How to travel from Dubbo to Ballarat, Australia

The distance between Dubbo and Ballarat is around 823km (511 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly and then take the train which takes around 3h 60m.

6 routes found

We've found 6 different ways to get from Dubbo to Ballarat by plane, train, bus and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

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

🚀 Fastest
1
plane
+
train
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Fly to Melbourne Essendon Apt (MEB), Train

Fly from Dubbo (DBO) to Melbourne Essendon Apt (MEB) then take the train to Ballarat.

  • Duration3h 60m
  • Flight time1h 55m
  • Typical cost
    A$610($410)
Operated by

Multiple operators

2 similiar routes

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

💰 Cheapest
2
4 x bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Cootamundra Station Coach Bay 2, Gundagai Coach Stop Sheridan St then Melbourne and then to Ballarat.

  • Duration12h 35m
  • Departs4 times a week
  • Typical cost
    A$130($87)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

3
3 x train
+

Train

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

  • Duration18h 40m
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    A$185($125)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

4
car
+

Drive

Drive to Ballarat.

  • Duration10h 10m
  • Distance918km (570 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Dubbo and Ballarat

There are several options for getting from Dubbo to Ballarat by plane, train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around A$130 ($87) and will take around 12h 35m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can fly and then take the train and arrive in approximately 3h 60m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately A$610 ($410).

The distance between Dubbo and Ballarat is around 823km (511 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 732km (455 miles)

It takes around 4h 45m to get from Dubbo and Ballarat by plane and train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 10h 10m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Dubbo to Ballarat is to fly and then take the train which takes around 3h 60m and will set you back approx A$610 ($410).

The cheapest way to travel between Dubbo and Ballarat, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around A$130 ($87) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Dubbo and Ballarat. It typically takes around 18h 40m and departs once daily.

There are no direct train services that runs from Dubbo to Ballarat. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Central Station and Southern Cross. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 18h 40m.

NSW TrainLink, XPT and V-Line run train services between Dubbo and Ballarat. Trains depart once daily and will take around 18h 40m, 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 Dubbo and Ballarat. It typically takes around 12h 35m and departs 4 times a week.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Dubbo to Ballarat. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Cootamundra Station Coach Bay 2, Gundagai Coach Stop Sheridan St and Melbourne. These services run 4 times a week and will take a minimum of 12h 35m.

NSW TrainLink, Firefly Express and V-Line run regular bus services between Dubbo and Ballarat. Buses run 4 times a week and take around 12h 35m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Dubbo to Ballarat. We recommend that you fly from Dubbo (DBO) to Melbourne (MEL) then take the train to Ballarat. instead which will take 4h 45m.

The closest major airport to Ballarat is Avalon Airport (AVV) (AVV) which is approximately 75km (46 miles) from Ballarat. Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) (MEL) and King Island Airport (KNS) (KNS) 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 Dubbo and Ballarat. The distance is around 918km (570 miles) by road and it will take around 10h 10m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Dubbo to Ballarat is to fly and then take the train which takes, on average, 4h 45m and will usually cost around A$405 ($275).

How do I get from Dubbo to Ballarat

Compare travel optionsbetween Dubbo and Ballarat

Transport options from Dubbo to Ballarat
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Fly to Melbourne Essendon Apt (MEB), Train + 2 similar
3h 60m
A$610($410)
hourly823km (511 miles)
Plane and Train4h 45m
A$405($275)
hourly1,155km (718 miles)
Fly to Avalon (AVV), Train5hrs
A$275($185)
twice daily1,227km (762 miles)
Bus
12h 35m
A$130($87)
4 times a week993km (617 miles)
Train
18h 40m
A$185($125)
once daily1,513km (940 miles)
Drive
10h 10m
A$120($82)
on demand918km (570 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Dubbo and Ballarat

Airlines

Train operators

Bus companies

Airports near Ballarat

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

AVV
Avalon Airport (AVV)
International Airport
Distance
75km (46 miles) from Ballarat
MEL
Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL)
International Airport
Distance
87km (54 miles) from Ballarat
KNS
King Island Airport (KNS)
Domestic Airport
Distance
258km (160 miles) from Ballarat