Harbour city, sandstone cliffs and coral
This is leg 3 of 3, the final leg.
Travel leg · Sydney, Blue Mountains & the Reef
Cairns to Port Douglas & Daintree
Cairns and Port Douglas & Daintree sit about 59 km (36 mi) apart in a straight line, with Port Douglas & Daintree to the north-west. It is leg 3 of 3 on our Sydney, Blue Mountains & the Reef itinerary, an 11-day trip. Here is how long it takes by car, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 59 km · 36 mi
- Est. road distance
- 70–82 km
- Est. drive time
- 55 min – 1 h 45 min
- Direction
- Heading north-west
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 50–80 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By car
Most travelers on our Sydney, Blue Mountains & the Reef itinerary do this leg by car. We estimate 70–82 km (44–51 mi) of road and 55 min – 1 h 45 min behind the wheel, so check live traffic before you set off.
By train
Our Sydney, Blue Mountains & the Reef guide also mentions trains for parts of the trip. Whether a direct train links Cairns and Port Douglas depends on the line — check timetables.
Sydney's trains and ferries cover the city, and Sydney Trains run direct to Katoomba. Fly Sydney to Cairns (about 3 hours), then rent a car or use shuttles for the 70-minute coastal drive to Port Douglas.
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in Port Douglas & Daintree
Resort town near the outer reef and the Daintree rainforest. Stay 2 to 3 days.
Agincourt Reef
Ribbon reef on the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef, reached by Quicksilver catamaran.
Daintree River Cruise
Small-boat cruise looking for saltwater crocodiles, birds and tree snakes on the river.
Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas
Wildlife park with tropical habitats, cassowaries, koalas and breakfast with the birds.
Port Douglas Sunday Market
Weekly market in Anzac Park with crafts, tropical fruit and fresh juices.
Salsa Bar & Grill
Long-running Port Douglas restaurant with tropical Australian dishes and seafood.
Hemingway's Brewery
Waterfront brewery at the Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina with craft beers and marina views.
Before you leave Cairns
Tropical gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics rainforest. Stay 3 days.
On this curated route
Where Cairns → Port Douglas sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Port Douglas & Daintree to Cairns is the same 59 km in a straight line, heading south-east. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
The biggest gap comes in October, when Port Douglas & Daintree averages highs 2°C cooler than Cairns.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cairns high | 31° | 30° | 29° | 28° | 26° | 25° | 25° | 26° | 28° | 30° | 31° | 32° |
| Port Douglas high | 29° | 29° | 28° | 27° | 26° | 25° | 25° | 25° | 27° | 28° | 29° | 30° |
| Cairns rain | 352 | 392 | 392 | 191 | 103 | 63 | 53 | 31 | 31 | 62 | 86 | 179 |
| Port Douglas rain | 364 | 384 | 406 | 179 | 82 | 54 | 40 | 26 | 28 | 54 | 75 | 185 |
Temperatures in °C, rain in mm per month. Long-term monthly averages from NASA POWER satellite climatology — a guide to typical conditions, not a forecast. Month headings link to Port Douglas & Daintree month guides.
Cairns to Port Douglas: questions travelers ask
How far is Cairns from Port Douglas & Daintree?
Cairns is about 59 km (36 mi) from Port Douglas & Daintree in a straight line, with Port Douglas & Daintree to the north-west. By road, we estimate 70–82 km (44–51 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Cairns to Port Douglas & Daintree?
An estimated 55 min – 1 h 45 min, assuming 70–82 km of road at average speeds of 50–80 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day.
Which itineraries include the trip from Cairns to Port Douglas & Daintree?
Our Sydney, Blue Mountains & the Reef itinerary includes this leg. Sydney, Blue Mountains & the Reef runs about 11 days across 4 stops, best in May – Oct.
Getting to Cairns
- Blue Mountains to Cairns 1,922 km
Guides for both ends
- Cairns travel guide
- Cairns weather best time to visit
- Port Douglas & Daintree travel guide
- Port Douglas & Daintree weather best time to visit
Port Douglas by month
- Port Douglas & Daintree in January
- Port Douglas & Daintree in February
- Port Douglas & Daintree in March
- Port Douglas & Daintree in April
- Port Douglas & Daintree in May
- Port Douglas & Daintree in June
- Port Douglas & Daintree in July
- Port Douglas & Daintree in August
- Port Douglas & Daintree in September
- Port Douglas & Daintree in October
- Port Douglas & Daintree in November
- Port Douglas & Daintree in December
Plan Cairns → Port Douglas with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.