration1 day 2h
- Departs5 times a week
- Typical costA$245($165)
Multiple operators
Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Byron Bay and Cairns
Popular questions
There are several options for getting from Byron Bay to Cairns by bus, plane, train and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus and then fly which costs around A$155 ($105) and will take around 3h 35m.
The distance between Byron Bay and Cairns is around 1,561km (970 miles).
It takes around 3h 35m to get from Byron Bay and Cairns by bus and plane. If you are travelling by car it will take around 23hrs to drive there.
The quickest way to get from Byron Bay to Cairns is to take the bus and then fly which takes around 3h 35m and will set you back approx A$155 ($105).
The cheapest way to travel between Byron Bay and Cairns, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus and then fly which will typically cost around A$155 ($105) for a standard one-way ticket.
Train travel
There is no train service that runs between Byron Bay and Cairns. We recommend that you take the bus to Gold Coast Airport then fly from Gold Coast (OOL) to Cairns (CNS). instead which will take 3h 35m.
Bus travel
Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Byron Bay and Cairns. It typically takes around 1 day 7h and departs once daily.
There are no direct bus services that runs from Byron Bay to Cairns. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Brisbane. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 1 day 7h.
NSW TrainLink, Premier Motor Service and Greyhound Australia run regular bus services between Byron Bay and Cairns. Buses run once daily and take around 1 day 7h on average but will vary depending on you book with.
Flights and Airlines
Yes you can fly from Byron Bay and Cairns. Flights depart from Ballina (BNK) and arrive at Cairns (CNS) - via Sydney (SYD). The flight takes around 4h 20m.
There is no direct flight from Byron Bay to Cairns. There is however a flight that goes via Sydney (SYD). This services will take at least 5h 20m (not including layover time).
The flight from Byron Bay to Cairns typically takes around 4h 20m. Flights depart from Ballina (BNK) 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 Byron Bay and Cairns. The distance is around 1,980km (1,230 miles) by road and it will take around 23hrs in normal traffic conditons.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Byron Bay to Cairns is to take the bus and then fly which takes, on average, 3h 35m and will usually cost around A$155 ($105).
Compare travel optionsbetween Byron Bay and Cairns
| Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Fly + 2 similar | 5h 20m | A$330($220) | 5 times a day | 2,626km (1,632 miles) |
| Bus and Plane | 3h 35m | A$155($105) | twice daily | 1,561km (970 miles) |
| Bus, Train and Plane | 5h 35m | A$180($120) | twice daily | 1,606km (998 miles) |
Bus + 1 similar | 1 day 7h | A$245($165) | once daily | 2,162km (1,343 miles) |
| Bus via Brisbane | 1 day 8h | A$380($255) | once daily | 2,156km (1,340 miles) |
Bus and Train | 1 day 2h | A$245($165) | 5 times a week | 1,838km (1,142 miles) |
Drive | 23hrs | A$265($175) | on demand | 1,980km (1,230 miles) |
Top Carriersoperating between Byron Bay and Cairns
Bus companies
Byron Bay Express
NSW TrainLink
Premier Motor Service
Airlines
Virgin Australia
Qantas
Train operators
TRANSLink QLD
Queensland Rail Travel
Airports near Cairns
The following major airports near Cairns offer regular flights to various popular destinations within Australia and internationally.
Cairns Airport (CNS)
- Distance
- 5km (3 miles) from Cairns
Cooktown Airport (CTN)
- Distance
- 176km (109 miles) from Cairns
Palm Island Airport (PMK)
- Distance
- 221km (137 miles) from Cairns