Driving from Toowoomba to Cairns
Cairns lies 1,343 km (834 mi) north-west of Toowoomba, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there.
Driving takes about 18 h 12 min without stops, over roughly 1,638 km (1,018 mi) of road; add breaks, fuel and any border.
| Toowoomba | Cairns | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Australia | Australia |
| Population | 142,163 | 153,075 |
| Elevation | 599 m (1,965 ft) | 7 m (23 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+10 (Australia/Brisbane) | UTC+10 (Australia/Brisbane) |
| Postal codes | 4350 | 4870 |
Where to book car hire from Toowoomba to Cairns
We take no bookings for these providers and hold no reservation with them. The provider you choose handles payment, confirmation, changes and refunds. How that works.
Staying in Cairns
Live rooms and prices for Cairns are in the search below.
Book a hotel in Cairns
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 Cairns from Toowoomba?
1,343 km (834 mi) in a straight line, north-west of Toowoomba; by road roughly 1,638 km (1,018 mi).
How long does it take to get from Toowoomba to Cairns by car?
About 18 h 12 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Toowoomba and Cairns?
No, both are on Australia/Brisbane at the moment.
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.