Mackay Getting there & around

Getting there & away

Qantas (13 13 13), Jetstar (13 15 38) and Virgin Blue (13 67 89) all service Mackay. Flights include Brisbane, Rockhampton, Townsville and Sydney. The airport is 5km south of the city centre.

Travelworld (4944 2144; roseh@mkytworld.com.au; 7am-6pm Mon-Fri, 7am-4pm Sat) handles all transport arrangements and is located at the Mackay Bus Terminal (cnr Victoria & Macallistar Sts), where a 24-hour café also sells bus tickets. Greyhound Australia (13 14 99) and Premier Motor Service (13 34 10) connect Mackay with Cairns ($119, 12 hours), Townsville ($69, six hours), Airlie Beach ($29, two hours) and Brisbane ($139, 16 hours).

Queensland Rail (1300 131 722) Tilt Train connects Mackay with Brisbane ($220, 12½ hours), Townsville ($105, 5½ hours) and Cairns ($175, 12 hours). The slower Sunlander does the same: Brisbane (economy seat/sleeper $150/205, 17 hours), Townsville (economy seat/sleeper $125/125, 6½ hours) and Cairns ($155/175, 12½ hours). The train station is at Paget, 5km south of the city centre.