When returning your rental vehicle to one of our locations please ensure to refuel your hire car. Allow an additional 30 minutes prior to the flight check-in time for car rental return.
Cairns Airport
Monday:06:00-23:30
Tuesday:06:00-23:30
Wednesday:06:00-23:30
Thursday:06:00-23:30
Friday:06:00-23:30
Saturday:06:00-23:30
Sunday:06:00-23:30
Where is the branch located?
We are located in the Domestic Terminal.
Cairns Airport Information
Park in one of our Parking Bays and return the Keys to our Key Drop Box at the Return office or inside the Domestic Terminal.
Not available at this location.
If you are running late and you won't be able to collect your rental car at the allocated time, it is important to get in touch with the branch you are collecting from, so that we can make alternate arrangements.
If you have arrived at the branch and it is closed and if you haven't made prior arrangements for an after-hours collection you will need to pick-up your rental car the following day.
Please contact our branches during business hours to arrange an alternative pick-up time.
Car Rental Cairns Airport
Cairns and North Queensland are quite unlike anywhere else in the world. Unspoilt natural rainforest, pristine water and coral reefs, unique animals and plants, unlike anywhere on earth. If that sounds a bit like David Attenborough, it’s no wonder. North Queensland is the Naturalists Favourite place on the planet. The best way to see Cairns and North Queensland is with a Thrifty hire car, giving you access to everything Cairns and the surrounding area has to offer. From hiking trails, rainforest walks, restaurants, bars, animal sanctuaries and much, much more.
The first local attraction and one of the most famous natural landmarks in the world is the Great Barrier Reef. Cairns is the ideal landing point to see the Great Barrier Reef and operates as a home base for many snorkelers and scuba divers. Drive to one of the many pick-up points tour companies offer and head out to see the world’s most extensive reef system. Home to more than 1,500 species of fish, you can find 10% of the fish species in the world inhabiting the Great Barrier Reef, 30 species of whale and dolphin, 6 species of Turtle and 600 different types of coral! You cannot take a trip to Cairns without experiencing perhaps the most incredible natural wonder in the world.
Get a little wild in your car hire
Cairns has many natural attractions and activities beyond the Great Barrier Reef. Your Thrifty car hire can be the ticket to seeing them all, starting with the Cairns ZOOM and Wildlife Dome. Tackle a number of challenging zipline and rope courses surrounded by lush tropical plants. Get a chance to see iconic Australian animals such as Koalas, different species of birds and snakes. It is located right on the Cairns Esplanade and can be easily incorporated into a day's itinerary.
Drive one hour south of Cairns, and you will find yourself at the Babinda Boulders in the Wooroonooran National Park, a great place to see one of the world's most pristine tropical rainforests. Then, walk the Devil’s Pool Walk (1.3 KM) and swim in the local swimming hole and creeks.
If you’re thinking something more aquatic-based, a drive to Lake Eacham might be in order. Located just over an hour south of Cairns, Lake Eacham is inside a giant volcanic crater formed over 10,000 years ago when magma burst up from beneath the earth. A clear blue lake that is great for swimming, canoeing and paddle boarding, and the surrounding rainforest is perfect for Birdwatching, picnicking and moseying along one of the many walking trails.
A car hire to experience the best seafood on earth
Cairns is full of different types of restaurants and cafes, but you can’t travel to this part of the world without trying the seafood. Don’t miss out on some of the best fresh fish, mussels, oysters, calamari and prawns you will ever have. Drive to the Cairns Marlin Marina and hop aboard the Prawn Star. A casual eatery with views of the Cairns Marina. Housed in an old trawler, it has a rustic, relaxed vibe. But there are plenty of food choices in the surrounding area. What could be better than enjoying some of the best food of your life with tranquil water views?
Cairns is an excellent hub for your North Queensland Holiday. Close to a number of beaches and within driving distance of Port Douglas, which is located just over an hour north of Cairns. With over a dozen national parks and forest reserves, you will never be short of places to drive. So, see the best Cairns has to offer in your Thrifty rental car.