There are 9 ways to get from Sydney to Cooktown by plane, train, bus, or car
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly Sydney International Airport to Cooktown Airport
best- Fly from Sydney International Airport (SYD) to Cooktown Airport (CTN)plane SYD - CTN
6h 41m$241–789Fly Sydney International Airport to Cairns, bus
cheapest- Fly from Sydney International Airport (SYD) to Cairns (CNS)plane SYD - CNS
- Take the bus from Cairns to Cooktownbus
11h 43m$226–604Train, bus
- Take the train from Central Station to Roma Street Stationtrain 31
- Take the train from Roma Street to Cairns Central Stationtrain
- Take the bus from Cairns to Cooktownbus
46h 11m$330–6,853Bus
- Take the bus from Central Station, Forecourt, Coach Bay 1 to Roma Street Station, Stand Fbus
- Take the bus from Brisbane Roma Street to Cairns Central Stationbus
- Take the bus from Cairns to Cooktownbus
2d 3h$382–555Drive 2,700 km
- Drive from Sydney to Cooktowncar 2,700 km
31h 14m$496–716Train to Newcastle Airport, fly to Cairns, bus
- Take the train from Central Station to Hamilton Stationtrain
- Fly from Newcastle Airport (NTL) to Cairns (CNS)plane NTL - CNS
- Take the bus from Cairns to Cooktownbus
16h 42m$308–929Drive to Orange Airport, fly to Cooktown Airport
- Drive from Sydney to Orange-Airport-OAGcar
- Fly from Orange Airport (OAG) to Cooktown Airport (CTN)plane OAG - CTN
11h 31m$346–1,132Train, bus via Palmer River
- Take the train from Central Station to Roma Street Stationtrain 31
- Take the bus from Brisbane to Cairnsbus
- Take the bus from Cairns to Palmer Riverbus
- Take the bus from Palmer River to Cooktownbus
2d 3h$450–1,073Bus via Cairns
- Take the bus from Sydney Central Station to Brisbanebus
- Take the bus from Brisbane Coach Terminal to Cairnsbus
- Take the bus from Cairns to Cooktownbus
2d 5h$457–697
Sydney to Cooktown by train and bus
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Sydney to Cooktown is to fly and bus which costs $220 - $650 and takes 11h 43m.
The fastest way to get from Sydney to Cooktown is to fly which takes 6h 41m and costs $240 - $800.
No, there is no direct bus from Sydney station to Cooktown. However, there are services departing from Central Station, Forecourt, Coach Bay 1 and arriving at Cooktown via Brisbane Roma Street and Cairns. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2 days 3h.
The distance between Sydney and Cooktown is 2166 km. The road distance is 2700 km.
The best way to get from Sydney to Cooktown without a car is to train and bus which takes 46h 11m and costs $330 - $7,000.
It takes approximately 6h 41m to get from Sydney to Cooktown, including transfers.
Sydney to Cooktown bus services, operated by NSW TrainLink, depart from Central Station, Forecourt, Coach Bay 1.
The best way to get from Sydney to Cooktown is to fly which takes 6h 41m and costs $240 - $800. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $380 - $600 and takes 2 days 3h.
Sydney to Cooktown bus services, operated by NSW TrainLink, arrive at Roma Street Station, Stand F.
Cooktown is 1h behind Sydney. It is currently 05:44 in Sydney and 04:44 in Cooktown.
What companies run services between Sydney, NSW, Australia and Cooktown, QLD, Australia?
Jetstar, Hinterland Aviation, and two other airlines fly from Sydney International Airport (SYD) to Cooktown Airport (CTN) every 4 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Central Station, Forecourt, Coach Bay 1 to Cooktown via Roma Street Station, Stand F, Brisbane Roma Street, and Cairns in around 2d 3h.
- Website
- qantas.com
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–800
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns via Maroochydore
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 20m
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $130–460
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 5h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–800
Flights from Newcastle Airport to Cairns via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 58m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $210–1,300
Flights from Newcastle Airport to Cairns via Melbourne
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 37m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $210–850
- Website
- hinterlandaviation.com.au
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cooktown Airport via Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 23m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $170–1,200
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cooktown Airport via Brisbane, Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–1,300
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cooktown Airport via Melbourne, Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 52m
- When
- Monday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- $230–900
Flights from Orange Airport to Cooktown Airport via Sydney International Airport, Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 26m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $250–1,700
Flights from Orange Airport to Cooktown Airport via Brisbane, Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 15m
- When
- Thursday
- Estimated price
- $340–1,100
- Website
- jetstar.com
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–460
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns via Maroochydore
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 20m
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $130–460
Flights from Newcastle Airport to Cairns via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 20m
- When
- Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $210–850
Flights from Newcastle Airport to Cairns via Melbourne
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 5m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $210–850
- Website
- virginaustralia.com
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–420
Flights from Sydney International Airport to Cairns via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 1m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–420
Flights from Newcastle Airport to Cairns via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 40m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $220–430
- Phone
- 131 500
- Website
- NSW TrainLink XPT
Train from Central Station to Roma Street Station
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 6m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $85–250
- Website
- NSW TrainLink XPT
- Book at
- NSW TrainLink XPT
- Economy
- $85–110
- First
- $120–140
- Sleeper
- $220–250
Train from Central Station to Roma Street Station
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 6m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $85–250
- Website
- NSW TrainLink XPT
- Book at
- NSW TrainLink XPT
- Economy
- $85–110
- First
- $120–140
- Sleeper
- $220–250
- Phone
- 1800 872 467
- Website
- Queensland Rail Travel
Train from Roma Street to Cairns Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 25h 20m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $170–6,171
- Book at
- Queensland Rail Travel
- Website
- Queensland Rail Travel
- Schedules at
- Queensland Rail Travel
- BQuick
- $170–230
- AChoice
- $310–390
- Gold Class
- $4,927
- Heritage Class
- $6,171
- Phone
- 131 500
- Website
- Transport NSW Regional
Train from Central Station to Hamilton Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 49m
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $9–13
- Website
- Transport NSW Regional
- Phone
- (07) 3036 2070
- Website
- Trans North Bus & Coach
Bus from Cairns to Cooktown
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 45m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $75–110
- Website
- Trans North Bus & Coach
- Book at
- Trans North Bus & Coach
Bus from Cairns to Cooktown
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 45m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $75–110
- Website
- Trans North Bus & Coach
- Book at
- Trans North Bus & Coach
Bus from Cairns to Cooktown
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 45m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $75–110
- Website
- Trans North Bus & Coach
- Book at
- Trans North Bus & Coach
Bus from Cairns to Cooktown
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 45m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $75–110
- Website
- Trans North Bus & Coach
- Book at
- Trans North Bus & Coach
Bus from Cairns to Palmer River
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- $55–80
- Website
- Trans North Bus & Coach
- Book at
- Trans North Bus & Coach
Bus from Palmer River to Cooktown
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- $30–50
- Website
- Trans North Bus & Coach
- Book at
- Trans North Bus & Coach
Bus from Cairns to Cooktown
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 45m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $75–110
- Website
- Trans North Bus & Coach
- Book at
- Trans North Bus & Coach
- Phone
- 131 500
- Website
- NSW TrainLink
Bus from Central Station, Forecourt, Coach Bay 1 to Roma Street Station, Stand F
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 50m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $65–95
- Website
- NSW TrainLink
- Phone
- 13 34 10
- reservations@premierms.com.au
- Website
- Premier Motor Service
Bus from Brisbane Roma Street to Cairns Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 29h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $240–350
- Website
- Premier Motor Service
- Phone
- 1300 473946
- sales@greyhound.com.au
- Website
- Greyhound Australia
Bus from Brisbane to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 30h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $280–700
- Website
- Greyhound Australia
- Schedules at
- Greyhound Australia
- Early Bird
- $280–390
- Flexible
- $330–700
- Website
- FlixBus Australia
Bus from Sydney Central Station to Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 17h 28m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $130–200
- Schedules at
- FlixBus Australia
Bus from Brisbane Coach Terminal to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 28h 40m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $250–390
- Schedules at
- FlixBus Australia
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Yes, the driving distance between Sydney to Cooktown is 2700 km. It takes approximately 31h 14m to drive from Sydney to Cooktown.
There are 24+ hotels available in Cooktown.