The route at a glance
The Atherton–Cairns corridor.
Atherton to Cairns descends from the Atherton Tablelands back down to the tropical coast, winding off the cool highland plateau to the humid coast and Cairns. Trans North Bus & Coach runs the 80-kilometre trip in about an hour and 50 minutes. It is the main scheduled coach link off the Tablelands, useful for reaching Cairns' airport, Esplanade and the Great Barrier Reef departure points without a car. Services run a couple of times a day.
Journey essentials
- Departures
- 2 per day
- Onboard
- Wheelchair access
Compare operators
Who runs this route.
Trans North Bus & Coach
2 departures/dayWheelchair accessEco-friendlyOn Trans North Route 850 Cairns–Atherton service (Mon-Sat). Adult fare $26.70 from operator-published matrix.
Pay on board. Hail and ride, cash fares only. Bookings are not taken on this service, so pay the driver as you board; no seat is reserved in advance.Services
Depart Arrive Runs 7:00 AM 9:00 AM Mon–Sat 1:30 PM 3:30 PM Mon–Sat
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.
Travel tips
What to know before you go.
This is a hail-and-ride service with cash fares only and no bookings, so carry cash and pay the driver. If you are connecting to a flight or a reef tour in Cairns, leave a generous margin, as the coach runs to its own timetable, the descent can be slow behind traffic, and you cannot reserve a seat in advance. The coast is much warmer and more humid than the Tablelands, so pack accordingly.
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
Atherton to Cairns, answered.
- About an hour and 50 minutes for the 80-kilometre trip down off the Tablelands, depending on stops.
- Trans North Bus & Coach operates the scheduled service.
- It runs into Cairns, but the coach is not timed to specific flights, so leave a comfortable margin and confirm the drop-off point with the operator.
- No. Trans North runs this route as a hail-and-ride service with cash fares only and does not take bookings for it. Other Trans North routes, such as Cairns to Cooktown and Cairns to Karumba, can be booked.
Keep going
Onward from Cairns.
Continuing past Cairns? These coach corridors carry on from your arrival city.
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