Transfer Options from Cairns Airport to City Centre

The stunning coastal city of Cairns is located in tropical Far North Queensland in Australia. In the centre, you will find the Cairns Esplanade, which is lined with boutique bars, restaurants and shops. Be sure to check out the local lagoon and the Daintree National Park, filled with beaches, rainforest trails and exciting gorge walks.

Unless you’re wanting to rent a car for the duration of your stay in Cairns, the only way to get from Cairns airport to the city is to take a taxi. An airport taxi will take around 7 minutes to reach the centre and will cost approximately €20 (AUD 30), based on a taximeter.

Welcome Pickups offers meet and greet services and a friendly introduction to Cairns at the same price as a regular taxi. Click here to see the cost.

Comparison of the options

PRICE FOR 2PASSENGERS

OPTION	PRICE	DURATION	AVAILABILITY
Taxi	€20	7min	24/7

How to get from Cairns Airport to Cairns City by taxi

There’s only one way to get from Cairns Airport to the city if you don’t want to rent a car, and that’s taking a local taxi. The local drivers will charge around €20 (AUD 30) for a Cairns Airport shuttle to the city, but the journey will be just 7 minutes in light traffic.

How much is a Cairns Airport shuttle to the city?

The local drivers will use a taximeter to calculate the cost of your journey from Cairns Airport to Cairns city. There will also be a €2 (AUD 5) surcharge added to your fare for pickups from the International Terminal. The average cost for the journey from Cairns Airport to the city is €20 (AUD 30), but this is subject to change. For a fixed rate fare you can count on, we suggest pre-booking your transfers with Welcome Pickups.

Cost

€20 (AUD 30)

Trip Duration

7 Min.

*Prices may vary unless booked in advance.

Convenience

Safety

Value for Money

Taxis are available 24 hours a day at Cairns Airport.

Where do I find a taxi at Cairns Airport?

The local taxis are located at an official rank just outside of the arrivals hall. After collecting your baggage, you will see the long line of cars in front of you.

Convenience

Having to spend time waiting for a rental car or filling in paperwork is not the best way to begin your vacation in Australia. Instead, why not take a quick and easy Cairns Airport shuttle to the city? You won’t have to wait in line and you can make your way directly to the door of your hotel in just 7 minutes.

Editor’s Note

The standard Cairns Airport taxis can fit up to 4 passengers. You can split the cost of your taxi from Cairns Airport to the city to save money.

Useful Tips

Ensure your driver resets the taximeter before you begin your journey to avoid surprises.

Please ensure you wear your seatbelt. Keep in mind that smoking and the consumption of food or drink - including alcohol, during your trip, is not permitted.

Welcome Pickups has a Net Safety Score of 99 of 100

We’ve introduced a metric indicating how safe travellers feel when using our services during the COVID-19 pandemic. After every ride, we ask each traveller to leave a review.

20 minute gap between transfers
Regular Car Sanitisation
Contactless ride
Sanitiser in every car

Can I get from Cairns Airport to the city by bus?

No, unfortunately, there’s no bus service from Cairns Airport to the city. Instead, you can take a convenient taxi from Cairns Airport. The local Cairns Airport taxis cost around €20 (AUD 30) and take approximately 7 minutes to reach the city.

What’s the distance from Cairns Airport to the city centre?

The distance from Cairns Airport to Cairns City is 6 km. Taking an airport taxi will take around 7 minutes to reach the city centre if the traffic is light.

What’s the cheapest way from Cairns airport to city?

The cheapest way to get from Cairns Airport to the city is to split the cost of a local taxi between up to 4 people. The cost of an airport taxi to Cairns will be around €20 (AUD 30) for up to 4 passengers.

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How to get from Cairns Airport to Cairns City by taxi