How far is Port Douglas from Cairns?

About 67 km north along the Captain Cook Highway. Allow around an hour of driving without stops, longer if you pull over along the way — and you should.

How long do you need in Port Douglas?

Four to five hours is comfortable for the town itself: Four Mile Beach, Macrossan Street, lunch and the marina. If you're adding a reef or rainforest tour, the tour sets the schedule and you plan everything else around it.

Can you visit Port Douglas and the Daintree in the same day from Cairns?

You can, but it makes for a very long day and you'll see both badly. The Daintree tours that depart this region pick up in Port Douglas or Mossman, not Cairns — so a Daintree day from Cairns means getting north first, then a full-day tour, then getting back. Pick one as the priority.

What's the best stop between Cairns and Port Douglas?

Palm Cove if you want somewhere to eat and walk. Rex Lookout if you want the view. Most people who enjoy the drive do both.

Is it better to drive or book a transfer?

Drive if you want to stop wherever you like and set your own pace. Book a transfer if you're a family or group, if you want everyone in one vehicle, or if the day involves a tour with a fixed check-in time.

Do reef tours from Port Douglas depart from the same place?

Calypso's Low Isles and Outer Reef trips both leave from Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina in Port Douglas. Check-in is before departure, so build that into your travel time from Cairns.

Is Port Douglas better than Cairns?

Different, not better. Cairns is a working regional city with the airport, more tours and more choice. Port Douglas is smaller, quieter and closer to both the Daintree and the northern reef. Most visitors staying in Cairns find a day trip gives them enough of Port Douglas without moving hotels.

How Much Is a Taxi From Cairns Airport to Palm Cove?

Updated November 2026 · Ian Muir, The Guest Man, Cairns

Palm Cove beachfront with palm trees and the Coral Sea

Short answer

Expect roughly $70–$85 for a taxi to Palm Cove (about 25–30 minutes), more at night, and a variable price for Uber. A shared shuttle bus charges per person. For couples a taxi is fine; for families and groups, a flat $141.90 Cairns Airport to Palm Cove transfer for up to 8 people with luggage often works out cheaper per head.

Palm Cove is the furthest of the main Northern Beaches from the airport, roughly 25 to 30 minutes up the Captain Cook Highway. Because it's further out, the gap between the options is bigger than for a city trip.

Price comparison

Option	Typical cost (as at Nov 2026)	Good to know
Taxi	About $70–$85, higher at night	Metered; groups may need two cars
Uber / DiDi	Varies with demand	Surge pricing at busy times
Shared shuttle bus	Per-person fare	Several resort stops; set departure times
Private transfer (us)	$141.90 total, up to 8 people	Door to door, flight tracked

Taxi and rideshare figures come from public fare guides and change often, so use them as a guide only.

Doing the per-person maths

Our private airport transfer is priced per vehicle, not per person:

2 people: about $71 each, similar to a taxi.
4 people: about $35 each.
6 people: about $24 each.
8 people: about $18 each.

For couples it's a close call, and convenience usually decides it. For families and groups it's usually the cheapest door-to-door option, and everyone travels together.

What the price doesn't show

The taxi queue after a full flight can add 20–30 minutes.
Child seats aren't in taxis. Ours are $15 each, booked in advance.
Late flights: meters run, and our after-hours surcharge is a fixed $25.
Resort drop-offs: we take you to your resort's door on the Williams Esplanade.

Booking

Choose "Arriving", enter your flight and terminal, and you'll get a confirmation with a pickup map. Heading home? See our Palm Cove departure guide. Travelling for a wedding? Read Palm Cove wedding guest transport.

Common questions

How long is the drive from Cairns Airport to Palm Cove?

About 25 to 30 minutes in normal traffic.

Is there a shuttle bus to Palm Cove?

Yes, shared seat-in-coach shuttles run to Palm Cove resorts with set times and several stops. A private transfer goes straight to your door when you land.

Is a private transfer cheaper than a taxi to Palm Cove?

For 1–2 people it's similar. For 3 or more, a flat $141.90 for the whole vehicle is usually cheaper per person.

Can you drop us at our Palm Cove resort?

Yes, we drop you at the door of any Palm Cove resort, apartment or house.

Book your Palm Cove transfer

$141.90 for up to 8 passengers, airport to your Palm Cove door, flight tracked.

Book Airport → Palm Cove Call 0447 979 674

Cairns Airport to Palm Cove transfer
Trinity Beach vs Palm Cove
Palm Cove to Cairns Airport: departure day