Driving to Cairns Airport is the easiest option, allowing you to park outside the terminal and walk straight to check-in. No matter when your return flight lands, you can quickly collect your car and head home. This article offers tips on parking at Cairns Airport. Below is an overview of all the parking rates.
| Car Park | Cost per Week | Service & Travel Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| T1 Budget Car Park | $160.00 | Walk: 1 - 3 min | Book |
| T2 Uncovered Car Park | $176.00 | Walk: 1 - 2 min | Book |
| T2 Covered Car Park | $348.00 | Walk: 1 min | Book |
Each car park at Cairns Airport has a different rate structure, which means that the lot that offers the lowest price for a 24-hour stay may not be the cheapest for three days. Short term car parks typically charge by the hour for the first day and then price each subsequent 24-hour block at the same rate.
Long term car parks usually employ a sliding scale, meaning that the longer you stay, the lower the daily rate will be. You can check our Flyparks blog for the cheapest parking at Cairns Airport or the table above.
These days, it’s the norm to research and complete travel bookings online. Whether you're purchasing flight tickets, hotel stays, travel insurance, lounge access, or international roaming, all of these services can be booked online, often for a lower rate. Airport parking is no different; rates are lower online, and pre-booking in advance will secure you the best deal. If you leave it until the last minute, especially during holiday periods, you might find that the spaces closest to the terminals have already sold out and prices have increased for the remaining bays.
Booking your parking right after you book your flight tickets will save you money in the long run, not to mention the stress of trying to find a space during the school holidays. The last thing you want to be doing before a long-haul flight to Bali is to circle the T2 Long Term Car Park, hoping that a space will become available.
The weather around Cairns Airport can be unpredictable at the best of times, but that doesn’t mean that you need to worry about damage to your car. If you’re parking during the wet season from November to March, when tropical monsoons and cyclones can and do strike, consider paying a little extra for Cairns covered parking. This will protect your vehicle from weather-related damage, and potentially save you from needing to organise expensive repairs.
While the additional upfront cost may be off-putting to some, it’s worth bearing in mind that the average price of a windscreen repair callout is $70.00 to fix a chip or crack (when smaller than a $2 coin), while windscreen replacements cost between $200.00 and $400.00. If you have a newer car, with features such as rain sensor infrared technology, you could be looking at anywhere from $800.00 to $1,200.00. Ouch!
The barrier entry/exit system in place at all three of the official Cairns Airport car parks can confuse. This is because it was primarily designed for drive-up customers who need a parking ticket to confirm their entrance and exit times and calculate the correct rate. If you have already pre-booked your parking online, you won’t need a parking ticket, so you shouldn’t tap your credit card. If you do this, you will be charged twice for parking.
Instead, you will need to press the ‘Help’ button by the barrier, so that you can talk to a member of staff. You then tell the staff member on duty that you have a pre-existing booking that you made online, and you quote the booking number that’s on your confirmation email. We recommend downloading a copy to your mobile or printing one off at home. This serves as your proof of purchase and will help the car park staff to advise you correctly. Remember to keep hold of your booking confirmation - you will need to quote your reservation number again to exit the car park.
The only time that you might need to use your credit card when you have pre-booked, is if you overstay your booking period. When this happens, you will be asked to pay the difference upon your return. If you’re going to be delayed for more than 24 hours, we suggest getting in touch with customer service for help. For more helpful information, check out our guide to Cairns Airport.
We understand that it can be difficult to know which car park to choose when using a comparison service. Many off-site car parks will advertise low rates, but how do you know if your vehicle will be safely stored?
In the absence of well-known names, such as Andrew's Airport Parking Cairns, it’s a good idea to read online reviews to get a sense of how secure and trustworthy the car park is. Curious about what Flyparks travellers had to say about the Cairns Airport car parks? You can read reviews for each car park on their respective provider pages.
All the Cairns Airport parking fees cited are approximate and subject to change. Estimations were taken for stays of 7 - 8 days in November 2024 based on drive-up rates. Please note that Flyparks does not compare all the airport car parking spaces available in the market, and cannot consider specific needs and individual requirements. Always read the terms and conditions before booking.
