There are 10 ways to get from Melbourne to Rainbow Beach by plane, bus, bus (Greyhound), train, 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 Melbourne Airport to Hervey Bay, bus
best- Fly from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Hervey Bay (HVB)plane MEL - HVB
- Take the bus from Hervey Bay to Rainbow Beachbus
6h 45m$304–689Fly Melbourne Airport to Gold Coast Airport, train, bus
cheapest- Fly from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Gold Coast Airport (OOL)plane MEL - OOL
- Take the train from Varsity Lakes station, platform 2 to Roma Streettrain
- Take the bus from Brisbane Coach Terminal to Rainbow Beachbus
10h 24m$170–500Bus
- 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 Rainbow Beachbus
30h 3m$275–542Train, bus
- Take the train from Southern Cross to Central Stationtrain 622 / ...
- Take the train from Central Station to Roma Street Stationtrain 31
- Take the bus from Brisbane Coach Terminal to Rainbow Beachbus
30h 47m$197–537Drive 1,825.4 km
- Drive from Melbourne to Rainbow Beachcar 1,825.4 km
20h 33m$333–481Fly Melbourne Airport to Sunshine Coast Airport, bus
- Fly from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY)plane MEL - MCY
- Take the bus from Sunshine Coast Airport to Noosa Junction station, stop Abus
- Take the bus from Noosa Junction Station to Rainbow Beachbus
7h 40m$223–521Fly Melbourne Airport to Brisbane Airport, bus
- Fly from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Brisbane Airport (BNE)plane MEL - BNE
- Take the bus from Brisbane Coach Terminal to Rainbow Beachbus
8h 45m$217–444Train to Avalon Airport, fly to Hervey Bay, bus
- Take the train from Southern Cross Station to Lara Stationtrain
- Fly from Avalon Airport (AVV) to Hervey Bay (HVB)plane AVV - HVB
- Take the bus from Hervey Bay to Rainbow Beachbus
10h 23m$268–973Train to Avalon Airport, fly to Brisbane Airport, bus
- Take the train from Southern Cross Station to Lara Stationtrain
- Fly from Avalon Airport (AVV) to Brisbane Airport (BNE)plane AVV - BNE
- Take the bus from Brisbane Coach Terminal to Rainbow Beachbus
10h 23m$171–588Bus via Cabramatta
- 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 Rainbow Beachbus
36h 50m$243–345
Melbourne to Rainbow Beach by bus and train
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Melbourne to Rainbow Beach is to fly and train and bus which costs $170 - $500 and takes 10h 24m.
The fastest way to get from Melbourne to Rainbow Beach is to fly and bus which takes 6h 45m and costs $300 - $700.
No, there is no direct bus from Melbourne to Rainbow Beach. However, there are services departing from Southern Cross Coach Terminal/Spencer St and arriving at Rainbow Beach via Central Station and Brisbane Coach Terminal. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 30h 3m.
The distance between Melbourne and Rainbow Beach is 1725 km. The road distance is 1825.4 km.
The best way to get from Melbourne to Rainbow Beach without a car is to bus which takes 30h 3m and costs $270 - $550.
It takes approximately 6h 45m to get from Melbourne to Rainbow Beach, including transfers.
Melbourne to Rainbow Beach bus services, operated by FlixBus Australia, depart from Southern Cross Coach Terminal/Spencer St station.
Melbourne to Rainbow Beach bus services, operated by FlixBus Australia, arrive at Central Station.
Rainbow Beach is 1h behind Melbourne. It is currently 10:20 AM in Melbourne and 9:20 AM in Rainbow Beach.
Yes, the driving distance between Melbourne to Rainbow Beach is 1825 km. It takes approximately 20h 33m to drive from Melbourne to Rainbow Beach.
What companies run services between Melbourne, VIC, Australia and Rainbow Beach, QLD, Australia?
You can take a bus from Southern Cross Coach Terminal/Spencer St to Rainbow Beach via Central Station, Brisbane, and Brisbane Coach Terminal in around 30h 3m.
- Website
- qantas.com
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Hervey Bay
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 30m
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $190–650
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Hervey Bay via Brisbane Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 33m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $410–600
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Sunshine Coast Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 22m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–600
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Sunshine Coast Airport via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 6m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–600
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Brisbane Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–420
Flights from Avalon Airport to Hervey Bay via Brisbane Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 35m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $210–900
Flights from Avalon Airport to Hervey Bay via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 45m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $210–900
Flights from Avalon Airport to Hervey Bay via Sydney, Brisbane Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 7h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $210–900
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Gold Coast Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 7m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $95–550
Flights from Avalon Airport to Brisbane Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–500
Flights from Avalon Airport to Brisbane Airport via Sydney
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 18m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–500
- Phone
- 131 500
- Website
- NSW TrainLink XPT
Train from Southern Cross to Central Station
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 2m
- Frequency
- 4 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
- Website
- FlixBus Australia
Bus from Hervey Bay to Rainbow Beach
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 36m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $17–26
- Schedules at
- 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 Rainbow Beach
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 31m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $30–50
- Schedules at
- FlixBus Australia
Bus from Brisbane Coach Terminal to Rainbow Beach
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 31m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $30–50
- Schedules at
- FlixBus Australia
Bus from Noosa Junction Station to Rainbow Beach
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 21m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $14–22
- Schedules at
- FlixBus Australia
Bus from Brisbane Coach Terminal to Rainbow Beach
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 31m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $30–50
- Schedules at
- FlixBus Australia
Bus from Hervey Bay to Rainbow Beach
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 36m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $17–26
- Schedules at
- FlixBus Australia
Bus from Brisbane Coach Terminal to Rainbow Beach
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 31m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $30–50
- Schedules at
- FlixBus Australia
Bus from Brisbane Coach Terminal to Rainbow Beach
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 31m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $30–50
- Schedules at
- FlixBus Australia
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
Booking & Getting There
Book your Melbourne to Rainbow Beach bus tickets online with Omio and 12go.asia.
There are 175+ hotels available in Rainbow Beach.






