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

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There are 8 ways to get from Rainbow Beach to Great Barrier Reef by bus, plane, ferry, 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. Bus to Hervey Bay, fly, ferry

    best
    1. Take the bus from Rainbow Beach to Hervey Baybus bus
    2. Fly from Hervey Bay (HVB) to Cairns (CNS)plane plane HVB - CNS
    3. Take the ferry from Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal to Great Barrier Reef Green Islandferry ferry
    10h 34m
    $603–1,069

  2. Bus, train to Gold Coast Airport, fly, ferry

    cheapest
    1. Take the bus from Rainbow Beach to Brisbane Coach Terminalbus bus
    2. Take the train from Roma Street to Varsity Lakes station, platform 2train train
    3. Fly from Gold Coast Airport (OOL) to Cairns (CNS)plane plane OOL - CNS
    4. Take the ferry from Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal to Great Barrier Reef Green Islandferry ferry
    12h 57m
    $278–818

  3. Bus, ferry

    1. Take the bus from Rainbow Beach to Cairnsbus bus Cairns
    2. Take the ferry from Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal to Great Barrier Reef Green Islandferry ferry
    26h 52m
    $357–663

  4. Bus, train, ferry

    1. Take the bus from Rainbow Beach to Maryboroughbus bus
    2. Take the train from Maryborough West to Cairns Central Stationtrain train
    3. Take the ferry from Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal to Great Barrier Reef Green Islandferry ferry
    26h 52m
    $286–5,665

  5. Bus to Brisbane Airport, fly, ferry

    1. Take the bus from Rainbow Beach to Brisbane Coach Terminalbus bus
    2. Fly from Brisbane Airport (BNE) to Cairns (CNS)plane plane BNE - CNS
    3. Take the ferry from Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal to Great Barrier Reef Green Islandferry ferry
    11h 7m
    $283–841

  6. Bus to Bundaberg, fly, ferry

    1. Take the bus from Rainbow Beach to Bundaberg Airportbus bus
    2. Fly from Bundaberg (BDB) to Cairns (CNS)plane plane BDB - CNS
    3. Take the ferry from Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal to Great Barrier Reef Green Islandferry ferry
    12h 6m
    $535–2,465

  7. Bus, bus to Sunshine Coast Airport, fly, ferry

    1. Take the bus from Rainbow Beach to Noosa Junction Stationbus bus
    2. Take the bus from Noosa Junction station, stop B to Sunshine Coast Airportbus bus
    3. Fly from Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY) to Cairns (CNS)plane plane MCY - CNS
    4. Take the ferry from Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal to Great Barrier Reef Green Islandferry ferry
    9h 36m
    $368–837

  8. Bus, ferry via Cairns

    1. Take the bus from Rainbow Beach to Cairnsbus bus Au050 / ...
    2. Take the ferry from Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal to Great Barrier Reef Green Islandferry ferry
    27h 20m
    $338–477

Rainbow Beach to Great Barrier Reef by bus, foot, and ferry

Calendar7Weekly Services
Duration26h 52mAverage Duration
Ticket$357Cheapest Price
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Questions & Answers

Map of how to get from Rainbow Beach to Great Barrier Reef.ExpandLaunch map view
  • Distance: 1,365.7 km
  • Duration: 10h 34m

What companies run services between Rainbow Beach, QLD, Australia and Great Barrier Reef, QLD, Australia?

There is no direct connection from Rainbow Beach to Great Barrier Reef. However, you can take the bus to Hervey Bay, take the taxi to Hervey Bay (HVB) 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 Rainbow Beach to Great Barrier Reef via Cairns, Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal, and Great Barrier Reef Green Island in around 26h 52m.

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