How to travel from Cairns to Airlie Beach, Australia

The distance between Cairns and Airlie Beach is around 546km (339 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly which takes around 2h 30m.

3 routes found

We've found 3 different ways to get from Cairns to Airlie Beach by plane, bus and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

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

🚀 Fastest
1
plane
+

Fly

Fly from Cairns (CNS) to Proserpine (PPP).

  • Duration2h 30m
  • Flight time1h 20m
  • Typical cost
    A$275($185)
Operated by

Skytrans

+ 1 others
💰 Cheapest
2
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Airlie Beach.

  • Duration10h 10m
  • Departstwice daily
  • Typical cost
    A$67($45)
Operated by

Premier Motor Service

+ 1 others
3
car
+

Drive

Drive to Airlie Beach.

  • Duration8hrs
  • Distance622km (387 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Cairns and Airlie Beach

There are several options for getting from Cairns to Airlie Beach by plane, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around A$67 ($45) and will take around 10h 10m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can fly and arrive in approximately 2h 30m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately A$275 ($185).

The distance between Cairns and Airlie Beach is around 546km (339 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 485km (301 miles)

It takes around 2h 30m to get from Cairns and Airlie Beach by plane. If you are travelling by car it will take around 8hrs to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Cairns to Airlie Beach is to fly which takes around 2h 30m and will set you back approx A$275 ($185).

The cheapest way to travel between Cairns and Airlie Beach, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around A$67 ($45) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

There is no train service that runs between Cairns and Airlie Beach. We recommend that you fly from Cairns (CNS) to Proserpine (PPP). instead which will take 2h 30m.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Cairns and Airlie Beach. It typically takes around 10h 10m and departs once daily.

Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between Cairns and Airlie Beach with no changeovers required. The bus runs once daily and takes 10h 10m.

Premier Motor Service run regular bus services between Cairns and Airlie Beach. Buses run once daily and take around 10h 10m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

Yes you can fly from Cairns and Airlie Beach. Flights depart from Cairns (CNS) and arrive at Proserpine (PPP). The flight takes around 1h 20m.

Yes there is a direct flight between Cairns and Airlie Beach with no stop-overs required. Flights typically take around 1h 20m.

Skytrans and FlexFlight ApS fly between Cairns and Airlie Beach. Flights depart from Cairns (CNS) and and arrive into Proserpine (PPP). These flights usually take around 1h 20m.

The flight from Cairns to Airlie Beach typically takes around 1h 20m. Flights depart from Cairns (CNS) and and arrive into Proserpine (PPP).

The closest major airport to Airlie Beach is Hamilton Island Airport (HTI) (HTI) which is approximately 26km (16 miles) from Airlie Beach. Whitsunday Coast Airport (PPP) (PPP) and Cairns Airport (CNS) (CNS) 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 Cairns and Airlie Beach. The distance is around 622km (387 miles) by road and it will take around 8hrs in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Cairns to Airlie Beach is to fly which takes, on average, 2h 30m and will usually cost around A$275 ($185).

How do I get from Cairns to Airlie Beach

Compare travel optionsbetween Cairns and Airlie Beach

Transport options from Cairns to Airlie Beach
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Fly
2h 30m
A$275($185)
every 20 mins546km (339 miles)
Bus
10h 10m
A$67($45)
twice daily661km (411 miles)
Drive
8hrs
A$115($79)
on demand622km (387 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Cairns and Airlie Beach

Airlines

Train operators

Bus companies

Airports near Airlie Beach

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

HTI
Hamilton Island Airport (HTI)
Domestic Airport
Distance
26km (16 miles) from Airlie Beach
PPP
Whitsunday Coast Airport (PPP)
Domestic Airport
Distance
30km (18 miles) from Airlie Beach
CNS
Cairns Airport (CNS)
International Airport
Distance
490km (305 miles) from Airlie Beach