How to travel from Cairns to Byron Bay, Australia
The distance between Cairns and Byron Bay is around 1,561km (970 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly and then take the bus which takes around 3h 25m.
7 routes found
We've found 7 different ways to get from Cairns to Byron Bay by plane, bus, train and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.
👋 Also check out Byron Bay → Cairns if you're planning a return trip.
Fly
Fly from Cairns (CNS) to Ballina (BNK).
- Duration5h 30m
- Flight time4h 10m
- Typical costA$280($185)
+ 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 Byron Bay.
- Duration1 day 8h
- Departsonce daily
- Typical costA$260($175)
Premier Motor Service
1 similiar route
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Train and Bus
Take the train to Brisbane Roma Street and then to Varsity Lakes station platform 2 then take the bus to Byron Bay.
- Duration1 day 3h
- Departs5 times a week
- Typical costA$270($185)
Multiple operators
Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Cairns and Byron Bay
Popular questions
There are several options for getting from Cairns to Byron Bay by plane, bus, train and car. The cheapest option is to fly and then take the bus which costs around A$155 ($105) and will take around 3h 25m.
The distance between Cairns and Byron Bay is around 1,561km (970 miles).
It takes around 3h 25m to get from Cairns and Byron Bay by plane and bus. If you are travelling by car it will take around 23hrs to drive there.
The quickest way to get from Cairns to Byron Bay is to fly and then take the bus which takes around 3h 25m and will set you back approx A$155 ($105).
The cheapest way to travel between Cairns and Byron Bay, if you exclude driving, is to fly and then take the bus which will typically cost around A$155 ($105) for a standard one-way ticket.
Train travel
There is no train service that runs between Cairns and Byron Bay. We recommend that you fly from Cairns (CNS) to Gold Coast (OOL) then take the bus to Byron Bay. instead which will take 3h 25m.
Bus travel
Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Cairns and Byron Bay. It typically takes around 1 day 8h and departs once daily.
There are no direct bus services that runs from Cairns to Byron Bay. 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 8h.
Premier Motor Service and Greyhound Australia run regular bus services between Cairns and Byron Bay. Buses run once daily and take around 1 day 8h on average but will vary depending on you book with.
Flights and Airlines
Yes you can fly from Cairns and Byron Bay. Flights depart from Cairns (CNS) and arrive at Ballina (BNK) - via Sydney (SYD). The flight takes around 4h 10m.
There is no direct flight from Cairns to Byron Bay. There is however a flight that goes via Sydney (SYD). This services will take at least 5h 30m (not including layover time).
The flight from Cairns to Byron Bay typically takes around 4h 10m. Flights depart from Cairns (CNS) and and arrive into Ballina (BNK).
The closest major airport to Byron Bay is Ballina Byron Airport (BNK) (BNK) which is approximately 22km (14 miles) from Byron Bay. Gold Coast Airport (OOL) (OOL) and Brisbane Airport (BNE) (BNE) 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 Byron Bay. The distance is around 1,979km (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 Cairns to Byron Bay is to fly and then take the bus which takes, on average, 3h 25m and will usually cost around A$155 ($105).
Compare travel optionsbetween Cairns and Byron Bay
| Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Fly + 2 similar | 5h 30m | A$280($185) | 5 times a day | 2,627km (1,632 miles) |
| Plane and Bus | 3h 25m | A$155($105) | twice daily | 1,561km (970 miles) |
| Plane, Train and Bus | 5h 40m | A$205($140) | twice daily | 1,591km (988 miles) |
Bus + 1 similar | 1 day 8h | A$260($175) | once daily | 2,165km (1,345 miles) |
| Bus via Brisbane | 1 day 9h | A$380($255) | once daily | 2,151km (1,336 miles) |
Train and Bus | 1 day 3h | A$270($185) | 5 times a week | 1,828km (1,136 miles) |
Drive | 23hrs | A$265($175) | on demand | 1,979km (1,230 miles) |
Top Carriersoperating between Cairns and Byron Bay
Airlines
Virgin Australia
Qantas
Train operators
TRANSLink QLD
Queensland Rail Travel
Bus companies
Byron Bay Express
Premier Motor Service
Airports near Byron Bay
The following major airports near Byron Bay offer regular flights to various popular destinations within Australia and internationally.
Ballina Byron Airport (BNK)
- Distance
- 22km (14 miles) from Byron Bay
Gold Coast Airport (OOL)
- Distance
- 55km (34 miles) from Byron Bay
Brisbane Airport (BNE)
- Distance
- 147km (91 miles) from Byron Bay