Cairns is probably the main access point for Cooktown, with an international airport, and good bus and train connections around Australia. Most people arrive in Cooktown by car or camper.
By plane
Hinterland Aviation (http://www.hinterlandavia...) offer a regular service from Cairns to Cooktown with flights 3 times a day Monday to Friday and a Saturday morning flight.
By car
Cooktown is just over 300km north by road, from Cairns. The drive to Cooktown from Cairns is easy. The trip takes around 3 hours, is well signposted and hard to get lost. The driving challenges begin north of here.
There is a unsealed dry-weather road that cuts through the Daintree National Park following the coast. It offers better scenery, but not usually a quicker trip. Rental cars are not usually permitted on this road.
Cooktown is just over 2000km from Brisbane.
By bus
Country Road Coachlines (http://www.countryroadcoa...) travel by both the coastal and inland routes, connecting Cairns and Cooktown three times a week. The coastal service also stops in Port Douglas and the inland service in Kuranda.