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Public Transport in Cairns 2026, Buses, Sunbus and Getting Around Far North Queensland

Cairns public transport guide 2026: how to use Cairns Sunbus services, key routes and getting around Cairns and Far North Queensland.

By Cairns Daily · Published 20 July 2026

How we reported this

This article was written by AI from the linked sources and was not reviewed by a journalist before publishing. The Daily Cairns is part of The Daily Network and follows our reasonable editorial care.

Public Transport in Cairns 2026, Buses, Sunbus and Getting Around Far North Queensland — Photo by Michaela St on Pexels

Public Transport in Cairns 2026, Overview

Cairns's public transport is provided by Sunbus, a TransLink-contracted bus operator covering the Cairns urban area and northern beaches corridor. There is no passenger rail service to Cairns CBD (the Kuranda Scenic Railway is a tourist service). translink.com.au

Go Card in Cairns

The TransLink go card works on all Sunbus services in Cairns. Queensland's $50 weekly fare cap applies. Go cards available at newsagents and Sunbus customer service outlets in Cairns CBD. Contactless bank card tap is also accepted on all Sunbus services. translink.com.au

Sunbus Routes

Sunbus operates approximately 20 routes covering the Cairns urban area. Key routes: Route 1/1A (Cairns CBD to Westcourt and Edmonton), Route 110 (Cairns to Northern Beaches, Yorkeys Knob, Trinity Beach, Palm Cove, Port Douglas direction). Main interchange: Lake Street Transit Centre, Cairns CBD. Timetable at sunbus.com.au. sunbus.com.au

Northern Beaches

Routes 110 and 111 connect Cairns CBD to the northern beaches (Machans Beach, Holloways Beach, Yorkeys Knob, Trinity Beach, Kewarra Beach, Clifton Beach, Palm Cove), a key route for residents and tourists accessing the beach suburbs north of Cairns.

Getting to Port Douglas and the Daintree

There is no public bus service north of Palm Cove to Port Douglas. Coral Reef Coach (coralreefcoach.com.au) operates a charter service. Hiring a car is the practical option for travelling beyond the Cairns northern beaches corridor to Port Douglas and the Daintree Rainforest.

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