There are 4 ways to get from Mackay to Whitsundays by bus, ferry, train, or plane
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Bus, ferry
best- Take the bus from Mackay to Airlie Beachbus Cairns / ...
- Take the ferry from Port of Airlie to Daydream Islandferry
3h 15m$60–102Bus, ferry via Mackay
cheapest- Take the bus from Mackay to Airlie Beachbus Au050 / ...
- Take the ferry from Port of Airlie to Daydream Islandferry
3h 56m$47–76Train, line 860 bus, ferry
- Take the train from Mackay to Proserpinetrain
- Take the bus from Proserpine, Mill Street to Coconut Grove at Airlie Esplanadebus 860
- Take the ferry from Port of Airlie to Daydream Islandferry
4h 35m$49–498Fly
- Fly from Mackay (MKY) to Great Barrier Reef Airport (HTI)plane MKY - HTI
4h 50m$460–950
Mackay to Whitsundays by bus and ferry
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Mackay to Whitsundays is to bus and ferry via Mackay which costs $45 - $80 and takes 3h 56m.
The fastest way to get from Mackay to Whitsundays is to bus and ferry which takes 3h 15m and costs $60 - $110.
The distance between Mackay and Whitsundays is 162 km.
The best way to get from Mackay to Whitsundays without a car is to bus and ferry which takes 3h 15m and costs $60 - $110.
It takes approximately 3h 15m to get from Mackay to Whitsundays, including transfers.
There is no direct flight from Mackay Airport to Great Barrier Reef Airport Airport. The quickest flight takes 4h 50m and has one stopover.
Qantas and Virgin Australia offer flights from Mackay Airport to Great Barrier Reef Airport Airport.
There are 529+ hotels available in Whitsundays.
What companies run services between Mackay, QLD, Australia and Whitsundays, QLD, Australia?
Virgin Australia and Qantas fly from Mackay (MKY) to Great Barrier Reef Airport (HTI) 3 times a day.
- Website
- virginaustralia.com
Flights from Mackay to Great Barrier Reef Airport via Brisbane
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 55m
- When
- Monday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- $450–950
Flights from Mackay to Great Barrier Reef Airport via Brisbane, Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 50m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $450–950
- Phone
- 1800 872 467
- Website
- Queensland Rail Travel
Train from Mackay to Proserpine
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 28m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $21–453
- Book at
- Queensland Rail Travel
- Website
- Queensland Rail Travel
- Schedules at
- Queensland Rail Travel
- BQuick
- $24–45
- AChoice
- $22–29
- Gold Class
- $362
- Heritage Class
- $453
- Phone
- 1300 473946
- [email protected]
- Website
- Greyhound Australia
Bus from Mackay to Airlie Beach
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $35–57
- Website
- Greyhound Australia
- Schedules at
- Greyhound Australia
- Early Bird
- $35–55
- Flexible
- $51–57
- Phone
- +617 4846 7000
- [email protected]
- Website
- cruisewhitsundays.com
Ferry from Port of Airlie to Daydream Island
- Ave. Duration
- 30 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $27–45
- Schedules at
- cruisewhitsundays.com
Ferry from Port of Airlie to Daydream Island
- Ave. Duration
- 30 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $27–45
- Schedules at
- cruisewhitsundays.com
Ferry from Port of Airlie to Daydream Island
- Ave. Duration
- 30 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $27–45
- Schedules at
- cruisewhitsundays.com
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
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