How to travel from Mackay to Byron Bay, Australia

The distance between Mackay and Byron Bay is around 991km (616 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly, then take the train and then take the bus which takes around 4h 45m.

6 routes found

We've found 6 different ways to get from Mackay to Byron Bay 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 Byron BayMackay if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
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Plane, Train and Bus

Fly from Mackay (MKY) to Brisbane (BNE) then take the train to Varsity Lakes station platform 2 then take the bus to Byron Bay.

  • Duration4h 45m
  • Flight time1h 25m
  • Typical cost
    A$190($130)
Operated by

Multiple operators

1 similiar route

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

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bus
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bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Brisbane and then to Byron Bay.

  • Duration20hrs
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    A$230($155)
Operated by

Premier Motor Service

💰 Cheapest
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train
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Train and Bus

Take the train to Brisbane Roma Street and then to Varsity Lakes station platform 2 then take the bus to Byron Bay.

  • Duration16h 15m
  • Departs5 times a week
  • Typical cost
    A$175($120)
Operated by

Multiple operators

1 similiar route

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

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car
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Drive

Drive to Byron Bay.

  • Duration14h 30m
  • Distance1,115km (693 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Mackay and Byron Bay

There are several options for getting from Mackay to Byron Bay by plane, train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the train and then take the bus which costs around A$175 ($120) and will take around 16h 15m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can fly, then take the train and then take the bus and arrive in approximately 4h 45m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately A$190 ($130).

The distance between Mackay and Byron Bay is around 991km (616 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 947km (588 miles)

It takes around 4h 45m to get from Mackay and Byron Bay by plane, train and bus. If you are travelling by car it will take around 14h 30m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Mackay to Byron Bay is to fly, then take the train and then take the bus which takes around 4h 45m and will set you back approx A$190 ($130).

The cheapest way to travel between Mackay and Byron Bay, if you exclude driving, is to take the train and then take the bus which will typically cost around A$175 ($120) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

There is no train service that runs between Mackay and Byron Bay. We recommend that you fly from Mackay (MKY) to Brisbane (BNE) then take the train to Varsity Lakes station platform 2 then take the bus to Byron Bay. instead which will take 4h 45m.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Mackay and Byron Bay. It typically takes around 20hrs and departs once daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Mackay to Byron Bay. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Brisbane. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 20hrs.

Premier Motor Service and Greyhound Australia run regular bus services between Mackay and Byron Bay. Buses run once daily and take around 20hrs on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Mackay to Byron Bay. We recommend that you fly from Mackay (MKY) to Brisbane (BNE) then take the train to Varsity Lakes station platform 2 then take the bus to Byron Bay. instead which will take 4h 45m.

The closest major airport to Byron Bay is Ballina Byron Airport (BNK) (BNK) which is approximately 22km (14 miles) from Byron Bay. Gold Coast Airport (OOL) (OOL) and Brisbane Airport (BNE) (BNE) 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 Mackay and Byron Bay. The distance is around 1,115km (693 miles) by road and it will take around 14h 30m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Mackay to Byron Bay is to fly, then take the train and then take the bus which takes, on average, 4h 45m and will usually cost around A$190 ($130).

How do I get from Mackay to Byron Bay

Compare travel optionsbetween Mackay and Byron Bay

Transport options from Mackay to Byron Bay
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Plane, Train and Bus + 1 similar
4h 45m
A$190($130)
twice daily991km (616 miles)
Bus, Plane and Train7h 50m
A$195($130)
once daily1,287km (800 miles)
Bus
20hrs
A$230($155)
once daily1,352km (840 miles)
Train and Bus + 1 similar
16h 15m
A$175($120)
5 times a week1,118km (694 miles)
Bus and Train20h 50m
A$230($155)
once daily1,313km (816 miles)
Drive
14h 30m
A$150($100)
on demand1,115km (693 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Mackay and Byron Bay

Airlines

Bus companies

Train operators

Airports near Byron Bay

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

BNK
Ballina Byron Airport (BNK)
Domestic Airport
Distance
22km (14 miles) from Byron Bay
OOL
Gold Coast Airport (OOL)
International Airport
Distance
55km (34 miles) from Byron Bay
BNE
Brisbane Airport (BNE)
International Airport
Distance
147km (91 miles) from Byron Bay