How to travel from Ballarat to Ballina, Australia
The distance between Ballarat and Ballina is around 1,527km (949 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 4h 55m.
6 routes found
We've found 6 different ways to get from Ballarat to Ballina by train, plane, bus and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.
👋 Also check out Ballina → Ballarat if you're planning a return trip.
Train and Plane
Take the train to Footscray then fly from Avalon (AVV) to Ballina (BNK).
- Duration4h 55m
- Flight time2h 35m
- Typical costA$195($130)
Multiple operators
Bus
Take the bus to Southern Cross Coach Terminal then Sydney and then to Ballina.
- Duration1 day 1h
- Departs6 times a week
- Typical costA$325($215)
Multiple bus operators
Train and Bus
Take the train to Southern Cross then take the bus to Parramatta and then to Ballina.
- Duration1 day 1h
- Departs4 times a week
- Typical costA$200($135)
Multiple operators
2 similiar routes
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Ballarat and Ballina
Popular questions
There are several options for getting from Ballarat to Ballina by train, plane, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the train and then fly which costs around A$195 ($130) and will take around 4h 55m.
The distance between Ballarat and Ballina is around 1,527km (949 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 1,321km (821 miles)
It takes around 4h 55m to get from Ballarat and Ballina by train and plane. If you are travelling by car it will take around 17h 40m to drive there.
The quickest way to get from Ballarat to Ballina is to take the train and then fly which takes around 4h 55m and will set you back approx A$195 ($130).
The cheapest way to travel between Ballarat and Ballina, if you exclude driving, is to take the train and then fly which will typically cost around A$195 ($130) for a standard one-way ticket.
Train travel
There is no train service that runs between Ballarat and Ballina. We recommend that you take the train to Footscray then fly from Avalon (AVV) to Ballina (BNK). instead which will take 4h 55m.
Bus travel
Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Ballarat and Ballina. It typically takes around 1 day 1h and departs 6 times a week.
There are no direct bus services that runs from Ballarat to Ballina. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Southern Cross Coach Terminal and Sydney. These services run 6 times a week and will take a minimum of 1 day 1h.
V-Line, Firefly Express and Greyhound Australia run regular bus services between Ballarat and Ballina. Buses run 6 times a week and take around 1 day 1h on average but will vary depending on you book with.
Flights and Airlines
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Ballarat to Ballina. We recommend that you take the train to Footscray then fly from Avalon (AVV) to Ballina (BNK). instead which will take 4h 55m.
The closest major airport to Ballina is Ballina Byron Airport (BNK) (BNK) which is approximately 3km (2 miles) from Ballina. Gold Coast Airport (OOL) (OOL) and Coffs Harbour Airport (CFS) (CFS) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.
Drive yourself
Yes it is possible to drive from Ballarat and Ballina. The distance is around 1,666km (1,035 miles) by road and it will take around 17h 40m in normal traffic conditons.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Ballarat to Ballina is to take the train and then fly which takes, on average, 4h 55m and will usually cost around A$195 ($130).
Compare travel optionsbetween Ballarat and Ballina
| Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Train and Plane | 4h 55m | A$195($130) | twice daily | 1,527km (949 miles) |
Bus | 1 day 1h | A$325($215) | 6 times a week | 1,874km (1,164 miles) |
Train and Bus + 2 similar | 1 day 1h | A$200($135) | 4 times a week | 1,787km (1,110 miles) |
| Train to Southern Cross, bus | 1 day 1h | A$230($155) | once daily | 1,921km (1,194 miles) |
| Train to Southern Cross, bus | 1 day 1h | A$240($160) | once daily | 1,957km (1,216 miles) |
Drive | 17h 40m | A$220($150) | on demand | 1,666km (1,035 miles) |
Top Carriersoperating between Ballarat and Ballina
Airlines
Virgin Australia
Qantas
Regional Express
Train operators
V-Line
XPT
NSW TrainLink
Bus companies
Byron Bay Express
Firefly Express
Premier Motor Service
Airports near Ballina
The following major airports near Ballina offer regular flights to various popular destinations within Australia and internationally.
Ballina Byron Airport (BNK)
- Distance
- 3km (2 miles) from Ballina
Gold Coast Airport (OOL)
- Distance
- 78km (48 miles) from Ballina
Coffs Harbour Airport (CFS)
- Distance
- 168km (104 miles) from Ballina