Getting around Cairns

Your comprehensive guide to public transport in Cairns>  This guide includes Cairns bus routes, taxis, Uber, bicycle hire, Skyrail, Scenic Trains and much more.

When you arrive by plane, it’s just an 8-minute trip (5.8 kilometres) from the airport to the city centre.

Starting from Cairns, you can catch a historic scenic train to Kuranda, the village in the rainforest.  On a Sunbus, you can travel north and south to reach beaches and local shopping centres.

More travel information

Are you planning a trip to Cairns?  Find out how to travel to Cairns by plane, train or bus.

The city of Cairns is flat and easy to get around the city.    Approximately 11 minutes via car from the domestic and international airports.

Entertainment Precinct

We call the Cairns Entertainment Precinct.  This 4-street block along Florence Street from Sheridan Street to the Cairns Esplanade.  This area features the Performing Arts, the Aquarium, RSL,  Munro Martin Park and the Jute Theatre.

The following section is Aplin to Shield Street, where most car hire companies are the city library and all kinds of groovy eateries.

There are more retail shops from Shield Street to Spence Street, including Tommy Bahama and the Green Shop.

You can enter Rusty’s markets from Grafton and Sheridan Streets on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  This block also includes the lagoon, free for everyone to use, located on the Esplanade.

Marina Precinct

At the very eastern end of Spence Street is the Cairns Marlin Marina.  Cairns Marlin Marina is where all Great Barrier Reef tours depart.

Inside Number 1 Spence Street, Cairns, is the Reef fleet terminal where you check in for Great Adventures, Green Island and Ocean Spirit.

Skip the queues with Reef Experience and Reef Encounter.  We are boarding directly onboard Reef Experience from Finger A on the Marlin Jetty.

The final block is the one that runs from Spence to Wharf Street, where you will find the Reef Casino, Tamarind Restaurant,  Trinity Wharf and Hemingway Brewery.

When arriving on a cruise liner, you will most likely arrive at Trinity Wharf.

The Cairns Convention Centre is in this block.  This site is popular in the conference and events markets.   It also is where the Cairns Taipans play during the basketball season.

One Street back from Sheridan Street is McLeod Street, where Cairns Central Shopping Centre and the Train Station are.