CNS

$233 Find Cheap Flights to Cairns – Compare and Save

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Everything you should know

Cheapest return fare
$566
Typical prices: $556-$830
Jetstar
Mon 12/10Sun 18/10
CHC - CNS • Direct
Cheapest one-way flight
$233
Typical prices: $211-$267
Jetstar
Fri 23/10
CHC - CNS • Direct
Top airlines
Most flights • 5 per week
Best reviews • 8.0 score
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When to book
in advance
Our data shows that travellers who book at least 3 weeks in advance save around 36% compared to booking last minute.
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When to travel
Cheapest • 19% price drop
Most popular
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Flight Deals

Cheap Flights to Cairns

 
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent return flight deals to Cairns

Mon, 12 Oct - Sun, 18 Oct
Jetstar Logo
07:55 - 10:40CHC  Christchurch-CNS Cairns
5h 45mdirect
Jetstar Logo
07:00 - 14:55CNS  Cairns-CHC Christchurch
4h 55mdirect
$566Jetstar
Mon, 14 Sep - Sun, 20 Sep
Jetstar Logo
06:55 - 10:40CHC  Christchurch-CNS Cairns
5h 45mdirect
Jetstar Logo
07:00 - 13:55CNS  Cairns-CHC Christchurch
4h 55mdirect
$578Jetstar
Tue, 13 Oct - Tue, 20 Oct
Multiple Airlines Logo
20:40 - 09:45CHC  Christchurch-CNS Cairns
40h 05m2 stops Wellington Auckland Intl
Multiple Airlines Logo
07:00 - 14:55CNS  Cairns-CHC Christchurch
4h 55mdirect
$850Multiple Airlines
Sun, 11 Oct - Sun, 18 Oct
Multiple Airlines Logo
07:20 - 09:45CHC  Christchurch-CNS Cairns
29h 25m1 stop Auckland Intl
Multiple Airlines Logo
07:00 - 14:55CNS  Cairns-CHC Christchurch
4h 55mdirect
$857Multiple Airlines
Mon, 19 Oct - Thu, 29 Oct
Air New Zealand Logo
07:10 - 09:45AKL  Auckland Intl-CNS Cairns
5h 35mdirect
Air New Zealand Logo
06:00 - 00:30CNS  Cairns-AKL Auckland Intl
15h 30m1 stop Brisbane
$984Air New Zealand
Mon, 19 Oct - Mon, 2 Nov
Air New Zealand Logo
07:10 - 09:45AKL  Auckland Intl-CNS Cairns
5h 35mdirect
Air New Zealand Logo
13:50 - 00:30CNS  Cairns-AKL Auckland Intl
7h 40m1 stop Brisbane
$984Air New Zealand
Wed, 28 Oct - Sun, 1 Nov
Virgin Australia Logo
17:35 - 23:05ZQN  Queenstown Intl-CNS Cairns
8h 30m1 stop Brisbane
Virgin Australia Logo
06:00 - 16:40CNS  Cairns-ZQN Queenstown Intl
7h 40m1 stop Brisbane
$1,095Virgin Australia
Wed, 28 Oct - Sun, 1 Nov
Virgin Australia Logo
14:05 - 23:05ZQN  Queenstown Intl-CNS Cairns
12h 00m2 stops Melbourne Brisbane
Virgin Australia Logo
06:00 - 16:40CNS  Cairns-ZQN Queenstown Intl
7h 40m1 stop Brisbane
$1,095Virgin Australia
Mon, 12 Oct - Mon, 19 Oct
Qantas Airways Logo
16:40 - 22:45WLG  Wellington-CNS Cairns
9h 05m1 stop Brisbane
Qantas Airways Logo
20:35 - 14:35CNS  Cairns-WLG Wellington
15h 00m1 stop Melbourne
$1,175Qantas Airways
Sun, 8 Nov - Thu, 12 Nov
Qantas Airways Logo
06:10 - 18:35AKL  Auckland Intl-CNS Cairns
15h 25m1 stop Melbourne
Qantas Airways Logo
11:40 - 00:05CNS  Cairns-AKL Auckland Intl
9h 25m1 stop Melbourne
$1,176Qantas Airways
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for flights to Cairns

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

What is the cheapest flight to Cairns?

In the last 5 days, the cheapest flight deal to Cairns was found on the route from Christchurch, at $566 return. The most popular connection is from Auckland to Cairns, while KAYAK users have found return deals for as low as $762 in the last 5 days.

How much is a flight to Cairns?

A flight to Cairns costs $786 on average. The cheapest price found on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks cost $360 and departed from Auckland. The most popular routes on KAYAK are Christchurch to Cairns which costs $705 on average, and Auckland to Cairns, which costs $1,160 on average.

What is the cheapest day to fly to Cairns?

Based on KAYAK data, the cheapest day to fly to Cairns is Monday where round-trip tickets can be as cheap as $700. On the other hand, the most expensive day to fly is Sunday, where round-trip prices are $1,160 on average.

What is the cheapest month to fly to Cairns?

The cheapest month for flights to Cairns is October, where tickets cost $749 on average for return flights. On the other hand, the most expensive months are July and June, where the average cost of tickets from New Zealand is $1,016 and $1,016 respectively. For one-way flights, the best month to travel is June with an average price of $412.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly to Cairns?

The cheapest time of day to fly to Cairns is generally in the morning, when round-trip flights cost $1,051 on average. The most expensive time of day to fly to Cairns is generally in the morning, which is peak travel time and where the average cost of a ticket is $1,051.

What is a good deal for flights to Cairns?

If you’re looking for cheap airfare to Cairns, 25% of our users found tickets to Cairns for the following prices or less: From Auckland $1,052 return.

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

To get a below average price, you should book around 3 weeks before departure, which saves you about 36% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 3 weeks before departure.

Good to know – Book Cheap Cairns Plane Tickets

Low season

February

Cheapest flight

$233
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 6% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 4% lower on average.
Flight from Christchurch to Cairns

When to book flights to Cairns

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel to Cairns based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated return price

FAQs - booking Cairns flights

  • What is the cheapest flight to Cairns?

    In the last 5 days, the cheapest flight deal to Cairns was found on the route from Christchurch, at $566 return. The most popular connection is from Auckland to Cairns, while KAYAK users have found return deals for as low as $762 in the last 5 days.

  • How far is Cairns Airport from central Cairns?

    You’ll need to travel 4 km to reach the Cairns city centre from Cairns Airport.

  • What is the name of Cairns’s airport?

    When flying to Cairns, you'll arrive at Cairns Airport (CNS). The airport is also known as Cairns or Cairns Intl.

  • How much is a flight to Cairns?

    On average, a flight to Cairns costs $786. The cheapest price found on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks cost $360 and departed from Auckland Intl Airport.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights 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 to Cairns.

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

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

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

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

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight 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 up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

  • How many direct flights to Cairns are there each week?

    Each week there are around 20 direct flights from within New Zealand to Cairns. The most common day for departures is Monday, with 30% of flights taking off on this day.

Top tips for finding cheap flights to Cairns

  • Looking for cheap airfare to Cairns? 25% of our users found return tickets to Cairns for the following prices or less: From Christchurch $667, from Auckland $711
  • Enter your preferred departure airport and travel dates into the search form above to unlock the latest Cairns flight deals.

Reviews of the top 4 airlines flying to Cairns

 
Need help choosing which airline to fly with 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.
8.0
Air New ZealandOverall score based on 668 reviews
8.2Boarding
7.4Food
7.4Entertainment
7.9Comfort
8.5Crew
Airline reviews

Not up to their standard . After checking in my bag and having made a tight connection off NZ 29, they tried to bump me off the flight at the gate. In they end I argued myself onto the plane but my bag followed on a later plane. After over 24 hours of flying and despite being an Air NZ Platinum card holder being put in this position was unnaceptable

6.0 GoodAnonymous, Aug 2026
Read more Air New Zealand reviews

Not up to their standard . After checking in my bag and having made a tight connection off NZ 29, they tried to bump me off the flight at the gate. In they end I argued myself onto the plane but my bag followed on a later plane. After over 24 hours of flying and despite being an Air NZ Platinum card holder being put in this position was unnaceptable

mechanical issue, so delayed take-off (hence the low boarding rating) and made a number of people miss their connecting flight. Also took a long time to get our checked baggage. I luckily made mine with 5 minutes to spare, but it was nerve-racking.

Needed more leg room. Leg rest and entertainment system box took up a lot of space and I'm not tall. Breakfast was good. Poor quality of the entertainment options.

Aircon set too high so VERY warm and VERY uncomfortable.

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

Arriving at Coolangatta, rows 20 forward, took the airbridge across to the terminal. It was suggested to those from rows 21 back, that we take the rear stairs and to be careful crossing the tarmac. That was all well and good. However, when we got across to the terminal we then had to climb three large flights of stairs to meet up with those coming across the airbridge. No elevator! There were people carrying babies and elderly carrying hand luggage that needed assistance from others.. There was no option to turn back.

Flew premium economy, well worth the extra. Much better seat size & space. Meals & snacks were lovely. Crew really pleasant. Internet is not great, not really useful for anything. Couldn't even send messages.

Overall, a great experience from food and crew. The only setback was that this was the Second flight from Air New Zealand within a week that was an hour late for boarding.

The air New Zealand employees who assisted us with wheelchair aid on Auckland made our transfer from flight to the next seamless. Also were amazing in helping with our luggage and customs in Brisbane.

All was good, the only thing was it didn't run on time.

New aircraft and flight was running on time, but adverse weather conditions meant we were unable to land on the first two approaches. Third attempt resulted in a very smooth and safe landing.

Very good it will be my choice of airline while in Australia.

Very friendly staff. No food service and no entertainment. Only 1hr 20min flight

I bought flights in August and there wasn’t a flight in the system

Our 6.30am flight was boarded then cancelled to fly at 10.55am . We were flying to Brisbane to attend a funeral at 12 noon an hour away . This means missing the funeral due to unreliability of Virgin . Unimpressed !!

4.5 hr international flight. We got a glass of water. Ranks up there with Ryan Air, Easy Jet, Spirit and Frontier. Expected better.

Virgin has always provided a smooth and comfortable flight. This one was no different. Seats are comfortable. Staff are great. This is my favourite airline.

Virgin changed the flight to an Alliance flight. Smaller plane, tea coffee and water the only refreshments available and not sure what happened to the extra money I paid to sit in a selected seat with extra leg room. This is obviously a regular switch as it happened on our flight there and back. Do not recommend.

Check-in was good and efficient, Boarding was quick and easy. Didn't like the entertainment side of things requiring your phone to connect for a screen, my eyes are bad enough to use my phone more than I already do. Trip was comfortable and baggage claim was good. If coffee and tea were free, then why not a soda or juice as well, its not like its an alcoholic drink.

On time, lovely crew, economy-X seating worth the $ for the legroom. In flight entertainment not working, but I wasn’t going to use it anyway. Never had a bad Virgin experience.

I liked the refreshments as the flight was short and the free WiFi. The seats were comfortable.

Was disappointed that we couldn't use our lounge passes as the booking was a group booking.

I never flew with alliance. Kayak is a joke and none of the flights or times were correct. Won’t ever use kayak again

My experience was great overall. Tanya was particularly friendly and helpful the entire trip. I was very pleased with her customer service skills. The plane was an older aircraft but the entire way was comfortable with barely any turbulence at all. Qantas should speed up its fleet renovation. Totally recommend using this airline.

I liked boarding the plane. The staff were rude, the food was appalling and the chairs the most uncomfortable I have ever experienced

Flight was canceled. I was not alerted. It was only kayak that alerted me

After already paying for excess luggage prior to flight, i was advised AT check in that i had to pay $816 or forfeit my flight! The lady at the counter was SO rude and had already started offboarding me when i said i would pay it after asking her three times for the exact amount! Have lodged a formal complaint yet heard nothing. Will not ever travel via Qantas again

I love flying with Qantas. There was no onscreen entertaining on this flight, and only a snack provided (not a meal) but still better than Jetstar or Virgin (in my opinion) so still happy.

Wheelchair assistance to move through the terminals and to/from the plane door was excellent. No vegan snack on the flight, only something with salami and cheese in it.

I really appreciated the fact that when I checked my bags at the Quantas counter after arriving from an international flight an hour early, the agent noticed I had a very long layover. He then found an earlier flight that allowed me to get to Cairns several hours earlier than I planned. That was amazing because I had already traveled over 20 hours and wasn’t looking forward to such a long layover. It allowed me to see my daughter and grandchildren much earlier (it had been two years since I visited last).

Knees in back from passenger behind, limited seat pockets, no entertainment.

Great. Seats are a little cramped with only a very small recline. Service was great. Food was fine.

Flight was fine with boarding starting a few minutes early. Not a fan of the crew pushing political messaging regarding indigenous naming of Brisbane city… really pushed it like I haven’t heard on Jetstar before.

Flight was delayed both directions but once in the air was ok. Boarding out of Melbourne is just a mess.

Delayed twice. Poor communication and people made to change gates too often.

Excellent help with Wife needing disability access at Brisbane airport

a constant reminder that you need to work harder so you can avoid this airline

My Dad needed assistance to board the plane. The Jetstar staff were excellent with him and made the experience a lot easier😁

Plane was late leaving darwin so we didn’t get home till 1130pm 2nd time in a fortnight that has happened. Hard when you have to work the next day

Captains address to passengers was excellent. Knee room in seating was very uncomfortable.

Travelling to a place near Cairns?

Book flights to Cairns if you plan to visit one of these locations
Palm Cove
Mission Beach
Trinity Beach

Everything you need to know for your flight to Cairns

Information on the airport you'll fly into in Cairns