There are 6 ways to get from Ballarat to Cairns by train, plane, 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.
Train to Melbourne Airport, fly
best- Take the train from Ballarat Station to Melton Stationtrain
- Fly from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Cairns (CNS)plane MEL - CNS
7h 57m$156–656Train
- Take the train from Ballarat Station to Southern Cross Stationtrain
- Take the train from Southern Cross to Central Stationtrain 622 / ...
- Take the train from Central Station to Roma Street Stationtrain 31
- Take the train from Roma Street to Cairns Central Stationtrain
2d 6h$341–6,996Bus
- Take the bus from Ballarat Station/Lydiard St to Southern Cross Coach Terminal/Spencer Stbus
- Take the bus from Southern Cross Coach Terminal/Spencer St to Central Stationbus
- Take the bus from Central Station to Brisbanebus
- Take the bus from Brisbane Coach Terminal to Cairnsbus
2d 9h$492–906Drive 2,782.9 km
- Drive from Ballarat to Cairnscar 2,782.9 km
32h 36m$511–738Train, train to Avalon Airport, fly
- Take the train from Ballarat Station to Deer Park Stationtrain
- Take the train from Deer Park Station to Lara Stationtrain
- Fly from Avalon Airport (AVV) to Cairns (CNS)plane AVV - CNS
11h 9m$258–968Train, bus
- Take the train from Ballarat Station to Southern Cross Stationtrain
- Take the bus from Southern Cross Coach Terminal to Liverpoolbus
- Take the bus from Central Station to Brisbanebus
- Take the bus from Brisbane Roma Street to Cairns Central Stationbus
2d 15h$444–631
Ballarat to Cairns by train
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Ballarat to Cairns is to train and fly which costs $150 - $700 and takes 7h 57m.
The fastest way to get from Ballarat to Cairns is to train and fly which takes 7h 57m and costs $150 - $700.
No, there is no direct bus from Ballarat station to Cairns. However, there are services departing from Ballarat Station/Lydiard St and arriving at Cairns via Southern Cross Coach Terminal/Spencer St, Central Station and Brisbane Coach Terminal. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2 days 9h.
No, there is no direct train from Ballarat station to Cairns station. However, there are services departing from Ballarat Station and arriving at Cairns Central Station via Southern Cross, Central Station and Roma Street. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2 days 6h.
The distance between Ballarat and Cairns is 2432 km. The road distance is 2782.9 km.
The best way to get from Ballarat to Cairns without a car is to train which takes 2 days 6h and costs $340 - $7,000.
It takes approximately 7h 57m to get from Ballarat to Cairns, including transfers.
Ballarat to Cairns bus services, operated by V-Line Buses, depart from Ballarat Station/Lydiard St.
Ballarat to Cairns train services, operated by V/Line, depart from Ballarat Station.
The best way to get from Ballarat to Cairns is to train which takes 2 days 6h and costs $340 - $7,000. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $490 - $950 and takes 2 days 9h.
What companies run services between Ballarat, VIC, Australia and Cairns, QLD, Australia?
You can take a train from Ballarat Station to Cairns Central Station via Southern Cross, Central Station, Roma Street Station, and Roma Street in around 2d 6h. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Ballarat Station/Lydiard St to Cairns via Southern Cross Coach Terminal/Spencer St, Central Station, Brisbane, and Brisbane Coach Terminal in around 2d 9h.
- Website
- qantas.com
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 23m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–1,400
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 42m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $280–1,400
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 45m
- When
- Monday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- $280–1,400
Flights from Avalon Airport to Cairns via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–950
Flights from Avalon Airport to Cairns via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 5m
- When
- Monday, Friday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $250–950
- Website
- jetstar.com
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 22m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–650
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–650
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns via Adelaide
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 45m
- When
- Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $130–650
Flights from Avalon Airport to Cairns via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–950
Flights from Avalon Airport to Cairns via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 5m
- When
- Monday, Friday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $250–950
- Website
- virginaustralia.com
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $280–500
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 37m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $280–500
- Phone
- 1800 800 007
- Website
- V-Line
Train from Ballarat Station to Melton Station
- Ave. Duration
- 47 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $6
- Website
- V-Line
- Off Peak
- $6
Train from Ballarat Station to Southern Cross Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 28m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $6
- Website
- V-Line
- Off Peak
- $6
Train from Ballarat Station to Deer Park Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $6
- Website
- V-Line
- Off Peak
- $6
Train from Deer Park Station to Lara Station
- Ave. Duration
- 30 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $6
- Website
- V-Line
- Off Peak
- $6
Train from Ballarat Station to Southern Cross Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 28m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $6
- Website
- V-Line
- Off Peak
- $6
- Phone
- 131 500
- Website
- NSW TrainLink XPT
Train from Southern Cross to Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 2m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $80–240
- Website
- NSW TrainLink XPT
- Book at
- NSW TrainLink XPT
- Economy
- $80–110
- First
- $110–140
- Sleeper
- $220–240
Train from Central Station to Roma Street Station
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 6m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $85–250
- Website
- NSW TrainLink XPT
- Book at
- NSW TrainLink XPT
- Economy
- $85–110
- First
- $120–140
- Sleeper
- $220–250
- Phone
- 1800 872 467
- Website
- Queensland Rail Travel
Train from Roma Street to Cairns Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 25h 20m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $170–6,171
- Book at
- Queensland Rail Travel
- Website
- Queensland Rail Travel
- Schedules at
- Queensland Rail Travel
- BQuick
- $170–230
- AChoice
- $310–390
- Gold Class
- $4,927
- Heritage Class
- $6,171
- Phone
- 1800 800 007
- [email protected]
- Website
- V/Line
Bus from Ballarat Station/Lydiard St to Southern Cross Coach Terminal/Spencer St
- Website
- FlixBus Australia
Bus from Southern Cross Coach Terminal/Spencer St to Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 20m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $110–180
- Schedules at
- FlixBus Australia
Bus from Brisbane Coach Terminal to Cairns
- Ave. Duration
- 28h 40m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $250–390
- Schedules at
- FlixBus Australia
- Phone
- 1300 473946
- [email protected]
- Website
- Greyhound Australia
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
- Phone
- 1300 730 740
- [email protected]
- Website
- Firefly Express
Bus from Southern Cross Coach Terminal to Liverpool
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 15m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $63–66
- Website
- Firefly Express
- Phone
- 13 34 10
- [email protected]
- Website
- Premier Motor Service
Bus from Central Station to Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 18h 35m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $130–200
- Website
- Premier Motor Service
Bus from Brisbane Roma Street to Cairns Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 29h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $240–350
- Website
- Premier Motor Service
Want to know more about travelling around Australia
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Booking & Getting There
Ballarat to Cairns bus services, operated by V-Line Buses, arrive at Southern Cross Coach Terminal/Spencer St station.
Cairns is 1h behind Ballarat. It is currently 2:14 PM in Ballarat and 1:14 PM in Cairns.
Ballarat to Cairns train services, operated by V/Line, arrive at Southern Cross Station.
Yes, the driving distance between Ballarat to Cairns is 2783 km. It takes approximately 32h 36m to drive from Ballarat to Cairns.
Book your Ballarat to Cairns bus tickets online with 12go.asia.
There are 1028+ hotels available in Cairns.

























