Brisbane to Cairns: Exactly 1,390 km (863 mi)

Brisbane, Australia → Cairns, Australia

1,390
Kilometers
863
Miles
~2h 14min
Flight time (est.)
~1,806 km
Rough road-length estimate

750 nautical miles · Direction: northwest

Quick Answer

The straight-line distance from Brisbane to Cairns is 1,390 km (863 miles). Cairns lies roughly northwest of Brisbane; the initial great-circle bearing is 326° (NW). It is a domestic route within Australia.

Coordinates & Bearing

Brisbane (Queensland, Australia) sits at 27.4698°S, 153.0251°E; Cairns (Queensland, Australia) is at 16.9186°S, 145.7781°E. The initial great-circle bearing is 326° (NW); on a great circle the heading changes along the way.

Travel Options: Brisbane to Cairns

ModeFigureBasis
✈️ Flight ~2h 14min Estimate: 800 km/h + 30 min taxi. Not a schedule; total trip time is longer.
🚗 Road ~1,806 km · ~22h 35min Rough estimate: straight line × 1.3 at 80 km/h. Not live routing.
🚆 Rail No timetable data Same landmass, so rail may exist — check an operator.

Rough road-length estimate for Brisbane to Cairns: about 1,806 km. This is an estimate, not a routed drive — the actual road distance depends on the road network, crossings and the route chosen.

Halfway Point

The geographic halfway point of the great-circle path between Brisbane and Cairns lies at approximately 22.2343°S, 149.2649°E — the position that is an equal 695 km from each city along that path. It is a geometric midpoint, not a halfway point by road.

Time Zone Difference

Brisbane and Cairns both use the Australia/Brisbane time zone, so there is no normal clock difference between them.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Brisbane from Cairns?

The straight-line distance from Brisbane to Cairns is approximately 1,390 km (863 miles, 750 nautical miles).

What direction is Cairns from Brisbane?

Cairns lies roughly northwest of Brisbane; the initial great-circle bearing is 326° (NW).

How long does it take to fly from Brisbane to Cairns?

Estimated flight time is about 2h 14min (great-circle distance at 800 km/h plus 30 min for taxi, take-off and landing). It is not an airline schedule; total airport-to-airport trip time is longer.

Can you drive from Brisbane to Cairns?

Rough road-length estimate for Brisbane to Cairns: about 1,806 km. This is an estimate, not a routed drive — the actual road distance depends on the road network, crossings and the route chosen.

Is there a time difference between Brisbane and Cairns?

Brisbane and Cairns both use the Australia/Brisbane time zone, so there is no normal clock difference between them.

Straight-line distance uses the great-circle (Haversine) method. Flight and road figures, where shown, are estimates rather than schedules or live routing. How SnapDistance calculates distances

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