How to travel from Ballina to Forster, Australia
The distance between Ballina and Forster is around 453km (281 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly and then take the bus which takes around 5hrs.
9 routes found
We've found 9 different ways to get from Ballina to Forster by bus, train, car and plane. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.
👋 Also check out Forster → Ballina if you're planning a return trip.
Plane and Bus
Fly from Ballina (BNK) to Port Macquarie (PQQ) then take the bus to Forster Coach Stop Little St.
- Duration5hrs
- Flight time2h 25m
- Typical costA$230($155)
Multiple operators
3 similiar routes
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Bus
Take the bus to Taree.
- Duration8h 25m
- Departstwice a week
- Typical costA$64($43)
Premier Motor Service
1 similiar route
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Bus and Train
Take the bus to Casino Station Coach Bay then take the train to Taree Station.
- Duration8h 10m
- Departstwice daily
- Typical costA$76($51)
NSW TrainLink
1 similiar route
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Ballina and Forster
Popular questions
There are several options for getting from Ballina to Forster by bus, train, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around A$64 ($43) and will take around 8h 25m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can fly and then take the bus and arrive in approximately 5hrs, though it is a bit more costly at approximately A$230 ($155).
The distance between Ballina and Forster is around 453km (281 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 382km (238 miles)
It takes around 8h 25m to get from Ballina and Forster by bus. If you are travelling by car it will take around 5hrs to drive there.
The quickest way to get from Ballina to Forster is to fly and then take the bus which takes around 5hrs and will set you back approx A$230 ($155).
The cheapest way to travel between Ballina and Forster, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around A$64 ($43) for a standard one-way ticket.
Train travel
There is no train service that runs between Ballina and Forster. We recommend that you fly from Ballina (BNK) to Port Macquarie (PQQ) then take the bus to Forster Coach Stop Little St. instead which will take 5hrs.
Bus travel
Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Ballina and Forster. It typically takes around 8h 25m and departs once daily.
There are no direct bus services that runs from Ballina to Forster. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Taree. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 8h 25m.
Premier Motor Service, Greyhound Australia and NSW TrainLink run regular bus services between Ballina and Forster. Buses run once daily and take around 8h 25m on average but will vary depending on you book with.
Flights and Airlines
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Ballina to Forster. We recommend that you fly from Ballina (BNK) to Port Macquarie (PQQ) then take the bus to Forster Coach Stop Little St. instead which will take 5hrs.
The closest major airport to Forster is Port Macquarie Airport (PQQ) (PQQ) which is approximately 90km (56 miles) from Forster. Newcastle Airport (NTL) (NTL) and Sydney Airport (SYD) (SYD) 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 Ballina and Forster. The distance is around 453km (281 miles) by road and it will take around 5hrs in normal traffic conditons.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Ballina to Forster is to take the bus which takes, on average, 8h 25m and will usually cost around A$64 ($43).
Compare travel optionsbetween Ballina and Forster
| Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Plane and Bus + 3 similar | 5hrs | A$230($155) | twice a week | 1,070km (665 miles) |
| Fly to Newcastle (NTL), Bus | 5h 20m | A$465($315) | 5 times a day | 687km (427 miles) |
| Bus and Plane | 6h 45m | A$320($215) | 4 times a day | 855km (532 miles) |
| Plane and Train | 7h 40m | A$250($170) | 5 times a day | 1,036km (644 miles) |
Bus + 1 similar | 8h 25m | A$64($43) | twice a week | 525km (326 miles) |
| Bus via Woolgoola | 8h 55m | A$88($59) | twice a week | 531km (330 miles) |
Bus and Train + 1 similar | 8h 10m | A$76($51) | twice daily | 527km (328 miles) |
| Bus to Grafton Station, Coach Bay, Train | 8h 20m | A$76($51) | twice daily | 563km (350 miles) |
Drive | 5hrs | A$86($58) | on demand | 453km (281 miles) |
Top Carriersoperating between Ballina and Forster
Airlines
Qantas
Virgin Australia
FlyPelican
Bus companies
Premier Motor Service
Byron Bay Express
Airports near Forster
The following major airports near Forster offer regular flights to various popular destinations within Australia and internationally.
Port Macquarie Airport (PQQ)
- Distance
- 90km (56 miles) from Forster
Newcastle Airport (NTL)
- Distance
- 94km (58 miles) from Forster
Sydney Airport (SYD)
- Distance
- 231km (144 miles) from Forster