Many hotels and hostels provide shuttle services to and from the airport, on the northern outskirts of the town. Coral Reef Coaches, T4098 2800, http://www.coralreefcoaches.com.au, offers regular services to and from the city and throughout the region, from $12. Cairns City Airporter (Australia Coach), T4048 8355, runs services to the city and to/from Port Douglas, Cape Tribulation and Mission Beach. A taxi costs about $15, T131008. The interstate coach terminal is next to the Reef Fleet Terminal on Spence Street. Cairns Railway Station is located beside Cairns Central Shopping Complex. Coach and rail services from all major towns nearby, Brisbane and beyond.
Air
Cairns International Airport is 6 km north of the city centre, on the Captain Cook Highway, http://www.cairnsport.com.au. International, domestic and state air carriers are all represented, including Qantas, T131313, Air New Zealand, T132476, Cathay Pacific, T131747, Malaysia Airlines, T132627, Virgin Blue, T136789, Jetstar, T131538, Air Niugini (Papua New Guinea), T1300 361380. Other local charter flight companies also provide inter-island services throughout the Great Barrier Reef and to the Whitsunday Islands including Hinterland Aviation, T4035 9323, Skytrans, T4035 9699, and Daintree Air Services, T4034 9300.
Bus
The main suburban bus operator is Sunbus, T4057 7411, http://www.sunbus.com.au, offers regular services north as far as Palm Cove and south as far as Gordonvale. Day/week passes available. The bus transit centre is on Lake St (City Place) where schedules are posted. The interstate coach terminal is at Trinity Wharf, Wharf St (open daily 0600-0100). Some services also drop off at the new Marina Complex which is nearby. Greyhound, T1300 473946, http://www.greyhound.com.au, has an office within the terminal and operates regular daily services south to Brisbane and beyond (including onward connections to Darwin from Townsville). Premier Motor Service, T133410, http://www.premierms.com.au, also operates daily services to Brisbane and beyond. Cairns to Brisbane takes about 28 hrs. Coral Reef Coaches, T4098 2800, http://www.coralreefcoaches.com.au, runs regular local services to the airport, Port Douglas, Mossman, Daintree and Cape Tribulation. Whitecar Coaches, T4091 1855, services the Atherton Tablelands including Kuranda, daily.
Car
The wet road conditions around Cairns and far north Queensland can be, in a word, aquatic. For up-to-date conditions and flood warnings, T131111.
Campervan rentals and purchase
(second hand), Travellers Auto Barn, 123-125 Bunda St, T4041 3722, http://www.travellers-autobarn.com.au. It offers guaranteed buy-backs in Sydney.
Car rental
at the airport and Abbott St and Lake St in the city have most outlets. Avis, Airport, T4035 9100; Budget, 153 Lake St, T4051 9222; All Day Rentals, 151 Lake St, T1800 246869; Delta, 403 Sheridan St, T4032 2000; MiniCar Rentals, 150 Sheridan St, T4051 6288; 4WD Hire, 440 Sheridan St, T4032 3094. For a standard car and 7-day hire expect to pay from $50 a day. Some of the larger companies like Avis also offer 4WD hire from around $150 per day.
Car servicing, 4WD second-hand vans and genuine advice at Mac’s Workshop, Shed 1, 8-10 West St, Manunda, T4032 0122. For RACQ road conditions report T1300 130595.
Train
The station is on Bunda St. Travel centre is open Mon-Fri 0900-1700, Sat 0800-1200, T4036 9250. For other long-distance enquiries, T132232, 24 hr, www.traveltrain .qr.com.au. There are 3 coastal train services to/from Brisbane and beyond, ranging in standards of luxury and price. The most popular is the fast Tilt Train (departs Brisbane Mon and Fri, Cairns Sun and Wed), or alternatively there is the Sunlander (departs Brisbane 0835, Tue, Sat, Sun and Thu). There is one outback service, the Gulflander, that shuttles between Croydon and Normanton. A local scenic service also operates to Kuranda, from $39, child $19.50 ($56 return). Ask about the various holiday and discoverer passes, for price reductions and packages.
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