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How to get fromBallina to Great Barrier Reefby plane, ferry, bus, or train

Find Transport to Great Barrier Reef

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There are 7 ways to get from Ballina to Great Barrier Reef by plane, ferry, bus, or train

Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.

  1. Fly from Ballina Byron Gateway Airport, ferry

    best
    1. Fly from Ballina Byron Gateway Airport (BNK) to Cairns (CNS)plane plane BNK - CNS
    2. Take the ferry from Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal to Great Barrier Reef Green Islandferry ferry
    10h 3m
    $336–916

  2. Bus, train to Brisbane Airport, fly, ferry

    cheapest
    1. Take the bus from Ballina to Surfers Paradisebus bus
    2. Take the train from Helensvale station, platform 2 to International Airport Stationtrain train
    3. Fly from Brisbane Airport (BNE) to Cairns (CNS)plane plane BNE - CNS
    4. Take the ferry from Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal to Great Barrier Reef Green Islandferry ferry
    11h 13m
    $283–836

  3. Bus, train, ferry

    1. Take the bus from Ballina to Brisbanebus bus
    2. Take the train from Roma Street to Cairns Central Stationtrain train
    3. Take the ferry from Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal to Great Barrier Reef Green Islandferry ferry
    32h 12m
    $324–6,682

  4. Bus, ferry

    1. Take the bus from Ballina Service Center to Brisbanebus bus
    2. Take the bus from Brisbane Coach Terminal to Cairnsbus bus
    3. Take the ferry from Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal to Great Barrier Reef Green Islandferry ferry
    35h 38m
    $401–590

  5. Bus to Gold Coast Airport, fly, ferry

    1. Take the bus from Byron Bay to Gold Coast Airportbus bus
    2. Fly from Gold Coast Airport (OOL) to Cairns (CNS)plane plane OOL - CNS
    3. Take the ferry from Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal to Great Barrier Reef Green Islandferry ferry
    9h 45m
    $292–814

  6. Bus to Coffs Harbour Airport, fly, ferry

    1. Take the bus from Bus Interchange – Tamar Street to Coffs Harbour Airport - Under Awning at Flight Departuresbus bus
    2. Fly from Coffs Harbour Airport (CFS) to Cairns (CNS)plane plane CFS - CNS
    3. Take the ferry from Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal to Great Barrier Reef Green Islandferry ferry
    13h 8m
    $702–1,177

  7. Bus, ferry via Ballina

    1. Take the bus from Ballina to Brisbanebus bus
    2. Take the bus from Brisbane to Cairnsbus bus
    3. Take the ferry from Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal to Great Barrier Reef Green Islandferry ferry
    37h 37m
    $429–813

Ballina to Great Barrier Reef by bus, foot, train, and ferry

Calendar4Weekly Services
Duration32h 12mAverage Duration
Ticket$324Cheapest Price
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Questions & Answers

Map of how to get from Ballina to Great Barrier Reef.ExpandLaunch map view
  • Distance: 1,589.1 km
  • Duration: 10h 3m

What companies run services between Ballina, NSW, Australia and Great Barrier Reef, QLD, Australia?

There is no direct connection from Ballina to Great Barrier Reef. However, you can take the line 640 bus to Ballina Byron Gateway Airport, Southern Cross Dr, walk to Ballina Byron Gateway Airport (BNK) airport, fly to Cairns (CNS), walk to Cairns Airport, take the shuttle to Cairns Base Hospital, walk to Cairns Hospital, take the line 110 bus to Cairns City bus station, platform 1, walk to Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal, take the ferry to Great Barrier Reef Green Island, then walk to Great Barrier Reef. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Ballina to Great Barrier Reef via Brisbane, Roma Street, Cairns Central Station, Cairns Central Shopping Centre, Cairns City bus station, platform 2, Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal, and Great Barrier Reef Green Island in around 32h 12m.

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