How to travel from Ballarat to Sydney, Australia

The distance between Ballarat and Sydney is around 922km (573 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 3h 55m.

5 routes found

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

🚀 Fastest
1
train
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plane
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Train and Plane

Take the train to Footscray then fly from Avalon (AVV) to Sydney (SYD).

  • Duration3h 55m
  • Flight time1h 25m
  • Typical cost
    A$170($115)
Operated by

Multiple operators

2
train
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train
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Train via Southern Cross

Take the train to Southern Cross and then to Central Station.

  • Duration12h 35m
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    A$115($78)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

1 similiar route

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

3
bus
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bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Southern Cross Coach Terminal and then to Sydney.

  • Duration13h 30m
  • Departs6 times a week
  • Typical cost
    A$180($120)
Operated by

Firefly Express

4
car
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Drive

Drive to Sydney.

  • Duration9h 55m
  • Distance957km (595 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Ballarat and Sydney

There are several options for getting from Ballarat to Sydney by train, plane, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the train which costs around A$115 ($78) and will take around 12h 45m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 3h 55m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately A$170 ($115).

The distance between Ballarat and Sydney is around 922km (573 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 767km (477 miles)

It takes around 3h 55m to get from Ballarat and Sydney by train and plane. If you are travelling by car it will take around 9h 55m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Ballarat to Sydney is to take the train and then fly which takes around 3h 55m and will set you back approx A$170 ($115).

The cheapest way to travel between Ballarat and Sydney, if you exclude driving, is to take the train which will typically cost around A$115 ($78) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Ballarat and Sydney. It typically takes around 12h 45m and departs once daily.

There are no direct train services that runs from Ballarat to Sydney. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Southern Cross. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 12h 45m.

V-Line and XPT run train services between Ballarat and Sydney. Trains depart once daily and will take around 12h 45m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Ballarat and Sydney. It typically takes around 13h 30m and departs 6 times a week.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Ballarat to Sydney. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Southern Cross Coach Terminal. These services run 6 times a week and will take a minimum of 13h 30m.

V-Line, Firefly Express and Greyhound Australia run regular bus services between Ballarat and Sydney. Buses run 6 times a week and take around 13h 30m 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 Sydney. We recommend that you take the train to Footscray then fly from Avalon (AVV) to Sydney (SYD). instead which will take 3h 55m.

The closest major airport to Sydney is Sydney Airport (SYD) (SYD) which is approximately 28km (17 miles) from Sydney. Newcastle Airport (NTL) (NTL) and Orange Airport (OAG) (OAG) 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 Sydney. The distance is around 957km (595 miles) by road and it will take around 9h 55m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Ballarat to Sydney is to take the train and then fly which takes, on average, 3h 55m and will usually cost around A$170 ($115).

How do I get from Ballarat to Sydney

Compare travel optionsbetween Ballarat and Sydney

Transport options from Ballarat to Sydney
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train and Plane
3h 55m
A$170($115)
twice daily922km (573 miles)
Train via Southern Cross + 1 similar
12h 35m
A$115($78)
once daily1,051km (653 miles)
Train12h 45m
A$115($78)
once daily1,051km (653 miles)
Bus
13h 30m
A$180($120)
6 times a week1,062km (660 miles)
Drive
9h 55m
A$130($86)
on demand957km (595 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Ballarat and Sydney

Airlines

Train operators

Bus companies

Airports near Sydney

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

SYD
Sydney Airport (SYD)
International Airport
Distance
28km (17 miles) from Sydney
NTL
Newcastle Airport (NTL)
Domestic Airport
Distance
135km (84 miles) from Sydney
OAG
Orange Airport (OAG)
Domestic Airport
Distance
175km (109 miles) from Sydney