There are 7 ways to get from Cairns to Ballarat 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.
Fly to Melbourne Airport, train
best- Fly from Cairns (CNS) to Melbourne Airport (MEL)plane CNS - MEL
- Take the train from Sunshine Station to Ballarat Stationtrain
6h 53m$194–629Train via Sydney
- Take the train from Cairns Central Station to Roma Streettrain
- Take the train from Roma Street Station to Central Stationtrain 32
- Take the train from Central Station to Southern Crosstrain 623 / ...
- Take the train from Southern Cross Station to Ballarat Stationtrain
2d 6h$345–6,667Bus
- Take the bus from Cairns to Brisbane Coach Terminalbus
- Take the bus from Brisbane to Sydney Central Stationbus
- Take the bus from Central Station to Southern Cross Coach Terminal/Spencer Stbus
- Take the bus from Southern Cross Coach Terminal/Spencer St to Ballarat Station/Lydiard Stbus
2d 13h$497–767Drive 2,783.4 km
- Drive from Cairns to Ballaratcar 2,783.4 km
32h 31m$507–732Fly to Avalon Airport, train
- Fly from Cairns (CNS) to Avalon Airport (AVV)plane CNS - AVV
- Take the train from Lara Station to Deer Park Stationtrain
- Take the train from Deer Park Station to Ballarat Stationtrain
9h 56m$388–1,392Train
- Take the train from Cairns Central Station to Roma Streettrain
- Take the train from Brisbane to Southern Crosstrain
- Take the train from Southern Cross Station to Ballarat Stationtrain
3d 7h$2,781–9,878Bus, train
- Take the bus from Cairns Central Station to Brisbane Roma Streetbus
- Take the train from Brisbane to Southern Crosstrain
- Take the train from Southern Cross Station to Ballarat Stationtrain
3d 11h$2,855–4,050
Cairns to Ballarat by train
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Cairns to Ballarat is to fly and train which costs $190 - $650 and takes 6h 53m.
The fastest way to get from Cairns to Ballarat is to fly and train which takes 6h 53m and costs $190 - $650.
No, there is no direct bus from Cairns to Ballarat station. However, there are services departing from Cairns and arriving at Ballarat Station/Lydiard St via Brisbane, Central Station and Southern Cross Coach Terminal/Spencer St. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2 days 13h.
No, there is no direct train from Cairns station to Ballarat station. However, there are services departing from Cairns Central Station and arriving at Ballarat Station via Roma Street Station, Central Station and Southern Cross Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2 days 6h.
The distance between Cairns and Ballarat is 2438 km. The road distance is 2783.4 km.
The best way to get from Cairns to Ballarat without a car is to train via Sydney which takes 2 days 6h and costs $340 - $7,000.
It takes approximately 6h 53m to get from Cairns to Ballarat, including transfers.
Cairns to Ballarat bus services, operated by FlixBus Australia, depart from Cairns station.
Cairns to Ballarat train services, operated by Queensland Rail Travel, depart from Cairns Central Station.
The best way to get from Cairns to Ballarat is to train via Sydney which takes 2 days 6h and costs $340 - $7,000. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $490 - $800 and takes 2 days 13h.
What companies run services between Cairns, QLD, Australia and Ballarat, VIC, Australia?
You can take a train from Cairns Central Station to Ballarat Station via Roma Street, Roma Street Station, Central Station, and Southern Cross Station in around 2d 6h. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Cairns to Ballarat Station/Lydiard St via Brisbane, Sydney Central Station, Central Station, and Southern Cross Coach Terminal/Spencer St in around 2d 13h.
- Website
- qantas.com
Flights from Cairns to Melbourne Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–1,500
Flights from Cairns to Melbourne Airport via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 26m
- When
- Wednesday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $500–1,700
Flights from Cairns to Avalon Airport via Gold Coast
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 40m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $380–1,500
Flights from Cairns to Avalon Airport via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $370–1,400
Flights from Cairns to Avalon Airport via Adelaide
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $370–1,400
Flights from Cairns to Avalon Airport via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 12m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Thursday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $380–1,400
Flights from Cairns to Avalon Airport via Maroochydore, Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 20m
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $380–1,500
Flights from Cairns to Avalon Airport via Townsville, Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 35m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $380–1,400
- Phone
- 1800 800 007
- Website
- V-Line
Train from Sunshine Station to Ballarat Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 12m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $6
- Website
- V-Line
- Off Peak
- $6
Train from Southern Cross Station to Ballarat Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $6
- Website
- V-Line
- Off Peak
- $6
Train from Lara Station to Deer Park Station
- Ave. Duration
- 27 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $6
- Website
- V-Line
- Off Peak
- $6
Train from Deer Park Station to Ballarat Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $6
- Website
- V-Line
- Off Peak
- $6
Train from Southern Cross Station to Ballarat Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $6
- Website
- V-Line
- Off Peak
- $6
Train from Southern Cross Station to Ballarat Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $6
- Website
- V-Line
- Off Peak
- $6
- Website
- FlixBus Australia
Bus from Cairns to Brisbane Coach Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 28h 40m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $250–390
- Schedules at
- FlixBus Australia
Bus from Brisbane to Sydney Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 17h 29m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $130–200
- Schedules at
- FlixBus Australia
Bus from Central Station to Southern Cross Coach Terminal/Spencer St
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 20m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $110–170
- Schedules at
- FlixBus Australia
Want to know more about travelling around Australia
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Booking & Getting There
Cairns to Ballarat bus services, operated by FlixBus Australia, arrive at Brisbane Coach Terminal station.
Ballarat is 1h ahead of Cairns. It is currently 3:18 AM in Cairns and 4:18 AM in Ballarat.
Cairns to Ballarat train services, operated by Queensland Rail Travel, arrive at Roma Street station.
Yes, the driving distance between Cairns to Ballarat is 2783 km. It takes approximately 32h 31m to drive from Cairns to Ballarat.
Book your Cairns to Ballarat bus tickets online with 12go.asia.
There are 209+ hotels available in Ballarat.








