There are 6 ways to get from Mackay to Katherine by plane, bus, train, or car
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly to Darwin International Airport, bus
best- Fly from Mackay (MKY) to Darwin International Airport (DRW)plane MKY - DRW
- Take the bus from Palmerston to Katherinebus
12h 43m$511–866Drive 2,516.3 km
cheapest- Drive from Mackay to Katherinecar 2,516.3 km
25h 19m$455–657Bus, train
- Take the bus from Mackay to Brisbane Roma Streetbus
- Take the bus from Roma Street Station, Stand F to Central Station, Forecourt, Coach Bay 1bus
- Take the train from Sydney Central Station to Adelaide Parklandstrain
- Take the bus from Adelaide to Alice Springsbus
- Take the bus from Alice Springs to Katherinebus
4d 3h$951–5,475Train, bus
- Take the train from Mackay to Roma Streettrain
- Take the train from Brisbane to Adelaidetrain
- Take the bus from Adelaide to Alice Springsbus
- Take the bus from Alice Springs to Katherinebus
4d 9h$2,711–9,910Fly to Katherine
- Fly from Mackay (MKY) to Katherine (KTR)plane MKY - KTR
25h 13m$695–1,714Train, bus via Adelaide
- Take the train from Mackay to Roma Streettrain
- Take the train from Brisbane to Adelaidetrain
- Take the train from Adelaide Station to Alice Springstrain
- Take the bus from Alice Springs to Katherinebus
4d 15h$4,510–11,413
Mackay to Katherine by train, foot, and bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Mackay to Katherine is to drive which costs $450 - $700 and takes 25h 19m.
The fastest way to get from Mackay to Katherine is to fly and bus which takes 12h 43m and costs $500 - $900.
The distance between Mackay and Katherine is 2505 km. The road distance is 2516.3 km.
The best way to get from Mackay to Katherine without a car is to bus and train which takes 4 days 3h and costs $950 - $5,500.
It takes approximately 12h 43m to get from Mackay to Katherine, including transfers.
Katherine is 30 min behind Mackay. It is currently 3:22 AM in Mackay and 2:52 AM in Katherine.
Yes, the driving distance between Mackay to Katherine is 2516 km. It takes approximately 25h 19m to drive from Mackay to Katherine.
There are 19+ hotels available in Katherine.
What companies run services between Mackay, QLD, Australia and Katherine, NT, Australia?
Qantas, Airnorth, and Virgin Australia fly from Mackay (MKY) to Katherine (KTR) 4 times a week.
- Website
- qantas.com
Flights from Mackay to Darwin International Airport via Townsville
- Ave. Duration
- 6h
- When
- Monday and Friday
- Estimated price
- $420–1,400
Flights from Mackay to Darwin International Airport via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 27m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–1,700
Flights from Mackay to Darwin International Airport via Brisbane, Townsville
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 35m
- When
- Monday and Friday
- Estimated price
- $500–1,700
- Website
- virginaustralia.com
Flights from Mackay to Darwin International Airport via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 7m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $350–750
- Website
- flyairnorth.com
Flights from Mackay to Katherine via Brisbane, Darwin International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 27h 40m
- When
- Tuesday and Thursday
- Estimated price
- $650–3,500
- Website
- jetstar.com
Flights from Mackay to Darwin International Airport via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 25m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $230–900
Train from Sydney Central Station to Adelaide Parklands
- Ave. Duration
- 26h 25m
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- $400–4,300
- Book at
- https://bookings.journeybeyondrail.com.au/
- Everyday Daynighter Seat
- $400
- Advanced Gold Single Cabin
- $650–900
- Low Gold Single Cabin
- $700–950
- Everyday Gold Single Cabin
- $850–1,100
- GOLD TWIN
- $1,100–2,000
- GOLD SINGLE
- $1,000–1,800
- PLATINUM
- $2,800–4,300
- GOLD PREMIUM TWIN
- $1,400–2,400
- Phone
- 1800 872 467
- Website
- queenslandrailtravel.com.au
Train from Mackay to Roma Street
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 41m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $45–3,519
- Book at
- https://queenslandrailtravel-booking.opendestinations.com/BookingSite/rail/search
- Website
- https://www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au/
- Schedules at
- https://www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au/Pages/Timetable.aspx
- BQuick
- $85–290
- AChoice
- $45–230
- Gold Class
- $2,810
- Heritage Class
- $3,519
Train from Brisbane to Adelaide
- Ave. Duration
- 2d 4h
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- $2,365–5,390
- Book at
- https://bookings.greatsouthernrail.com.au/?_ga=2.27793852.1430812322.1538203551-1884130056.1538203551
- Gold
- $2,365
- Gold Premium
- $3,390
- Platinum
- $5,390
Train from Adelaide Station to Alice Springs
- Ave. Duration
- 26h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- $1,988
- Book at
- https://bookings.greatsouthernrail.com.au/?_ga=2.27793852.1430812322.1538203551-1884130056.1538203551
- Saver Gold Single Cabin
- $1,988
- Everyday Gold Single Cabin
- $2,093
- Phone
- 1300 473946
- Website
- greyhound.com.au
Bus from Palmerston to Katherine
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 20m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $50–100
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/
- Schedules at
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/timetables
- Early Bird
- $50–75
- Advantage
- $55–85
- Flexible
- $65–100
Bus from Adelaide to Alice Springs
- Ave. Duration
- 20h 30m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $200–500
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/
- Schedules at
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/timetables
- Early Bird
- $200–300
- Advantage
- $250–380
- Flexible
- $330–500
Bus from Alice Springs to Katherine
- Ave. Duration
- 16h 15m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $160–390
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/
- Schedules at
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/timetables
- Early Bird
- $160–240
- Advantage
- $200–300
- Flexible
- $250–390
- Phone
- 13 34 10
- reservations@premierms.com.au
- Website
- premierms.com.au
Bus from Mackay to Brisbane Roma Street
- Ave. Duration
- 17h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $130–190
- Website
- https://premierms.com.au/
- Phone
- 131 500
- Website
- transportnsw.info
Bus from Roma Street Station, Stand F to Central Station, Forecourt, Coach Bay 1
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 50m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $65–95
- Website
- https://transportnsw.info/regional
Want to know more about travelling around Australia
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
Related travel guides
Best ways to travel around Australia
Read the travel guide
10 amazing places to get away from it all in Australia
Read the travel guide
4 of the smartest ways to explore Australia
Read the travel guide


















