At a glance
- New bus
- Route 100 starts Monday 23 November 2026: every 30 minutes, 4am to 10pm, seven days; 50 cents each way; about 18 to 24 minutes from the airport to Cairns Lagoon
- Route
- Airport, Cairns Hospital, Cairns Private Hospital, Cairns City bus station (Lake Street), then Cairns Lagoon; the council says it ends at Fogarty Park
- Bus stop
- Between the International (T1) and Domestic (T2) terminals on the covered walkways, about 3 minutes’ walk from either terminal
- Drive-up parking
- First 10 minutes free in the uncovered car parks; then $7 for up to 30 minutes, $12 for 1 to 2 hours, $32 for 6 to 24 hours (uncovered T1 and T2)
- Who it’s for
- Anyone flying in or out of Cairns who is choosing between parking, the new bus and a taxi
- What to do now
- The council says Translink will publish the Route 100 timetable closer to 23 November; the airport quotes online parking prices only on its booking page
- Last checked
- Saturday 7 November 2026, against the Cairns Airport parking and transport pages and the council’s 3 November announcement
- Not yet confirmed
- The Route 100 timetable and stop list (Translink has not published them in the pages read), the online pre-booked parking prices (quoted online only), and how Route 100 fares work with transfers
Cairns Airport’s new Route 100 bus starts on Monday 23 November 2026, runs every 30 minutes between 4am and 10pm and costs 50 cents each way, according to the airport’s own page. It links the airport with Cairns City bus station and Cairns Lagoon, and the airport says the trip to the Lagoon takes about 18 to 24 minutes. Drive-up parking in the airport car parks is free for the first 10 minutes in the uncovered lots and costs $12 for one to two hours. Cairns is in Queensland and stays on Brisbane time all year (AEST, UTC+10), so there is no daylight-saving change in any time below.
This guide uses the Cairns Airport public bus page, parking information, drive-up rates, taxi page and pick-up zone page, plus Cairns Regional Council’s announcement of the new bus (published 3 November 2026). All were read on 7 November 2026, and prices are as of November 2026.
When does the Route 100 airport bus start, and what does it cost?
The airport says a public bus service will start at Cairns Airport on Monday 23 November 2026. Route 100 connects the airport and Cairns Lagoon via Cairns Hospital, Cairns Private Hospital and the Cairns City bus station on Lake Street. The service runs every 30 minutes from 4am to 10pm, seven days a week, except on Good Friday and Christmas Day.
| Question | What the airport says |
|---|---|
| Start date | Monday 23 November 2026 |
| How often | Every 30 minutes |
| Hours | 4am to 10pm, seven days a week, except Good Friday and Christmas Day |
| Trip time, airport to Cairns Lagoon | About 18 to 24 minutes, depending on the time of day |
| Fare | 50 cents each way |
| How to pay | Onboard, with cash or contactless payment (credit or debit card) |
| Go card | Go cards cannot be used on Cairns bus services |
The council’s announcement describes the same service from a different angle. It says the route will run directly from the airport to Fogarty Park in the CBD, with stops along the Cairns Base Hospital, the private hospital and the Esplanade Lagoon, and that Translink timetables will be on the Translink website closer to the launch date. The two pages describe the end of the route differently (Cairns Lagoon and Fogarty Park), and neither page names a final stop beyond those.
Where is the airport bus stop?
The airport says the bus stop is between the International Terminal (T1) and the Domestic Terminal (T2), along the covered pedestrian walkways. It asks passengers to follow the yellow and black lines on the pathway and the “public bus” directional signs. The walk to the stop takes about three minutes from either terminal, and Cairns Airport Ambassadors in blue shirts will be in the terminal to give directions.
How much is drive-up parking at Cairns Airport?
The airport has four car parks: T1 International Covered, T1 International Uncovered, T2 Domestic Covered and T2 Domestic Uncovered. The airport describes the T2 Uncovered car park as right outside the Domestic Terminal and the closest car park to T2 arrivals, a 1 to 2 minute walk. It says the first 10 minutes are free in the uncovered car parks at both terminals.
| Time | T1 and T2 uncovered, drive-up | T1 and T2 covered, drive-up |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 10 minutes | Free | Not listed (the covered table starts at 0 to 30 minutes) |
| 0 to 30 minutes (covered); 10 to 30 minutes (uncovered) | $7.00 | $10.00 |
| 30 to 60 minutes | $10.00 | $14.00 |
| 1 to 2 hours | $12.00 | $17.00 |
| 2 to 3 hours | $15.00 | $22.00 |
| 3 to 4 hours | $19.00 | Part of the 3 to 24 hour band, $40.00 |
| 4 to 5 hours | $23.00 | Part of the 3 to 24 hour band, $40.00 |
| 5 to 6 hours | $27.00 | Part of the 3 to 24 hour band, $40.00 |
| 6 to 24 hours | $32.00 | Part of the 3 to 24 hour band, $40.00 |
| 1 to 2 days | $53.00 | $74.00 |
| 2 to 3 days | $74.00 | $108.00 |
| 3 to 4 days (uncovered only) | $96.00 | Not listed |
| Each additional day or part of a day | $20.00 | $34.00 |
| Lost ticket admin fee | $50.00 | $50.00 |
The airport’s rate page lists the same prices for the T1 and T2 car parks of each type. It says the fees are calculated on 24-hour blocks: if you enter at 6am you will not pay an extra daily fee until after 6am the next day. A lost-ticket penalty applies in all cases.
Is it cheaper to book online?
The airport says you can save up to 40% on drive-up rates by pre-booking online, subject to availability, and its rate page shows online prices as a quote you get on the booking page, not as fixed numbers. The airport suggests drive-up parking for people whose plans are not fixed or who decide less than four hours before travelling. This guide does not quote online prices because the airport does not publish them as a table.
How do I pay, and what are the size limits?
You can pay in three ways, according to the airport:
- Tap, Park & Go: tap a credit card on the reader at the entry barrier and again on exit. It works at the entry and exit lanes of all Cairns Airport car parks, with Visa, MasterCard and American Express.
- Pay stations: automatic pay stations are undercover on the pedestrian walkways next to the T2 Covered car park and at the Service Kiosk next to the T1 taxi rank. They take cash and credit cards, and card payments can also be made at any exit.
- Service Kiosk: in the T2 Covered car park next to the Domestic Terminal; attendants accept Eftpos.
The uncovered car parks and the T2 covered car park fit vehicles up to 4.9 metres long, 1.9 metres wide and 4.0 metres high. The T1 Covered car park is limited to 2.5 metres high. The airport says a vehicle with a trailer, caravan or float cannot use the car parks, and that parking oversize vehicles in prohibited areas can mean a fine. The help intercom at any entry, exit or pay station reaches the Wilson Parking team, and other questions go to park@cairnsairport.com.au.
Parking for drivers with mobility impairments is provided in all public car parks at Cairns Airport, with signed spaces as close as possible to the terminals.
Where do I pick someone up or wait for them?
The public pick-up zones are directly outside both terminals. The airport says they are regulated and strictly for pick-ups and drop-offs: no waiting or parking is allowed, vehicles must not be left unattended, and passengers must be waiting kerbside for immediate pick-up, with penalties applying.
For a longer wait, the airport lists two options: 10 minutes of free parking in the uncovered T1 and T2 car parks, and a Standby Zone that offers a free waiting area for a maximum of 30 minutes.
What does a taxi cost, and where is the rank?
Each terminal has its own sheltered taxi rank at the front of the building. The airport says you cannot pre-book taxis for fares from the terminals, that taxis are always available and the rank is monitored 24 hours a day, and that free intercom buttons at each rank connect to the Cairns Taxis call centre. Cairns Taxis is described as the only regulated taxi service for the Cairns region, with sedans and station wagons for up to four passengers, maxi taxis for up to 10 and wheelchair-capable vehicles. Its phone number on the airport page is 131 008.
| Taxi ground access charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Domestic Terminal, per drop-off | $4.00 |
| Domestic Terminal, per pick-up | $4.00 |
| International Terminal, per pick-up | $5.00 |
Taxi fares vary with distance, location and time of travel, including public holidays, and the airport links to the Cairns Taxis fare estimator. The ground access charge is paid to the driver and is added to the meter at the start of the trip, according to the airport page.
Where will the bus take me in the city, and what does city parking cost?
Route 100 will stop at the Cairns City bus station on Lake Street and end at the Lagoon area. Cairns Regional Council’s car park page, updated on 26 October 2026, lists the Southern Esplanade (Lagoon) car park at $2.40 an hour, paid from 6am to 10pm every day, and the Lake Street car park at $1.50 an hour, capped at $10 a day, on weekdays from 8.30am to 6pm and Saturdays from 8.30am to 2pm. Our Cairns parking guide covers the council’s car parks and on-street fees.
Who do I contact if something changes?
For parking questions, the airport lists park@cairnsairport.com.au and the intercom help buttons in the car parks. For the Route 100 timetable, the council points to the Translink website, which it says will have timetables closer to the 23 November launch.
Sources
- Cairns Airport — Public bus (read 7 November 2026)
- Cairns Regional Council — New Cairns airport bus cleared for takeoff (published 3 November 2026)
- Cairns Airport — Parking information (read 7 November 2026)
- Cairns Airport — Drive up and park rates (read 7 November 2026)
- Cairns Airport — Taxis (read 7 November 2026)
- Cairns Airport — Pick up zone (read 7 November 2026)
- Cairns Regional Council — Off-street car parks (last updated 26 October 2026)
Featured image: Cairns Airport Domestic Terminal, April 2025 (photo: Chris Olszewski / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added).
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Cairns Airport, Cairns Regional Council, Translink or Cairns Taxis. Fees, timetables and rules can change; check the official pages above.