There are 5 ways to get from Melbourne to Townsville by plane, train, bus 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.
Recommended option
Fly • 5 h 10 min
$153 - $323
4 alternative options
Train • 45 h 4 min
$298 - $573
Bus, train • 45 h 35 min
$281 - $454
Bus • 2 days 12 h
$344 - $561
Drive • 29 h 51 min
$220 - $340
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Melbourne to Townsville is to fly which costs $200 - $440 and takes 5 h 10 min.
The quickest way to get from Melbourne to Townsville is to fly which takes 5 h 10 min and costs $200 - $440.
The distance between Melbourne and Townsville is 2070 km. The road distance is 2572 km.
It takes approximately 5 h 10 min to get from Melbourne to Townsville, including transfers.
No, there is no direct bus from Melbourne to Townsville. However, there are services departing from Melbourne and arriving at Townsville via Adelaide and Alice Springs. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2 days 12 h.
No, there is no direct train from Melbourne to Townsville. However, there are services departing from Southern Cross and arriving at Townsville via Central Station and Brisbane Roma Street. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 45 h 4 min.
What companies run services between Melbourne, VIC, Australia and Townsville, QLD, Australia?
Jetstar, Tigerair Australia and three other airlines fly from Melbourne to Townsville hourly. Alternatively, you can take a train from Melbourne to Townsville via Central Station, Brisbane, and Brisbane Roma Street in around 45 h 4 min.
- Website
- qantas.com
Flights from Melbourne to Townsville
- Ave. Duration
- 3 h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150 - $600
Flights from Melbourne to Townsville via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 5 h 19 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $190 - $650
Flights from Melbourne to Townsville via Toowoomba
- Ave. Duration
- 5 h 20 min
- When
- Monday, Wednesday and Friday
- Estimated price
- $310 - $850
Flights from Melbourne to Townsville via Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 5 h 30 min
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $190 - $650
- Website
- virginaustralia.com
Flights from Melbourne to Townsville via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 5 h 10 min
- When
- Monday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- $180 - $600
Flights from Melbourne to Townsville via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 5 h 23 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $180 - $600
- Website
- jetstar.com
Flights from Melbourne to Townsville
- Ave. Duration
- 3 h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150 - $600
Flights from Melbourne to Townsville via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 5 h 25 min
- When
- Monday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- $150 - $600
- Website
- tigerair.com.au
Flights from Melbourne to Townsville
- Ave. Duration
- 3 h
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $140 - $240
- Website
- flyairnorth.com
Flights from Melbourne to Townsville via Toowoomba
- Ave. Duration
- 5 h 20 min
- When
- Monday, Wednesday and Friday
- Estimated price
- $310 - $850
- Website
- ptv.vic.gov.au
Train from Southern Cross to Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 11 h 29 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $60 - $180
- Website
- transportnsw.info
- Economy
- $60 - $80
- First
- $85 - $120
- Sleeper
- $150 - $180
- Phone
- 131 500
- Website
- transportnsw.info
Train from Central Station to Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 14 h 12 min
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $95 - $140
- Schedules at
- tp.transportnsw.info
- Economy
- $95 - $140
- 1st Class
- $130 - $190
- Phone
- 1300 131 722
- reservations@qr.com.au
- Website
- queenslandrailtravel.com.au
Train from Brisbane Roma Street to Townsville
- Ave. Duration
- 17 h 23 min
- Frequency
- 5 times a week
- Estimated price
- $140 - $260
- Schedules at
- queenslandrailtravel.com.au
- A-Choice
- $260
- B-Quick
- $143
- Phone
- 1300 730 740
- Website
- fireflyexpress.com.au
Bus from Melbourne to Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 12 h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $45 - $55
- Website
- fireflyexpress.com.au
Bus from Melbourne to Adelaide
- Ave. Duration
- 11 h 50 min
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $40 - $55
- Website
- fireflyexpress.com.au
- Phone
- 1300 473946
- Website
- greyhound.com.au
Bus from Adelaide to Alice Springs
- Ave. Duration
- 20 h 30 min
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $130 - $220
- Schedules at
- Greyhound.com.au
- Book at
- Greyhound.com.au
- Saver
- $130 - $190
- Flexifare
- $150 - $220
Bus from Alice Springs to Townsville
- Ave. Duration
- 25 h 50 min
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $170 - $290
- Schedules at
- Greyhound.com.au
- Book at
- Greyhound.com.au
- Saver
- $170 - $250
- Flexifare
- $200 - $290
Want to know more about travelling around Australia
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