Cairns to Mackay train: Fare prices, timetable & booking

The Cairns to Mackay train takes 11h4m according to the Queensland Rail timetable. Fares cost from $129 and should be booked online.

Note: This article was checked and updated on 12 March, 2024.

The train from Cairns to Mackay takes you from far north Queensland’s tourism hub to the largest city in Queensland’s Whitsundays region.

Cairns brings Great Barrier Reef snorkelling cruises, World Heritage-listed rainforest adventures, glass bottom boat tours at Green Island and the Kuranda Scenic Railway into the mountains. To choose from a wide range of memorable Cairns tours and experiences, look here. To pick the Cairns accommodation best suited to you, book here.

Mackay is the departure point for an excellent Whitsunday Islands cruise, which includes paddleboards and snorkelling equipment. To choose from the best Mackay tours and experiences, head this way. To select the right Mackay accommodation for you, book here.

The best thing to do in Mackay is a snorkelling cruise around the South Cumberland Islands.

Most people will choose to either fly or drive the route, but the train at the very least exists as an option.

Book your Cairns to Mackay train tickets.

The Cairns to Mackay train run by Queensland Rail is the Spirit of Queensland. It’s the Cairns to Brisbane train, but Mackay is one of the stops along the route.

Cairns to Mackay train timetable

According to the Cairns to Mackay train timetable, there are five services per week from Cairns. These leave on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays at 09.35. They arrive in Mackay at 20.39. That’s a journey time of 11 hours and four minutes. By contrast, it takes around eight hours and 35 minutes to drive. On the flipside, you get to sit down comfortably and watch the world go by.

The return journeys are on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, leaving Mackay at the massively unpleasant time of 03.10. It arrives in Cairns at 14.30.

Save time queuing – Book these Cairns attractions in advance

From the air: Outer Reef helicopter flight | Sunrise hot air balloon ride | Skyrail Rainforest Cableway.
At night: Sunset dinner cruise | Pub and club tour | Aquarium by Twilight experience.
For wildlife: Birdworld Kuranda | Kuranda Koala Gardens | Cairns Zoom and Wildlife Dome | Cairns Aquarium | Rainforestation Nature Park
For culture: Cairns Museum tickets | Street art walking tour | City and surrounds highlights bus tour.
For thrills: AJ Hackett giant jungle swing | High speed jet boat tour | Barron Gorge white water rafting | Mulgrave River tubing.

Cairns to Mackay train fares

The Cairns to Mackay train fare prices vary depending on how many seats are left on the train, and how far in advance you book. But you can expect to pay from around $129 for a one-way Cairns to Mackay train ticket if you book online.

Good Cairns accommodation options for the night before travel include the Pacific Hotel, the Hilton Cairns and the Sebel Cairns Harbour Lights.

In Mackay, good places to stay include the apartments of Mantra Mackay, the family-leaning Discovery Parks holiday park and the conveniently central Rydges Mackay Suites.

Three great Mackay experiences to book in advance

(Highly recommended ✅) Whitsunday Islands boat cruise – with snorkelling and paddleboarding.
Cape Hillsborough sunrise tour – meet wallabies on the beach.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Finch Hatton Gorge waterfalls tour.

Best Mackay accommodation options

The top places to stay in Mackay are:

For attractive apartments by Blacks Beach: The Shores Holiday Apartments.
For a cheap, but surprisingly good, motel: Cool Palms Motel.
For apartments with kitchenettes by the marina: Mantra Mackay.
For a holiday park with lot of family-friendly facilities: Big4 Mackay Blacks Beach Holiday Park.
For fully furnished apartments in prime position next to Bluewater Lagoon: Riviera Mackay.

Bluewater Lagoon in Mackay. Photo courtesy of Tourism and Events Queensland.

Trip-booster! 8 great day trips from Cairns to power-up your holiday

Kuranda combo package – take the Kuranda Scenic Railway up and the Skyrail cable car down.
Green Island tours with beach time, glass bottom boat and snorkelling. (Or pick a Fitzroy Island trip instead).
Moore Reef day tour – with underwater observatory, snorkelling gear, glass bottom boat & semi-submersible cruises.
Great Barrier Reef snorkelling cruise – with snorkelling stops at two excellent spots on the Reef.
Cape Tribulation rainforest day tour – with Mossman Gorge Aboriginal cultural experience and Daintree River crocodile-watching cruise.
Atherton Tableland waterfalls and rainforest tour – including wildlife-spotting and a swim in a volcanic lake.
Outback 4WD tour – visiting Chillagoe Caves, Aboriginal rock art and Granite Gorge.