How to travel from Newcastle to Airlie Beach, Australia

The distance between Newcastle and Airlie Beach is around 1,557km (967 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly which takes around 4h 40m.

4 routes found

We've found 4 different ways to get from Newcastle to Airlie Beach 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 Airlie BeachNewcastle if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
plane
+

Fly

Fly from Newcastle (NTL) to Hamilton Island (HTI).

  • Duration4h 40m
  • Flight time2h 55m
  • Typical cost
    A$805($540)
Operated by

Qantas

+ 3 others

1 similiar route

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

💰 Cheapest
2
bus
+
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Brisbane and then to Airlie Beach.

  • Duration1 day 11h
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    A$295($200)
Operated by

Premier Motor Service

3
car
+

Drive

Drive to Airlie Beach.

  • Duration21h 50m
  • Distance1,764km (1,096 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Newcastle and Airlie Beach

There are several options for getting from Newcastle to Airlie Beach by plane, train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around A$295 ($200) and will take around 1 day 11h. If you need to get there more quickly, you can fly and arrive in approximately 4h 40m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately A$805 ($540).

The distance between Newcastle and Airlie Beach is around 1,557km (967 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 1,439km (894 miles)

It takes around 4h 40m to get from Newcastle and Airlie Beach by plane. If you are travelling by car it will take around 21h 50m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Newcastle to Airlie Beach is to fly which takes around 4h 40m and will set you back approx A$805 ($540).

The cheapest way to travel between Newcastle and Airlie Beach, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around A$295 ($200) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

There is no train service that runs between Newcastle and Airlie Beach. We recommend that you fly from Newcastle (NTL) to Hamilton Island (HTI). instead which will take 4h 40m.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Newcastle and Airlie Beach. It typically takes around 1 day 11h and departs once daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Newcastle to Airlie Beach. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Brisbane. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 1 day 11h.

Premier Motor Service and Greyhound Australia run regular bus services between Newcastle and Airlie Beach. Buses run once daily and take around 1 day 11h on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

Yes you can fly from Newcastle and Airlie Beach. Flights depart from Newcastle (NTL) and arrive at Hamilton Island (HTI) - via Brisbane (BNE). The flight takes around 2h 55m.

There is no direct flight from Newcastle to Airlie Beach. There is however a flight that goes via Brisbane (BNE). This services will take at least 4h 40m (not including layover time).

The flight from Newcastle to Airlie Beach typically takes around 2h 55m. Flights depart from Newcastle (NTL) 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 Newcastle and Airlie Beach. The distance is around 1,764km (1,096 miles) by road and it will take around 21h 50m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Newcastle to Airlie Beach is to fly which takes, on average, 4h 40m and will usually cost around A$805 ($540).

How do I get from Newcastle to Airlie Beach

Compare travel optionsbetween Newcastle and Airlie Beach

Transport options from Newcastle to Airlie Beach
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Fly + 1 similar
4h 40m
A$805($540)
every 3 hours1,557km (967 miles)
Train and Plane6h 40m
A$470($315)
every 3 hours1,734km (1,077 miles)
Bus
1 day 11h
A$295($200)
once daily2,205km (1,370 miles)
Drive
21h 50m
A$335($225)
on demand1,764km (1,096 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Newcastle 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