How to travel from Healesville to Cairns, Australia

The distance between Healesville and Cairns is around 2,410km (1,497 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the bus, then take the train and then fly which takes around 5h 35m.

3 routes found

We've found 3 different ways to get from Healesville 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 CairnsHealesville if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
💰 Cheapest
1
bus
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train
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Bus, Train and Plane

Take the bus to Lilydale Station/West William St then take the train to Southern Cross then fly from Melbourne (MEL) to Cairns (CNS).

  • Duration5h 35m
  • Flight time3h 25m
  • Typical cost
    A$445($300)
Operated by

Multiple operators

2
4 x bus
+

Bus

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

  • Duration2 days 12h
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    A$520($350)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

3
car
+

Drive

Drive to Cairns.

  • Duration1 day 9h
  • Distance2,814km (1,748 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Healesville and Cairns

There are several options for getting from Healesville to Cairns by bus, train, plane and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus, then take the train and then fly which costs around A$445 ($300) and will take around 5h 35m.

The distance between Healesville and Cairns is around 2,410km (1,497 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 2,307km (1,433 miles)

It takes around 5h 35m to get from Healesville and Cairns by bus, train and plane. If you are travelling by car it will take around 1 day 9h to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Healesville to Cairns is to take the bus, then take the train and then fly which takes around 5h 35m and will set you back approx A$445 ($300).

The cheapest way to travel between Healesville and Cairns, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus, then take the train and then fly which will typically cost around A$445 ($300) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

There is no train service that runs between Healesville and Cairns. We recommend that you take the bus to Lilydale Station/West William St then take the train to Southern Cross then fly from Melbourne (MEL) to Cairns (CNS). instead which will take 5h 35m.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Healesville and Cairns. It typically takes around 2 days 12h and departs once daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Healesville to Cairns. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Southern Cross Coach Terminal/Spencer St, Sydney, Brisbane and Roma Street busway platform 1. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 2 days 12h.

Metropolitan buses, Greyhound Australia, Firefly Express and Premier Motor Service run regular bus services between Healesville and Cairns. Buses run once daily and take around 2 days 12h on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Healesville to Cairns. We recommend that you take the bus to Lilydale Station/West William St then take the train to Southern Cross then fly from Melbourne (MEL) to Cairns (CNS). instead which will take 5h 35m.

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 Healesville and Cairns. The distance is around 2,814km (1,748 miles) by road and it will take around 1 day 9h in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Healesville to Cairns is to take the bus, then take the train and then fly which takes, on average, 5h 35m and will usually cost around A$445 ($300).

How do I get from Healesville to Cairns

Compare travel optionsbetween Healesville and Cairns

Transport options from Healesville to Cairns
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Bus, Train and Plane
5h 35m
A$445($300)
once daily2,410km (1,497 miles)
Bus
2 days 12h
A$520($350)
once daily3,996km (2,483 miles)
Drive
1 day 9h
A$530($360)
on demand2,814km (1,748 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Healesville 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