Conveniently situated on the northern edge of the city, Cairns Airport is your gateway to tropical Queensland’s stunning far north. Cairns is your first stop in a region of unique, iconic attractions.
With car hire from Cairns Airport, you are within one hour of the world’s oldest rainforest – the Daintree National Park. A short drive to the west and you’ll be in the verdant Atherton Tablelands, and, of course, you’re on the doorstep of the world-famous Great Barrier Reef.
Characterised by a tropical, laid-back atmosphere, Cairns is casual and carefree. Cairns Airport is just minutes from the city and dozens of luxury hotels. The downtown area is alive with world-class restaurants, exotic cafes, and colourful Aussie pubs. Once you’ve settled in, take a stroll along the picturesque waterfront and cool your feet in its open-air swimming lagoon.
Our expert team at Bargain Car Rentals can assist you to explore this wonderful region of Australia with some of the best cheap car hire deals, in the area.
Hiring a car from our Cairns Airport Car Rental office gives you the freedom and flexibility to discover the regions without having to rely on inconvenient public transport or expensive package tours.
Services Offered by Bargain Car Rentals at Cairns Airport
Bargain Car Rentals at Cairns Airport has the perfect vehicle for you. Whether you need an eight-seater van to take your large family on a fun-filled holiday, a smaller sedan to take a scenic drive, or twelve-seater minibus to ferry a large group of friends on an intrepid road trip, we can help with cheap car hire from our modern and well-maintained fleet.
We will provide a free quote to make your choice easier. Weekly discounts and unlimited kilometres make our car hire packages unbeatable with the most competitive rates in Queensland.
Come and see us at our Cairns Airport car hire depot or call or email us to discuss the best vehicle for your next far-north Queensland adventure.
About Cairns Airport
Tropical Cairns enjoys warm weather all year. However, most visitors tend to holiday between July and December during the “Dry” season. This time of year can be quite hot, but an air-conditioned hire car will deliver you to any of the region’s attractions in comfort.
To the north of the city are the palm-fringed northern beaches. Trinity Beach and Palm Cove are among the most famous. With your own rental car, you’ll be able to find the most pristine stretch of sand to enjoy all by yourself. Just to the west are the lush, rainforest-covered hills of the Atherton Tablelands and to the north, Daintree National Park.
Touring around in your hire car from Bargain Car Rentals, you will discover the unique local wildlife in the area. Koalas, kangaroos, cassowaries, and the stunning Ulysses butterfly are just a few of the species you might encounter. Come in and see us at our Cairns Airport Car Rental office, or phone or email us anytime and let our experienced, professional and friendly staff help you to find the best value car hire deal in North Queensland.
Free Shuttle Bus Information
We operate a shuttle service to and from the depot, available within business hours and up to 20 minutes prior to closing.
Pick-up from Cairns Location: After collecting your luggage please call +61 3 6165 0838 and press option 1 to request the shuttle bus service to our near-airport location during the location’s operating hours.
From T1 (INTERNATIONAL): Exit the front of the terminal, turn right and walk until you see blue and green lines on the footpath, follow these lines until you reach the “COURTESY COACH PICKUP ZONE” sign.
From T2 (DOMESTIC): Exit the terminal doors closest to the car rental counters. Turn left and walk past the taxi rank. After passing the taxi rank, you will see a footpath with a green and blue line painted on it. Ensure both colours are present on the footpath. Please follow the lines until you reach the “COURTESY COACH PICKUP ZONE” sign.
Drop-off from Cairns Location Please return the vehicle to our off-site depot located at 410 Sheridan Street, Cairns North and we will shuttle you back to the airport terminal, this service does not need to be booked, but is only available within business hours and 20 minutes prior to closing.
Please allow enough time to wait for the shuttle to arrive (approximately 20 min).
Still haven’t found what you’re looking for? Visit our FAQs.
We are proud to offer some of the best rates at Cairns Airport. Car rental varies with the season but expect to pay between $25 and $75 dollars a day. Get a full quote on future Cairns car hire here.
We have small, medium and large vehicles available from Cairns Airport. We also have SUV’s and Luxury vehicles available to hire if you are after something larger or more prestigous. You can check out our full range of vehicles for hire here.
Planning your Cairns hire car holiday? We’re covering the top 5 things to do in the city.
1. Cairns Esplanade
Cairn’s lively Esplanade teems with people exercising or admiring the spectacular coastal scenery. You’ll find plenty of places to park your Bargain Car Rental ride, plus skate parks, playgrounds, and BBQs galore. Hit the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon to cool off in an artificial croc-and-stinger-free watering hole.
2. Cairns Botanic Gardens
North of the CBD, this sprawling parkland hosts an eclectic selection of native and imported flora. Although a bewildering array of species lie peppered throughout the grounds, the site is best known for its tropical plants. Scenic trails like the blue, red, and yellow arrow circuits snake through the highlights.
3. Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
This famous cable car hoists savvy travellers to Kuranda, a stunning rainforest-shrouded town perched high on a nearby mountain. The 7.5km route stops at two stations so you can disembark and stretch your legs. Watch for the cascading Barren Falls and the aquamarine Coral Sea behind you.
4. Cairns Aquarium
Keen to witness colourful coral and curious marine life without getting your feet wet? Then the Cairns Aquarium should be your first port of call. Located in the CBD, this world-class site has nine mini ecosystems with 16,000 specimens, from technicoloured fish to mantas, sharks, and crocodiles.
5. Rusty’s Market
Rather eat with the locals than pay a fortune for fine dining? Make a beeline for Rusty’s Market, where an army of vendors whip up fresh, delicious meals on the cheap. Cairn’s vibrant multicultural population means you’ll see a mouth-watering array of cuisines, from Chinese to Indian and Thai. The weekend daytime event also has stalls selling souvenirs, gifts, and apparel.
Tiny Cairns punches well above its weight in the sightseeing stakes. Nonetheless, every Tropical North Queensland veteran knows the best spots reside outside city limits.
1. The Great Barrier Reef
Colloquially known as the “Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef,” Cairns has a dazzling selection of daily snorkelling and SCUBA tours. Although pricier, outer reef excursions take you to more pristine coral and offer a superior underwater experience.
2. Fitzroy Island
An easy 45-minute ferry trip from the Cairns Marina lies Fitzroy Island, a postcard-worthy spot with calm, turquoise-tinged waters and gently swaying palms. Most day trippers hang out at Nudey Beach, a sugary white sandy stretch fringed by rainforest and reefs— despite the name, clothing is compulsory.
3. Kuranda
Perched on a thickly forested mountain, Kuranda is a laidback little hilltop village with a slow-paced hippy vibe. You could take the scenic 40-minute drive from Cairns in your hire car. But for the best views, hop on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and stop at the various lookouts enroute.
4. The Atherton Tablelands
An hour outside the city, this sprawling temperate region is awash with lush cow-filled pastures and rolling green hills. Gorgeous tableland villages like Yungaburra and Malanda enchant visitors with historic façades and homely country pubs. Nature lovers mustn’t miss local hotspots like Crater Lakes, Milla Milla Falls, and Danbulla National Park.
5. Babinda Boulders
An hour south of the city leads you to Babinda Boulders, one of Far North Queensland’s most raved-about watering holes. You won’t find any man-eating crocs or nasty stingers in this refreshing swimming spot, where calm turquoise waters lap sizeable granite boulders.
6. Josephine Falls
Near Babinda, the jaw-dropping Josephine Falls cascade into a pristine rainforest-shrouded pool. While Tropical North Queensland is no stranger to waterfalls, Josephine hits different. Hikers descending from Mount Bartle Frere will find the swimming hole especially refreshing.
7. The Northern Beaches
First-time Cairns visitors might be surprised to hear its beaches aren’t anything special. But you don’t have to drive far to find a slice of sandy paradise. From Holloways to Yorkies Knob and Trinity Beach to Palm Cove, this northern coastal stretch has plenty of prime places to pull up a towel.
8. Port Douglas
The coastal route between Cairns and Port Douglas is among Australia’s most scenic road trips. But the fun doesn’t stop once you arrive. Home to chic seaside boutiques, a bustling food and beverage scene, and stacks of Great Barrier Reef tours, Port Douglas is an epic holiday base.
9. Mossman Gorge
Just past Port Douglas lies a gorgeous gorge named Mossman. Crystal-clear waters, lichen-smothered boulders, and pristine rainforest trails make the detour worthwhile.
10. The Daintree Rainforest
As the world’s oldest rainforest, the Daintree is a must-visit destination on any Cairns hire car holiday. Base yourself in Cape Tribulation, where the rainforest meets the reef. Solar-powered cruises down the Daintree River offer top-notch croc-spotting opportunities.
Due to its hot tropical climate, the best time to visit Cairns is during the cooler, drier months of April to October. Expect warm but pleasant days, crisp nights, and minimal rain.
The rest of the year (especially January and February) can get oppressively muggy and hot in Cairns. Cruise up to the tablelands, where higher altitudes provide relief from the relentless heat.
The cheapest time to visit Cairns
Cairns car hire and hotels are cheaper during the wet season (November to March). However, high rainfall and humidity can make travel challenging at times.