Find great rates on a hire car at Cairns Airport. Cairns is the gateway to tropical North Queensland, so why not consider collecting your car hire from the airport to get on the road faster? The airport serves both domestic and international flights and is located on Airport Avenue, a 12-minute car ride from downtown. The best way to get to the airport from Cairns train station is by shuttle bus, car or taxi.
| 🚗 Vehicle types | Car, Commercial Van/Truck, Crossover, Passenger Van, SUV, Sport, Ute and Wagon/Estate. |
|---|---|
| 🔑 No. of depots | Nine car rental depots at Cairns Airport. |
| ✅ Rental brands | Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, East Coast, Enterprise, Hertz, Sixt and Thrifty. |
 Starts at AUD $52/day From December 10, 2023 to December 15, 2023 |  Starts at AUD $55/day From December 10, 2023 to December 15, 2023 |
 Starts at AUD $55/day From December 10, 2023 to December 15, 2023 |  Starts at AUD $89/day From December 08, 2023 to December 13, 2023 |
*Rates last updated on December 05, 2023 Rental rate prices displayed were available in response to a search at 7:03 am on December 05, 2023 by an Australian resident aged between 30 and 69 years old, for the specified travel dates, with a pickup and return time of 10:00 am. Rates and vehicle availability may change without notice. Use our price comparison tool to get current rental rates. Rates include all mandatory fees for the rental and exclude credit card surcharges and extras.
Please note that the depot hours below may change at any time without notice.
There is a comprehensive selection of on-site car rental brands to choose from at Cairns Airport. See below for clear instructions on how to find Cairns Airport’s car hire desks and where to pick up your rental car.
Cairns Airport has two terminals: T1 International Terminal and T2 Domestic Terminal. The terminals are connected by a covered walkway, and it only takes a few minutes to get from one to the other. To walk between the terminals, follow the blue line from T1 Arrivals to T2 Departures. In the reverse direction, follow the green line from T2 Arrivals to T1 Departures.
The on-airport hire car desks are located inside the arrivals hall where the luggage is collected at both the domestic and international terminals.
Once you’ve collected your keys from the car rental desks, you can pick your car up from the car park at Terminal 2.
Hopefully the car rental company has left a sign with instructions or a contact number. In this situation, use the number they have provided and let them know that you have arrived or follow the directions out to the car park where a rental attendant will help you.
If there is no sign, check your booking confirmation email for a contact phone number.
If you still have no luck finding assistance, contact us. Don’t be alarmed. It’s not unusual to see unmanned desks, and rest assured there’s usually someone who can help out in the car park where the rental cars are located.
If you booked with an off-airport provider, you’ll need to catch a shuttle to the car rental provider’s premises near the airport.
To return your hire car follow the signs to the domestic or international car rental car parks.
For after hours returns, there is a return slot where you can drop off the key. Park and lock your car, then place the keys in the drop box located in the returns area.
For Bargain Car Rentals, return the vehicle to the depot which is located at 410 Sheridan Street, Cairns North. There is a shuttle back to the airport terminal.
For East Coast, return the vehicle to their depot at 411 Sheridan St, Cairns North. There is a shuttle back to the airport terminal.
The information on this section was last reviewed on June 12, 2023.
Prices start at AUD $52 per day for an Economy Car, up to AUD $326 per day for a Premium SUV. Get a live rate for your planned dates and desired vehicle at Cairns Airport.
If you prefer to plug your car in rather than fill it up, an Electric Car costs between AUD $75 and AUD $188 per day. Enter your car hire dates and find a live rate for your desired Electric Car at Cairns Airport.
If you’ve got a crowd, but don’t need something as large as a bus, then a 7-seater or 8-seater Minivan hire might be your best option. A Minivan costs between AUD $89 and AUD $401 per day. Check for a live rate by entering your desired car hire dates at Cairns Airport.
The highest-rated rental car at Cairns Airport is Skoda Kamiq or similar, based on ratings by our customers within the last 12 months.
Avis is the highest-rated car hire provider at Cairns Airport, based on ratings by our customers.
Yes, the per-day rates of some rental cars may fall if you book for a longer rental period. Prices often change around daily, three-day, five-day and seven-day periods. Also, note that the selection of rental cars available at Cairns Airport may be more limited if you are looking for a long-term car rental, so it’s best to compare a few different lengths of bookings first.
Have a look at what VroomVroomVroom customers had to say after they booked a hire car for Cairns Airport.
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