How to travel from Forster to Cairns, Australia
The distance between Forster and Cairns is around 2,177km (1,352 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the bus and then fly which takes around 6hrs.
8 routes found
We've found 8 different ways to get from Forster 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 → Forster if you're planning a return trip.
Bus to Bulahdelah Coach Stop, Booloombayt St, plane
Take the bus to Bulahdelah Coach Stop Booloombayt St and then to Heatherbrae then fly from Newcastle (NTL) to Cairns (CNS).
- Duration6hrs
- Flight time3h 30m
- Typical costA$445($300)
Multiple operators
4 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 15h
- Departstwice a week
- Typical costA$285($190)
Multiple bus operators
1 similiar route
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Forster and Cairns
Popular questions
There are several options for getting from Forster to Cairns by bus, plane, train and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around A$285 ($190) and will take around 1 day 15h. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the bus and then fly and arrive in approximately 6hrs, though it is a bit more costly at approximately A$445 ($300).
The distance between Forster and Cairns is around 2,177km (1,352 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 1,828km (1,136 miles)
It takes around 6h 55m to get from Forster and Cairns by bus and plane. If you are travelling by car it will take around 1 day 3h to drive there.
The quickest way to get from Forster to Cairns is to take the bus and then fly which takes around 6hrs and will set you back approx A$445 ($300).
The cheapest way to travel between Forster and Cairns, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around A$285 ($190) for a standard one-way ticket.
Train travel
There is no train service that runs between Forster and Cairns. We recommend that you take the bus to Bulahdelah Coach Stop Booloombayt St and then to Heatherbrae then fly from Newcastle (NTL) to Cairns (CNS). instead which will take 6hrs.
Bus travel
Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Forster and Cairns. It typically takes around 1 day 15h and departs twice a week.
There are no direct bus services that runs from Forster to Cairns. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Taree Station Coach Stop and Brisbane. These services run twice a week and will take a minimum of 1 day 15h.
NSW TrainLink, Premier Motor Service and Greyhound Australia run regular bus services between Forster and Cairns. Buses run twice a week and take around 1 day 15h on average but will vary depending on you book with.
Flights and Airlines
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Forster to Cairns. We recommend that you take the bus to Port Macquarie Coach Stop Gordon St then fly from Port Macquarie (PQQ) to Cairns (CNS). instead which will take 6h 55m.
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 Forster and Cairns. The distance is around 2,309km (1,435 miles) by road and it will take around 1 day 3h in normal traffic conditons.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Forster to Cairns is to take the bus and then fly which takes, on average, 6h 55m and will usually cost around A$760 ($510).
Compare travel optionsbetween Forster and Cairns
| Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Bus to Bulahdelah Coach Stop, Booloombayt St, plane + 4 similar | 6hrs | A$445($300) | once daily | 2,177km (1,352 miles) |
| Bus and Plane | 6h 55m | A$760($510) | twice a week | 2,435km (1,513 miles) |
| Train and Plane | 8h 20m | A$860($580) | 4 times a week | 2,687km (1,670 miles) |
| Bus to Wauchope Station, Coach Stop, plane | 10hrs | A$755($510) | twice a week | 2,668km (1,658 miles) |
| Bus, Train and Plane | 9h 10m | A$360($240) | once daily | 2,336km (1,452 miles) |
Bus + 1 similar | 1 day 15h | A$285($190) | twice a week | 2,636km (1,638 miles) |
| Bus via Port Macquarie Coach Stop, Gordon St | 1 day 19h | A$425($285) | twice a week | 2,723km (1,692 miles) |
Drive | 1 day 3h | A$435($295) | on demand | 2,309km (1,435 miles) |
Top Carriersoperating between Forster and Cairns
Bus companies
NSW TrainLink
Busways Great Lakes
Premier Motor Service
Airlines
Qantas
Virgin Australia
Train operators
Transport for NSW
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