There are 7 ways to get from Mackay to Rainbow Beach by plane, bus, train, car, or bus (Greyhound)
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 Hervey Bay, bus
best- Fly from Mackay (MKY) to Hervey Bay (HVB)plane MKY - HVB
- Take the bus from Hervey Bay to Rainbow Beachbus
7h 21m$524–571Bus
cheapest- Take the bus from Mackay to Rainbow Beachbus Brisbane
13h 45m$110–310Train, bus
- Take the train from Mackay to Maryborough Westtrain Spirit of Queensland
- Take the bus from Maryborough to Rainbow Beachbus Brisbane
12h 23m$111–2,613Bus via Howard
- Take the bus from Mackay to Howardbus Pm19
- Take the bus from Howard to Rainbow Beachbus Pm19
13h 10m$119–169Drive 808.5 km
- Drive from Mackay to Rainbow Beachcar 808.5 km
9h 18m$146–210Fly to Brisbane Airport, bus
- Fly from Mackay (MKY) to Brisbane Airport (BNE)plane MKY - BNE
- Take the bus from Brisbane Coach Terminal to Rainbow Beachbus
6h 36m$192–387Fly to Bundaberg, bus
- Fly from Mackay (MKY) to Bundaberg (BDB)plane MKY - BDB
- Take the bus from Bundaberg Airport to Rainbow Beachbus
8h 13m$467–638
Mackay to Rainbow Beach by train and bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Mackay to Rainbow Beach is to bus via Howard which costs $110 - $170 and takes 13h 10m.
The fastest way to get from Mackay to Rainbow Beach is to fly and bus which takes 6h 36m and costs $190 - $390.
Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Mackay and arriving at Rainbow Beach. Services depart four times a day, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 13h 45m.
The distance between Mackay and Rainbow Beach is 732 km. The road distance is 808.5 km.
The best way to get from Mackay to Rainbow Beach without a car is to train and bus which takes 12h 23m and costs $110 - $2,700.
It takes approximately 7h 21m to get from Mackay to Rainbow Beach, including transfers.
Mackay to Rainbow Beach bus services, operated by Premier Motor Service, depart from Mackay station.
Mackay to Rainbow Beach bus services, operated by Premier Motor Service, arrive at Howard station.
Yes, the driving distance between Mackay to Rainbow Beach is 809 km. It takes approximately 9h 18m to drive from Mackay to Rainbow Beach.
There are 177+ hotels available in Rainbow Beach.
What companies run services between Mackay, QLD, Australia and Rainbow Beach, QLD, Australia?
You can take a bus from Mackay to Rainbow Beach via Howard in around 13h 10m.
- Website
- qantas.com
Flights from Mackay to Hervey Bay via Brisbane Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 3m
- When
- Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Monday, Tuesday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $190–750
Flights from Mackay to Hervey Bay via Rockhampton, Brisbane Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 50m
- When
- Monday to Friday
- Estimated price
- $480–520
Flights from Mackay to Hervey Bay via Brisbane Airport, Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 45m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $230–800
Flights from Mackay to Hervey Bay via Townsville, Brisbane Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 10m
- When
- Wednesday to Friday
- Estimated price
- $480–520
Flights from Mackay to Brisbane Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 31m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–430
Flights from Mackay to Brisbane Airport via Rockhampton
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 56m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $220–430
Flights from Mackay to Bundaberg via Brisbane Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $430–600
Flights from Mackay to Bundaberg via Rockhampton, Brisbane Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h
- When
- Monday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- $430–600
- Website
- virginaustralia.com
Flights from Mackay to Brisbane Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $180–290
Flights from Mackay to Bundaberg via Brisbane Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 10m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $200–700
- Website
- jetstar.com
Flights from Mackay to Brisbane Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $120–260
- Phone
- 1800 872 467
- Website
- queenslandrailtravel.com.au
Train from Mackay to Maryborough West
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 58m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $75–2,561
- Book at
- https://queenslandrailtravel-booking.opendestinations.com/BookingSite/rail/search
- Website
- https://www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au/
- Schedules at
- https://www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au/Pages/Timetable.aspx
- BQuick
- $75–110
- AChoice
- $120–170
- Gold Class
- $2,045
- Heritage Class
- $2,561
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.com.au/
Bus from Hervey Bay to Rainbow Beach
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 36m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $18–30
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com.au
Bus from Maryborough to Rainbow Beach
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 2m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $13–22
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com.au
Bus from Brisbane Coach Terminal to Rainbow Beach
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 31m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $30–60
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com.au
Bus from Bundaberg Airport to Rainbow Beach
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 20m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $30–60
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com.au
Bus from Mackay to Rainbow Beach
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 10m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $130–220
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com.au
- Phone
- 1300 473946
- [email protected]
- Website
- greyhound.com.au
Bus from Maryborough to Rainbow Beach
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $25–40
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/
- Schedules at
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/timetables
- Early Bird
- $28–40
- Advantage
- $25–40
- Flexible
- $27–40
Bus from Mackay to Rainbow Beach
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 45m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $140–310
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/
- Schedules at
- https://www.greyhound.com.au/timetables
- Early Bird
- $140–200
- Advantage
- $170–250
- Flexible
- $210–310
- Phone
- 13 34 10
- [email protected]
- Website
- premierms.com.au
Bus from Maryborough to Rainbow Beach
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $22–35
- Website
- https://premierms.com.au/
Bus from Mackay to Howard
- Ave. Duration
- 9h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $85–130
- Website
- https://premierms.com.au/
Bus from Howard to Rainbow Beach
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 10m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $30–45
- Website
- https://premierms.com.au/
Bus from Mackay to Rainbow Beach
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 10m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $110–160
- Website
- https://premierms.com.au/
Want to know more about travelling around Australia
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
Related travel guides
Best ways to travel around Australia
Read the travel guide
10 amazing places to get away from it all in Australia
Read the travel guide
4 of the smartest ways to explore Australia
Read the travel guide












