Transfer Options from Cairns Airport to Port Douglas

Located on the shores of the Coral Sea in the tropical far north of Queensland, Port Douglas is the perfect place to enjoy a beach vacation in Australia. Famous for its many beach resorts, wide stretches of golden sand and access to the Great Barrier Reef, there’s nowhere better to enjoy the natural splendour of Australia than Port Douglas.

There are two different options when it comes to Cairns Airport transfers to Port Douglas; taxi or shuttle bus. The local airport taxis will take around 60 minutes to reach Port Douglas and will cost around €120 (AUD 200), for up to 4 passengers. Taking a shuttle bus will take closer to 90 minutes and a one-way ticket from Cairns Airport to Port Douglas will cost €30 (AUD 50) per person.

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	€120	60min	24/7
Bus	€60	90min	07:00–19:00

Hot to get from Cairns Airport to Port Douglas by taxi

The quickest option for your airport transfer from Cairns to Port Douglas is a taxi. You can easily book your private airport transfers in advance or take a regular taxi from outside the airport. The total journey time will be around 60 minutes and the cost of a local cab will be approximately €120 (AUD 200).

How much is a taxi from Cairns Airport to Port Douglas?

The exact cost of your taxi from Cairns Airport to Port Douglas will be calculated using a taximeter. So, the actual fare will depend on the time taken to reach your destination and the distance you travel. Having said this, the average cost for Cains Airport transfers to Port Douglas via taxi is €120 (AUD 200).

If you’d prefer to enjoy the peace of mind that comes with a fixed rate fare, you can book your rides in advance with Welcome Pickups.

Cost

€120 (AUD 200)

Trip Duration

60 Min.

*Prices may vary unless booked in a advance.

Convenience

Safety

Value for Money

Taxis are readily available 24/7 outside of Cairns Airport.

Where do I find a taxi at Cairns Airport?

No matter what time you land, you will be able to easily find a taxi at Cairns Airport. The local drivers wait at a taxi rank located just outside of the Arrivals Hall.

Convenience

The only way to get from the door of Cairns Airport to the door of your hotel in Port Douglas is to take a taxi. You won’t have to wait in line for public transport, travel on a busy bus or find a way to get to your hotel once you reach the terminating bus stop in the city centre. Instead, you can enjoy a completely private door-to-door ride to your accommodation.

Editor’s Note

To save on the cost per person of your airport transfer from Cairns to Port Douglas, you can split the fare between up to 4 people.

Useful Tips

Ensure your driver resets their meter before you begin your journey to avoid overcharging.

You can expect an airport surcharge of €2 (AUD 5) to be added to your fare.

Tipping your taxi driver isn't expected in Australia.

How to get from Cairns Airport to Port Douglas by Bus

The Port Douglas shuttle bus runs daily from Cairns Airport to Port Douglas. The journey time is around 90 minutes and the cost of a one-way ticket is just €30 (AUD 50), making it a great budget transfer option.

How much is the bus airport transfer from Cairns to Port Douglas?

The cost of a one-way ticket from Cairns Airport to Port Douglas is €30 (AUD 50). If you’re travelling with children aged 0 to 15, their tickets can be bought at a slightly lower fare of €10 (AUD 16).

Cost

€30 (AUD 50)

Trip Duration

90 Min.

*There's a waiting time of 60 minutes for the Port Douglas Shuttle Bus.

Convenience

Safety

Value for Money

The Port Douglas Shuttle Bus runs from 07:00 to 19:00.

Where do I find the bus at Cairns Airport?

The buses are located just outside of the Arrivals Hall at Cairns Airport. Simply follow the signs for “Ground Transportation” and you will see the bus bays in front of you.

Convenience

If you’re looking for budget-friendly Cairns Airport transfers to Port Douglas, then taking the bus is a great option. However, the transfer time is longer than taking a taxi and once you reach the city of Port Douglas, you will need to find alternate transport to your hotel.

Timetables

Port Douglas Shuttle Bus

Editor’s Note

If you're travelling in a group of 4, taking the bus will cost the same per person as taking a taxi. In this case, choosing to take a taxi from Cairns Airport to Port Douglas will be much quicker and more convenient for the price.

Useful Tips

There's some luggage storage for larger items under the bus.

You can book your ticket online in advance to secure a seat.

Buses only leave once an hour, be sure to book the correct bus to avoid a long wait.

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

Is there a shuttle bus from Cairns Airport to Port Douglas?

Yes, the Port Douglas shuttle bus operates daily from 07:00 to 19:00. If you choose to take the bus for your airport transfer from Cairns to Port Douglas, you can expect a journey time of 90 minutes and a cost per person of €30 (AUD 50).

What’s the distance from Port Douglas to Cairns Airport?

The distance from Cairns Aiport to Port Douglas is 66 km. Taking a private airport taxi will take around 60 minutes to get to Port Douglas, while the shuttle bus service will take closer to 90 minutes.

How do I get to Port Douglas from Cairns Airport?

There are two different options for your Cairns Airport transfers to Port Douglas; taxi or shuttle bus. A local airport taxi or private transfer is quick and easy, with a cost of €120 (AUD 200) and a journey time of just 60 minutes. The available Port Douglas shuttle bus, on the other hand, will take closer to 90 minutes and costs €30 (AUD 50) per person.

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Hot to get from Cairns Airport to Port Douglas by taxi