Car Rental Cairns

Daily Car Rental Rates in Australia

*daily rates in Cairns based on a 1 day rental (24hr period) and for guidance purposes only.

Cairns is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and an exciting part of Northern Australia. A Cairns hire car won’t help you on the Barrier Reef but it will be invaluable for exploring the tropical jungle national parks of remote Cape York. Heavy rain is common here with flooded roads so we’d recommend a 4 x 4 to ensure you stay safe. We have plenty to choose from and one look at the low prices on the quality hire cars we offer in Cairns and you’ll be convinced you should pre-book with Rhino.

Cairns Mini Guide

How do I get to Cairns?
Despite there being no direct flights from South Africa to Cairns, you can fly direct to Perth or Sydney and get a connection. Use the stopover to see highlights of these dramatic cities and then head to Cairns. Sydney has more options and so, lower prices. The airport is a little to the northwest of the city centre but easily reached by hire car along the Captain Cook Highway, Route 1.

Getting Around Cairns
The A1 forms a loop to the south of the city centre whilst routes 44 and 81 head northeast from it. Most roads lead off these making it easy to navigate.

Getting out of the City
Take a trip to Mareeba where you’ll find coffee plantations that supply 80% of the country’s coffee. Try the Daintree Rainforest, officially the oldest on earth and with some unearthly looking trees. For great beaches, drive three hours north to Cooktown.

Where to Stay in Cairns
The Cairns Holiday in is really nice with tropical touches. It’s around R1500 a night but worth the expense for the quiet atmosphere there. For around R1100 you can enjoy the Coral Tree Inn in the city where you’ll be close to the Esplanade.

What Should I see in Cairns?

• The Japanese Factor. Not a music show but the influence that Japanese tourists have had on the city. Enjoy bento and sushi, buy a kimono and learn Japanese during your stay.
• Centenary Lakes. You can wander through the swamps here on the boardwalk trail but be careful of the crocs that love to sunbathe on it!
• Smithfield Conservation Park. This is a vast area of rainforest north of the city and a great introduction to the ecology of the area.
• Wildlife Dome. A kind of ecological greenhouse atop one of Cairns’ most popular hotels, you can walk through a perfect rainforest and see many Australian species right at home but in a hotel!