The distance between Ballina and Mackay is around 1,136km (706 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to drive which takes around 14h 40m.
We've found 2 different ways to get from Ballina to Mackay by bus and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.
👋 Also check out Mackay → Ballina if you're planning a return trip.
Take the bus to Brisbane and then to Mackay.
Premier Motor Service
There are several options for getting from Ballina to Mackay by bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around A$225 ($150) and will take around 20h 25m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can drive and arrive in approximately 14h 40m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately A$150 ($100).
The distance between Ballina and Mackay is around 1,136km (706 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 965km (600 miles)
It takes around 20h 25m to get from Ballina and Mackay by bus. If you are travelling by car it will take around 14h 40m to drive there.
The quickest way to get from Ballina to Mackay is to drive which takes around 14h 40m and will set you back approx A$150 ($100).
The cheapest way to travel between Ballina and Mackay, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around A$225 ($150) for a standard one-way ticket.
There is no train service that runs between Ballina and Mackay. We recommend that you drive to Mackay. instead which will take 14h 40m.
Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Ballina and Mackay. It typically takes around 20h 25m and departs once daily.
There are no direct bus services that runs from Ballina to Mackay. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Byron Bay Interchange Stand B and Brisbane. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 20h 25m.
NSW TrainLink, Premier Motor Service and Greyhound Australia run regular bus services between Ballina and Mackay. Buses run once daily and take around 20h 25m on average but will vary depending on you book with.
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Ballina to Mackay. We recommend that you take the bus to Brisbane and then to Mackay. instead which will take 20h 25m.
The closest major airport to Mackay is Mackay Airport (MKY) (MKY) which is approximately 4km (2 miles) from Mackay. Hamilton Island Airport (HTI) (HTI) and Cairns Airport (CNS) (CNS) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.
Yes it is possible to drive from Ballina and Mackay. The distance is around 1,136km (706 miles) by road and it will take around 14h 40m in normal traffic conditons.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Ballina to Mackay is to take the bus which takes, on average, 20h 25m and will usually cost around A$225 ($150).
Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bus | 20h 25m | A$225($150) | once daily | 1,373km (853 miles) |
Drive | 14h 40m | A$150($100) | on demand | 1,136km (706 miles) |
Qantas
Virgin Australia
Link Airways
NSW TrainLink
Premier Motor Service
TRANSLink QLD
Queensland Rail Travel
The following major airports near Mackay offer regular flights to various popular destinations within Australia and internationally.