Cairns Airport is only 7 km from the CBD, making this one of the most affordable airport transfers in Australia. Here is what each option costs.
Price comparison table
| Transport | Cost (AUD) | Cost (EUR) | Notes | |-----------|-----------|-----------|-------| | Taxi | 25–35 | 15–21 | Metered, from rank | | Uber / DiDi | 20–30 | 12–18 | App-based, pickup zone | | Sun Palm shuttle | 18 | 11 | Shared, multiple stops | | Pre-booked transfer | 50–80 | 30–48 | Fixed price, private | | Rental car | 40–80/day | 24–48/day | Self-drive |
Prices to popular destinations
| Destination | Distance | Taxi/Transfer (AUD) | Price (EUR) | |-------------|----------|---------------------|-------------| | Cairns CBD / Esplanade | 7 km | 25–35 | 15–21 | | Northern Beaches (Trinity) | 20 km | 45–60 | 27–36 | | Palm Cove | 25 km | 55–75 | 33–45 | | Kuranda | 30 km | 60–85 | 36–52 | | Port Douglas | 67 km | 180–240 | 109–145 | | Mission Beach | 140 km | 280–380 | 170–230 | | Cape Tribulation | 130 km | 280–360 | 170–218 |
Why the CBD transfer is cheap
At 7 km, the Cairns airport run is one of the shortest in Australia. Compare this to Sydney (17 km), Melbourne Tullamarine (23 km), or Brisbane (18 km). The short distance keeps all fares low, and the price differences between transport types are small in absolute terms.
The Sun Palm shuttle value
At AUD 18 (EUR 11) per adult, the Sun Palm shuttle is solid value. It is a shared service, so the bus may stop at 2–4 hotels before yours. The total journey time to a CBD hotel is typically 15–25 minutes versus 10 minutes in a taxi. Children under 4 travel free; ages 4–14 are discounted.
For Northern Beaches destinations (Trinity Beach, Palm Cove), the shuttle costs AUD 25–35 per adult — still cheaper than a taxi.
When to spend more on a transfer
The price jump from a taxi (AUD 30) to a private transfer (AUD 50–80) is noticeable for such a short trip. A transfer to the CBD is only worth it if you have specific needs: a larger vehicle, a child seat, or you are heading further north to Port Douglas.
For Port Douglas, the shuttle and transfer prices diverge more. The Sun Palm shuttle to Port Douglas costs around AUD 50–60, while a private transfer runs AUD 180–240. The shuttle takes longer with multiple stops but is perfectly comfortable.
Payment
Taxis accept cash and card (tap-and-go works). Uber and DiDi handle payment in-app. Sun Palm accepts online booking or cash at the terminal counter. ATMs from Westpac and Commonwealth Bank are in the arrivals hall.