Brisbane to Cairns flight path: BNE to CNS

Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Brisbane to Cairns. The right side offers a near-continuous coastal show — Moreton Bay islands at departure, Fraser Island and the Whitsundays along the way, and Great Barrier Reef cays on arrival — while the left side stays mostly over inland plains and low ranges with little variation.

During takeoff from Brisbane International (BNE), sit on the Right side for the best views. Departing BNE toward the north, the right side looks out over Moreton Bay with its sandy islands, while the left side only shows Brisbane's suburban sprawl and distant low ranges. The bay and island scenery gives the right side a clear edge right from rotation. Notable sights include: Moreton Bay, Moreton Island, North Stradbroke Island, Brisbane River mouth.

When landing at Cairns International (CNS), sit on the Right side for the best views. On approach into Cairns the aircraft tracks along the coast, and the right side reveals the turquoise fringing reefs and cays of the Great Barrier Reef along with Trinity Inlet and the Cairns waterfront. The left side mainly shows the darker, less varied slopes of the Atherton Tablelands foothills. Notable sights include: Great Barrier Reef fringing cays, Trinity Inlet, Cairns Esplanade, Coral Sea coastline.

The flight from Brisbane International (BNE) to Cairns International (CNS) takes 2h 15m.

Fraser Island (world's largest sand island), Hervey Bay, the Whitsunday Islands, and long stretches of the Great Barrier Reef's fringing reefs along the Queensland coast