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$278+ Cheap flights to Cairns

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a Cheapflights user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight departing on 28/10. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
— CNS
21 Aug — 28 Aug1
1 adult

Flights to Cairns in 2025

Find the latest flights to Cairns in 2025, with up-to-date prices and availability. In the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made a total of 134,765 searches and data was last updated on 16 August 2025.

Return from

$697

One-way from

$278

Popular in

December

Cheapest in

February

Average price

$905

Good round-trip deal

$986 or less

Good one-way deal

$450 or less
Jetstar
  • Jetstar
  • 9/9-16/9
  • 2 total stops
  • 25h 45m total
  • Auckland to Cairns
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Jetstar
  • Jetstar
  • 28/10
  • 1 total stop
  • 17h 20m total
  • Auckland to Cairns
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 6% potential increase in price ($122 potential increase over avg. return price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 1% potential price decrease ($25 potential savings vs. average return price).
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Average for return flights in August 2025
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Price to beat on a round-trip flight from Auckland Intl to Cairns.
Search Deals
Price to beat on a one-way flight from Auckland Intl to Cairns.
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Find flight deals to Cairns

Cheapest flights to Cairns
Explore the most affordable flight options available to Cairns. Find the lowest fares based on data from user searches, with prices last updated on 16 August 2025.

Tue 9/919:50AKL - CNS
1 stop16h 50mJetstar
Tue 16/922:55CNS - AKL
1 stop8h 55mJetstar
Deal found 14/8$697
Tue 2/919:50AKL - CNS
1 stop16h 50mJetstar
Tue 9/922:55CNS - AKL
1 stop8h 55mJetstar
Deal found 15/8$707
Sat 23/806:40AKL - CNS
1 stop27h 45mJetstar
Sat 30/812:00CNS - AKL
1 stop24h 15mJetstar
Deal found 16/8$739
Sun 14/921:15AKL - CNS
1 stop15h 25mMultiple Airlines
Sun 21/922:55CNS - AKL
1 stop16h 55mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 15/8$751
Mon 15/907:00AKL - CNS
1 stop28h 10mJetstar
Tue 23/906:45CNS - AKL
2 stops15h 20mJetstar
Deal found 16/8$753
Sat 23/806:40AKL - CNS
1 stop15h 40mMultiple Airlines
Sat 30/819:00CNS - AKL
2 stops17h 15mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 16/8$827
Mon 15/907:10AKL - CNS
Nonstop5h 35mMultiple Airlines
Tue 23/922:55CNS - AKL
1 stop10h 05mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 16/8$862
Sun 7/906:15AKL - CNS
1 stop12h 55mJetstar
Tue 16/910:15CNS - AKL
2 stops11h 50mJetstar
Deal found 14/8$889

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Locate flights to Cairns that fit your budget, with regularly updated fares and availability. In the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made a total of 134,765 searches and data was last updated on 16 August 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights to Cairns that are best for you.

Fly from

Auckland

Route

Departure

Return

Price

AucklandCairns

AKL - CNS

AKLCNS

Auckland Intl

Tue 9/9

19:50-10:40

1 stop16h 50m

Cairns

Tue 16/9

22:55-09:50

1 stop8h 55m

$697

AucklandCairns

AKL - CNS

AKLCNS

Auckland Intl

Tue 2/9

19:50-10:40

1 stop16h 50m

Cairns

Tue 9/9

22:55-09:50

1 stop8h 55m

$707

AucklandCairns

AKL - CNS

AKLCNS

Auckland Intl

Sun 14/9

21:15-10:40

1 stop15h 25m

Cairns

Sun 21/9

22:55-17:50

1 stop16h 55m

$751

AucklandCairns

AKL - CNS

AKLCNS

Auckland Intl

Fri 16/1

06:35-17:45

1 stop14h 10m

Cairns

Sun 18/1

22:55-11:00

1 stop9h 05m

$764

AucklandCairns

AKL - CNS

AKLCNS

Auckland Intl

Sun 7/9

06:15-17:10

1 stop12h 55m

Cairns

Tue 16/9

10:15-00:05

2 stops11h 50m

$889

AucklandCairns

AKL - CNS

AKLCNS

Auckland Intl

Tue 9/9

19:50-10:40

1 stop16h 50m

Cairns

Tue 16/9

11:55-18:35

Nonstop4h 40m

$891

AucklandCairns

AKL - CNS

AKLCNS

Auckland Intl

Tue 2/9

07:10-10:45

Nonstop5h 35m

Cairns

Tue 9/9

22:55-09:50

1 stop8h 55m

$891

AucklandCairns

AKL - CNS

AKLCNS

Auckland Intl

Sun 7/9

06:15-17:10

1 stop12h 55m

Cairns

Tue 16/9

11:55-18:35

Nonstop4h 40m

$903

AucklandCairns

AKL - CNS

AKLCNS

Auckland Intl

Tue 28/10

06:35-20:55

1 stop17h 20m

$278

AucklandCairns

AKL - CNS

AKLCNS

Auckland Intl

Mon 15/9

07:00-09:10

1 stop28h 10m

$280

Flights are sorted by cheapest return flights first.

Deals found on 15/8

Showing 1-10 of 20 results
1
2

Best time to book a flight to Cairns

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to Cairns with our price prediction graph.
Estimated return price
Rates are based on past data. Find the cheapest month and day to book your flight based on your travel requirements, then search for cheap deals.

Cheapflights Insights

Everything you need to know about your flight to Cairns

When is the best time to book a flight to Cairns?

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a return flight from Auckland to Cairns. Price data was last updated on 8 August 2025.

Booking 88 days in advance of your planned departure date is, on average, the best time to get cheap flights to Cairns. The general trend is that the closer you book to the departure date, the more expensive your flight will be.

How long is the flight to Cairns?

On average, a flight from Auckland to Cairns takes 5 hours 35 minutes. Flights to Cairns from other popular cities in New Zealand will vary in length. Below are a few examples of popular routes and their flight times.

What are the most popular airlines that fly to Cairns?

The most popular airlines flying from Auckland to Cairns are Air New Zealand, Jetstar and Qantas Airways.

Jetstar
Jetstar
From $276
Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand
From $463
Qantas Airways
Qantas Airways
From $414
Emirates
Emirates
From $629

What are the cheapest airlines that fly to Cairns?

The cheapest airlines flying from Auckland to Cairns are Jetstar, Air New Zealand and Qantas Airways.

Rainfall in Cairns by month

Plan your trip to Cairns by taking into account the average rainfall totals by month.

In terms of precipitation, rainfall in Cairns ranges from 20.0 - 430.0 mm per month. March is typically the wettest month, when rainfall can reach 430.0 mm. July is typically the driest time to visit Cairns when rainfall is around 20.0 mm.

Temperature in Cairns by month

Plan your trip to Cairns by taking into account the average temperature totals by month.

If weather is an important factor for your trip to Cairns, use this chart to help with planning. For those seeking warmer temperatures, January is the ideal time of year to visit, when temperatures reach an average of 27.0 C. Travellers hoping to avoid the cold should look outside of June, when temperatures are typically at their lowest (around 21.0 C).

Reviews of airlines servicing Cairns

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to Cairns. Read reviews, discover amenities, and learn about the overall travel experience offered by airlines. Use this information to make informed decisions when choosing an airline for your flight to Cairns. Reviews last updated 16 August 2025.
See what other customers who have flown with Emirates, Air New Zealand, andQantas Airways to Australia have to say. You can also see how each airline compares in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Emirates
8.1
Very Good
3,315 reviews
Check prices

Overall

8.1

Food

7.9

Entertainment

8.2

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.3

Comfort

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Hemshika,Jun 2025

DXB - LGW

It was not good. As soon as we entered the plane, 2 girls in front of us bend their seats down completely and startes sleeping within the next 2 minutes. I asked one of the air hostess to ask the girls to make them sit straight because we just entered the plane and we wanted to sit properly put our seat belts etc. The air hostess replied to me in the EK 009 plane that it's her right she can bend it but when we take off, she will have to straighten her seat. She never did because the air hostess never told her. The girls left their seats bent down and I had to intervene to ask them to straighten their seats because we had to eat. The girls kept telling us to please eat fast so they can bend down. What rubbish is this. Pressure to eat for their comfort and our discomfort.
Emirates
8.1
Very Good
3,315 reviews
Emirates
8.1
Very Good
3,315 reviews
Check prices

Overall

8.1

Food

7.9

Entertainment

8.2

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.3

Comfort

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Hemshika,Jun 2025

DXB - LGW

It was not good. As soon as we entered the plane, 2 girls in front of us bend their seats down completely and startes sleeping within the next 2 minutes. I asked one of the air hostess to ask the girls to make them sit straight because we just entered the plane and we wanted to sit properly put our seat belts etc. The air hostess replied to me in the EK 009 plane that it's her right she can bend it but when we take off, she will have to straighten her seat. She never did because the air hostess never told her. The girls left their seats bent down and I had to intervene to ask them to straighten their seats because we had to eat. The girls kept telling us to please eat fast so they can bend down. What rubbish is this. Pressure to eat for their comfort and our discomfort.
Air New Zealand
8.0
Very Good
504 reviews
Emirates
8.1
Very Good
3,315 reviews
Check prices

Overall

8.1

Food

7.9

Entertainment

8.2

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.3

Comfort

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Hemshika,Jun 2025

DXB - LGW

It was not good. As soon as we entered the plane, 2 girls in front of us bend their seats down completely and startes sleeping within the next 2 minutes. I asked one of the air hostess to ask the girls to make them sit straight because we just entered the plane and we wanted to sit properly put our seat belts etc. The air hostess replied to me in the EK 009 plane that it's her right she can bend it but when we take off, she will have to straighten her seat. She never did because the air hostess never told her. The girls left their seats bent down and I had to intervene to ask them to straighten their seats because we had to eat. The girls kept telling us to please eat fast so they can bend down. What rubbish is this. Pressure to eat for their comfort and our discomfort.
Qantas Airways
7.5
Good
895 reviews
Emirates
8.1
Very Good
3,315 reviews
Check prices

Overall

8.1

Food

7.9

Entertainment

8.2

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.3

Comfort

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Hemshika,Jun 2025

DXB - LGW

It was not good. As soon as we entered the plane, 2 girls in front of us bend their seats down completely and startes sleeping within the next 2 minutes. I asked one of the air hostess to ask the girls to make them sit straight because we just entered the plane and we wanted to sit properly put our seat belts etc. The air hostess replied to me in the EK 009 plane that it's her right she can bend it but when we take off, she will have to straighten her seat. She never did because the air hostess never told her. The girls left their seats bent down and I had to intervene to ask them to straighten their seats because we had to eat. The girls kept telling us to please eat fast so they can bend down. What rubbish is this. Pressure to eat for their comfort and our discomfort.
Jetstar
6.5
Okay
464 reviews
Emirates
8.1
Very Good
3,315 reviews
Check prices

Overall

8.1

Food

7.9

Entertainment

8.2

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.3

Comfort

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Hemshika,Jun 2025

DXB - LGW

It was not good. As soon as we entered the plane, 2 girls in front of us bend their seats down completely and startes sleeping within the next 2 minutes. I asked one of the air hostess to ask the girls to make them sit straight because we just entered the plane and we wanted to sit properly put our seat belts etc. The air hostess replied to me in the EK 009 plane that it's her right she can bend it but when we take off, she will have to straighten her seat. She never did because the air hostess never told her. The girls left their seats bent down and I had to intervene to ask them to straighten their seats because we had to eat. The girls kept telling us to please eat fast so they can bend down. What rubbish is this. Pressure to eat for their comfort and our discomfort.

FAQs about flying to Cairns

  • What airport do you fly into for flights to Cairns?

    Travellers will need to book flights to Cairns (CNS) if they wish to fly to Cairns. The Cairns airport is 4.4 km from the city centre.

  • Can I find cheaper flights to Cairns if I am willing to have stopovers?

    Yes, flights with stopovers are often cheaper than direct flights. Keep an eye out for flight deals to Cairns on Cheapflights that require 1 or 2 stops for potential cost savings.

  • What is the best airline to fly to Cairns?

    Based on reviews from Cheapflights users, Jetstar is rated the highest out of the airlines that fly to Cairns.

  • What is the cheapest airport to fly to in Cairns?

    Cairns is currently the cheapest airport to fly to in Cairns. One-way flights to Cairns typically cost $80, while return flights cost around $131.

  • How much is a return flight to Cairns?

    A return flight to Cairns will typically cost around $176, however they can be found for as little as $78.

  • Where does the fastest flight to Cairns depart from?

    For those looking to save time traveling to Cairns, Auckland Intl offers the quickest one-way flight (5 hours 35 minutes).

  • Does Cairns have rental cars?

    Yes. Those touching down at Cairns can take advantage of the car hire services offered upon their arrival.

  • Are there hotels close to Cairns?

    Yes. Cairns has hotels nearby for those requiring accommodations. Homestay - Butterfly Haven is the closest property to Cairns (0.0 km away from Cairns).

See more FAQs

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