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Cheap flights from South Island to Cairns from $209

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 5/8. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
CHC — CNS
28 Apr — 5 May1
1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

Cheap flight deals from South Island to Cairns

Enter your travel dates to find the best prices.

Cheapest flights from South Island to Cairns
Explore the most affordable flight options available from South Island to Cairns. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on 29 March 2026.

Wed 13/506:55
CHC
-
CNS
Nonstop5h 45m
Jetstar
Sun 17/507:00
CNS
-
CHC
Nonstop4h 55m
Jetstar
Deal found 25/3$527
Mon 4/506:55
CHC
-
CNS
Nonstop5h 45m
Jetstar
Thu 7/507:00
CNS
-
CHC
Nonstop4h 55m
Jetstar
Deal found 28/3$541
Fri 1/506:55
CHC
-
CNS
Nonstop5h 45m
Jetstar
Sat 9/509:40
CNS
-
CHC
1 stop12h 30m
Jetstar
Deal found 27/3$672
Mon 11/506:55
CHC
-
CNS
Nonstop5h 45m
Jetstar
Mon 18/521:40
CNS
-
CHC
1 stop16h 45m
Jetstar
Deal found 27/3$727
Wed 13/508:20
CHC
-
CNS
1 stop16h 20m
Multiple Airlines
Sun 17/507:00
CNS
-
CHC
Nonstop4h 55m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 25/3$732
Sun 8/1109:15
CHC
-
CNS
1 stop15h 55m
Jetstar
Sun 22/1107:15
CNS
-
CHC
Nonstop4h 55m
Jetstar
Deal found 28/3$760
Tue 12/508:20
CHC
-
CNS
1 stop16h 20m
Multiple Airlines
Tue 19/507:00
CNS
-
CHC
Nonstop4h 55m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 28/3$773
Fri 1/506:55
CHC
-
CNS
Nonstop5h 45m
Multiple Airlines
Sat 9/511:55
CNS
-
CHC
2 stops19h 25m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 27/3$790
Wed 13/506:55
CHC
-
CNS
Nonstop5h 45m
Multiple Airlines
Tue 19/507:00
CNS
-
CHC
Nonstop4h 55m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 28/3$814
Fri 8/506:55
CHC
-
CNS
Nonstop5h 45m
Jetstar
Fri 15/521:40
CNS
-
CHC
1 stop16h 45m
Jetstar
Deal found 24/3$816
Thu 29/1015:05
ZQN
-
CNS
1 stop28h 40m
Virgin Australia
Sun 1/1119:50
CNS
-
ZQN
1 stop14h 20m
Virgin Australia
Deal found 28/3$866
Fri 28/816:35
ZQN
-
CNS
1 stop8h 45m
Virgin Australia
Thu 10/906:00
CNS
-
ZQN
1 stop7h 40m
Virgin Australia
Deal found 27/3$872

Find flight deals from South Island to Cairns

Keep the following information in mind while searching for South Island to Cairns flight deals. Data was last updated 29 March 2026.

Round-trip from

$527

One-way from

$209
Jetstar
  • Jetstar
  • 13/5-17/5
  • Nonstop
  • 10h 40m total
  • South Island to Cairns
Search Deals
Jetstar
  • Jetstar
  • 5/8
  • Nonstop
  • 5h 45m total
  • South Island to Cairns
Search Deals

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customise your flight search to find flights from South Island to Cairns that fit within your specific budget. Explore options based on user searches and filter the results based on your desired price range. Find flights that match your budget for a cost-effective journey. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 134,765 searches. Data last updated 29 March 2026.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from South Island to Cairns that are best for you.

Fly from

Fly to

Route

Departure

Return

Price

Cheapest return flight

ChristchurchCairns

CHC - CNS

CHCCNS

Christchurch

Fri 1/5

06:55-10:40

Nonstop5h 45m

Cairns

Sat 9/5

09:40-00:10

1 stop12h 30m

$694

ChristchurchCairns

CHC - CNS

CHCCNS

Christchurch

Mon 11/5

06:55-10:40

Nonstop5h 45m

Cairns

Mon 18/5

21:40-16:25

1 stop16h 45m

$727

ChristchurchCairns

CHC - CNS

CHCCNS

Christchurch

Mon 4/5

18:55-17:00

2 stops24h 05m

Cairns

Thu 7/5

07:00-13:55

Nonstop4h 55m

$799

ChristchurchCairns

CHC - CNS

CHCCNS

Christchurch

Fri 8/5

06:55-10:40

Nonstop5h 45m

Cairns

Fri 15/5

21:40-22:10

2 stops22h 30m

$839

ChristchurchCairns

CHC - CNS

CHCCNS

Christchurch

Wed 22/7

06:55-10:40

Nonstop5h 45m

Cairns

Fri 31/7

09:10-00:20

1 stop13h 10m

$886

ChristchurchCairns

CHC - CNS

CHCCNS

Christchurch

Wed 13/5

06:55-10:40

Nonstop5h 45m

Cairns

Sun 17/5

09:10-22:10

2 stops35h 00m

$926

QueenstownCairns

ZQN - CNS

ZQNCNS

Queenstown Intl

Tue 12/5

15:15-09:45

1 stop20h 30m

Cairns

Tue 19/5

21:10-20:00

1 stop20h 50m

$936

ChristchurchCairns

CHC - CNS

CHCCNS

Christchurch

Wed 22/7

06:00-16:55

1 stop12h 55m

Cairns

Fri 31/7

09:25-00:20

1 stop12h 55m

$992

ChristchurchCairns

CHC - CNS

CHCCNS

Christchurch

Fri 1/5

08:20-20:50

1 stop14h 30m

Cairns

Sat 9/5

11:55-09:20

2 stops19h 25m

$1,023

QueenstownCairns

ZQN - CNS

ZQNCNS

Queenstown Intl

Tue 12/5

17:45-09:20

1 stop17h 35m

Cairns

Tue 19/5

07:00-10:10

2 stops25h 10m

$1,034

Flights are sorted by cheapest return flights first.

Deals found on 27/3

Showing 1-10 of 36 resultsSorted by cheapest first
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Best time to book a flight from South Island to Cairns

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to Cairns from South Island 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 from South Island to Cairns

What is the cheapest month to book a flight from South Island to Cairns?

Currently, March is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from South Island to Cairns (average of $223). Flying from South Island to Cairns in December is currently the most expensive (average of $524). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly from EDG to CNS?

Find hourly flight availability from South Island to Cairns. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated 29 March 2026.

Regardless of the time of day you decide to fly, the ticket price will remain around the same. Book flights from South Island to Cairns as you normally would.

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 29 March 2026.
Read through reviews of airlines operating flights from South Island to Cairns, such as Air New Zealand,Qantas Airways, andJetstar. You can also see how each airline compares in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Air New Zealand
8.0
Very Good
623 reviews
Check prices

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.5

Entertainment

7.4

Food

7.4

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.2

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Anonymous,Mar 2026

SIN - AKL

We were stuck on tarmac for an hour after boarding
Air New Zealand
8.0
Very Good
623 reviews
Air New Zealand
8.0
Very Good
623 reviews
Check prices

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.5

Entertainment

7.4

Food

7.4

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.2

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Anonymous,Mar 2026

SIN - AKL

We were stuck on tarmac for an hour after boarding
Qantas Airways
7.5
Good
1,014 reviews
Air New Zealand
8.0
Very Good
623 reviews
Check prices

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.5

Entertainment

7.4

Food

7.4

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.2

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Anonymous,Mar 2026

SIN - AKL

We were stuck on tarmac for an hour after boarding
Jetstar
6.5
Okay
535 reviews
Air New Zealand
8.0
Very Good
623 reviews
Check prices

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.5

Entertainment

7.4

Food

7.4

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.2

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Anonymous,Mar 2026

SIN - AKL

We were stuck on tarmac for an hour after boarding

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from South Island to Cairns. Access travel guides, tips, and recommendations to enhance your travel experience. Get information about local attractions, weather, transportation options, and more.

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

    If you book a flight to Cairns from South Island, you will be flying to Cairns, which is the city’s only airport. Cairns (CNS) is located 4.4 km from the centre of Cairns.

  • How popular is this South Island to Cairns flight route?

    This flight path from South Island to Cairns was viewed by 290 users in the past month. Keep an eye out for changes in search interest prior to high and low season.

  • How long is the flight from South Island to Cairns?

    Airlines like Jetstar and Qantas Airways fly from South Island to Cairns in about 5h 45m. The time it takes to get you to your destination can typically vary by up to 12h. There are 3883 km between South Island and Cairns. When browsing for deals, the options you’ll see will be for both direct flights and flights with stops.

  • What are the cheapest flights from South Island to Cairns?

    On average you can expect to pay $572 for a flight from South Island to Cairns. The cheapest flight overall is $224 while the most popular route, (Queenstown Intl - Cairns) is currently priced at $870.

  • Can I find deals for flights from South Island to Cairns that include hotel bookings?

    Yes. In addition to deals on South Island to Cairns flights, Cheapflights offers holiday packages that include both flights and hotel.

  • How can I find direct flights from South Island to Cairns?

    After entering your origin and destination, apply the non-stop filter on the search result page to find direct flights from South Island to Cairns.

  • Can I find deals for business class flights from South Island to Cairns?

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from South Island to Cairns by cabin class. In addition to browsing deals, you can also filter by cabin class on the search results page after making a search.

  • What is the cheapest month to book a flight from South Island to Cairns?

    Currently, March is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from South Island to Cairns (average of $223). Flying from South Island to Cairns in December is currently the most expensive (average of $524). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

See more FAQs

Travelling to a place near Cairns?

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

Browse thousands of different options on Cheapflights for your next trip

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Top 3 airlines flying from South Island to Cairns

Discover the top 3 airlines that operate flights from South Island to Cairns. Compare their services, reliability, and customer satisfaction ratings to choose the airline that best suits your travel preferences and needs. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 134,765 searches. Data last updated 29 March 2026.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
JetstarCheapest$282Average$582FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time74%
Search Jetstar flights
Qantas AirwaysCheapest$793Average$1,076FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time74%
Search Qantas Airways flights
Air New ZealandCheapest$1,008Average$1,078FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time78%
Search Air New Zealand flights

Fly with Cheapflights

Find the best flight deals on Cheapflights, where travellers can enjoy low prices and a wide availability of flights to their desired destinations.

How does Cheapflights help users find flights from South Island to Cairns?

Cheapflights makes it easy to find South Island to Cairns flights by helping our users search from 900+ travel sites for deals. We also provide you with filters for cabin, price, airline, airports, number of stops, and many more to narrow down that perfect flight.

Why should you use Cheapflights to find cheap flight tickets from South Island to Cairns?

Cheapflights taps into our reliable network of hundreds of airlines and travel agencies to find the best deals for flights from South Island to Cairns for you. Better yet — we are completely free to use.

Can Cheapflights find flights from South Island to Cairns with no change fees?

Need flexible booking options for your flight to Cairns from South Island? Don’t worry, Cheapflights have you covered. Use our search filter to only show flights with no change fees.

Can Cheapflights notify me if prices for flights from South Island to Cairns become cheaper?

Not ready to book yet? You can track prices for flights from South Island to Cairns on Cheapflights with our Price Alert feature and get notified when better prices are available.

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