How Much Is a Private Transfer from Cairns Airport to Port Douglas?

Quick answer: A private transfer from Cairns Airport to Port Douglas is priced per vehicle, from $269 one way for up to 5 passengers, $379 for 6 to 13, and more for larger groups (2026 prices, GST included). A shared shuttle seat is cheaper for one or two people, from $62 one way. A metered taxi has no fixed fare for the hour-long trip, so a pre-booked transfer is the more predictable option.

Key facts

Private transfer is priced per vehicle, from $269 one way (up to 5 passengers), 2026 prices
Shared shuttle seat from $62 one way; about $60 per person each way when 2 adults book a return
After-hours transfers (6:30pm to 7am) add a $50 late-night fee
Prices include 10% GST; children 0 to 12 are $31 one way on the shared shuttle
A taxi is metered, so there is no fixed fare for the trip

A private transfer is priced per vehicle, not per person, so the cost is shared across your whole party and gets better value the larger your group. Below are the current 2026 fares; because prices change by season, check the live prices page for the latest before you book.

Shared shuttle seat prices (2026)

Passengers	One way	Return
1 adult	$62	$119
2 adults	$123	$240
3 adults	$182	$351
4 adults	$238	$451
5 adults	$304	$541
Child (0 to 12)	$31	—

Child seats are $15 each way. Prices include GST.

Private transfer prices (2026, whole vehicle)

Vehicle and party size	One way	Return
1 to 5 passengers (Hyundai iMax or Kia Carnival)	$269 to $299	$516 to $590
6 to 13 passengers (Toyota HiAce)	$379	$754
14 to 20 passengers (Toyota Commuter)	$559	$1,089
21 to 25 passengers	$609	$1,189

After-hours transfers between 6:30pm and 7am add $50 one way. Prices include GST. For 1 to 2 passengers, the separate Mercedes limousine service is also worth comparing.

What affects the price

Group size, which sets the vehicle. One way or return, where booking both together is better value. Time of day, since after-hours transfers add the $50 late-night fee, covered in late-night and early-morning transfers. And extras such as child seats ($15 each way) or oversize luggage ($20 each way).

Private transfer vs taxi vs shared shuttle

	Shared shuttle	Private transfer	Taxi
Price known before you travel	Yes	Yes	No
Pricing	Per seat, from $62	Fixed, per vehicle, from $269	Metered, varies
Flight monitoring	Yes	Yes	No
Departure	Fixed daily schedule	Your schedule	Rank or on demand
Best for	Solo travellers and couples	Families, groups, predictable cost	Short-notice single trips

Private transfer vs taxi

A taxi from Cairns Airport to Port Douglas runs on a meter, so the fare is not fixed and you won’t know the total until you arrive, and over an hour-long trip up the coast it adds up. You also take whatever is at the rank when you land, with no flight monitoring if you are delayed and no child seats, and a standard cab seats about four. A private transfer is booked at a set price, so you know the cost in advance, your driver is waiting with your name, flights are monitored, and one vehicle takes your whole party and its luggage.

Private transfer vs shared shuttle

The shared shuttle is cheaper for one or two people because you pay per seat. A private transfer costs more as a headline figure but gives you your own vehicle and your own timing. Once you are a family or group booking several seats anyway, the gap narrows. We compare the two in full in private vs shared transfers.