Car Rental Cairns Airport
Cairns Airport is a major transport hub in North Queensland, and it is the closest airport to some of Australia’s most wild and stunning areas of nature such as The Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest.
If you’re embarking on an adventure in North Queensland, hiring a car is the best way to reach even the most off-the-beaten-track natural wonders including waterfalls, ancient forests, and white sand beaches. Budget offers vehicles suitable for every terrain and budget. Find out more about our car hire service from Cairns Airport.
Car Hire in Cairns Airport
There are two Budget car rental counters in Cairns Airport: one in the T1 international terminal and another in the T2 domestic terminal. The counters are open from 5am to 12.30am, seven days a week. The car pickup and drop-off location is just across the road from the domestic terminal entrance.
Cairns Airport Information
Cairns Airport has two terminals – the T1 international terminal and the T2 domestic terminal. The terminals are connected by a covered pedestrian walkway and it takes five minutes to walk between them.
The airport is only 6km from the city centre and is a 10-minute drive north on Lake Street, turning right onto Airport Drive. Cairns Airport is 66km from Port Douglas, a drive that takes around one hour. Head south on the coastal Route 44 and join Route 1 in Cairns North, following the signs for the airport.
Things to See and Do Around Cairns Airport
There’s plenty to see and do around Cairns Airport if you have some time to kill before your flight. The area is particularly rich in parks and leisure spaces in nature including Centenary Lakes Nature Play Space, Touch Park, and North Cairns Reserve.
The Cairns Botanic Garden is only a 5-minute drive from the airport and offers 28 hectares of tropical gardens to explore. Entrance to the gardens is free, and there are also free guided tours twice a day on Tuesdays and Thursdays. There’s an open-air restaurant in the grounds that’s open for breakfast and lunch from 7am.
As Cairns city is so close to the airport, it’s also a great location to relax in and have a stroll around before your flight. The Esplanade area with its gardens, marina, and eateries is popular with visitors and locals alike, and there are art and craft markets and street entertainment on the Esplanade every weekend.
If you’re travelling with kids and want them to burn off some energy before your flight, Cairns Wake Park offers wake boarding, water sports, and obstacle courses that are great fun for the whole family.
Cairns Aquarium is another hugely popular family attraction. Located in the city centre, 6km from the airport, it’s an easy and enjoyable way to see the sea life and habitats of tropical North Queensland.
Refuelling Locations
There are several petrol stations close to the airport so you can fill up the tank before dropping your car off.
If you’re coming from Cairns city, Mobil North Cairns, Coles Express and Shell are closest to the airport – all on Sheridan Street before the turnoff onto Airport Avenue. If you’re coming from the north, there’s a Puma petrol station on Arnold Street – the first left after crossing the Barron River on National Highway 1.
The Budget Vehicle Fleet
The Budget Australia fleet has vehicles to suit everyone including economy, compact, vans, 4WD, and premium and luxury cars. Standard vehicle models include the Toyota Corolla Ascent Sedan, Ford Focus, Holden Cruze, Nissan Pulsar Sedan, Subaru Impreza and Hyundai Elantra.Those who want to save money on fuel or prefer an eco-friendly vehicle can opt for a car such as the Toyota Camry Hybrid.
Attraction Distances From Cairns Airport
- Cairns City 6km
- Cairns Botanic Gardens 4km
- Skyrail Rainforest Cableway 12km
- Kuranda 26km Fitzroy Island 37km
- Port Douglas 66km
- Babinda Boulders 70km
- Josephine Falls 80km
- Daintree Rainforest 124km
Car Rental Cairns Airport
Cairns Airport is a major transport hub in North Queensland, and it is the closest airport to some of Australia’s most wild and stunning areas of nature such as The Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest.
If you’re embarking on an adventure in North Queensland, hiring a car is the best way to reach even the most off-the-beaten-track natural wonders including waterfalls, ancient forests, and white sand beaches. Budget offers vehicles suitable for every terrain and budget. Find out more about our car hire service from Cairns Airport.
Car Hire in Cairns Airport
There are two Budget car rental counters in Cairns Airport: one in the T1 international terminal and another in the T2 domestic terminal. The counters are open from 5am to 12.30am, seven days a week. The car pickup and drop-off location is just across the road from the domestic terminal entrance.
Cairns Airport Information
Cairns Airport has two terminals – the T1 international terminal and the T2 domestic terminal. The terminals are connected by a covered pedestrian walkway and it takes five minutes to walk between them.
The airport is only 6km from the city centre and is a 10-minute drive north on Lake Street, turning right onto Airport Drive. Cairns Airport is 66km from Port Douglas, a drive that takes around one hour. Head south on the coastal Route 44 and join Route 1 in Cairns North, following the signs for the airport.
Things to See and Do Around Cairns Airport
There’s plenty to see and do around Cairns Airport if you have some time to kill before your flight. The area is particularly rich in parks and leisure spaces in nature including Centenary Lakes Nature Play Space, Touch Park, and North Cairns Reserve.
The Cairns Botanic Garden is only a 5-minute drive from the airport and offers 28 hectares of tropical gardens to explore. Entrance to the gardens is free, and there are also free guided tours twice a day on Tuesdays and Thursdays. There’s an open-air restaurant in the grounds that’s open for breakfast and lunch from 7am.
As Cairns city is so close to the airport, it’s also a great location to relax in and have a stroll around before your flight. The Esplanade area with its gardens, marina, and eateries is popular with visitors and locals alike, and there are art and craft markets and street entertainment on the Esplanade every weekend.
If you’re travelling with kids and want them to burn off some energy before your flight, Cairns Wake Park offers wake boarding, water sports, and obstacle courses that are great fun for the whole family.
Cairns Aquarium is another hugely popular family attraction. Located in the city centre, 6km from the airport, it’s an easy and enjoyable way to see the sea life and habitats of tropical North Queensland.
Refuelling Locations
There are several petrol stations close to the airport so you can fill up the tank before dropping your car off.
If you’re coming from Cairns city, Mobil North Cairns, Coles Express and Shell are closest to the airport – all on Sheridan Street before the turnoff onto Airport Avenue. If you’re coming from the north, there’s a Puma petrol station on Arnold Street – the first left after crossing the Barron River on National Highway 1.
The Budget Vehicle Fleet
The Budget Australia fleet has vehicles to suit everyone including economy, compact, vans, 4WD, and premium and luxury cars. Standard vehicle models include the Toyota Corolla Ascent Sedan, Ford Focus, Holden Cruze, Nissan Pulsar Sedan, Subaru Impreza and Hyundai Elantra.Those who want to save money on fuel or prefer an eco-friendly vehicle can opt for a car such as the Toyota Camry Hybrid.
Attraction Distances From Cairns Airport
- Cairns City 6km
- Cairns Botanic Gardens 4km
- Skyrail Rainforest Cableway 12km
- Kuranda 26km Fitzroy Island 37km
- Port Douglas 66km
- Babinda Boulders 70km
- Josephine Falls 80km
- Daintree Rainforest 124km
