Car Rental at Cairns Airport
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The above prices are only approximate and were last updated at 17:57 on 2021-10-25. Prices may vary based on the booking dates, length of rental, and car class.
Travel Information
Language
English
Currency
AUD
Country code
61
Traffic direction
Left-hand
Speed limit out of town
80 - 100 km/h
50 - 62 mi/h
Speed limit within town
50 km/h
31 mi/h
Acceptable limit of BAC
0.05%
Airport Car Rental
The capital of Far North Queensland, Cairns has long served as a popular tourist destination. A gateway not only to the Great Barrier Reef but also the lushest and tropical jungle that Australia has to offer, the region has a markedly different climate and terrain than most of the rest of the country. These are three of the most interesting places in and around Cairns:
- Cairns Botanic Gardens. Though there’s a lot of truly tropical areas and nature preserves within a day’s ride of Cairns, it’s also possible to enjoy true forest without leaving the city. Divided into different sections, like the Mangroves and Rainforest Boardwalks and the Aboriginal Plant Use Garden, the area also has both saltwater and freshwater lakes and is home to a large number of tropical birds.
- Great Barrier Reef. A unique ecosystem and one of the seven natural wonders of the world, the Great Barrier Reef is the main attraction of Northern Australia. Whether you visit one of the islands, go scuba diving or snorkeling, or simply enjoy the views, this is one attraction that is not to be missed. A number of reef tours take off from Cairns, as well as some of the surrounding towns and villages.
- National Parks. While the reefs and beaches are undoubtedly amazing, there’s also a lot of nature to enjoy away from the coast. Cairns is surrounded by an absolute wealth of nature preserves a couple of hours drive (or less) from the city. These include the Kuranda State Forest and Hann Tableland National Park to the north; Danbulla National Park to the west; and Gadgarra, Wooroonooran, Tully Falls, and Tully Gorge National Parks to the south. The most adventurous will also try to travel to the truly wild and pristine national parks of northernmost Queensland, though reaching these parts require a lot of planning and the help of a tour or a guide.
Top international routes
- Tokyo
- Osaka
- Port Moresby
- Hong Kong
- Denpasar
- Auckland
Main airlines
Jetstar Airways, Regional Express Airlines, Air Niugini, QantasLink, Skytrans, and Virgin Australia
Terminals
Cairns Airport has two terminals. Terminal 1 is the international terminal and Terminal 2 is the domestic terminal. The two terminals are connected by a covered walkway. You can get from one to the other in about five minutes.
Location
Cairns Airport is about 6 km (3.7 mi) from the city of Cairns. National Highway 1 passes by the airport and takes travelers either to Cairns city itself or north to Kuranda or Highway 44 which leads to the coastal destinations of Palm Cove and Port Douglas.
There is no need to worry about toll roads unless you plan a road trip that includes traveling south to Brisbane or the states of New South Wales or Victoria. See their respective articles for more information about how to pay for the tolls.
There is no need to worry about toll roads unless you plan a road trip that includes traveling south to Brisbane or the states of New South Wales or Victoria. See their respective articles for more information about how to pay for the tolls.
Most popular types of rental car
- Large cars - from $62 per day
- Medium cars - from $52 per day
- People Carriers/Vans - from $95 per day
- Premium cars - from $67 per day
- Small cars - from $51 per day
- SUVs - from $72 per day
Car rental desks
Alamo and Europcar have desks both in the arrivals halls of both the international and domestic terminals. SIXT (serviced by East Coast), Atlas, and East Coast Car Rental are located just outside of the airport on National Highway 1 and can be reached via a shuttle.
Services and facilities
You’ll find a burger shop, a pizza restaurant, a bar, and a number of smaller eateries, as well as stores, and a duty-free outlet in T1. There are also ATMs, lounges, an on-site hotel, a currency exchange, and spa. You’ll find self-service luggage lockers next to the T2 car park. The airport is well-equipped for travelers with reduced mobility. You can find more information on the airport's official website.
Nearest gas station
A Mobil station located at 333 Sheridan Street (National Highway 1), which is open 24/7, is the most convenient station for filling up before returning a rental car if you are coming from the south. If coming from the north, then a Puma station on the left side of National Highway 1 is the most convenient station.
Popular one-way rentals
- Brisbane (1,689 km / 1,050 mi)
- Sydney (2,418 km / 1,502 mi)
- Townsville (352 km / 219 mi)
Airport info
Cairns Airport (CNS)
- IATA: CNS
- ICAO: YBCS
- Name: Cairns Airport (CNS)
- Size: Medium Airport
- Aircraft movements (per year): 44,539
- Passengers (per year): 4,391,014
- Distance from City: 3.1 miles / 5 km NNW of town
- Working hours: 24 hours a day
- Phone: +61 7 4080 6703
- Email: enquiries@cairnsairport.com.au
Top 20 Locations near Cairns Airport
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Car Rental at Brisbane Airport from $41.23 per day1386.6 km / 861.6 miles away
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Map of Car Rental Locations
When are car rental prices cheapest at Cairns Airport?
The cost of renting a car at Cairns Airport depends on the time of year. This graph compares month-to-month price changes to help you find the best deal.
Average Rental Price at Cairns Airport
The cheapest time of the year to rent a vehicle at Cairns Airport is June when prices for an Economy class start from $31.01. You can see that this is 19% cheaper than the yearly average and 37% cheaper than renting a car in April (when rental prices start at $48.92 for a Compact class). Knowing this can help you find the best price. But remember that these are average numbers. The exact cost of your rental will depend on your rental length and on how far in advance you book the car. Enter your travel dates at the top of the page to see exact prices and offers!
What’s the most popular rental length at Cairns Airport?
Travel length differs from one month to another: in September the average rental period is 36 days, while in October, the average rental period is only 4 days.
Average Rental Length
Which is the busiest car rental month at Cairns Airport?
Travelers are most likely to rent a car at Cairns Airport in April, while the fewest number of travelers rent in September.
Popularity by Monthly Searches
Most Popular Car Models of Rental Suppliers
| Rental Agency | Model | Doors | Luggage | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bargain Car Rentals | Hyundai Accent | 4 | 2 | Medium cars |
| Bargain Car Rentals | Hyundai Kona | 4 | 3 | SUVs |
| Bargain Car Rentals | Nissan X-Trail | 4 | 2 | SUVs |
| Thrifty | Mitsubishi ASX | 5 | 2 | Station wagons |
| Bargain Car Rentals | Toyota Corolla | 4 | 2 | Large cars |
| EastCoast Car Rentals | Hyundai Accent | 5 | 1 | Small cars |
| Jucy | Toyota Corolla | 5 | 3 | Medium cars |
| EastCoast Car Rentals | Toyota Corolla Sedan | 4 | 2 | Large cars |
| EastCoast Car Rentals | Mitsubishi Eclipse | 5 | 2 | SUVs |
| Thrifty | Mitsubishi Outlander | 5 | 2 | Station wagons |
Our Customers Reviews
Because we want to make sure each review listed here is left by a real customer, we don’t have an option to post a review here. Instead, we ask each and every customer to leave a review after they return their rental. This way, you know that all reviews are authentic, verified, and trustworthy.
GL
Australia
Toyota Corolla
October 13, 2021
Palm cove was beautiful
PW
Australia
Hyundai Accent
October 13, 2021
We had an MG3 which would be ideal for running around town and probably not too bad on the motorways.
We used ours for travel between Cairns and Mareeba extensively and I would recommend something with a bit more power if doing this again. It just seemed to be lacking. It was comfortable and drove well apart from that.
AR
Australia
Hyundai Kona
September 14, 2021
Thank you for the wonderful experience in renting your vehicle. I will definitely be renting from you again next that I'm in Cairns.
SA
Nepal
Kia Carnival
August 7, 2021
MB
Australia
Mitsubishi Outlander
August 1, 2021
Not travelled yet. Update your recoords
DP
Australia
Hyundai Kona
July 31, 2021
The only issue I had in Cairns was the lack of road signage and while I paired my phone google maps to the car I still found it difficult to navigate.
EA
Australia
Toyota Corolla
July 31, 2021
Rented a car in Cairns for 8 days and I can't recommend this company enough. Everything went smoothly and according to plan . The price and affordability was great and I'll definitely be booking with you again .
MH
Australia
Mitsubishi ASX
July 26, 2021
Loved Cairns. The esplanade, the Kuranda train. The islands. The skyrail. Easy city to drive around. Overall an amazing place to visit.
PR
Australia
Hyundai Accent
July 6, 2021
Hired an MG which was small but very spacious. We were a family of 4 and had lots of space. We travelled to Cape Tribulation across the Daintree River Crossing. Mosman Gorge, Port Douglas, Karunda Village and all around Cairns. We did quad biking at Karunda rainforest adventures, my son did go karting by Smithfield’s shopping centre and went on a Great Barrier Reef tour with Reef Magic which was amazing. We stayed approx 10 minutes away from Cairns central and it was really handy having the car. I would definitely recommend hiring a car while in Cairns as there is so much to do in and around the Tropical North.
BC
Australia
Hyundai Kona
June 29, 2021
We travelled up to Cape Tribulation and did some sightseeing along the way, also travelled up to Ravenshoe and visited some waterfalls. beautiful country
NT
Australia
Kia Carnival
June 25, 2021
We were on a family vacation and all wanted to travel together so the 8 seater Kia was perfect. We spent the day exploring Josephine Falls, Atherton Tablelands and Kuranda…..just beautiful.
RR
Australia
Toyota Corolla Sedan
June 14, 2021
Cairns is fabulous with lots to do and see. Self drive is better than organised tours. Hire a car and go and see.
HK
Australia
Hyundai Kona
May 9, 2021
Went up to Cap Tribulation and Back from Cairns. Visited places in between like Mossman Gorge stc
RT
Australia
Mitsubishi Outlander
May 3, 2021
Cape Tribulation is very beautiful!
EP
Australia
Toyota Yaris
April 28, 2021
This was a trip to see family.
MW
Australia
Mitsubishi Outlander
April 13, 2021
If you visit Cairns region you will need. Car.
JJ
Australia
Hyundai Accent
April 9, 2021
We only had it for a couple of days to drive out to the SKYLIFT and to Cairns City
LS
Australia
Holden Commodore
April 6, 2021
Cairns, Port Douglas & The Daintree.
Loved it all. Exactly what we hoped our holiday would be. Beautiful places to visit all along the way.
JD
Australia
Kia Carnival
April 3, 2021
Many places
MB
Australia
Kia Picanto
March 11, 2021
Very handy to have transport in Cairns, the roads are easy to navigate and not very busy (like Brisbane) streets easy to find, weather is hot and muggy and walking is exhausting. It also means your accommodation doesn’t need to be in central Cairns. Driving up the coast to port Douglas is lovely, with a car you can stop at any spot you wish, and leave when you wish.
Top 11 Suppliers at Cairns Airport in 2021
National
+61740349045 / +61740349052
Beaufort St, Aeroglen QLD 4870
+61740349045
Beaufort St, Aeroglen QLD 4870
+610740349088
Terminal Building Cairns Airport, Cairns City QLD 4870
$62 - $91
Working hours
Mon:08:00-18:00
Tue:08:00-18:00
Wed:08:00-18:00
Thu:08:00-18:00
Fri:08:00-18:00
Sat:08:00-18:00
Sun:08:00-18:00
+610740349088
Terminal Building Cairns Airport, Cairns City QLD 4870
$65 - $69
Working hours
Mon:08:00-18:00
Tue:08:00-18:00
Wed:08:00-18:00
Thu:08:00-18:00
Fri:08:00-18:00
Sat:08:00-18:00
Sun:08:00-18:00
740349045
Terminal Building Airport Ave
Working hours
Mon:08:00-20:00
Tue:08:00-20:00
Wed:08:00-20:00
Thu:08:00-20:00
Fri:08:00-20:00
Sat:08:00-19:30
Sun:08:00-19:30
Avis
0740339555
Terminal Building
$66 - $93
Working hours
Mon:07:00-23:59
Tue:07:00-23:59
Wed:07:00-23:59
Thu:07:00-23:59
Fri:07:00-23:59
Sat:07:00-23:59
Sun:07:00-23:59
Budget
0740339777
Terminal Building Cairns Airport
$64 - $91
Working hours
Mon:07:00-23:59
Tue:07:00-23:59
Wed:07:00-23:59
Thu:07:00-23:59
Fri:07:00-23:59
Sat:07:00-23:59
Sun:07:00-23:59
+611800474258 / +61755558908
411 Sheridan Street, Cairns, 4870
$60 - $112
Working hours
Mon:07:00-20:00
Tue:07:00-20:00
Wed:07:00-20:00
Thu:07:00-20:00
Fri:07:00-20:00
Sat:08:00-17:00
Sun:08:00-17:00
+61755558908
411 Sheridan St, Cairns North QLD 4870
+61740349045
Beaufort Street, Aeroglen QLD 4870
Ace Rent a car
61740410895 / 3173487251
147 Lake Street