There are 7 ways to get from Melbourne to Mackay by plane, train, bus (Greyhound), car, or bus
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly Melbourne Airport to Mackay
best- Fly from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Mackay (MKY)MEL - MKY
6h 14m$288–398Train
cheapest- Take the train from Southern Cross to Central Station622 / ...
- Take the train from Central Station to Roma Street Station31
- Take the train from Roma Street to Mackay
40h 31m$182–4,093Bus
- Take the bus from Southern Cross Coach Terminal/Spencer St to Central Station
- Take the bus from Central Station to Brisbane
- Take the bus from Brisbane to Mackay
43h 37mDrive 2,282.5 km
- Drive from Melbourne to Mackay2,282.5 km
25h 38m$433–625Bus to Avalon Airport, fly to Mackay
- Take the bus from Skybus Coach Terminal to Avalon Airport/Outside Terminal
- Fly from Avalon Airport (AVV) to Mackay (MKY)AVV - MKY
7h 20m$208–868Fly Melbourne Airport to Whitsunday Coast Airport, train
- Fly from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Whitsunday Coast Airport (PPP)MEL - PPP
- Take the train from Proserpine to Mackay
7h 4m$234–1,128Bus via Cabramatta
- Take the bus from Southern Cross Coach Terminal to Liverpool
- Take the bus from Central Station to Brisbane
- Take the bus from Brisbane Roma Street to Mackay
2d$349–477
Melbourne to Mackay by train
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Melbourne to Mackay is to fly which costs $280 - $400 and takes 6h 14m.
The fastest way to get from Melbourne to Mackay is to fly which takes 6h 14m and costs $280 - $400.
No, there is no direct bus from Melbourne to Mackay. However, there are services departing from Southern Cross Coach Terminal/Spencer St and arriving at Mackay via Central Station, King George Square, 1c and Brisbane. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 43h 37m.
No, there is no direct train from Melbourne to Mackay. However, there are services departing from Southern Cross and arriving at Mackay via Central Station and Roma Street. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 40h 31m.
The distance between Melbourne and Mackay is 1901 km. The road distance is 2282.5 km.
The best way to get from Melbourne to Mackay without a car is to train which takes 40h 31m and costs $180 - $4,100.
It takes approximately 6h 14m to get from Melbourne to Mackay, including transfers.
Melbourne to Mackay bus services, operated by FlixBus Australia, depart from Southern Cross Coach Terminal/Spencer St station.
Melbourne to Mackay train services, operated by NSW TrainLink XPT, depart from Southern Cross station.
The best way to get from Melbourne to Mackay is to fly which takes 6h 14m and costs $280 - $400. Alternatively, you can train, which costs $180 - $4,100 and takes 40h 31m, you could also bus, which costs and takes 43h 37m.
What companies run services between Melbourne, VIC, Australia and Mackay, QLD, Australia?
Qantas, Jetstar, and Virgin Australia fly from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Mackay (MKY) every 3 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train from Southern Cross to Mackay via Central Station, Roma Street Station, and Roma Street in around 40h 31m.
- Website
- qantas.com
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Mackay via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 5h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $320–1,000
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Mackay via Townsville
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 50m
- When
- Tuesday
- Estimated price
- $340–1,000
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Mackay via Brisbane, Rockhampton
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 10m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $320–1,000
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Mackay via Sydney, Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 30m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $330–1,000
Flights from Avalon Airport to Mackay via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $190–850
Flights from Avalon Airport to Mackay via Sydney, Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 21m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $200–1,500
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Whitsunday Coast Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 50m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $170–600
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Whitsunday Coast Airport via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 10m
- When
- Monday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- $500–1,500
- Website
- virginaustralia.com
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Mackay via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 37m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $270–360
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Mackay via Sydney, Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 45m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $270–360
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Whitsunday Coast Airport via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 45m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–440
- Website
- jetstar.com
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Mackay via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–550
Flights from Avalon Airport to Mackay via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $190–850
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Whitsunday Coast Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 50m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $170–600
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Whitsunday Coast Airport via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 50m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $170–600
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Whitsunday Coast Airport via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 45m
- When
- Wednesday and Friday
- Estimated price
- $170–600
- Phone
- 131 500
- Website
- transportnsw.info
Train from Southern Cross to Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 2m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $65–250
- Website
- https://transportnsw.info/regional
- Book at
- https://transportnsw.info/regional/regional-train-coach-facilities/xpt-regional-trains
- Economy
- $75–100
- First
- $100–140
- Sleeper
- $210–250
Train from Central Station to Roma Street Station
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 6m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $70–250
- Website
- https://transportnsw.info/regional
- Book at
- https://transportnsw.info/regional/regional-train-coach-facilities/xpt-regional-trains
- Economy
- $80–110
- First
- $110–150
- Sleeper
- $220–250
- Phone
- 1800 872 467
- Website
- queenslandrailtravel.com.au
Train from Roma Street to Mackay
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 23m
- 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 Proserpine to Mackay
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 33m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $6–453
- 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
- $85–170
- AChoice
- $6–29
- Gold Class
- $362
- Heritage Class
- $453
- Website
- flixbus.com.au
Bus from Southern Cross Coach Terminal/Spencer St to Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 20m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com.au
- Phone
- 1300 473946
- Website
- greyhound.com.au
Bus from Central Station to Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 14h
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $130–300
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/
- Schedules at
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/timetables
- Early Bird
- $130–190
- Advantage
- $160–240
- Flexible
- $190–300
Bus from Brisbane to Mackay
- Ave. Duration
- 16h 15m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $150–350
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/
- Schedules at
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/timetables
- Early Bird
- $150–210
- Advantage
- $180–270
- Flexible
- $230–350
- Phone
- +61 (0)3 9335 2811
- info@skybus.com.au
- Website
- skybus.com.au
Bus from Skybus Coach Terminal to Avalon Airport/Outside Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 10m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $18
- Website
- https://www.skybus.com.au
- Schedules at
- https://www.skybus.com.au/timetables/
- Book at
- https://www.skybus.com.au/buy-tickets/
- Phone
- 1300 730 740
- enquiries@fireflyexpress.com.au
- Website
- fireflyexpress.com.au
Bus from Southern Cross Coach Terminal to Liverpool
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 15m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $95–99
- Website
- http://www.fireflyexpress.com.au
- Phone
- 13 34 10
- reservations@premierms.com.au
- Website
- premierms.com.au
Bus from Central Station to Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 17h 35m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $120–180
- Website
- https://premierms.com.au/
Bus from Brisbane Roma Street to Mackay
- Ave. Duration
- 17h 20m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $130–190
- Website
- https://premierms.com.au/
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
More Questions & Answers
Melbourne to Mackay bus services, operated by FlixBus Australia, arrive at Central Station.
Mackay is 1h behind Melbourne. It is currently 11:55 PM in Melbourne and 10:55 PM in Mackay.
Melbourne to Mackay train services, operated by NSW TrainLink XPT, arrive at Central Station.
Yes, the driving distance between Melbourne to Mackay is 2283 km. It takes approximately 25h 38m to drive from Melbourne to Mackay.
There are 86+ hotels available in Mackay.


















