The route at a glance
The Agnes Water–Cairns corridor.
Agnes Water to Cairns is a long-haul coach corridor most travellers break into segments of 1,290 kilometres. Through-services take around 21 hours and 30 minutes, and most travellers break the journey at a midway stop rather than ride straight through. Premier Motor Service and Greyhound Australia run scheduled services on this corridor, giving you a choice of departure times and price points. Hop-on hop-off passes can work out cheaper than buying segments individually if you plan to stop along the way.
Typical calling points
- Agnes WaterQLD
- Miriam ValeQLD
- Mount LarcomQLD
- RockhamptonQLD
- MarlboroughQLD
- St LawrenceQLD
- SarinaQLD
- CairnsQLD
Typical stops on this corridor. Actual calling points vary by operator and service.
Journey essentials
- Onboard
- Wi-Fi · Toilet · USB charging · Wheelchair access
- Luggage
- 1 × 40kg checked bag
Compare operators
Who runs this route.
Premier Motor Service
Toilet20kg luggageBookon Premier Motor ServiceFrom$239Services
Depart Arrive Runs 12:10 AM 7:30 PM Daily Greyhound Australia
Wi-FiToiletUSB chargingWheelchair accessEco-friendly40kg luggageBookon Greyhound AustraliaFrom$254Services
Depart Arrive Runs 10:30 PM 8:00 PM+1 Daily 10:30 PM 10:40 PM+1 Tue
Fares are indicative. Live pricing may vary by date and availability. AusBus earns a small commission on some bookings at no extra cost to you.
Spotted an error or a missing operator on this route? Let us know.
Cheaper as separate tickets?
Save up to $73 by splitting this trip.
Booking this journey as separate tickets at each stop can be cheaper than the through-fare. We compared each operator's through-fare against the lowest combined price for each pair of segments and surfaced the splits that beat the direct fare by at least $5 and 10%.
via
Rockhampton
- Leg 1
Agnes Water → Rockhampton
Premier Motor Service · 2h 58m
$42Book leg 1 - Leg 2
Rockhampton → Cairns
FlixBus Australia · 15h 40m
$124Book leg 2
2 more split options
via
Airlie Beach
- Leg 1
Agnes Water → Airlie Beach
Premier Motor Service · 10h 30m
$113Book leg 1 - Leg 2
Airlie Beach → Cairns
FlixBus Australia · 9h 15m
$57Book leg 2
via
Bundaberg
- Leg 1
Agnes Water → Bundaberg
Premier Motor Service · 1h 30m
$18Book leg 1 - Leg 2
Bundaberg → Cairns
FlixBus Australia · 19h 45m
$155Book leg 2
Important
- Each leg is a separate ticket; operators do not protect a missed connection on one leg with the other operator's service. Build a buffer; don't book back-to-back.
- Luggage allowance, accessibility provisions and refund rules may differ between operators. Confirm each operator's policy on their booking page before paying.
- Fares shown are the lowest indicative price we've observed and may not match the live operator quote on your specific date. Final price is confirmed at checkout on each operator's site.
Travel tips
What to know before you go.
Book at least seven days ahead during school holidays, the Easter long weekend, and the Christmas–New Year period. Long-haul corridors fill quickly during these windows and same-day fares can be double the advance-purchase price. Cyclone season (December to April) regularly disrupts the Bruce Highway around Tully, Cardwell and Ingham. Build a flexible day into your itinerary if you're travelling north Queensland in those months. Arrive at the terminal at least 15 minutes before departure. Most operators begin boarding 10 minutes prior to the scheduled time and won't hold the coach for late passengers. Pack snacks and a refillable water bottle. Rest stop options on regional corridors are sparse, particularly between major towns. Check the operator's luggage policy before you travel. Most include one checked bag (40 kg) and one carry-on, but allowances vary by carrier and additional bags usually attract a fee.
Worth timing your trip for
What's on in Cairns
JulyCairns, QLDCairns Indigenous Art FairFour to five days in mid-July
AugustCairns, QLDCairns FestivalLate August to early September (approx. 10 days)
Route FAQs
Agnes Water to Cairns, answered.
- Around 21 hours and 30 minutes for a typical scheduled service. Travel time can vary by 30 minutes or more depending on the operator, the number of intermediate stops, and traffic on the day.
- The coach route is about 1,290 kilometres. The coach covers it in around 21 hours and 30 minutes, allowing for stops.
- Fares start from around $239 one-way. Booking at least a week ahead usually saves you 30 to 50 percent compared to same-day fares. Same-day bookings on long-haul corridors can run double the advance-purchase price during school holidays.
- Premier Motor Service and Greyhound Australia operate services on this route. Use the operator comparison above to see which suits your travel date, budget and preferences for amenities like Wi-Fi, USB charging and onboard toilets.
- Yes. Premier Motor Service and Greyhound Australia run direct services on this corridor, so you can travel Agnes Water to Cairns without changing coaches. Check the timetable above for current departure times.
- Services on this route offer Wi-Fi, an onboard toilet, USB charging and wheelchair access. Amenities vary by operator and vehicle, so check the specific service when you book.
- Not currently scheduled on this corridor. Most services run during the day with a meal stop midway. Check the timetable above for current departure times.
- Last-minute seats are sometimes available, but never guaranteed, particularly on Friday afternoons, Sunday evenings, and during school holidays. Booking online a few days ahead is strongly recommended and almost always cheaper.
- Most operators include one checked bag (up to 40 kg) and one carry-on bag in the ticket price. Additional bags usually attract a fee. Check the specific operator's luggage policy at the time of booking.
Keep going
Onward from Cairns.
Continuing past Cairns? These coach corridors carry on from your arrival city.
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