The route at a glance
The Cairns–Hervey Bay corridor.
Cairns to Hervey Bay is one of the longest scheduled coach corridors in Australia of 1,454 kilometres. Through-services take around 21 hours and 51 minutes, and most travellers break the journey at a midway stop rather than ride straight through. Premier Motor Service, Greyhound Australia and FlixBus Australia run scheduled services on this corridor, giving you a choice of departure times and price points. Hop-on hop-off passes can work out cheaper than buying segments individually if you plan to stop along the way.
Typical calling points
- CairnsQLD
- GordonvaleQLD
- BabindaQLD
- InnisfailQLD
- MourilyanQLD
- SilkwoodQLD
- El ArishQLD
- Hervey BayQLD
Typical stops on this corridor. Actual calling points vary by operator and service.
Journey essentials
- Onboard
- Wi-Fi · Toilet · USB charging · Wheelchair access
- Luggage
- 1 × 40kg checked bag
Compare operators
Who runs this route.
FlixBus Australia
Wi-FiToiletUSB chargingEco-friendly40kg luggageConnecting service, change at Bundaberg Depot.
Bookon FlixBus AustraliaFrom$169Services
Depart Arrive Runs 8:15 AM 6:45 AM+1 Daily Premier Motor Service
Toilet20kg luggageCheaper on a pass. Premier Motor Service Value Passes: from $255 for this corridor, $40 under the direct fare.Bookon Premier Motor ServiceFrom$295Services
Depart Arrive Runs 7:25 AM 5:50 AM+1 Daily Greyhound Australia
Wi-FiToiletUSB chargingWheelchair accessEco-friendly40kg luggageBookon Greyhound AustraliaFrom$456Services
Depart Arrive Runs 7:00 AM 6:20 AM+1 Daily
Fares are indicative. Live pricing may vary by date and availability. AusBus earns a small commission on some bookings at no extra cost to you.
Spotted an error or a missing operator on this route? Let us know.
Cheaper as separate tickets?
Save up to $64 by splitting this trip.
Booking this journey as separate tickets at each stop can be cheaper than the through-fare. We compared each operator's through-fare against the lowest combined price for each pair of segments and surfaced the splits that beat the direct fare by at least $5 and 10%.
via
Airlie Beach
- Leg 1
Cairns → Airlie Beach
FlixBus Australia · 9h
$57Book leg 1 - Leg 2
Airlie Beach → Hervey Bay
FlixBus Australia · 12h 58m
$48Book leg 2
1 more split option
via
Mackay
- Leg 1
Cairns → Mackay
FlixBus Australia · 11h 13m
$87Book leg 1 - Leg 2
Mackay → Hervey Bay
FlixBus Australia · 10h 25m
$45Book leg 2
Important
- Each leg is a separate ticket; operators do not protect a missed connection on one leg with the other operator's service. Build a buffer; don't book back-to-back.
- Luggage allowance, accessibility provisions and refund rules may differ between operators. Confirm each operator's policy on their booking page before paying.
- Fares shown are the lowest indicative price we've observed and may not match the live operator quote on your specific date. Final price is confirmed at checkout on each operator's site.
Travel tips
What to know before you go.
Book at least seven days ahead during school holidays, the Easter long weekend, and the Christmas–New Year period. Long-haul corridors fill quickly during these windows and same-day fares can be double the advance-purchase price. Cyclone season (December to April) regularly disrupts the Bruce Highway around Tully, Cardwell and Ingham. Build a flexible day into your itinerary if you're travelling north Queensland in those months. Arrive at the terminal at least 15 minutes before departure. Most operators begin boarding 10 minutes prior to the scheduled time and won't hold the coach for late passengers. Pack snacks and a refillable water bottle. Rest stop options on regional corridors are sparse, particularly between major towns. Check the operator's luggage policy before you travel. Most include one checked bag (40 kg) and one carry-on, but allowances vary by carrier and additional bags usually attract a fee.
Route FAQs
Cairns to Hervey Bay, answered.
- Around 21 hours and 51 minutes for a typical scheduled service. Travel time can vary by 30 minutes or more depending on the operator, the number of intermediate stops, and traffic on the day.
- The coach route is about 1,454 kilometres. The coach covers it in around 21 hours and 51 minutes, allowing for stops.
- Fares start from around $169 one-way. Booking at least a week ahead usually saves you 30 to 50 percent compared to same-day fares. Same-day bookings on long-haul corridors can run double the advance-purchase price during school holidays.
- Premier Motor Service, Greyhound Australia and FlixBus Australia operate services on this route. Use the operator comparison above to see which suits your travel date, budget and preferences for amenities like Wi-Fi, USB charging and onboard toilets.
- Yes. Premier Motor Service, Greyhound Australia and FlixBus Australia run direct services on this corridor, so you can travel Cairns to Hervey Bay without changing coaches. Check the timetable above for current departure times.
- Services on this route offer Wi-Fi, an onboard toilet, USB charging and wheelchair access. Amenities vary by operator and vehicle, so check the specific service when you book.
- Not currently scheduled on this corridor. Most services run during the day with a meal stop midway. Check the timetable above for current departure times.
- Last-minute seats are sometimes available, but never guaranteed, particularly on Friday afternoons, Sunday evenings, and during school holidays. Booking online a few days ahead is strongly recommended and almost always cheaper.
- Most operators include one checked bag (up to 40 kg) and one carry-on bag in the ticket price. Additional bags usually attract a fee. Check the specific operator's luggage policy at the time of booking.
Keep going
Onward from Hervey Bay.
Continuing past Hervey Bay? These coach corridors carry on from your arrival city.
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