Townsville to Cairns flights
Cairns lies 283 km (176 mi) north-west of Townsville, 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.
| Townsville | Cairns | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Australia | Australia |
| Population | 201,313 | 153,075 |
| Elevation | 15 m (49 ft) | 7 m (23 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+10 (Australia/Brisbane) | UTC+10 (Australia/Brisbane) |
| Nearest large airport | TSV, 4 km out | CNS, 5 km out |
| Postal codes | 4810 | 4870 |
Airports at each end
Leaving 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.
Arriving in 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.
| Airport | Code | From centre | Longest runway | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cairns International Airport | CNS | 5 km (3 mi) | 10,489 ft | 10 ft |
Book a flight to Cairns
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Staying in Cairns
Live rooms and prices for Cairns are in the search below.
Book a hotel in Cairns
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Common questions
How far is Cairns from Townsville?
283 km (176 mi) in a straight line, north-west of Townsville.
How long does it take to get from Townsville to Cairns 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 Townsville and Cairns?
No, both are on Australia/Brisbane at the moment.
Which airports are used for Townsville to Cairns flights?
Typically Townsville Airport / RAAF Base Townsville (TSV) to Cairns International Airport (CNS).
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.