AKL - CNS

$282 Find Cheap Flights from Auckland to Cairns

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from Auckland to Cairns departing on 23/11. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
1 adult
1 adult, Economy

KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to Cairns

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Auckland to Cairns, as well as popular online travel agencies
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Auckland to Cairns, as well as popular online travel agencies
Travellers love KAYAK
41,299,237 searches in the past 7 days on KAYAK

Track pricesNot ready to book? Create a price alert for when prices drop.

Free to useThere are no hidden charges or fees.

Filter your dealsChoose cabin class, free Wi-Fi and more.

Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Auckland to Cairns (AKL-CNS)

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for return flights from Auckland to Cairns that are departing in the next months. While these flights were available on KAYAK in the last 72 hours, prices and availability are subject to change and deals may expire.
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent return flight deals from Auckland to Cairns

Sun, 5 Oct - Sun, 12 Oct
Jetstar Logo
06:15 - 17:10AKL-CNS
13h 55m1 stop
Jetstar Logo
22:55 - 11:00CNS-AKL
9h 05m1 stop
$671Jetstar
Find Deal
Thu, 2 Oct - Thu, 9 Oct
Jetstar Logo
20:50 - 10:40AKL-CNS
16h 50m1 stop
Jetstar Logo
19:25 - 23:45CNS-AKL
25h 20m1 stop
$729Jetstar
Find Deal
Tue, 14 Oct - Tue, 21 Oct
 Logo
07:10 - 09:45AKL-CNS
5h 35mdirect
 Logo
22:55 - 11:00CNS-AKL
9h 05m1 stop
Tue, 7 Oct - Tue, 14 Oct
 Logo
06:15 - 17:10AKL-CNS
13h 55m1 stop
 Logo
10:55 - 18:35CNS-AKL
4h 40mdirect
Tue, 28 Oct - Tue, 4 Nov
Jetstar Logo
16:40 - 08:20AKL-CNS
18h 40m2 stops
Jetstar Logo
22:55 - 10:20CNS-AKL
8h 25m1 stop
$848Jetstar
Find Deal
Tue, 7 Oct - Tue, 14 Oct
 Logo
06:15 - 17:10AKL-CNS
13h 55m1 stop
 Logo
10:55 - 18:35CNS-AKL
4h 40mdirect
Tue, 14 Oct - Tue, 21 Oct
Air New Zealand Logo
07:10 - 09:45AKL-CNS
5h 35mdirect
Air New Zealand Logo
10:55 - 18:35CNS-AKL
4h 40mdirect
$986Air New Zealand
Find Deal
Tue, 7 Oct - Tue, 14 Oct
Air New Zealand Logo
07:10 - 09:45AKL-CNS
5h 35mdirect
Air New Zealand Logo
10:55 - 18:35CNS-AKL
4h 40mdirect
$1,013Air New Zealand
Find Deal
Sun, 23 Nov - Wed, 26 Nov
Qantas Airways Logo
16:35 - 23:05AKL-CNS
9h 30m1 stop
Qantas Airways Logo
11:45 - 00:45CNS-AKL
10h 00m1 stop
$1,274Qantas Airways
Find Deal
Mon, 22 Sep - Sun, 12 Oct
Qantas Airways Logo
06:10 - 16:30AKL-CNS
12h 20m2 stops
Qantas Airways Logo
13:40 - 00:55CNS-AKL
8h 15m1 stop
$1,284Qantas Airways
Find Deal

Everything you should know

Top airlines
Jetstar
Cheapest • from $671 (return)
Emirates
Best reviews • 8.1 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
+1
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
When to book
4 weeks
in advance
Our data shows that travellers who book at least 4 weeks in advance save around 32% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
February
Cheapest • 15% price drop
July
Most popular
Good to know
Good to know
+1
+1
Good to know
Good to know
+1
Direct flights
4 days a week
There are direct flights from Auckland to Cairns 4 days a week: Mon, Tue, Thu, Sat.
Direct flights
Direct flights
Direct flights
Direct flights
Cheapest return fare
$671
Overall average: $961
Jetstar
Sun 5/10Sun 12/10
AKL - CNS • 1 stop
Cheapest direct flights
$986
Air New Zealand
Tue 14/10Tue 21/10
AKL - CNS • Direct
Start a new search
KAYAK searches hundreds of sites at once to find you the best travel deals.
We hope you love your trip to Cairns!
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for Auckland to Cairns flights

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from Auckland to Cairns to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more.

What’s the cheapest day of the week to fly from Auckland to Cairns?

The average price of all round-trip flights from Auckland to Cairns clicked on KAYAK for each day over the last 12 months.

Your flight ticket price will generally be cheaper if you fly to Cairns on a Monday and more expensive on a Sunday. On your return trip to Auckland, you should consider flying back on a Friday, and avoid Tuesdays for better deals.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Auckland to Cairns?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from Auckland to Cairns, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the median of all values for each month.

The cheapest month for flights from Auckland to Cairns is February, where tickets cost $815 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are December and January, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $1,122 and $1,024 respectively.

How far in advance should I book a flight from Auckland to Cairns?

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights from Auckland to Cairns, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the average of all the values for each week.

To get a below average price on the flight from Auckland to Cairns, you should book around 4 weeks before departure, which saves you about 32% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 22 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Low seasonJanuary
Cheapest flight$282
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 6% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 0% lower on average.
Flight from Auckland to Cairns

When to book flights from Auckland to Cairns

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Auckland to Cairns based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated return price
KAYAK looks at all historical flight data for each date to provide a predicted price for one-way trips or returns with a duration up to 40 days. While we try to provide actual minimum prices for each date, some prices are predictions and actual prices may differ.

FAQs for booking flights from Auckland to Cairns

  • What is the cheapest flight from Auckland to Cairns?

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from Auckland to Cairns was $168 for a one-way ticket and $400 for a return.

  • Which airports will I be using when flying from Auckland to Cairns?

    Auckland airport is called Auckland Intl and the only airport in Cairns is Cairns.

  • Which aircraft models fly most regularly from Auckland to Cairns?

    The Airbus A321neo is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the Auckland to Cairns flight route.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from Auckland to Cairns?

    Star Alliance is the only airline alliance operating flights between Auckland and Cairns.

  • On which days can I fly direct from Auckland to Cairns?

    You can catch a direct flight from Auckland to Cairns on on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

  • Which is the best airline for flights from Auckland to Cairns, Emirates or Air New Zealand?

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from Auckland to Cairns are Emirates and Air New Zealand. With an average price for the route of $1,303 and an overall rating of 8.1, Emirates is the most popular choice. Air New Zealand is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $1,005 and an overall rating of 8.0.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from Auckland to Cairns?

    KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from Auckland to Cairns.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from Auckland to Cairns?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Cairns from Auckland is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from Auckland to Cairns?

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional return ticket. You could then fly to Cairns with an airline and back to Auckland with another airline.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from Auckland to Cairns?

    Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying to Cairns from Auckland up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

KAYAK’s top tips for finding a cheap flight from Auckland to Cairns

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found flights on this route for $443 or less one-way and $972 or less round-trip.

Prefer to fly direct from Auckland Intl to Cairns?

 
Nonstop data is based off flight results for the next 60 days. Find direct flights from all airlines flying nonstop from Auckland Intl to Cairns.
Find which airlines fly direct from Auckland Intl Airport to Cairns Airport, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

Auckland Intl to Cairns

Monday

Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand

Tuesday

Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand

Thursday

Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand

Saturday

Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand

See more direct flights

Direct returns

Cairns to Auckland Intl

Monday

Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand

Tuesday

Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand

Thursday

Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand

Saturday

Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand

See more direct flights

Reviews of the top 4 airlines flying from Auckland to Cairns

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from Auckland to Cairns. Airline scores are aggregated from all reviews left by passengers on KAYAK after flying with an airline. KAYAK doesn’t show reviews that are older than 5 years. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from Auckland to Cairns? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
8.1
EmiratesOverall score based on 3334 reviews
7.9Food
8.0Comfort
8.1Boarding
8.2Entertainment
8.3Crew
Airline reviews

Can’t complain Only downside was the Kiosk passport check and customs clearance at Melbourne. When will they improve that service🤔

10.0 ExcellentJohn, Aug 2025DXB - MEL
Read more Emirates reviews

Can’t complain Only downside was the Kiosk passport check and customs clearance at Melbourne. When will they improve that service🤔

Very pleasant.The crews are very nice.Food were excellent.

Very pleasant.The crews are very helpful.Food are very good.

Emirates is superb service. The A380 was very comfortable. The cabin crew is really helpful

Over - amazing. The aircraft is somewhat old on this route.

Everything I was good except food quality is very poor

We arrived in line for check in at 6:15 p.m. but did not check in until 8:00 p.m. The line for economy check in was very long, and all of the desks 03-13 were not open, although most of them opened sporadically. The crew on board were very nice and helpful, friendly and kind. It has been many years since we flew Emirates (at least 17 years), and we notice that foot rests are no longer available in economy, but we were lucky enough to fly in the upper deck and appreciate your opening some of your flights to economy passengers in the upper deck. We will definitely fly on emirates more often! Thank you.

Overall I was quite pleased with the experience; the cleanliness; the polite and attentiveness of the cabin crew; and the delicious food options.

Overall was a good experience and this particular flight the crew were great too at least in business class. It’s not always the case with flydubai. Few things would make me think twice in the future on this route. 1. The arrival into T3 might sound good but it is a real pain as it takes almost 30 mins to get to terminal on the bus as the aircraft still park at T2. The bag takes even longer . If they just let us off at T2, I’d be home within 30 mins of walking off the plane. Instead it takes 1.5 hours. 2. Due to the timing, the very tiny lounge in Penang is so crowded because half the lounge is closed for Qatar crew. Hardly anywhere to sit. 3. Flydubai app and site has a long way to go and using it is very unpleasant.

Good flight overall. Good options of food on NY-Dubai-Mumbai leg. Not that good reversing back. The flight crew is courteous and professional as always. The seating was much more comfortable going into Mumbai than coming back. Cheers!

Not a comfortable trip, the seats are not good, and they look old.

Not entirely positive. It’s frustrating that everything is done through the united app. One of our flight attendants on our trip from San Francisco to MSP continually had trouble hearing people so she flipped her hair into people’s faces

I flew United from San Francisco to Auckland. My connecting flight from Auckland to Christchurch was canceled with no explanation. I was finally told the cancellation was due to fog. Even though it was clear when we landed. I am from San Francisco, I know what fog is! And I didn't see any fog. I was told the next available flight was 7 hours later. Unacceptable, they should have had a flight ready to go as soon as it was deemed safe to take off.

Our original flight was cancelled from SFO to AKL on 6/16/25. So we had to stay overnight at a hotel after a 12-hour layover plus 3-hour delay before the cancellation. Then had to fly to LA and then to AKL the following day losing an entire day of our vacation in NZ, that we can never get back.

Two hours was not enough time to transition from the international to domestic terminal. You have to go through customs, a biological hazard check, gather your luggage, take a bus to the domestic terminal and recheck your luggage. The bus was slow and crowded and the lines to recheck your bags were very long. We missed our connecting flight. Initially, the Air New Zealand officials were not helpful at all in helping to get us on another flight. Told us we would have to buy another ticket for a flight 11 hours later. Found another agent that was more helpful. He helped arrange to get us on standby for another flight three hours later. Had to ride in jump seats next to the flight attendants, but at least we eventually got to out destination.

Full flight. Flight attendants were harried. Otherwise, fine for the typical cramped seating conditions in coach.

Great! Flight was delayed by 30 mins but all was great. Thanks.

The 10hr flight was a comfortable as it could be in row 57. The food was just very bad….bland and soggy!

The business class upgrade meant a good sleep on the way home after a long week away. Excellent service, great food, and comfortable seat/bed for the journey.

I love the “boarding from the back” idea - it’s so much better than the “Zones” idea that many others use. Also, the inflight wifi was a first for me! Very nice to have on a 13-hour flight!

they ran out of fruit for breakfast and so I just had a yogurt instead. other than that the flight was good

A few more inches of legroom is all i ask

One of the best Qantas business flights I've had. Quality product

Business class points redemption - good value for points paid, dubious value if out of your own pocket, domestic class business product okay for this length of flight. The flight left and arrived on time, crew were good, aircraft was a bit old and tired, but still miles ahead of their competitors in Virgin and Jetstar.

Airline running better than post Covid, proper boarding process now implemented, some aircraft feeling a bit old and tired, crew fine, online experience better.

Five hour flight instead of four hours due to westerly headwinds which wasn’t the fault of Qantas !

The wifi was out. Otherwise it was great flight. Richard, as CSM, was excellent.

Was bumped to a later flight because of inefficiency on part of the airline.

The Emerits/Qantas flight was cancelled to Wellington. We need a refund. Had to buy another airline ticket. How do we get the refund. Still not in Wellington.

Delayed QF59 flight once again, Qantas doesn't fail in maintaining there delayed departures and arrivals. USB points do not work nor do the power point sockets on the plane, Qantas staff admitted that on the flight. Don't expect to your charge devices. Saving grace, was the ice cream. Bottom line, if you expect to fly to HND and make it on time avoid Qantas and if you're interested in ice cream - visit 7/11.

Late leaving and desintuon board showed ‘gate closed’ when they hadn’t even commenced boarding!

Flight was delayed more than 1.5 hours. Gate changed multiple times

The good thing is that the flight got us from Darwin to Brisbane. However, it would have to be the most uncomfortable flight I have ever taken and if I can possibly avoid flying Jetstar again, I will.

I was treated poorly in Dunedin by check in crew, then my bag was lost in Auckland. Never again.

no announcement about why we where delayed which is very poor

It was better than I expected. Thought $5 for a small cup of tea was a bit much!

Overall good trip I find seats a bit hard. We were waiting on board for about an hour for 2 passengers with some document issue. This main our arrival late for our pickup person.

15kg allowance is outrageous. Change of time a few days before departure and more than 2 hours of delay in the end. The worse we’ve taken so far in Oceania.

They added the weight of my back to the carryon luggage and charged me NZ$75 for being over 7 kg.

Very quiet plane!! One of the quietest planes we have been on.

Everything you need to know for your flight from Auckland to Cairns

Information on your arrival and departure airports

Not what you’re looking for? Find thousands of other hotels, flights, car hires and package deals with KAYAK.