The route at a glance
The Townsville–Cairns corridor.
Townsville to Cairns is the northern leg of the Queensland coastal coach corridor: 350 kilometres of the Bruce Highway through the wet tropics, with daily services from Greyhound, Premier Motor Service and FlixBus. Journey time is 5.5 to 6 hours including stops at Ingham, Cardwell and Innisfail. The route runs alongside the Coral Sea for long stretches and passes through the Hinchinbrook Channel, one of the most scenic coastal drives in Australia.
Typical calling points
- TownsvilleQLD
- RollingstoneQLD
- InghamQLD
- CardwellQLD
- TullyQLD
- Mission BeachQLD
- El ArishQLD
- 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.
FlixBus Australia
Wi-FiToiletUSB chargingEco-friendly40kg luggageBookon FlixBus AustraliaFrom$32Services
Depart Arrive Runs 1:25 PM 6:25 PM Daily Greyhound Australia
Wi-FiToiletUSB chargingWheelchair accessEco-friendly40kg luggageBookon Greyhound AustraliaFrom$74Services
Depart Arrive Runs 8:00 AM 1:40 PM Daily 2:20 PM 8:00 PM Daily 5:00 PM 10:40 PM Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun Premier Motor Service
Toilet20kg luggageBookon Premier Motor ServiceFrom$84Services
Depart Arrive Runs 1:50 PM 7:30 PM Daily
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.
Take the morning departure if you can; afternoon services arrive after dark and you miss the Hinchinbrook Channel scenery. Sit on the right-hand side for ocean views between Ingham and Cardwell. Cyclone season (December to April) can disrupt this corridor more than any other in Queensland; if you are travelling in those months, build a flexible day into your itinerary. Greyhound and Premier both offer hop-on hop-off passes that cover the segments, useful if you plan to stop at Magnetic Island (out of Townsville) or Mission Beach (out of Cardwell). The Townsville departure point is the new South Townsville coach terminal, not the old Palmer Street stop.
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
Townsville to Cairns, answered.
- About 5 hours 30 minutes to 6 hours including stops at Ingham, Cardwell and Innisfail. Express services skip some stops and are slightly faster.
- Fares start from around $32 one-way booked a few days ahead. Same-day fares typically run $69 to $99.
- Greyhound Australia, Premier Motor Service and FlixBus Australia all run daily services. Greyhound has the highest frequency and is usually the most reliable in the wet season.
- South Townsville Coach Terminal, not the old Palmer Street terminal, which is no longer in service. The new terminal is closer to the city centre and has covered waiting areas.
- Yes, most services stop at Mission Beach (Wongaling Beach) on request. Hop-on hop-off passes from Greyhound and Premier let you break the journey there for a few days.
Keep going
Onward from Cairns.
Continuing past Cairns? These coach corridors carry on from your arrival city.
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