Cairns to Mackay Queensland

Cairns to Mackay Queensland

Cairns
Mackay Queensland
Sun, Jul 27
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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
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Cairns to Mackay Queensland Schedule

TypeOperatorClassDeparture TimeArrival TimePriceRating
Flight
Virgin Australia Airlines
Economy
06:00
10:40
$221.80
Flight
Qantas Airways
Economy
06:45
13:10
$297.30
Train
Queensland Rail
Economy Seat
07:40
18:49
$67.39
  5.0
Flight
Qantas Airways
Economy
08:00
13:10
$297.30
Flight
Jetstar Airways
Economy
09:00
20:35
$567.09
Flight
Virgin Australia Airlines
Economy
09:20
16:55
$221.80
Flight
Qantas Airways
Economy
10:55
15:20
$287.93
Flight
Virgin Australia Airlines
Economy
11:40
16:50
$164.45
Flight
Jetstar Airways
Economy
12:00
20:35
$490.44
Flight
Qantas Airways
Economy
13:15
17:10
$270.97
Flight
Qantas Airways
Business
13:40
17:20
$1,151.46
Flight
Qantas Airways
Economy
14:25
20:35
$269.21
Flight
Qantas Airways
Economy
14:55
13:10
$530.22
Flight
Jetstar Airways
Economy
15:35
21:30
$565.34
Flight
Virgin Australia Airlines
Economy
16:55
20:35
$491.01
Flight
Qantas Airways
Economy
17:20
20:35
$774.85
Flight
Qantas Airways
Economy
17:55
13:10
$463.50
Flight
Qantas Airways
Economy
18:40
12:05
$861.18
Flight
Qantas Airways
Economy
20:00
12:05
$436.84
Flight
Virgin Australia Airlines
Economy
21:00
20:35
$272.13

Transportation from Cairns to Mackay Queensland

Facts about the transport from Cairns to Mackay Queensland

Cheapest Transport$85
Fastest Transport2h 20m
Earliest Departure6:00 AM
Latest Departure5:50 PM
Departures per day20
Distance1984 kilometers
Transport CompaniesGreyhound Australia, Jetstar Airways, Qantas Airways, Queensland Rail, Virgin Australia Airlines

How to get from Cairns to Mackay Queensland

When you want to get from Cairns to Mackay Queensland, you have a few options to consider. Traveling between these destinations is possible by different means of transport:

  • Flight
  • Bus
  • Train

If you’re looking for a quick trip, it’s recommended that you use Flight. However, if you’d rather take your time with a slower, more affordable travel option, you can book a Flight ticket.

The cost of travel will depend on the means of transport you choose for your trip. A flight ticket is the most expensive option - it will cost you about USD 998.11. If you want to save on transportation, it’s better to take a flight as a flight ticket costs as low as USD 165.62.

How far is Cairns from Mackay Queensland?

If you’re traveling by land, it’s important to know the distance from Cairns to Mackay Queensland. Your trip will be a total of 1234 miles (1984 km). The flying distance is 1234 miles (1984 km).

How long does it take to get from Cairns to Mackay Queensland?

The travel time from Cairns to Mackay Queensland can vary depending on the mode of transportation you choose. All things considered, the whole journey should take from 3 to 26 hours.

How much does it cost to get from Cairns to Mackay Queensland?

The cost of the trip from Cairns to Mackay Queensland varies according to what means of transport you choose for your journey. The most affordable operator is Virgin Australia Airlines: travelling by flight expect to pay as low as USD 165.62 for your ticket.

However, if you’re after more upscale travel . The most expensive variant is to opt for a flight - a one-way flight ticket can cost as much as USD 998.11.

Here is a chart of the average ticket prices and transportation options available from Cairns to Mackay Queensland:

  • Train tickets - USD 84.24 to USD 84.24;
  • Bus tickets - USD 128.64 to USD 131.25;
  • Plane tickets - USD 165.86 to USD 997.78;

How many trips per day are there between Cairns and Mackay Queensland?

Depending on your choice of transportation, the number of daily trips varies.

  • Flights from Cairns to Mackay Queensland depart during the day - there are approximately 20 departures a day.

Which means of transport is the best for the route?

Flights

Traveling by plane is the fastest way to get from Cairns to Mackay Queensland. While it’s often the most expensive option, tool, occasionally you can grab promotional tickets for more or less the price of a train or a ferry ticket. Normally, the minimum you need to pay for a Plane ticket is USD 165.86.

Things to remember before boarding a plane:

  • It’s recommended to book a ticket in advance and check-in online. This way, you can save over 2 hours at the airport, and if your seat selection is on a first come first served basis you will have more options to choose from.
  • Getting through security checks may take some time - it’s recommended to get to the airport at least 1.5 hours in advance.

Airlines flying from Cairns to Mackay Queensland

Jetstar Airways, Qantas Airways, Virgin Australia Airlines

Buses

Taking a bus from Cairns to Mackay Queensland is cheaper than flying. Quite often, a long-distance bus is the cheapest transportation option. Buses normally make bathroom and/or lunch stops along the way.

Things to remember before opting for a bus ride:

  • If possible, make sure to choose higher-class buses for a more comfortable travel experience. Such buses often have an air conditioning system, soft reclining seats, Wi-Fi, bathrooms, etc.
  • As with plane tickets, buses are better booked in advance so that you can secure a good seat.
  • While booking a bus, keep in mind that delays are possible. Yet it still pays to get to the bus station at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled departure.

Trains

Things to remember while choosing a train ticket:
Consider everything carefully while choosing the class of your train travel. In most cases, the second class is comfortable enough – it features 2 or 4 berths in each compartment and is often air-conditioned.

If you’re in for a premium experience, consider getting a first class ticket. The price of first class tickets may include Wifi, and a choice of snacks and drinks..

The most popular transport from Cairns to Mackay Queensland

How to choose the most convenient way of travel from Cairns to Mackay Queensland? In order to make your choice of transportation easier, we asked 1000 users to range their preferences for this route. Here are the results of the poll:

  • 82% users enjoyed a train ride.
  • 18% decided to go for a bus.