How to travel from Ballarat to Caloundra, Australia

The distance between Ballarat and Caloundra is around 1,781km (1,107 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 6h 20m.

5 routes found

We've found 5 different ways to get from Ballarat to Caloundra 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 CaloundraBallarat if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
train
+
plane
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Train and Plane

Take the train to Footscray then fly from Avalon (AVV) to Maroochydore (MCY).

  • Duration6h 20m
  • Flight time2h 55m
  • Typical cost
    A$550($370)
Operated by

Multiple operators

💰 Cheapest
2
4 x bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Southern Cross Coach Terminal/Spencer St, Sydney then Brisbane and then to Mooloolaba.

  • Duration1 day 10h
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    A$270($180)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

3
train
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train
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bus
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train
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Train and Bus

Take the train to Southern Cross and then to Central Station then take the bus to Brisbane then take the train to Landsborough station platform 1.

  • Duration1 day 8h
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    A$275($185)
Operated by

Multiple operators

1 similiar route

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

4
car
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Drive

Drive to Caloundra.

  • Duration20h 35m
  • Distance1,840km (1,143 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Ballarat and Caloundra

There are several options for getting from Ballarat to Caloundra by train, plane, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around A$270 ($180) and will take around 1 day 10h. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 6h 20m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately A$550 ($370).

The distance between Ballarat and Caloundra is around 1,781km (1,107 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 1,480km (919 miles)

It takes around 6h 20m to get from Ballarat and Caloundra by train and plane. If you are travelling by car it will take around 20h 35m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Ballarat to Caloundra is to take the train and then fly which takes around 6h 20m and will set you back approx A$550 ($370).

The cheapest way to travel between Ballarat and Caloundra, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around A$270 ($180) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

There is no train service that runs between Ballarat and Caloundra. We recommend that you take the train to Footscray then fly from Avalon (AVV) to Maroochydore (MCY). instead which will take 6h 20m.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Ballarat and Caloundra. It typically takes around 1 day 10h and departs once daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Ballarat to Caloundra. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Southern Cross Coach Terminal/Spencer St, Sydney, Brisbane and Mooloolaba. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 1 day 10h.

V/Line, Firefly Express, Greyhound Australia and Premier Motor Service run regular bus services between Ballarat and Caloundra. Buses run once daily and take around 1 day 10h 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 Caloundra. We recommend that you take the train to Footscray then fly from Avalon (AVV) to Maroochydore (MCY). instead which will take 6h 20m.

The closest major airport to Caloundra is Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY) (MCY) which is approximately 22km (14 miles) from Caloundra. Brisbane Airport (BNE) (BNE) and Gold Coast Airport (OOL) (OOL) 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 Caloundra. The distance is around 1,840km (1,143 miles) by road and it will take around 20h 35m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Ballarat to Caloundra is to take the train and then fly which takes, on average, 6h 20m and will usually cost around A$550 ($370).

How do I get from Ballarat to Caloundra

Compare travel optionsbetween Ballarat and Caloundra

Transport options from Ballarat to Caloundra
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train and Plane
6h 20m
A$550($370)
4 times a day1,781km (1,107 miles)
Bus
1 day 10h
A$270($180)
once daily2,224km (1,382 miles)
Train and Bus + 1 similar
1 day 8h
A$275($185)
once daily2,171km (1,349 miles)
Train to Southern Cross, bus1 day 8h
A$275($185)
once daily2,170km (1,349 miles)
Drive
20h 35m
A$350($235)
on demand1,840km (1,143 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Ballarat and Caloundra

Airlines

Bus companies

Train operators

Airports near Caloundra

The following major airports near Caloundra offer regular flights to various popular destinations within Australia and internationally.

MCY
Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY)
Domestic Airport
Distance
22km (14 miles) from Caloundra
BNE
Brisbane Airport (BNE)
International Airport
Distance
67km (42 miles) from Caloundra
OOL
Gold Coast Airport (OOL)
International Airport
Distance
157km (97 miles) from Caloundra