Queensland Intercity Transportation

Flights: The airport (☎07 4052 3888) is 6km north of Cairns on the Captain Cook Hwy. Follow the signs. For the cheapest flights, try Student Flights (☎1800 046 462) or major regional carriers. Virgin Blue (☎13 67 89; www.virginblue.com.au) is a great domestic resource; also services New Zealand. Qantas (☎13 13 13; www.qantas.com.au) has daily flights to almost all domestic airports. Book online to avoid extra fees and commissions. Many hostels run a free airport pickup service; call for free from the kiosk in the terminal. To get back to the airport, you’ll have to book ahead and pay $10 for the Airport Shuttle (☎07 4048 8355) or $15 for 2 people. Split a cab for a faster, more convenient ride at about the same price. Buses also run to town from the terminal ($10; $15 for 2). Taxis to town available 24hr. for $15-20.
Trains: The train station is between Bunda St. and the Cairns Central shopping mall. From the Esplanade, walk inland down Spence St. to Cairns Central. Walk to the back of the shopping center and then through the parking lot. The Cairns Rail Travel Centre (☎07 4036 9341, 1800 872 467 for bookings 7am-7pm), inside the train station, sells tickets. YHA discount 10% for long-distance trips. Open M 9am-4:30pm, Tu-F 8am-4:30pm, Sa-Su 8am-10am. The East Coast Discovery Pass (☎13 22 32) offers unlimited travel for up to 6 months on Queensland Rail, CountryLink, and Traveltrain and covers rail between Cairns and Brisbane ($281), Melbourne ($501), and Sydney ($411). With this pass, you can travel unlimited km in any direction (north or south) in 1 of 6 different travel sectors. Trains leave for Brisbane (31-32hr.; Tu, W, F-Su 8:30am; $187-281) and Kuranda. (Bookings ☎07 4036 9333. Trains daily 8:30 and 9:30am, Sa 8:30am; $37, $52 round-trip. Student, senior, and family discounts.)
Buses: The bus station is located at Trinity Wharf, on Wharf St. Luggage storage $9-12 per day. Open daily 6:15am-1am. Sun Palm Coaches (☎07 4087 2900) goes to Cape Tribulation (3½hr., 2 per day, $75) and Port Douglas (1hr.; several per day; $35, round-trip $60). Greyhound Australia (☎13 20 30) has 10% ISIC/VIP/YHA discounts and runs to: Airlie Beach (11hr., 5 per day, $113); Brisbane (28hr., 5 per day, $248); Cardwell (3hr., 5 per day, $37); Ingham (3hr., 5 per day, $61); Innisfail (1hr., 5 per day, $27); Mackay (12hr., 5 per day, $155); Mission Beach (2hr., 2 per day, $30); Rockhampton (15hr., 6 per day, $174); Townsville (6hr., 5 per day, $66). Premier (☎07 4031 6495 or 13 34 10) offers cheaper rates as well as VIP/YHA discounts but their buses tend to depart less frequently.