Cairns to Townsville flights
Townsville lies 283 km (176 mi) south-east of Cairns, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there, and where to book.
A nonstop flight would take about 1 h 7 min gate to gate, based on the distance and typical cruise speed with taxi and climb allowed for; connecting itineraries add the layover on top.
Open Townsville in Google Maps
| Cairns | Townsville | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Australia | Australia |
| Population | 153,075 | 201,313 |
| Elevation | 7 m (23 ft) | 15 m (49 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+10 (Australia/Brisbane) | UTC+10 (Australia/Brisbane) |
| Nearest large airport | CNS, 5 km out | TSV, 4 km out |
| Postal codes | 4870 | 4810 |
Airports at each end
Leaving Cairns
Cairns is served by one airport with scheduled flights. The closest large one is Cairns International Airport (CNS), 5 km (3 mi) from the centre, whose 10,489-ft runway is long enough for long-haul wide-body aircraft.
Arriving in Townsville
Townsville is served by one airport with scheduled flights. The closest large one is Townsville Airport / RAAF Base Townsville (TSV), 4 km (2 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 7,999 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft.
| Airport | Code | From centre | Longest runway | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Townsville Airport / RAAF Base Townsville (regional) | TSV | 4 km (2 mi) | 7,999 ft | 18 ft |
Book a flight to Townsville
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Staying in Townsville
Live rooms and prices for Townsville are in the search below.
Book a hotel in Townsville
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Townsville from Cairns?
283 km (176 mi) in a straight line, south-east of Cairns.
How long does it take to get from Cairns to Townsville by air?
About 1 h 7 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds for a nonstop flight. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Cairns and Townsville?
No, both are on Australia/Brisbane at the moment.
Which airports are used for Cairns to Townsville flights?
Typically Cairns International Airport (CNS) to Townsville Airport / RAAF Base Townsville (TSV).
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.