Cairns International Airport

Cairns International Airport handles both scheduled international services and private charter traffic, with customs and immigration facilities on site. For private passengers arriving internationally, the airport clears customs without the need to transit through Sydney or Brisbane. The GA apron is separate from the main terminal complex.

The airport is the practical base for reaching the Great Barrier Reef, the Daintree, and the Cape York Peninsula. Operators running scenic and transfers throughout Tropical North Queensland use Cairns as their hub. Nearby Mareeba Airport (YMBA), about 60 km inland on the Atherton Tablelands, is an option for smaller charter aircraft if Cairns is congested or if your destination is on the western side of the range.

The Cairns CBD and waterfront are 7 km from the terminal, a 10 to 15 minute drive. Car hire desks are in the terminal and taxis are available curbside. Palm Cove, the main upmarket resort strip, is 25 km north along the Captain Cook Highway, roughly 25 minutes. Port Douglas is 65 km north of the airport, about 60 to 75 minutes depending on traffic. There is no rail link. For remote lodge access in Cape York or the Daintree, helicopter transfers can be arranged through Cairns-based operators.