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Cheap flights to Cairns

CMH — CNS
23 Apr — 30 Apr1
1 adult
Tue 23/4
Tue 30/4

Flights to Cairns in 2024

Find the latest flights to Cairns in 2024, with up-to-date prices and availability. In the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made a total of 119,480 searches and data was last updated on 18 April 2024.

Popular in

December

Cheapest in

October

Average price

$1,139

Return from

$685

One-way from

$289
High demand for flights, 9% potential price rise
Best time to find cheap flights, 2% potential price drop
Average for return flights in April 2024
From Auckland Intl to Cairns
One-way flight from Auckland Intl (AKL) to Cairns (CNS)

Average price of flights to Cairns by month

Plan your trip to Cairns by taking into account the cheapest months to travel. The average price of a one-way flight to Cairns is currently $0 while a return flight costs $0. Price data was last updated on 14 April 2024.

Currently, March is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight to Cairns (average of $525). Flying to Cairns in July will prove the most costly (average of $668). There are multiple factors that influence the price of a flight so comparing airlines, departure airports and times can help keep costs down.

January

$1,063

February

$905

March

$888

April

$1,037

May

$1,034

June

$1,054

July

$1,130

August

$1,017

September

$1,053

October

$1,005

November

$988

December

$1,083

Peak season

Cairns has a tropical climate which is divided into a ‘wet’ and ‘dry’ season, with the peak tourist season coinciding with the ‘dry’ season and the Australian winter months of June through to August. Not only are domestic tourists heading north to escape the cold weather in the south of Australia, but many European and North American visitors arrive on their long annual vacation.

Lower temperatures and humidity during this period do make sightseeing much more pleasant, however, and there is far less rainfall or chance of cyclones. In addition, there are no ‘stinger’ jellyfish in the water, meaning you can swim on the beaches and go snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef relatively care free.

Off season

September is a great time to visit if you want to take advantage of off season deals while the weather is still at its best, but by October things start to heat up and thunderstorms are common in the lead up to the monsoon rains. From November to May cyclones can be expected and the highest rainfall normally occurs during the Australian summer months of December through to February.

The advantage of visiting during this period is not only great accommodation and flight deals, but also seeing the waterfalls and rivers of the Daintree and Cape Tribulation rainforests in all their glory, as well as fantastic white water rafting on the Tully River. Diving is also excellent on the Great Barrier at this time, with calm winds and excellent visibility.

If you want to avoid the majority of the rains and the crowds, then opt to travel in April/May at the start of the ‘dry’ season when some cheap flight tickets are often found.

Temperature and rainfall in Cairns by month

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

CNS

Temperature

21 - 27 °C

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).

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

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a return flight to Cairns. Price data was last updated on 28 January 2024.

When booking flights to Cairns, try and do so as early as possible to get the best flight deals, particularly if you are traveling during any of the Australian or New Zealand school holiday periods. Keep in mind that the winter months of June through to August are an incredibly popular time to be in the far north of Australia and cheap flights to Cairns and accommodation deals can be difficult to find.

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When is the cheapest time to fly to Cairns?

Use this chart to determine the cheapest time to fly return to Cairns. Price data was last updated on 14 April 2024.
Morning
Midday
Afternoon
Evening
All times are departure.
Users looking for the lowest fares to Cairns should consider flying on Saturday at midday, when prices are typically cheapest. Budget-minded travellers will want to avoid Wednesday afternoons, when prices are usually at their highest.
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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 18 April 2024.
Read reviews from past customers who have flown Qantas Airways, Air New Zealand and Jetstar to Cairns. Users have also rated airlines in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
8.3
Very Good
668 reviews

Food

7.6

Boarding

8.4

Overall

8.3

Crew

8.8

Entertainment

7.9

Comfort

8.1

Reviews

1 / 10

Everything went rather smoothly, I have no complaints or negative comments. Thanks for getting me where I needed to be.

8.3
Very Good
668 reviews
8.3
Very Good
668 reviews

Food

7.6

Boarding

8.4

Overall

8.3

Crew

8.8

Entertainment

7.9

Comfort

8.1

Reviews

1 / 10

Everything went rather smoothly, I have no complaints or negative comments. Thanks for getting me where I needed to be.

7.7
Good
1,018 reviews
8.3
Very Good
668 reviews

Food

7.6

Boarding

8.4

Overall

8.3

Crew

8.8

Entertainment

7.9

Comfort

8.1

Reviews

1 / 10

Everything went rather smoothly, I have no complaints or negative comments. Thanks for getting me where I needed to be.

7.4
Good
11,341 reviews
8.3
Very Good
668 reviews

Food

7.6

Boarding

8.4

Overall

8.3

Crew

8.8

Entertainment

7.9

Comfort

8.1

Reviews

1 / 10

Everything went rather smoothly, I have no complaints or negative comments. Thanks for getting me where I needed to be.

6.9
Okay
681 reviews
8.3
Very Good
668 reviews

Food

7.6

Boarding

8.4

Overall

8.3

Crew

8.8

Entertainment

7.9

Comfort

8.1

Reviews

1 / 10

Everything went rather smoothly, I have no complaints or negative comments. Thanks for getting me where I needed to be.

What is good to know if travelling to Cairns?

  • It may be one of Australia’s most popular tourist destinations, but a holiday in Cairns doesn’t have to be an expensive one. Here are our top tips on how to do “Cairns and Port Douglas on a Budget”
  • Drive south from Cairns for around two hours and you will get to magnificent Mission Beach, not only one of the most perfect stretches of sand in Australia, but also one of the best places to go skydiving, with the Great Barrier Reef sprawling out below you!
  • The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system, extending north and south along the coast from Cairns, and home to an astounding diversity of marine life. For many tourists it is the main reason they visit Cairns and that’s why diving the Great Barrier Reef makes our list of “Top 20 Things to Do in Australia”.
  • Need some help choosing a dive site? We think Cod Hole on the Great Barrier Reef is up there with the best in Australia, with sightings of potato rock cod, white tip reef sharks, giant clams and moray eels.
  • How long is the flight to Cairns?

    Flights from Auckland to Cairns – 6 hours. Flights from Christchurch to Cairns – 8 hours 25 minutes. Flights from Wellington to Cairns – 8 hours 20 minutes. Flights from Queenstown to Cairns – 9 hours 20 minutes.

  • Which airlines operate flights to Cairns?

    You can get direct flights to Cairns from Auckland with Philippine Airlines who fly the route four times a week, or opt to connect through Brisbane with Qantas or Virgin Australia who both offer onward flights to Cairns. From Christchurch and Wellington there are a number of different airline combinations to choose from, including Qantas, Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia, all of which connect through either Sydney or Brisbane. Virgin generally offers the cheapest flights to Cairns, but good deals can be found with the other airlines if you book early.

  • How to get from the airport to the city centre?

    The Cairns Airport is located around 7 kilometres to the northwest of the Cairns CBD in the suburb of Aeroglen. There is a public bus that services the airport, connecting passengers at Sheridan Street with services going both north and south, and tickets can be bought at kiosks within the airport terminal. A more expensive, but hassle-free, option is the airport shuttle bus that takes you directly to your hotel door. No pre-booking is required and you can buy your tickets at the counters located within the terminal building. The fastest, but most expensive, route into the city is with a metered taxi which depart from ranks outside the Cairns Airport terminal and will have you in the CBD in around 10 minutes. They offer wheel chair capable vehicles and electronic payment facilities, and you can either pre-book or just turn up.

  • What does CNS mean?

    CNS is a unique code, commonly called an IATA code, used in the aviation industry to identify airports. This code, along with many others, are defined by IATA (International Air Transport Association). A CNS flight refers to a flight to Cairns Airport.

  • 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 Airport is currently the cheapest airport to fly to in Cairns. One-way flights to Cairns Airport typically cost $142, while return flights cost around $126.

  • How much is a return flight to Cairns?

    A return flight to Cairns will typically cost around $136, however they can be found for as little as $75.

  • Where does the fastest flight to Cairns depart from?

    For those looking to save time traveling to Cairns, Auckland offers the quickest one-way flight (5 hours 40 minutes).

  • Does Cairns Airport have rental cars?

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

  • Are there hotels close to Cairns Airport?

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

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