There are 6 ways to get from Alice Springs to Mackay by plane, bus (Greyhound), 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
best- Fly from Alice Springs Airport (ASP) to Mackay (MKY)plane ASP - MKY
16h 10m$606–1,666Drive 2,400.2 km
cheapest- Drive from Alice Springs to Mackaycar 2,400.2 km
24h 19m$435–627Bus
- Take the bus from Alice Springs to Adelaidebus
- Take the bus from 85 Franklin St to Albury Station/Hume Hwybus
- Take the bus from Albury Station, Coach Bay 1 to Central Station, Forecourt, Coach Bay 1bus
- Take the bus from Central Station to Brisbanebus
- Take the bus from Brisbane Coach Terminal to Mackaybus
3d 5h$555–1,371Bus, train
- Take the bus from Alice Springs to Adelaidebus
- Take the train from Adelaide to Brisbanetrain
- Take the train from Roma Street to Mackaytrain
3d 19h$2,423–17,132Bus, train via Mackay
- Take the bus from Alice Springs to Adelaidebus
- Take the train from Adelaide to Brisbanetrain
- Take the bus from Brisbane Roma Street to Mackaybus
3d 23h$2,472–13,741Train
- Take the train from Alice Springs to Manguritrain
- Take the train from Manguri to Adelaide Stationtrain
- Take the train from Adelaide to Brisbanetrain
- Take the train from Roma Street to Mackaytrain
4d 1h$5,302–19,705
Alice Springs to Mackay by bus, foot, and train
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Alice Springs to Mackay is to drive which costs $430 - $650 and takes 24h 19m.
The fastest way to get from Alice Springs to Mackay is to fly which takes 16h 10m and costs $600 - $1,700.
No, there is no direct bus from Alice Springs to Mackay. However, there are services departing from Alice Springs and arriving at Mackay via 85 Franklin St, Albury Station, Coach Bay 1, Central Station and Brisbane Coach Terminal. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 3 days 5h.
No, there is no direct train from Alice Springs to Mackay. However, there are services departing from Alice Springs and arriving at Mackay via Manguri, Adelaide, Central station, platform 5 and Roma Street. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 4 days 1h.
The distance between Alice Springs and Mackay is 1611 km. The road distance is 2400.2 km.
The best way to get from Alice Springs to Mackay without a car is to bus which takes 3 days 5h and costs $550 - $1,400.
It takes approximately 16h 10m to get from Alice Springs to Mackay, including transfers.
Alice Springs to Mackay bus services, operated by Greyhound Australia, depart from Alice Springs station.
Alice Springs to Mackay train services, operated by Journey Beyond - The Ghan, depart from Alice Springs station.
The best way to get from Alice Springs to Mackay is to fly which takes 16h 10m and costs $600 - $1,700. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $550 - $1,400 and takes 3 days 5h, you could also train, which costs $5,000 - $20,000 and takes 4 days 1h.
What companies run services between Alice Springs, NT, Australia and Mackay, QLD, Australia?
Qantas, Airnorth, and Virgin Australia fly from Alice Springs Airport (ASP) to Mackay (MKY) 3 times a day. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Alice Springs to Mackay via 85 Franklin St, Albury Station, Coach Bay 1, Central Station, Brisbane, and Brisbane Coach Terminal in around 3d 5h.
- Website
- qantas.com
Flights from Alice Springs Airport to Mackay via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 15h 55m
- When
- Wednesday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $750–2,400
Flights from Alice Springs Airport to Mackay via Sydney, Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 18h 20m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $900–2,700
Flights from Alice Springs Airport to Mackay via Adelaide, Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 18h 35m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $900–2,800
Flights from Alice Springs Airport to Mackay via Cairns, Townsville
- Ave. Duration
- 19h 40m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $800–2,900
Flights from Alice Springs Airport to Mackay via Brisbane, Rockhampton
- Ave. Duration
- 19h 45m
- When
- Wednesday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $750–2,400
- Website
- virginaustralia.com
Flights from Alice Springs Airport to Mackay via Adelaide, Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 20h 40m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $550–1,600
- Phone
- 1800 703 357
- [email protected]
- Website
- Great Southern
Train from Adelaide to Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 2d 7h
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- $2,190–13,000
- Book at
- Great Southern
- Website
- Great Southern
- Gold
- $2,190
- Gold Premium
- $2,990
- Suite
- $8,500–13,000
Train from Adelaide to Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 2d 7h
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- $2,190–13,000
- Book at
- Great Southern
- Website
- Great Southern
- Gold
- $2,190
- Gold Premium
- $2,990
- Suite
- $8,500–13,000
Train from Adelaide to Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 2d 7h
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- $2,190–13,000
- Book at
- Great Southern
- Website
- Great Southern
- Gold
- $2,190
- Gold Premium
- $2,990
- Suite
- $8,500–13,000
- Phone
- 1800 872 467
- Website
- Queensland Rail Travel
Train from Roma Street to Mackay
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 23m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $100–3,519
- Book at
- Queensland Rail Travel
- Website
- Queensland Rail Travel
- Schedules at
- Queensland Rail Travel
- BQuick
- $100–140
- AChoice
- $170–230
- Gold Class
- $2,810
- Heritage Class
- $3,519
Train from Roma Street to Mackay
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 23m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $100–3,519
- Book at
- Queensland Rail Travel
- Website
- Queensland Rail Travel
- Schedules at
- Queensland Rail Travel
- BQuick
- $100–140
- AChoice
- $170–230
- Gold Class
- $2,810
- Heritage Class
- $3,519
- Phone
- 1800 703 357
- [email protected]
- Website
- journeybeyondrail.com.au
Train from Alice Springs to Manguri
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 45m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- $1,441
- Book at
- Great Southern Rail - The Ghan
- Everyday Gold Single Cabin
- $1,306
- Flexible Gold Single Cabin
- $1,441
Train from Manguri to Adelaide Station
- Ave. Duration
- 15h 10m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- $1,649
- Book at
- Great Southern Rail - The Ghan
- Everyday Gold Single Cabin
- $1,493
- Flexible Gold Single Cabin
- $1,649
- Phone
- 1300 473946
- [email protected]
- Website
- Greyhound Australia
Bus from Alice Springs to Adelaide
- Ave. Duration
- 19h 55m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $220–550
- Website
- Greyhound Australia
- Schedules at
- Greyhound Australia
- Early Bird
- $220–310
- Flexible
- $270–550
Bus from Albury Station, Coach Bay 1 to Central Station, Forecourt, Coach Bay 1
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $95–210
- Website
- Greyhound Australia
- Schedules at
- Greyhound Australia
- Early Bird
- $95–140
- Flexible
- $120–210
Bus from Central Station to Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 13h
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $130–320
- Website
- Greyhound Australia
- Schedules at
- Greyhound Australia
- Early Bird
- $130–200
- Flexible
- $170–320
Bus from Alice Springs to Adelaide
- Ave. Duration
- 19h 55m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $220–550
- Website
- Greyhound Australia
- Schedules at
- Greyhound Australia
- Early Bird
- $220–310
- Flexible
- $270–550
Bus from Alice Springs to Adelaide
- Ave. Duration
- 19h 55m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $220–550
- Website
- Greyhound Australia
- Schedules at
- Greyhound Australia
- Early Bird
- $220–310
- Flexible
- $270–550
- Phone
- 1800 800 007
- [email protected]
- Website
- V/Line
Bus from 85 Franklin St to Albury Station/Hume Hwy
- Phone
- 131 500
- Website
- NSW TrainLink
Bus from Albury Station, Coach Bay 1 to Central Station, Forecourt, Coach Bay 1
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 30m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $40–65
- Website
- NSW TrainLink
- Website
- FlixBus Australia
Bus from Albury Station, Coach Bay 1 to Central Station, Forecourt, Coach Bay 1
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 10m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $85–130
- Schedules at
- FlixBus Australia
Bus from Brisbane Coach Terminal to Mackay
- Ave. Duration
- 16h 41m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $150–240
- Schedules at
- FlixBus Australia
- Phone
- 1300 730 740
- [email protected]
- Website
- Firefly Express
Bus from Albury Station, Coach Bay 1 to Central Station, Forecourt, Coach Bay 1
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 35m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $63–66
- Website
- Firefly Express
- Phone
- 13 34 10
- [email protected]
- Website
- Premier Motor Service
Bus from Brisbane Roma Street to Mackay
- Ave. Duration
- 17h 20m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $150–210
- Website
- Premier Motor Service
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Booking & Getting There
Alice Springs to Mackay bus services, operated by Greyhound Australia, arrive at Adelaide station.
Mackay is 30 min ahead of Alice Springs. It is currently 9:18 PM in Alice Springs and 9:48 PM in Mackay.
Alice Springs to Mackay train services, operated by Journey Beyond - The Ghan, arrive at Manguri station.
Yes, the driving distance between Alice Springs to Mackay is 2400 km. It takes approximately 24h 19m to drive from Alice Springs to Mackay.
There are 96+ hotels available in Mackay.




















