Secure a great deal on your car hire at Cairns Airport
Ready for a new adventure in the far north Queensland? Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns is the ideal place for a car hire holiday for a number of reasons. Hire a car at Cairns Airport and be prepared to explore the great outdoors, national park and gorgeous coastal strip that makes this city the perfect destination for a road trip. Personalise your tour by hiring a car at Cairns Airport and navigate this spread-out city and its beautiful surroundings with ease.
Hire a car at Cairns Airport and drive away
When you arrive at Cairns Airport, you need a quick and efficient car rental pick up with no red tape and the keys in your hand. With Airport Rentals, we will provide you with the best car hire Cairns Airport has on offer, so you can hit the road quickly.
Although the real natural delights lie offshore, Cairns is a cosmopolitan city and tropical gem. Lovely beaches are located to the north and south rather than near the CBD, so having your own wheels is a definite advantage. Have the freedom to explore all these and more as you travel in your own Cairns Airport car hire.
Airport Rentals makes it easy to pick up and drop off your rental car with numerous locations available across Australia, including all major cities and airports. Pick up your car from Cairns Airport or from other car hire locations across the city and drive away with no worries.
How to find the best car hire deals at Cairns Airport?
When planning for your Cairns car hire adventure, surely you will be faced with a lot of questions about selecting the right hire car at the lowest rate. Look no further in finding cheap car hire deals Cairns Airport has to offer. At Airport Rentals, we give you the best car hire deals from all the top suppliers at Cairns Airport. We are here to guide you in searching, comparing and booking the best Cairns Airport car rental suited to your travel style and budget.
Booking a cheap car hire from Cairns Airport is made easy with Airport Rentals. There is no need for you to spend hours scouring the internet for quotes to compare. Airport Rentals delivers a full selection with a lot of options for your car rentals Cairns Airport has! Just input your travel details in the search form above, including the pick up location and the dates for your rental, and you will have a list of all the available suppliers. A huge range of car hire companies is displayed on the site, from the local brands to the multinationals like Budget Car Rental and Hertz Cairns Airport. Reviews, and vehicle type features and current rates are also displayed with each result to help you make an informed decision.
Book in advance to get the best deal on your car hire at Cairns Airport!
Compare car rentals in Cairns Airport
If you plan to hire a car, Cairns Airport offers various brands and vehicle types to choose from. Searching and comparing car hire prices is made easy by Airport Rentals with so many suppliers together on one site. Our simple search and booking engine makes it even easier with filters to narrow down the multiple car hire options. Filter by fleet, class or transmission to find the perfect vehicle for your Cairns Airport car rental holiday, be it a compact car, luxury SUV or a simple economy hatchback. The choice is yours!
We are constantly working with trusted car hire suppliers to bring our customers the best vehicles and cheapest car rental prices online, so there is no need to worry about paying premium fees for the convenience. We also offer free cancellations and amendments for most vehicles, while our easy-to-use car rental app is available for download for both iPhone and Android and allows travellers to hire cars around the world, with up-to-the-minute pricing. Airport Rentals also offers 24/7 customer service via phone to address any issues you have about hiring a car in Cairns.
Cairns Airport Car Hire Pick up Depots
Cairns isn’t even one of Australia’s 10 biggest cities, but it’s still known around the world for its flawless scenery, and as the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. Whether you’re visiting just to see this natural wonder, or if you plan to drive further afield in North Tropical Queensland, check out these depot locations where you can pick up your car hire from. Most providers also have free shuttle bus service to take you to their depots.
Rental cars from Cairns Airport
When picking up Cairns Airport hire cars, proceed to the arrivals hall of the Cairns International Airport Terminal One (T1) and Domestic (T2) terminals. Rental car companies located onsite include Europcar, Hertz, Budget Car Rental, Avis, Thrifty, Redspot, AutoEurope, Firefly and Apollo Car Hire.
Cairns car hire in the city
You can also find cheap car hire options from companies located outside Cairns Airport's terminal buildings. The city is reasonably small, so it’s easy to get started on your road trip from town no matter which direction you’re headed. There are regular shuttles from the airport to the city centre, making it easy to get in and pick up your car rental in Cairns. Companies operating out of Cairns Airport include East Coast Car Rentals, Atlas Car & Truck Rental, Apex and Ace Rentals.
Cairns - Palm Cove
For travellers heading north towards the Daintree National Park Forest, Trinity Beach, the Four Mile Beach, or Port Douglas, it may make more sense to pick up your rental car from Palm Cove, which is roughly 30 minutes north of central Cairns. Here, you can hire cars from Avis Australia.
Cairns Airport Car Rental Brands
At Airport Rentals, we have many options for your car rental in Cairns.
We have the major brands which have late-model car rentals located directly at Cairns Airport. This is the most convenient hire car option, however, you often pay more to pick up car rentals direct from Cairns Airport.
We also have car hire suppliers who are located very near Cairns Airport and offer free shuttle bus service. They pick you up at the airport and take you to their office to collect the vehicle. Whilst the hire cars on offer are often the same late-model rental vehicles, there are some great savings to be made if you don't mind the shuttle ride.
Cairns Airport car hire: Top on-site brands
The following suppliers have car hire counters inside the terminal building of Cairns Airport. Choose from a wide range of car hire options from these major brands - from compact and economy cars to full-size and premium vehicles. Surely, there is a rental car suited to your travel needs.
Avis - They have a great range of late-model vehicles, as well as the Compact, Standard, Intermediate and Full Size rental cars. They have a range of Prestige and Luxury car types, too.
Budget - Vehicles you can hire at Cairns Airport with Budget range from Compact and SUV to 4WD People Mover and Passenger Vehicles.
Europcar - They have late-model rental vehicles with an average age of 11 months old. Cairns Airport car hire options available with Europcar include Economy, Compact, Intermediate, Standard car types as well as having VW Golf and Mercedes Benz A Class.
Hertz - They have late-model rental vehicles with car types ranging from Compact to the FJ Cruiser 4WD People Mover and SUV.
Redspot - They have late-model vehicles and often priced very competitively. The range starts with Economy vehicles like the Nissan Micra and goes up to the 8 seater car types like the Kia Carnival.
Thrifty - They have late-model vehicles in 15 car types including Premium 4WD, Intermediate Passenger vehicles and the ever-popular Mitsubishi Pajero.
Firefly is serviced by Hertz at the Hertz desk. Same rental cars but often very well priced. Look out for these deals when you rent a car from Cairns Airport.
Auto Europe will be one of the brands you see above. More often than not Europcar or Thrifty. Look out for this Cairns Airport car hire brand as you can often pocket a great saving.
Apollo is serviced by Hertz with different payment and terms and conditions. Read the booking terms, as at certain times of the year they can offer the best deal for your Cairns Airport car hire.
Bargain car rentals are also always competing at the top levels in providing the best car hire deal in Cairns and the QLD region.
Cairns car hire: Top off-site brands
The following car hire companies have complimentary shuttle buses that will take passengers from Cairns Airport to their rental office located outside the International terminal and domestic buildings.
Atlas Car Rental is the newest addition to our offering. They operate a complimentary shuttle bus from the airport so you can pick up a cheap car hire Cairns Airport at their depot located at 410 Sheridan Street. They have late-model vehicle rentals.
East Coast Car Rentals has one of the biggest car rental fleets in Cairns and is located at 146 Sheridan Street. They service the airport by way of a complimentary shuttle bus and their rental office is located close by. They have late-model vehicles and offer the best rates for new hire cars.
Ace Rental Cars is located at 147 Lake Street and operates a shuttle from Cairns Airport at no charge. The vehicles for hire range 2-4 years old.
Apex Car Rental also offers a wide selection of vehicles ranging from economy to premium and SUV types. Airport transfer is available to their rental depot located at 396 Sheridan Street.
Driving guide for your Cairns Airport car hire holiday
One of Cairns' notable features is that it sits at one end of the 1,700-kilometre Bruce Highway, which runs between this northern city and Brisbane. The city is also a starting or finishing point for the Captain Cook Highway that covers just 75 kilometres and takes you to the city of Mossman - a road trip we highly recommend once you've picked up your hire car from Cairns Airport or from one of the other depots on offer.
How to get to CBD from Cairns Airport
Cairns Airport is extremely close to the city centre. This will only take you 10 minutes to drive. As soon as you pick up your car hire from Cairns Airport just head south and follow Airport Avenue and National Route 1 into town.
Useful tips when driving Cairns Airport car rentals
In summer, parked cars can get extremely hot. Aim to park your Cairns car rental in the shade whenever possible and leave windows cracked an inch for air. Don’t leave food in the rental vehicle.
Once you leave the city, be wary that you might come across animals on the road at night in country areas while driving your Cairns airport car hire. Kangaroos, for example, are a common sight in Australia and can be very dangerous to hit in your rental car while driving.
As many tourists walk through town during their stays, keep an eye out for people stepping onto the roads while driving your car rental in busy central areas.
Rainy season brings extremely heavy rainfall. If you’re out driving in your Cairns car hire when it happens, take it slow and pull over to wait it out if you are uncomfortable.
Car hire road trips from Cairns Airport
Picking up your car hire from Cairns Airport is easy - the difficult part is deciding where to take it! Here are popular locations you can visit easily accessible with your rental car.
Port Douglas: The drive from Cairns Airport to Port Douglas is worth it just for the views. This 70-kilometre trip will take a little over an hour, and waiting on the other end is a gorgeous beach-side town that’s a popular spot for Great Barrier Reef tours.
Daintree Rainforest: The World Heritage Listed Daintree Rainforest is one of the premier tourist attractions in Australia, and it’s only 2.5 hours – 125 kilometres – from Cairns Airport. Check out the walks, tours, 4WD trips, beaches and the zipline!
Cape tribulation: The Cape Tribulation on the Coast Road is a remote but scenic part of the country, often overlooked by tourists. Driving your hire car up north, this trip will cover about 140 kilometres under three hours.
Undara Lava Tubes: For a longer car hire trip, drive 3.5 hours (260 kilometres) inland to the Undara Lava Tubes by Mount Surprise. Set upon a volcanic national park, these tubes are actually giant underground tunnels formed by a lava flow more than 190,000 years ago. Note that access is by guided tour only once you've parked up your Cairns Airport car hire.
When looking for parking for your rental cars, Cairns Airport offers several options. Most car parking lots offer the first 10 minutes for free to allow you to make pickups and drop-offs easily.
The T1 car park is right next to the international terminal and costs $6 for 10-30 minutes or $9 for 30-60 minutes, and has a maximum charge of $30 for the first 24 hours.
The T2 park is next to the domestic terminal and has the same fees as the international park.
Another option is the T2 covered car park, which is a smaller area next to the uncovered T2. Prices here are a little more expensive at $12 for 30-60 minutes and $15 for 1-2 hours to leave your Cairns car hire airport. There is no free 10 minutes in this car park.
To save on cash, book your airport parking online before you go with your Cairns Airport car hire.
Where to park your Cairns car hire in the city
There are more than 6,400 council-provided car parks in Cairns to leave your rental vehicle, 1,400 of which are in the central city. These are a mix of on-street and off-street parks.
Also, there are private parking buildings throughout the CBD, such as the Koppens Carpark on Grafton Street, the Hartley Street Car park, and the Convention Centre.
Learn more about parking spots for your Cairns car rental and permits on the city council website here.
Cairns Fuel
The cost of fuel in the far north of Australia does tend to be higher than that in southern states. Prices are generally at their lowest at the start of the week on Mondays and Tuesdays, then peak later in the week.
Petrol station near Cairns Airport
Wondering where is the nearest petrol station to Cairns Airport? As you’ll need to refill the tank before you return your Cairns Airport car hire, it is best to know the closest fuel stations and their locations.
Portsmith Fuel: 45 Arnold Street (6 kilometres)
Coles Express: 291-293 Sheridan Street (4.5 kilometres)
Caltex Australia Ltd: 131 Sheridan Street (5.5 kilometres)
BP: 230-238 Sheridan Street (4.5 kilometres)
Portsmith Fuel: 475 Draper Street (9 kilometres)
How much does fuel cost in Cairns?
Fuel prices do rise and fall internationally as they do with a car rental in Australia as a whole, but you can usually expect to pay roughly 120 cents per litre in Cairns. As the petrol stations are all quite close with many situated on Sheridan Street, it’s easy to drive down this road and see if any of the outlets are offering cheaper petrol to fill up your rental car.
The RACQ (Royal Automobile Club of Queensland) offers a price watch for fair fuel costs. Follow the link here for more information.
Cairns Airport Car Hire - Useful FAQs
How much does it cost to rent a car in Cairns?
When you rent a car in Cairns, prices vary widely by season, availability, booking duration and vehicle type, ranging from about AUD $30 to AUD $220 per day. So if you are looking for an affordable Cairns Airport car hire, cheap deals are consolidated by Airport Rentals.
Where is Cairns Airport?
Cairns Airport (CNS) is a major entry point to North Queensland. It is located at Airport Avenue, which is 2.3 nautical miles (4.3 km; 2.6 mi) north northwest of Cairns or 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) north of the Cairns CBD. It lies between Mount Whitfield to the west and Trinity Bay to the east. Cairns Airport has two terminals and one runway, serving 18 international and 30 domestic destinations.
How far is the distance between Cairns domestic and international terminals?
The airport terminals are connected by a covered walkway with a transfer time of approximately 5-7 minutes.
Is Cairns Airport open?
Cairns Airport is open at around 4:00 AM, or two hours before the first flight of the day, and closes at midnight 12:00 AM or after the last flight of the night. Overnight stays are not allowed in the airport. Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, some airport services and facilities such as lounges, dining options, currency exchange, storage and lockers may remain closed or operate at reduced or limited office hours.
Which car hire companies will pick you up at the airport: Cairns Airport (CNS)?
Car hire companies that offer pick up service at the Cairns Airport include Thrifty, Hertz, Avis, Budget, Apex and Europcar. Other suppliers with car hire locations near Cairns Airport provide complimentary shuttle bus service which will take you to their offices close by. This includes Atlas, Ace, Apex and East Coast Car Rentals.
Where do I collect my rental car at Cairns Airport?
There are several suppliers conveniently placed at the arrivals hall of both domestic and international terminals of Cairns Airport. Others have car hire locations outside the terminal building and offer complimentary shuttle bus from the airport to their rental office near Cairns. Be sure to specify the exact pick up date and time to avoid delays in your holiday.
Where do I return my rental car?
Return rental vehicles to the same location they were collected. Car rental return car parks are available at Cairns Airport making the process easier. Be sure to follow the return date specified on your rental agreement to avoid penalties.
Can I return a car after hours at Cairns Airport?
Your rental car can only be picked up and returned during the branch’s office hours. If you have any special request, you may contact your respective car rental Cairns Airport provider for assistance.
What cars can I rent from Cairns Airport?
There is a wide range of vehicles you can hire at Cairns Airport. Choose from various types including economy (Hyundai Accent or similar), intermediate (Toyota Corolla or similar) or SUV (Mitsubishi Outlander or similar). Also, you may find large vehicle types like Toyota Camry Sedan or Mitsubishi Pajero Sport or similar.
Do I have to wash the car before I return?
In most cases, there is no need for you to have the car cleaned before you return it. However, it is best to check with your chosen car hire company to clarify cleaning fees or additional charges.
What is the most popular car hire in Cairns?
The most frequently booked vehicle type in Cairns are Economy cars (Hyundai Accent or similar).
What is the cheapest car hire agency in Cairns?
If you are looking for the cheapest car hire Cairns Airport has at this time, you can expect to find it with Europcar and Alamo.
Is it cheaper to get a rental car at the airport?
Generally, car hire companies with airport location have more expensive rates due to the high demand. In Cairns, you can get a cheaper price from suppliers with car hire counters located outside the airport. This will give you some savings if you don't mind the shuttle ride. Rent a car Cairns Airport today with Airport Rentals and take advantage of our cheap deals.
Do you need to hire a car in Cairns?
To make the most out of your holiday, it is best to secure a car hire at Cairns Airport. This gives you the freedom to explore the city and nearby areas in your own time.
How much does an Intermediate car hire cost in Cairns?
The prices usually vary based on the time of the year and the availability of the vehicle. You may expect to pay for Intermediate car rentals in Cairns for around AUD $53 per day.
Is it cheaper to rent a car daily or weekly?
Usually, car hire at Cairns Airport is cheaper weekly. The weekly rate would cost around AUD $196 (AUD $28 per day).
Can I collect a car from Cairns Airport and return somewhere else?
Yes, major hire car Cairns Airport suppliers offer one-way rentals. Use our search widget and see available pick up and drop off locations. Book today!
