Car Rental in Cairns

✓ No Hidden Costs ✓ 24/7 Support ✓ Free Cancellation
Cairns, Australia
Unable to find any location
Driver's country of residence is United States of America (USA) and age is 30-65
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29
  • 30 - 65
  • 66
  • 67
  • 68
  • 69
  • 70
  • 71
  • 72
  • 73
  • 74
  • 75
  • 76
  • 77
  • 78
  • 79
  • 80+
700+ Trusted Suppliers:

Cheapest Car Rental Rates

Cairns Airport
Standard SUV
MG HS or similar
MG HS
  • 5
  • 2
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Bargain Car Rentals
$12.89 per day
Cairns Airport
Intermediate
MG 5 or similar
MG 5
  • 5
  • 2
  • 5
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Simba Car Hire
$15.36 per day
Cairns Airport
Full-size SUV
MG HS or similar
MG HS
  • 5
  • 2
  • 5
  • A/C
  • Auto.
EastCoast Car Rentals
$24.74 per day
Downtown
Compact SUV
Kia Stonic or similar
Kia Stonic
  • 5
  • 2
  • 5
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Budget
$39.24 per day

Most Popular Car Rental Deals

Cairns Airport
Economy
Suzuki Swift or similar
Suzuki Swift
  • 5
  • 2
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Thrifty
$43.26 per day
Cairns Airport
Premium SUV
Ford Everest or similar
Ford Everest
  • 5
  • 4
  • 5
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Europcar
$60.10 per day
Cairns Airport
Premium Elite SUV
Toyota Land Cruiser or similar
Toyota Land Cruiser
  • 7
  • 1
  • 5
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Dollar
$84.91 per day
Cairns Airport
Intermediate Elite SUV
Audi Q5 or similar
Audi Q5
  • 5
  • 3
  • 5
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Hertz
$119.63 per day
The above prices are only approximate and were last updated at 1:44 PM on 12/12/24. Prices may vary based on the booking dates, length of rental, and car class.
Why book with us?
Special offers
As a market leader, we get special offers like contactless pick-ups, great prices, and free upgrades.
Award-winning
World's Leading Car Rental Booking Website in the World Travel Tech Awards (4 years in a row).
Highly-rated
A combined rating of 4.5 with 175k+ total reviews on platforms like Trustpilot, Google, and Review Center.
4M users
Have already booked on one of the fastest-growing car rental booking websites.

Travel Information

Languages
English
Currency
AUD
Drive on
Left-hand side
Country code
+61
Average car rental price
$50 per day
Average car rental length
7 days
Speed limit within town
50 km/h or 31 mph
Speed limit out of town
100 - 130 km/h or 62 - 81 mph
Acceptable limit of BAC
0.05%
Rating
9.5 / 10
Average gas price
$1.09 per liter or $4.14 per gallon
Lowest gas price
$1.08 per liter or $4.09 per gallon
Highest gas price
$1.14 per liter or $4.33 per gallon

Why rent a car in Cairns?

Cairns is a great place to explore by car. The largest city in the region of Far North Queensland, it is the center of the most tropical part of Australia. The nature is stunning here, with plenty of unique attractions, and the sea coast is even more dramatic and impressive than in the rest of Australia. The scenic drives north of Cairns to Port Douglas and the Daintree Rainforest will take your breath away. Australia is a big country with limited public transport, never underestimate distances and drive times here. Cairns airport is not close to the city of Cairns, nor Palm Cove and Port Douglas — so getting a rental car is your best bet to see as much as you can in this part of the world.

Cairns

One-Way Car Rentals in Cairns

The most popular one-way rental options for pick up in Cairns and drop off in another city include:

  • From Cairns to Gold Coast - 35 offers from $67.42 per day
  • From Cairns to Brisbane - 35 offers from $67.42 per day
  • From Cairns to Townsville - 35 offers from $40.79 per day

Top ways to enter Cairns

  • Cairns Airport: The seventh-busiest in Australia, Cairns Airport serves around 5 million travelers every year. The airport has flights by 20 different airlines and is connected to many domestic destinations all over Queensland and the rest of Australia as well as to Singapore, Papua New Guinea, Bali, and Japan. Conveniently, the airport is located just 6km (4 miles) from Cairns’ city center and can be reached in about 10 minutes.
  • Townsville Airport: Served by 8 different airlines, Townsville Airport handles about 2 million travelers every year. As of 2019, the airport only has domestic flights. Townsville Airport is located 340km (211 miles) south of Cairns and can be reached in about five hours.

City facts

  • Cairns experiences a tropical monsoon climate with a wet season from November to May and a dry season from June to October. Cairns is the most humid large city of Australia. The average temperature is 28°C  (82°F) from December to February, the hottest months, and 212°C  (71°F) in July, the coldest month. 
  • With around 145,000 inhabitants, Cairns is the fifth most-populous city in the state of Queensland. Located in the northernmost part of Australia, Cairns is a remote destination located nearly 1,700km (1,056 miles) from the state capital, Brisbane, and about 2,500km (1,553 miles) from the capital of Australia, Canberra. The nearest capital city to Cairns, therefore, is not Canberra, but Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea. 
  • Historically inhabited by the Gimuy Walubara Yidinji people who still live in and around the city to this day, 8.9% of Cairns inhabitants are Native Australians, a number that is significantly higher than for Australia as a whole.

Top sights and activities

  • The Great Barrier Reef. The number one attraction for visitors coming to Cairns and a natural wonder of the world, there’s no other place in the world like the Great Barrier Reef. The amazing coral structure and a number of coral islands can be accessed by boat from Cairns or Port Douglas. While there are excellent opportunities for scuba diving, most visitors snorkel. Seeing the reef is an experience of a lifetime.
  • The Daintree Rainforest. Visitors can visit the oldest rainforest on Earth by driving about an hour and a half north of Cairns. The Daintree Rainforest is like stepping back to the days of the dinosaurs, if you’re short of time, visit the Mossman Gorge, another section of the rainforest with a crystal clear tropical waterway to enjoy. You may be able to spot unique local wildlife like cassowaries and tree kangaroos. Wallabies are an almost guaranteed sighting just north of Cairns.
  • Cairns Botanical Gardens. Divided into five separate zones, such as the Rainforest Boardwalk and the Mangroves Boardwalk, the botanical gardens introduce visitors to different types of flora characteristic of tropical Northern Australia. If you’re short on time and cannot visit the actual rainforests, coming to the gardens is your best bet to see as much as you can.
  • Cairns Museum. Focusing on the history of human habitation of the Cairns area, this small, but unique museum has plenty of objects, photographs, and other artifacts relating to all things Cairns. If you’re interested in how Cairns grew and changed from a native settlement to a mining and farming town to the largest city in Northern Queensland, this is the right place to visit.
  • Cairns Regional Gallery. Nature, not art, is admittedly the number one reason why people visit Cairns, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not possible to find some sophistication on the side. One of the best places for just that is the Regional Gallery, arguably the most notable art museum in this part of Queensland. In addition to a somewhat sizable permanent collection, the gallery frequently hosts various rotating exhibitions and events.
  • Cairns Aquarium. Often described as the best in the whole country, the aquarium of Cairns provides a home to a myriad of water habitats and countless aquatic species. In addition to encountering marine life, visitors can learn about the various species and ecosystem preservation projects in which the aquarium is involved. Visit its official website to learn more. 

Traffic and parking

  • One of the largest road hazards in Australia is the wildlife. Take extra caution when driving in bad weather or after dark as this is when most of the collisions with wildlife take place. The wet season can bring some localised flooding in February and March, typically. Cyclones do occur in the Cairns region infrequently too.
  • Another great risk when traveling off of main highways is the heat. The temperatures can reach extremes very easily, especially during the summer months and in inland areas. Always stay properly hydrated and plan your route in advance to be able to refill your water supplies. Never leave children or pets inside a vehicle, not only is it dangerous, it can land you with a hefty fine.
  • Speed traps are a very common occurrence on roads around Cairns, be careful to follow speed signs carefully.
  • Driving under the influence laws differ from territory to territory in Australia. In Queensland, the legal alcohol limit is 0.05% for experienced drivers and 0.00% for novice drivers and drivers with provisional licences. Exceeding the limit can lead to large fines and a driver licence ban.
  • Proof of insurance and the car’s documentation needs to be in the car whenever you’re driving.
  • When driving, you need to have your license with you at all times.
  • The primary, nationwide emergency number in Australia is 000. 

Toll roads

There are no toll roads around Cairns but to cross the Daintree River into the Daintree Rainforest you will need to pay a fee.

There are a number of toll roads elsewhere in Australia, mainly in the states of New South Wales, Victoria, and other parts of Queensland. 

Most toll roads in Australia use an open toll system with mainline barrier toll gates. All toll roads in Australia use cashless payment systems. You can purchase a prepaid pass for most toll roads. Some rental cars in Australia are equipped with an electronic toll transponder, the price of which is usually included in the rental price. Ask your car rental provider about it in advance. 

Different toll roads are operated by different companies, so there is no nation-wide system in place. 

For more information about the toll roads in the state of Queensland, visit the state’s toll road website.

Ideas for day trips

  • Kuranda. Located in the nearby mountains and surrounded by lush jungle, Kuranda is a famous outdoors destination. There are many hiking trails, and you can also park your rental car in the town. Alternatively take a trip on the Cairns Skyrail that takes you from just north of Cairns right above the rainforest to Kuranda. Located just 27km (17 miles) northwest of Cairns, Kuranda can be reached in half an hour, although the road to Kuranda from Cairns is dangerous and is sometimes closed due to accidents.
  • Local Beaches. There are any number of beaches just north of Cairns, several with netted swimming enclosures for safer swimming in the wet season when dangerous jellyfish can be present in tropical waters.
  • Crocodiles. Cairns is home to saltwater crocodiles, there are many opportunities to see these creatures in the wild or at crocodile attractions like Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures or the Port Douglas Wildlife Habitat.
  • Mission Beach. While Queensland has no shortage of stunning beaches, Mission Beach might just be number one among them. Tropical and pristine, it offers a more relaxed atmosphere than beaches around Cairns or Brisbane. See if you can spot the rare and unique cassowary bird while visiting. From here, you can also easily reach the beautiful Dunk and Bedarra Islands. Mission Beach is about 140km (87 miles) south of Cairns and can be reached by car in two hours.
  • Chillagoe-Mungana Caves National Park. A unique protected area, Chillagoe-Mungana is a great place to experience continental Australia without traveling for days. Markedly different from the coastal parts and with a more primeval atmosphere, the area is home to limestone caves and Indigenous Australian art, as well as impressive rock formations. On a relatively more recent note, the town of Chillagoe also has a number of late 19th and early 20th century mines and smelters which have now been turned into heritage sites. Located about 215 km (133 miles) west of Cairns, the national park takes about three hours to reach: however, the road to Chillagoe is unsealed gravel, so most car rental companies won’t allow you to drive there. Camping is not permitted inside the park, but there are a few options for accommodation in the surrounding area, particularly in the Chillagoe township. 

Most popular cars

The most popular rental car types in Cairns are intermediate, compact, and standard. The most popular rental car is the Toyota Corolla, followed by the Kia Rio and the Toyota Camry.

Most locals in the region generally prefer four-wheel drive vehicles and larger cars because of the rugged nature of local roads.

Further destinations

  • Port Douglas. A calm and pretty resort town, Port Douglas is home to many impressive beaches as well as the Wildlife Habitat, a place with different habitats, such as wetlands and grasslands, that house animal species like emus, crocodiles, and kangaroos. Port Douglas is about 67km (42 miles) north of Cairns, a picturesque one hour’s drive along the coast.
  • Mossman Gorge. A part of the native Kuku Yalanji area, Mossman Gorge is a place where some locals come to escape the unbearable heat of the Australian summer. Walking across a suspension bridge above Rex Creek is a thrilling experience and you might even spot local wildlife like Boyd’s forest dragon and the Australian brush turkey. Mossman Gorge is about 78km (48 miles) north of Cairns and can be reached in one hour.
  • Townsville. Gateway to a wealth of beaches, lakes, creeks, and dives, cozy Townsville has plenty to enjoy. The city is just a short ferry ride from Magnetic Island, a popular tourist attraction and national park which is home to koalas and different bird species (it is usually possible to take a car to the island, although ask your rental car provider and the ferry company in advance). Located about 345 km (214 miles) south of Cairns, Townsville can be reached in some five hours by car, although there are plenty of interesting attractions on the way, such as Girringun National Park.
  • Brisbane. An adventure like no other, the road from Cairns to the state capital and Australia’s third largest city is 1,700km (1,056 miles) long and takes at least 24 hours to do. You should come well-prepared with water, supplies, fuel, and maps, but those who dare to do it will be rewarded with fantastic views and pristine beaches along the way as well as a stunning modern city at the end of the trip.

Car rental prices in Cairns

  • Large cars - from $13 per day
  • Medium cars - from $13 per day
  • Vans - from $47 per day
  • Premium cars - from $66 per day
  • Small cars - from $43 per day
  • SUVs - from $13 per day

Money-saving and other tips

Below, you'll find reviews about traveling in Cairns from customers who booked their rental car through us. Here's a summary of some of the most frequent tips they mentioned:

  1. Plan Scenic Drives
    • "Collected the vehicle in Cairns. We did a return road trip to Cape Tribulation with a stop over in Port Douglas and sightseeing in Kuranda."
  2. Enjoy Local Food
    • We drove to Port Douglas and stayed for a long weekend. Spent time eating yummy food, walking along the beach and even snorkeling in the Barrier Reef."
      "Relaxing in a holiday apartment, walking on the beach, and dining in great restaurants."
  3. Explore Key Attractions
    • "First trip to Cairns, so went north to Port Douglas, Mossman and Daintree, west to Lake Barrine, Atherton and Herberton, and south to Milla Milla, Innisfail and Babinda. Very enjoyable."
    • "A must - Kuranda, Barron Falls by car, Port Douglas, Hartleys croc farm, Mareeba, Atherton Tablelands, lookouts around Cairns."
  4. Consider the Weather
    • "Was raining heavily but still enjoyed our trip to Skyrail & the waterfalls."
  5. Use a Car for Flexibility
    • "It was very helpful to have a car in Cairns. It gave the flexibility to go places and see things. Parking was available in plenty. We had booked our hotel 1/2 hour away from the main city which was beautiful but easy to reach and having a car was very helpful. Not much traffic at all."

Keep these tips in mind when booking a rental car in Cairns:

  • Compare the rates of different rental car providers
  • Book your rental car well in advance
  • Plan your route before you go
  • Know your fuel and mileage requirements
  • Visit during the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. 
This information was written, fact-checked, and/or translated by our content creators.

Learn more about our Editorial Policy.
Fact checked by
Alyson Long
This article was fact-checked and edited by Alyson Long, a British citizen hailing from South Wales who has been an international travel blogger and author for over a decade. Her family travelled full-time for 7 years to around 60 countries to gain expertise. She is the owner of the World Travel Family and World Travel Chef websites, both of which aim to help people, particularly families, travel with ease around the world.

Top 20 cities near Cairns

  1. 54.3 km / 33.7 miles away
  2. 284.3 km / 176.7 miles away
  3. 497.2 km / 308.9 miles away
  4. 597.2 km / 371.1 miles away
  5. 624.6 km / 388.1 miles away
  6. 784.8 km / 487.7 miles away
  7. 874 km / 543.1 miles away
  8. 962.9 km / 598.3 miles away
  9. 1,120.5 km / 696.2 miles away
  10. 1,193.4 km / 741.5 miles away
  11. 1,300.7 km / 808.2 miles away
  12. 1,318.9 km / 819.5 miles away
  13. 1,343.5 km / 834.8 miles away
  14. 1,371.7 km / 852.3 miles away
  15. 1,391.1 km / 864.4 miles away
  16. 1,394.4 km / 866.4 miles away
  17. 1,454.7 km / 903.9 miles away
  18. 1,460.6 km / 907.6 miles away
  19. 1,465.4 km / 910.6 miles away
  20. 1,484.3 km / 922.3 miles away

Top 20 locations near Cairns

  1. 284.3 km / 176.7 miles away
  2. 497.2 km / 308.9 miles away
  3. 597.2 km / 371.1 miles away
  4. 784.8 km / 487.7 miles away
  5. 874 km / 543.1 miles away
  6. 962.9 km / 598.3 miles away
  7. 1,120.5 km / 696.2 miles away
  8. 1,121.9 km / 697.1 miles away
  9. 1,183.2 km / 735.2 miles away
  10. 1,193.4 km / 741.5 miles away
  11. 1,318.9 km / 819.5 miles away
  12. 1,343.5 km / 834.8 miles away
  13. 1,391.1 km / 864.4 miles away
  14. 1,392.8 km / 865.4 miles away
  15. 1,393.4 km / 865.8 miles away
  16. 1,393.5 km / 865.9 miles away
  17. 1,398 km / 868.7 miles away
  18. 1,400.7 km / 870.4 miles away
  19. 1,402.6 km / 871.5 miles away

Map of Car Rental Locations

What is the cheapest month to rent a car in Cairns?

Car rental prices in Cairns vary by time of year. This graph shows the average prices per month to help you find the best time of year to rent.
Average rental costs per day in Cairns
$35.43
January
$25.97
February
$31.59
March
$35.66
April
$30.50
May
$38.40
June
$51.52
July
$46.85
August
$39.52
September
$43.00
October
$36.37
November
$47.42
December
The cheapest month to rent a car in Cairns is February (when prices average $25.97 per day). This is 33% cheaper than the yearly average and 50% cheaper than renting in July (when prices average $51.52).

This information can help you identify the low season. But these are only average numbers. How much your car rental will cost will depend on the type of vehicle you rent, how long you’ll rent it for, and how far ahead you book. Simply enter your dates in the form at the top of the page to see the exact prices.

What’s the usual rental length in Cairns?

How long travelers keep their rental cars for varies from month to month: in July, the average renter keeps their car for 9 days, and in April, they keep their car for 6 days.
Average number of rental days in Cairns
7
January
8
February
7
March
6
April
7
May
7
June
9
July
7
August
9
September
8
October
8
November
8
December

What's the most popular month to rent a car in Cairns?

Based on the number of searches by our customers, the most popular month for renting a car in Cairns is January, and the least popular is September.
Monthly searches in Cairns by pick-up date relative to the average
184%
January
84%
February
96%
March
82%
April
81%
May
77%
June
78%
July
81%
August
69%
September
98%
October
120%
November
152%
December

Car rental information

Car rental locations 3
Airport locations 1
Popular suppliers Bargain Car Rentals, Simba Car Hire, EastCoast Car Rentals, Jucy, SIXT
Popular car categories SUVs, Medium cars, Large cars, Small cars
Lowest price $13 per day
Cheapest supplier Bargain Car Rentals

Most popular car models of rental suppliers

Rental Supplier Model Doors Luggage Type
Bargain Car Rentals Hyundai Accent 4 2 Medium cars
Bargain Car Rentals Kia Stonic 4 2 SUVs
Bargain Car Rentals MG HS 4 2 SUVs
Jucy Hyundai Accent 5 2 Medium cars
Simba Car Hire Toyota Corolla 4 2 Medium cars
Jucy Toyota Corolla 4 2 Large cars
Bargain Car Rentals MG 5 5 2 Large cars
EastCoast Car Rentals MG ZS 5 2 SUVs
Simba Car Hire MG ZS 4 2 SUVs
EastCoast Car Rentals Kia Picanto 5 1 Small cars

Our customers' reviews

Because we want to make sure each review listed here is left by a real customer, we don’t have the option to post a review here. Instead, we ask each and every customer to leave a review after they return their rental car. This way, you know that all reviews are authentic.

Australia
Audi Q3
10/28/24
Drive to Port Douglas took many attractions and restaurants loved the Wildlife Habitat the most
Australia
Hyundai Kona
9/29/24
outer reef, mossman, pontoon ride
Australia
MG ZS
9/24/24
Good
New Zealand
MG HS
9/7/24
We had a wedding at Mission Beach, fabulous venue fabulous day.
New Zealand
Toyota Corolla
9/3/24
lots to do i.e walks in rainforest, crystal cascades, river boat cruise, beaches, great barrier reef trip, cape tribulation
Australia
Kia Stonic
8/15/24
We mainly went to the SkyRail and supermarkets and around suburbs.
Australia
Toyota Corolla
7/7/24
We used the car to drive out to Paronella Park and visited some waterfalls. We also enjoyed Green Island and Kuranda. Didn’t need to car those days, but used it to get from our accommodation that was out of town.
Australia
MG 3
6/7/24
Unfortunately it was for a funeral
New Zealand
Nissan X-Trail
6/2/24
Did the Skypark twice. Helicopter ride over the reef
Australia
Suzuki Baleno
5/19/24
We drove to Port Douglas and stayed for a long weekend. Spent time eating yummy food, walking along the beach and even snorkling in the Barrier Reef.
Australia
Toyota Corolla
4/7/24
First trip to Cairns, so went north to Port Douglas, Mossman and Daintree, west to Lake Barrie, Atherton and Herberton, and south to Milla Milla, Innisfail and Babinda. Very enjoyable.
Australia
Suzuki Swift
4/2/24
Was raining heavily but still enjoyed our trip to Skyrail & the waterfalls.
Australia
Hyundai Accent
2/11/24
Relaxing in a holiday apartment, walking on the beach, and dining in great restaurants
Australia
Hyundai Accent
1/28/24
Had to go to funeral
Indonesia
Kia Picanto
1/16/24
Diving the Barrier Reef was a bucket list that didn’t disappoint.
Australia
Hyundai Accent
12/20/23
Cyclone Jasper
Singapore
Mitsubishi Eclipse
11/29/23
Great place to be with kids. The nature and sea sports are far better than i thought.
New Zealand
MG 5
11/25/23
Travelled up to the tablelands which is amazing, also green island for the day which was stunning
United Kingdom
Hyundai Kona
11/21/23
An amazing trip from Cairns to Brisbane.
Australia
Hyundai Grand i10 Sedan
11/18/23
Nature and beaches
Australia
Kia Stonic
11/17/23
Visit to ill family and went nowhere
Australia
Kia Picanto
11/14/23
Kuranda, paronella PARK, port Douglas and scenic places in between.
United States of America (USA)
Suzuki Swift
11/5/23
We traveled up from cairns to Cape tribulation with a lot of hikes and lookouts on the way. The car was the perfect size for my partner and i, as well as a great price for the car and gas.
Australia
Ford Everest
11/5/23
Great week overall from mission beach wedding to palm cove lunch n cairns dinner n drinks to seeing crocodiles n cassowary and people paragliding in mission beach and watermelon by the side of the road grown I. Mission beach $5.00 and bananas $2.00 by the side of road people very trust worthy 👍
Photo 1 by Lilian M. about renting a Ford Everest in Cairns (11/5/23) Photo 2 by Lilian M. about renting a Ford Everest in Cairns (11/5/23) Photo 3 by Lilian M. about renting a Ford Everest in Cairns (11/5/23) Photo 4 by Lilian M. about renting a Ford Everest in Cairns (11/5/23) Photo 5 by Lilian M. about renting a Ford Everest in Cairns (11/5/23) Photo 6 by Lilian M. about renting a Ford Everest in Cairns (11/5/23) Photo 7 by Lilian M. about renting a Ford Everest in Cairns (11/5/23) Photo 8 by Lilian M. about renting a Ford Everest in Cairns (11/5/23) Photo 9 by Lilian M. about renting a Ford Everest in Cairns (11/5/23) Photo 10 by Lilian M. about renting a Ford Everest in Cairns (11/5/23)
Australia
Mitsubishi ASX
10/19/23
Port Douglas is a great place to visit
Australia
Toyota Corolla
9/27/23
Great location
New Zealand
Hyundai Accent
9/20/23
Cairns was a great place good restuarants
Australia
Toyota Yaris
9/20/23
Port Douglas, the cool highway drive was great with plenty of scenic stop offs.
Australia
Toyota Corolla
9/20/23
Great trip
Australia
Toyota Corolla
9/18/23
Visit Cairns every year will be a good customer if you look after us
Australia
Kia Rio
9/17/23
Love palm cove and cairns area
New Zealand
Toyota Corolla
9/8/23
Daintree Village, Mosdman Gorge, Malanda, Cape Tribulation, all must visits.
New Zealand
Kia Stonic
9/8/23
Collected the vehicle in Cairns. We did a return road trip to Cape Tribulation with a stop over in Port Douglas and sight seeing in Kuranda . The highlights were Port Douglas, Cairns and crocodile sightings from the road leaving Port Douglas
Photo by Leslie F. about renting a Kia Stonic in Cairns (9/8/23)
Australia
Hyundai i30
9/7/23
We were sad for the last minute cancellation for Skyrail. It was my first visit to Cairns and that definitely didn't make the experience great.
Australia
MG HS
8/29/23
Went everywhere we could possibly fit in ,port Douglas, Mareeba, Atherton Palm cove Mossman and more ,had a fabulous trip away , thankyou Alamo the car was fantastic
Australia
Hyundai Accent
8/27/23
Palm cove Daintree
Australia
Toyota Corolla
8/24/23
Good to go to Ellis Beach halfway between Cairns and Port Douglas
Australia
Toyota Corolla
8/19/23
Palm Cove is located in a tranquil area. Love restaurants. Close drive to Cairns and other attractions such as the Kuranda train and sky rail
Australia
Peugeot 508s
8/9/23
Port Douglas, Kuranda and Paronella Park for sightseeing and CC’s Bar and Grill for a great steak!
Australia
Mitsubishi Eclipse
7/15/23
Great family holiday
Australia
Toyota Corolla
7/12/23
Great Barrier Reef was terrific, just prepare for sickness! Kuranda markets & butterfly sanctuary great, get there early as lots to see and the town closes at 3pm!
Norway
Hyundai Accent
7/10/23
We went with the ferry to Mornington Peninsula, visited several beaches, Mornington Chocolate Factory and Peninsula Hot Springs.
New Zealand
Toyota Corolla Hatch
6/30/23
A great verity of things to do and see.
Australia
Kia Stonic
6/21/23
Great Barrier Reef, Crystal Cascades, Mossman River, Daintree Forest
Australia
Toyota Corolla
6/18/23
We explored Port Douglas and the surrounding area which was beautiful! Also did the waterfall loop south of cairns which had amazing views
Barbados
Hyundai Kona
5/24/23
Trip from Cairns to Port Douglas,, Daintree was great, then down the coast to Brisbane, Mother’s Day dinner at “ LaVue” Restaurants 👍, up to the Blue Mountains - great hikes , down to Wollongong -wonderful oceanfront walk and great restaurants (Samaras) and ended in Sydney-BridgeClimb, Opera House and vivid Sydney the upcoming weekend!! Great trip with a great car! Smooth ride, good mileage, good seats, enough room.
Australia
Toyota Corolla
5/20/23
Hartleys Creek wildlife park is fabulous. Daintree rainforest, Cape Tribulation and Mossman Gorge are spectacular. Doing these things on our own schedule with our own car made the trip so much better.
Australia
Hyundai Accent
5/18/23
not car we asked for
Australia
Kia Stonic
4/16/23
Great drive from cairns airport to port Douglas. The cat was pretty good.
Australia
Toyota Corolla
3/30/23
Magnetic island was amazing, amazing beaches and hiking. Jet skiing on magnetic island was a highlight. Nourish cafe was beautiful as well. Yeppoon lagoon was amazing for a beach view experience. Bagara in Bunderberg was lovely and relaxing as well. Airlie beach sunsets were lovely and lots of food choices

Car Rental Statistics

Highest-rated company
Simba Car Hire
9.2 / 10
)
Lowest-rated company
Routes Car Rental
7.4 / 10
)
Total number of reviews
178
Total rental companies
18
Average daily price
$50.01
Lowest daily price
$12.89
Total cars available
277

Top 18 suppliers in Cairns in 2024

Simba Car Hire
Simba Car Hire
Exceptional 9.2 / 86 reviews
1 location
$15 - $55
SIXT
SIXT
Exceptional 9 / 255 reviews
2 locations
$68 - $104
Budget
Budget
Very good 8.9 / 24 reviews
3 locations
$32 - $87
Ace Rent a car
Ace Rent a car
Very good 8.9 / 55 reviews
2 locations
$85 - $134
Europcar
Europcar
Very good 8.8 / 79 reviews
2 locations
$44 - $277
Dollar
Dollar
Very good 8.7 / 13 reviews
2 locations
$61 - $88
National
National
Very good 8.7 / 9 reviews
1 location
$65 - $82
Avis
Avis
Very good 8.6 / 9 reviews
3 locations
$53 - $90
Hertz
Hertz
Very good 8.6 / 8 reviews
1 location
$83 - $122
Bargain Car Rentals
Bargain Car Rentals
Very good 8.5 / 1,073 reviews
1 location
$13 - $142
Alamo
Alamo
Very good 8.5 / 193 reviews
1 location
$65 - $82
EastCoast Car Rentals
EastCoast Car Rentals
Very good 8.4 / 384 reviews
1 location
$18 - $150
Thrifty
Thrifty
Very good 8.3 / 223 reviews
2 locations
$43 - $107
Enterprise
Enterprise
Very good 8.1 / 5 reviews
2 locations
$68 - $205
Keddy
Keddy
Average 7.9 / 5 reviews
2 locations
$68 - $102
Jucy
Jucy
Average 7.8 / 330 reviews
1 location
$104
Firefly
Firefly
Average 7.7 / 0 reviews
2 locations
$104
Routes Car Rental
Routes Car Rental
Average 7.4 / 1 review
2 locations
$48 - $86
Download Our App
Book and manage your booking on the go
Log in or create an account
Get access to all your bookings in one place
Continue with email
By selecting "Agree and continue", you agree to DiscoverCars.com's
and
What's your email?
Please check your email
Please check your email
We've sent an email with a verification link to {email}
Click on the link in the email to log in.
Please select a pick-up location and dates