The distance between Ballarat and Parkes is around 794km (493 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 5h 45m.
We've found 5 different ways to get from Ballarat to Parkes by train, bus, car and plane. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.
👋 Also check out Parkes → Ballarat if you're planning a return trip.
Take the train to Southern Cross then fly from Melbourne Essendon Apt (MEB) to Orange (OAG) then take the train to Parkes Station.
Multiple operators
Take the bus to Southern Cross Coach Terminal, Gundagai then Cootamundra Station Coach Bay 1 and then to Parkes Station Coach Stop.
Multiple bus operators
Take the train to Southern Cross and then to Cootamundra Station then take the bus to Parkes Station Coach Stop.
Multiple operators
1 similiar route
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
There are several options for getting from Ballarat to Parkes by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the train and then take the bus which costs around A$105 ($69) and will take around 10h 10m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 5h 45m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately A$430 ($290).
The distance between Ballarat and Parkes is around 794km (493 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 629km (391 miles)
It takes around 10h 10m to get from Ballarat and Parkes by train and bus. If you are travelling by car it will take around 8h 50m to drive there.
The quickest way to get from Ballarat to Parkes is to take the train and then fly which takes around 5h 45m and will set you back approx A$430 ($290).
The cheapest way to travel between Ballarat and Parkes, if you exclude driving, is to take the train and then take the bus which will typically cost around A$105 ($69) for a standard one-way ticket.
There is no train service that runs between Ballarat and Parkes. We recommend that you take the train to Southern Cross then fly from Melbourne Essendon Apt (MEB) to Orange (OAG) then take the train to Parkes Station. instead which will take 5h 45m.
Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Ballarat and Parkes. It typically takes around 10h 50m and departs 4 times a week.
There are no direct bus services that runs from Ballarat to Parkes. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Southern Cross Coach Terminal, Gundagai and Cootamundra Station Coach Bay 1. These services run 4 times a week and will take a minimum of 10h 50m.
V-Line, Firefly Express and NSW TrainLink run regular bus services between Ballarat and Parkes. Buses run 4 times a week and take around 10h 50m on average but will vary depending on you book with.
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Ballarat to Parkes. We recommend that you take the train to Southern Cross then fly from Melbourne Essendon Apt (MEB) to Orange (OAG) then take the train to Parkes Station. instead which will take 5h 45m.
The closest major airport to Parkes is Parkes Airport (PKE) (PKE) which is approximately 5km (3 miles) from Parkes. Canberra International Airport (CBR) (CBR) and Sydney Airport (SYD) (SYD) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.
Yes it is possible to drive from Ballarat and Parkes. The distance is around 794km (493 miles) by road and it will take around 8h 50m in normal traffic conditons.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Ballarat to Parkes is to take the train and then take the bus which takes, on average, 10h 10m and will usually cost around A$105 ($69).
Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
---|---|---|---|---|
Train and Plane | 5h 45m | A$430($290) | twice a week | 877km (545 miles) |
Bus | 10h 50m | A$115($77) | 4 times a week | 875km (544 miles) |
Train to Southern Cross, bus + 1 similar | 9h 45m | A$105($69) | 6 times a week | 831km (516 miles) |
Train and Bus | 10h 10m | A$105($69) | 6 times a week | 831km (516 miles) |
Drive | 8h 50m | A$105($71) | on demand | 794km (493 miles) |
Regional Express
Qantas
Link Airways
V-Line
XPT
NSW TrainLink
Firefly Express
The following major airports near Parkes offer regular flights to various popular destinations within Australia and internationally.