How to travel from Mooloolaba to Palm Cove, Australia

The distance between Mooloolaba and Palm Cove is around 1,546km (960 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 4h 50m.

6 routes found

We've found 6 different ways to get from Mooloolaba to Palm Cove by train, 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 Palm CoveMooloolaba if you're planning a return trip.

1
plane
+

Fly

Fly from Maroochydore (MCY) to Cairns (CNS).

  • Duration5h 50m
  • Flight time4h 45m
  • Typical cost
    A$735($495)
Operated by

Qantas

+ 2 others

2 similiar routes

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

2
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Cairns.

  • Duration1 day 4h
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    A$300($205)

1 similiar route

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

3
car
+

Drive

Drive to Palm Cove.

  • Duration21h 25m
  • Distance1,783km (1,108 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Mooloolaba and Palm Cove

There are several options for getting from Mooloolaba to Palm Cove by train, plane, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around A$215 ($145) and will take around 1 day 4h. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 4h 50m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately A$340 ($230).

The distance between Mooloolaba and Palm Cove is around 1,546km (960 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 1,345km (836 miles)

It takes around 4h 50m to get from Mooloolaba and Palm Cove by train and plane. If you are travelling by car it will take around 21h 25m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Mooloolaba to Palm Cove is to take the train and then fly which takes around 4h 50m and will set you back approx A$340 ($230).

The cheapest way to travel between Mooloolaba and Palm Cove, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around A$215 ($145) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

There is no train service that runs between Mooloolaba and Palm Cove. We recommend that you take the train to Eagle Junction station platform 3 then fly from Brisbane (BNE) to Cairns (CNS). instead which will take 4h 50m.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Mooloolaba and Palm Cove. It typically takes around 1 day 4h and departs once daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Mooloolaba to Palm Cove. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Cairns. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 1 day 4h.

Greyhound Australia and Premier Motor Service run regular bus services between Mooloolaba and Palm Cove. Buses run once daily and take around 1 day 4h on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

Yes you can fly from Mooloolaba and Palm Cove. Flights depart from Maroochydore (MCY) and arrive at Cairns (CNS) - via Sydney (SYD). The flight takes around 4h 45m.

There is no direct flight from Mooloolaba to Palm Cove. There is however a flight that goes via Sydney (SYD). This services will take at least 5h 50m (not including layover time).

The flight from Mooloolaba to Palm Cove typically takes around 4h 45m. Flights depart from Maroochydore (MCY) and and arrive into Cairns (CNS).

The closest major airport to Palm Cove is Cairns Airport (CNS) (CNS) which is approximately 17km (11 miles) from Palm Cove. 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 Mooloolaba and Palm Cove. The distance is around 1,783km (1,108 miles) by road and it will take around 21h 25m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Mooloolaba to Palm Cove is to take the train and then fly which takes, on average, 4h 50m and will usually cost around A$340 ($230).

How do I get from Mooloolaba to Palm Cove

Compare travel optionsbetween Mooloolaba and Palm Cove

Transport options from Mooloolaba to Palm Cove
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Fly + 2 similar
5h 50m
A$735($495)
every 20 mins2,848km (1,770 miles)
Train and Plane4h 50m
A$340($230)
every 20 mins1,546km (960 miles)
Bus and Plane5h 40m
A$415($280)
once daily1,709km (1,062 miles)
Bus + 1 similar
1 day 4h
A$300($205)
once daily1,917km (1,191 miles)
Bus to Cairns Central Station1 day 4h
A$215($145)
once daily1,910km (1,187 miles)
Drive
21h 25m
A$335($225)
on demand1,783km (1,108 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Mooloolaba and Palm Cove

Airlines

Train operators

Bus companies

Airports near Palm Cove

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

CNS
Cairns Airport (CNS)
International Airport
Distance
17km (11 miles) from Palm Cove
CTN
Cooktown Airport (CTN)
Domestic Airport
Distance
154km (96 miles) from Palm Cove
PMK
Palm Island Airport (PMK)
Domestic Airport
Distance
243km (151 miles) from Palm Cove