| Tips for getting around Cairns posted by real travelers and Cairns locals. Cairns Map |
 | Cairns Transportation | Tips 1 - 10 of 30 |  |
Cairns is located in Far North Queensland and is a long away drive from any of the major cities, hence most people arrive by plane. The airport has been expanded recently and is now the 5th busiest airport in the country for international arrivals and the 6th busiest airport overall in Australia.
There are several domestic flights a day to Cairns from each of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, with fewer from other centres such as Perth and Darwin. International flights arrive directly into Cairns from places like Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and Papua New Guinea.
Once you arrive in Cairns, you can catch an airport shuttle bus into town, or up to one of the northern beaches (including Port Douglas). Many people hire a car from the airport, as you will really need one to explore this part of Queensland. Leave a Comment
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The first entry point on your trip to Cairns will most likely be the airport. As Cairns is located in Tropical North Queensland, you must be ready for a couple day drive if you are not going to arrive via airplane.
Cairns International Airport has two terminals, one for domestic and one for international. The domestic terminal includes Qantas, Virgin Blue, and Jetstar. The international terminal services Qantas, Australian Airlines, JAL, Air Nuigini, Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, and continental Micronesia.
One thing to watch out for is that since Qantas services both domestic and international itineraries, that you make sure you find out which one you are departing from, as you may be in the wrong place with all your baggage otherwise! Leave a Comment
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The easiest way to get from Cairns International Airport into Cairns is to grab an airport transfer from the airport coach booth.
I bought a 2-way transfer for about A$20, I think (circa Jun 2003)
You can book the airport transfer through its Internet website. Leave a Comment
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If you are travelling with more than 2 people, your best bet is to rent a vehicle. Since most of the attractions are a large distance from the central business district of Cairns, then you have two options, rent a vehicle or take an organized tour.
We had three people on the trek this week, so it was worth it to rent the vehicle. The rough cost of this was 600 dollars for the week, and this was a 4 wheel drive vehicle. You will definitely want to get the 4 wheel drive if you are headed anywhere other than the main roads of Cairns, and if you are headed up in the wet season. Leave a Comment
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I arrived in Cairns by Greyhound from Cardwell. There are 4 daily buses travelling all the way up from Brisbane and an additional one from Mackay. The buses they use aren't the newest ones, but they are still quite comfy.
The bus terminal for long distance buses in Cairns is at the Reef Fleet building on the Esplanade. Leave a Comment
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Having an accommodation about 5 km’s outside the city centre we had to use the local bus in Cairns. Sunbus is servicing all parts of the city and specially during weekdays they are running frequently. We also used the bus for visiting Cairns Zoo and you could easily do the same for the Sky rail Terminal and Tjapukai Aboriginal Park or the beaches north of Cairns.
Depending on the destination (3 zones) there are day tickets for the use of all Sunbuses. We paid AUD 6,30 for ours to the city and AUD 10,20 for Cairns Tropical Zoo.
Buses leave to all suburbs from the Transit Centre, in the midlle of the city centre of Cairns. Leave a Comment
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GREAT BARRIER REEF VISITOR BUREAU: GreatBarrierReef.aus.net.
MAP OF CAIRNS: GreatBarrierReef.
MAP FROM CAIRNS TO PORT DOUGLAS:
GreatBarrierReef.aus.net.
AUSTRALIAN RAIL MAPS: People.enternet com.au.
Quicksilver Cruises: Quicksilver-Cruises.com.
Quicksilver Helicopters: QuicksilverHeli.com.au.
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When on holiday we love our freedom and if possible we try to travel by (rental) car. We feel it is much more convenient and flexible. We drive and stop when and how long we want and not when a tour guide does. And self driving allows to take minor roads and to visit ‘off the beaten path’ sights.
And often it is not more expensive (with 2 persons) than visiting sights by guided tours.
We rented our (small) car from Cruising Car Rentals; this company offered a free pick up and delivery from our accommodation. And indeed they were exactly on time to bring us to their office to pick up the car. When we dropped off our car we got a free transportation to the airport.
Friendly and helpful staff; no problems with the car during our 400 km’s around Cairns.
Office: 196A Sheridan St, Cairns Leave a Comment
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Cairns is a small city, traffic is not heavy, and it is possible to walk everywhere in the city. Leave a Comment Theme: Other
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We flew directly from Port Moresby, PNG on an Air Niugini Fokker F-28 jet - a nice little craft that took an hour to get to this nearest 'civilized' getaway! Once there, we rented a car for our local touring needs. Photo of the Chrysler 'boat' that I ended up with through no particular choice of my own - plenty of room at least! Leave a Comment Theme: Car/Motor Home
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- Cairns Plaza Hotel
Cnr. The Esplanade & Minnie St., Cairns - Country Comfort Sunlodge (Cnr Grafton and Florence Streets.)
Cnr Grafton and Florence St, Cairns - Tradewinds Esplanade Hotel Cairns
137 The Esplanade (formerly Tradewinds Esplanade), Cairns - Sea Change Beachfront Apartments
31 - 35 Vasey Esplanade, Cairns - Quality Inn Rainbow Southside
446-452 Mulgrave Rd., Cairns - Lizard Island
Via Cairns, Cairns, 4870, AU, Cairns - Coral Tree Inn
166-172 Grafton Street, Cairns - Cairns Reef Apartments and Motel
670-678 Bruce Hwy, Cairns - Marlin Cove Quest Resort
2 Keem St, Cairns - Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns
Pierpoint Rd, Cairns - Comfort Inn Tropical Queenslander
287 Lake St, Cairns - Kewarra Beach Resort- A Select Hotel
Kewarra Street Kewarra Beach, Cairns, QL 4870, Cairns - Nova Tropic Towers
294-298 Sheridan St, Cairns - Cairns Reef Apts And Motel
670-678 Bruce Hwy, Cairns - Matson Resort Cairns (Cnr Esplanade & Kerwin Street.), 4870
Cnr The Esplanade & Kerwin St (formerly Matson Resort Cairns), Cairns
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on June 1, 2007
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on September 19, 2002
on April 10, 2005
on December 8, 2005
