Port Douglas
About 67 km
North along the Captain Cook Highway, roughly an hour's drive with coast and rainforest views on the way.
Cairns Airport car hire
All six airport rental companies (Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz/Thrifty/Dollar, Redspot and Sixt) have counters in the arrivals halls, so there is no shuttle to a depot. Cairns has an international terminal (T1) and a domestic terminal (T2). Budget is only at T2, so if you land at T1 and booked Budget, plan to walk across. Popular drives from here include Port Douglas, Kuranda and the Daintree.
Updated
Cairns Airport at a glance
- Terminals
- T1 international and T2 domestic
- Desk location
- Counters in the Arrivals Halls of both terminals
- Budget
- T2 (domestic) only
- Returns
- Car rental return car parks at both terminals
Compare cars at Cairns Airport
Prices are shown in Australian dollars. Before you book, open the offer and check where that company's desk or depot is, the bond, and what the agreement says about the roads you plan to drive.
Preparing live car hire search
Picking up at Cairns Airport
These six rental operators have counters in the Arrivals Halls. Hertz, Thrifty and Dollar share one listing and phone number.
| Company | Where | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Avis | Desk in the terminalT1 and T2 | T1 and T2 |
| Budget | Desk in the terminalT2 (domestic) only | T2 (domestic) only |
| Europcar | Desk in the terminalT1 and T2 | T1 and T2 |
| Hertz, Thrifty and Dollar | Desk in the terminalone shared listing, T1 and T2 | one shared listing, T1 and T2 |
| Redspot | Desk in the terminalT1 and T2 | T1 and T2 |
| Sixt | Desk in the terminalT1 and T2 | T1 and T2 |
Collecting the car
- 1
Check which terminal your flight uses. International arrivals use T1 and domestic arrivals use T2.
- 2
Go to your company's counter in the Arrivals Hall. Every named airport rental operator is inside the terminals, except that Budget has no counter at T1.
- 3
If you booked Budget and landed at T1, allow time to get across to T2 before collecting the car.
Returning the car
- 1
Follow the airport signs to the rental return car park at the terminal you are flying from; both terminals have one.
- 2
Budget returns only work at T2, so a Budget car on a T1 international departure means a short trip across to the domestic terminal.
- 3
Check your booking confirmation for the return location, and follow the airport signs to the rental return car park at your terminal.
Drives from Cairns Airport
Distances are approximate and measured along the road.
Kuranda
About 30 minutes
Up the Kuranda Range from Smithfield. The road is steep and winding, so allow extra time in wet weather.
Cape Tribulation
About 140 km
The Great Barrier Reef Drive runs north from Cairns to Cape Tribulation via Port Douglas. The Daintree River ferry is on the route.
Cooktown
About 266 km from Port Douglas
Roughly 3 hours 15 minutes from Port Douglas via Mossman Gorge and Cape Tribulation, crossing the Daintree River by car ferry.
For a Port Douglas stay with only a few driving days, compare a Cairns Airport car throughout with transfer followed by a Warner Street pickup.
Guides for trips from Cairns Airport
Atherton Tablelands self drive from CairnsAtherton Tablelands by hire car from Cairns: Kuranda Range and Gillies Highway routes with distances and times, and the Millaa Millaa waterfall circuit.Cairns to Cape Tribulation driveCairns to Cape Tribulation takes about 2.5 hours via the Daintree vehicle ferryCairns to Cooktown: Bloomfield Track or inland roadThe Bloomfield Track is a 4WD road and Hertz bans it outrightCairns to Port Douglas driveCairns to Port Douglas is about 67 km by the coastal roadCairns to Townsville driveCairns to Townsville is about 375 km and 4 hours 45 minutes via Mission Beach, Cardwell and InghamDaintree Ferry with a hire carDaintree Ferry with a hire car: 5am to midnight operation, current car fares, how to pay, queues, the sealed road to Cape Tribulation and what rental terms say.Queensland wet season drivingWhen the Queensland wet season runs, Cairns rainfall by month, where to check Bruce Highway and flood closures, and what hire car terms say about floodwater.Where Hire Cars Cannot Go in QueenslandA 4WD does not clear every Queensland roadBrisbane to Cairns drivePlan Brisbane to Cairns or the reverse on the Bruce Highway: long driving legs, one-way return quotes, kilometre limits, road conditions and airport pickups.Unsealed roads and hire carsA 4WD does not give a hire car access to every gravel road, beach or track
Driving around Cairns Airport
Daintree River ferry
The Daintree River ferry runs daily from 5 am to midnight. You can pay online in advance, or by EFTPOS or cash at the ferry.
Cassowary country
Slow down on the Daintree Coast road and keep a lookout, because cassowaries live in the rainforest along it.
Cairns Airport car hire questions
Rental terms differ by company. Where an answer depends on your agreement, we say so.
Are the car hire desks inside Cairns Airport?
Yes. Airport car hire options include Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz/Thrifty/Dollar, Redspot and Sixt with counters in the Arrivals Halls. Budget is at T2 (domestic) only.
Can I hire a car at Cairns Airport and drop it off in Port Douglas?
One-way drop-offs and fees are set by each company and show in the search results. Port Douglas is about 67 km north of Cairns.
Which car hire companies are at Cairns Airport?
Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz (with Thrifty and Dollar), Redspot and Sixt.
Where do I return my hire car at Cairns Airport?
There are car rental return car parks at both terminals. Budget is only located at T2.
Are there transfers from Cairns Airport other than hire cars?
Ground transport includes taxis, ride share and private shuttle buses. Shuttle bookings are made directly with the operator.
Can I drive to Cape Tribulation in a hire car?
Cape Tribulation is about 140 km north of Cairns via Port Douglas, with the Daintree River ferry on the way. Ask your rental company whether the Daintree crossing is allowed under your agreement.
Nearby and often combined
TownsvilleMagnetic Island ferry and the Bruce HighwayWhitsunday Coast Airport (Proserpine)The drive to Airlie BeachDarwin AirportTop End road trips start hereBrisbane AirportGold Coast and Sunshine Coast both in reachQueensland car hireEvery Queensland pickup, road rules and seasonsCar hire in AustraliaLicences, tolls and where to fly in, state by state
Compare Cairns Airport car hire
Search live prices in Australian dollars, then check the pickup point and conditions on the offer.