The distance between Sydney and Airlie Beach is around 1,573km (977 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly which takes around 4h 15m.
We've found 4 different ways to get from Sydney to Airlie Beach by plane, 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 Beach → Sydney if you're planning a return trip.
Fly from Sydney (SYD) to Hamilton Island (HTI).
Virgin Australia
+ 2 othersTake the bus to Brisbane and then to Airlie Beach.
1 similiar route
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
There are several options for getting from Sydney to Airlie Beach by plane, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around A$285 ($190) and will take around 1 day 14h. If you need to get there more quickly, you can fly and arrive in approximately 4h 15m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately A$460 ($310).
The distance between Sydney and Airlie Beach is around 1,573km (977 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 1,517km (943 miles)
It takes around 4h 15m to get from Sydney and Airlie Beach by plane. If you are travelling by car it will take around 23h 5m to drive there.
The quickest way to get from Sydney to Airlie Beach is to fly which takes around 4h 15m and will set you back approx A$460 ($310).
The cheapest way to travel between Sydney and Airlie Beach, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around A$285 ($190) for a standard one-way ticket.
There is no train service that runs between Sydney and Airlie Beach. We recommend that you fly from Sydney (SYD) to Hamilton Island (HTI). instead which will take 4h 15m.
Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Sydney and Airlie Beach. It typically takes around 1 day 13h and departs once daily.
There are no direct bus services that runs from Sydney to Airlie Beach. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Brisbane and Roma Street busway station. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 1 day 13h.
Greyhound Australia and Premier Motor Service run regular bus services between Sydney and Airlie Beach. Buses run once daily and take around 1 day 13h on average but will vary depending on you book with.
Yes you can fly from Sydney and Airlie Beach. Flights depart from Sydney (SYD) and arrive at Hamilton Island (HTI). The flight takes around 2h 35m.
Yes there is a direct flight between Sydney and Airlie Beach with no stop-overs required. Flights typically take around 2h 35m.
Virgin Australia, Jetstar and Qantas fly between Sydney and Airlie Beach. Flights depart from Sydney (SYD) and and arrive into Hamilton Island (HTI). These flights usually take around 2h 35m.
The flight from Sydney to Airlie Beach typically takes around 2h 35m. Flights depart from Sydney (SYD) 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.
Yes it is possible to drive from Sydney and Airlie Beach. The distance is around 1,885km (1,171 miles) by road and it will take around 23h 5m in normal traffic conditons.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Sydney to Airlie Beach is to fly which takes, on average, 4h 15m and will usually cost around A$460 ($310).
Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
---|---|---|---|---|
Fly | 4h 15m | A$460($310) | every 3 hours | 1,573km (977 miles) |
Bus + 1 similar | 1 day 13h | A$345($230) | once daily | 2,341km (1,455 miles) |
Bus via Brisbane | 1 day 14h | A$285($190) | once daily | 2,366km (1,470 miles) |
Drive | 23h 5m | A$355($240) | on demand | 1,885km (1,171 miles) |
Qantas
Virgin Australia
NSW TrainLink
Queensland Rail Travel
Premier Motor Service
The following major airports near Airlie Beach offer regular flights to various popular destinations within Australia and internationally.