How to travel from Canberra to Airlie Beach, Australia

The distance between Canberra and Airlie Beach is around 1,807km (1,123 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly which takes around 5h 10m.

5 routes found

We've found 5 different ways to get from Canberra to Airlie Beach by plane, bus, train and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out Airlie BeachCanberra if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
plane
+

Fly

Fly from Canberra (CBR) to Hamilton Island (HTI).

  • Duration5h 10m
  • Flight time3h 25m
  • Typical cost
    A$875($590)
Operated by

Qantas

+ 2 others
2
3 x bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Sydney then Brisbane and then to Airlie Beach.

  • Duration1 day 16h
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    A$425($285)
💰 Cheapest
3
bus
+
train
+
train
+

Bus and Train

Take the bus to Sydney then take the train to Brisbane and then to Proserpine.

  • Duration1 day 9h
  • Departs5 times a week
  • Typical cost
    A$295($195)
Operated by

Multiple operators

1 similiar route

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

4
car
+

Drive

Drive to Airlie Beach.

  • Duration24h 15m
  • Distance2,071km (1,287 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Canberra and Airlie Beach

There are several options for getting from Canberra to Airlie Beach by plane, bus, train and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus and then take the train which costs around A$295 ($195) and will take around 1 day 9h. If you need to get there more quickly, you can fly and arrive in approximately 5h 10m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately A$875 ($590).

The distance between Canberra and Airlie Beach is around 1,807km (1,123 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 1,671km (1,038 miles)

It takes around 5h 10m to get from Canberra and Airlie Beach by plane. If you are travelling by car it will take around 24h 15m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Canberra to Airlie Beach is to fly which takes around 5h 10m and will set you back approx A$875 ($590).

The cheapest way to travel between Canberra and Airlie Beach, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus and then take the train which will typically cost around A$295 ($195) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

There is no train service that runs between Canberra and Airlie Beach. We recommend that you fly from Canberra (CBR) to Hamilton Island (HTI). instead which will take 5h 10m.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Canberra and Airlie Beach. It typically takes around 1 day 16h and departs once daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Canberra to Airlie Beach. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Sydney, Brisbane and Roma Street busway station. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 1 day 16h.

Murrays Coaches, Greyhound Australia and Premier Motor Service run regular bus services between Canberra and Airlie Beach. Buses run once daily and take around 1 day 16h on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

Yes you can fly from Canberra and Airlie Beach. Flights depart from Canberra (CBR) and arrive at Hamilton Island (HTI) - via Sydney (SYD). The flight takes around 3h 25m.

There is no direct flight from Canberra to Airlie Beach. There is however a flight that goes via Sydney (SYD). This services will take at least 5h 10m (not including layover time).

The flight from Canberra to Airlie Beach typically takes around 3h 25m. Flights depart from Canberra (CBR) and and arrive into Hamilton Island (HTI).

The closest major airport to Airlie Beach is Hamilton Island Airport (HTI) (HTI) which is approximately 26km (16 miles) from Airlie Beach. Whitsunday Coast Airport (PPP) (PPP) and Cairns Airport (CNS) (CNS) 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 Canberra and Airlie Beach. The distance is around 2,071km (1,287 miles) by road and it will take around 24h 15m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Canberra to Airlie Beach is to fly which takes, on average, 5h 10m and will usually cost around A$875 ($590).

How do I get from Canberra to Airlie Beach

Compare travel optionsbetween Canberra and Airlie Beach

Transport options from Canberra to Airlie Beach
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Fly
5h 10m
A$875($590)
every 3 hours1,807km (1,123 miles)
Bus
1 day 16h
A$425($285)
once daily2,624km (1,630 miles)
Bus and Train + 1 similar
1 day 9h
A$295($195)
5 times a week2,361km (1,467 miles)
Bus to Wollongong Station, Station St, train1 day 19h
A$335($225)
once daily2,678km (1,664 miles)
Drive
24h 15m
A$390($265)
on demand2,071km (1,287 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Canberra and Airlie Beach

Airlines

Train operators

Bus companies

Airports near Airlie Beach

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

HTI
Hamilton Island Airport (HTI)
Domestic Airport
Distance
26km (16 miles) from Airlie Beach
PPP
Whitsunday Coast Airport (PPP)
Domestic Airport
Distance
30km (18 miles) from Airlie Beach
CNS
Cairns Airport (CNS)
International Airport
Distance
490km (305 miles) from Airlie Beach