Facts about the transport from Cairns to Mackay Queensland
| Cheapest Transport | $90 |
| Fastest Transport | 2h 20m |
| Earliest Departure | 6:00 AM |
| Latest Departure | 5:50 PM |
| Departures per day | 20 |
| Distance | 1984 kilometers |
| Transport Companies | Greyhound Australia |
Cairns to Mackay Queensland
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Cairns to Mackay Queensland Destination Reviews
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Cairns to Mackay Queensland, Train #Spirit of Queensland Economy Seat, Queensland Rail, Jun 24, 2025
Cairns to Mackay Queensland Schedule
| Type | Operator | Class | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Flight | Virgin Australia | Economy | 06:00 | 10:40 | $185.51 | |
Flight | Qantas Airways | Economy | 06:45 | 09:00 | $373.00 | |
Train | Queensland Rail | Economy Seat | 07:40 | 18:49 | $71.78 | |
Flight | Qantas Airways | Economy | 08:00 | 15:20 | $276.48 | |
Flight | Jetstar Airways | Economy | 09:00 | 20:35 | $540.62 | |
Flight | Virgin Australia | Economy | 09:20 | 16:55 | $242.69 | |
Flight | Qantas Airways | Economy | 10:55 | 15:20 | $276.48 | |
Flight | Virgin Australia | Economy | 11:40 | 16:50 | $155.66 | |
Flight | Virgin Australia | Economy | 13:50 | 20:35 | $281.19 | |
Flight | Qantas Airways | Economy | 14:25 | 21:25 | $322.73 | |
Flight | Qantas Airways | Economy | 14:55 | 17:10 | $373.43 | |
Flight | Qantas Airways | Economy | 15:35 | 21:25 | $381.04 | |
Flight | Virgin Australia | Economy | 16:55 | 21:30 | $244.37 | |
Flight | Virgin Australia | Economy | 17:20 | 20:30 | $147.85 | |
Flight | Qantas Airways | Economy | 18:50 | 20:35 | $198.62 | |
Flight | Virgin Australia | Economy | 21:00 | 20:35 | $160.12 |
How to get from Cairns to Mackay Queensland
Travelling between Cairns and Mackay Queensland is possible by Flight, bus and train. Flight guarantees the fastest travel on this route. Flight is the slowest option.
The most expensive ticket will cost you USD 1,063.20 if you go by flight; to keep it budget-friendly, opt for a flight which will set you back mere USD 176.42.
How long does it take to get from Cairns to Mackay Queensland?
It can take you anywhere between 3 and 26 hours to travel between Cairns and Mackay Queensland depending on the means of transport you choose.
Flight is the fastest way to travel between Cairns and Mackay Queensland. Flight will bring you to your destination in 2h 20m. Flight does a much slower job and take about 1days 1h 35m to reach Mackay Queensland.
How much does it cost to get from Cairns to Mackay Queensland?
Travelling between Cairns and Mackay Queensland can be as cheap as USD 176.42 if you opt for a Virgin Australia flight and as expensive as USD 1,063.20 if you buy a Qantas Airways flight ticket.
Here is the list of how much you can expect to pay travelling by each means of transport available for this route.
How many trips per day are there between Cairns and Mackay Queensland ?
- 20 from Cairns to Mackay Queensland starting from 06:00 Cairns Airport until 17:50 Cairns Airport
Check above for a bus, train, flight and ferry timetable from Cairns to Mackay Queensland.
What mode of transportation is the best one for my route?
Flights
Flying is the fastest and often the most expensive way to travel from Cairns to Mackay Queensland, but with a bit of luck you can score very good deals for as little as USD 176.68.Things to remember: Note that some of the airlines may have restrictions on checked luggage weight or require paying extra for check-in, choosing seats or transportation of oversized luggage.
If opting for a flight, calculate the time you will spend getting to and from the airports as well as the waiting time before your flight, getting through immigration in case of an international flight and recovering your checked luggage.
In certain cases all these procedures can add no less than 5 hours to your total travel time.
Airlines flying between Cairns and Mackay Queensland
Jetstar Airways, Qantas Airways, Virgin Australia
Bus
Travelling from Cairns to Mackay Queensland overland will inevitably take longer but in many cases it is the cheapest option if you opt for a bus.Things to remember: For a more comfortable ride opt for a higher-class bus wherever possible. These buses usually have soft reclining seats and are equipped with air-conditioning and on-board toilets.
They often include water, snacks or a light lunch into your ticket price and make bathroom stops en-route.
Companies operating bus routes between Cairns and Mackay Queensland
Greyhound Australia
Train
Train is a often a great choice for long-haul travel especially if you opt for a night sleeper train with berths which will allow you to sleep all your journey through. To make the most of your train journey, choose the class of your ticket wisely.Note that there are air-conditioned and fan-only carriages; private compartments for 2 or 4; hard and soft seats.
Though the upper class you get the smoother is your journey, often second class air-conditioned or fan-only sleepers are a good money saving alternative.
What is the most popular transport to get from Cairns to Mackay Queensland?
There is a choice of transportation means any time of the day with Train remaining the most popular option due to their reasonable pricing and comfort.
Out of 1000 travellers who bought tickets for this route
- 82% took a train
- 18% opted for a bus
Transportation from Cairns to Mackay Queensland
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Trains$ 89.73
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Buses$ 137.03
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Flights$ 176.68
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Ferries are not available
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Taxis are not available
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Vans are not available