Cheap flights from South Island to Cairns from $353

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 12/2. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
CHC — CNS
29 Jan — 5 Feb1
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 30 December 2025.

Tue 30/1214:00ZQN - CNS
1 stop12h 55mVirgin Australia
Sun 4/119:50CNS - ZQN
1 stop14h 20mVirgin Australia
Deal found 29/12$816
Wed 31/1208:20CHC - CNS
Nonstop5h 35mJetstar
Sun 4/107:15CNS - CHC
Nonstop4h 55mJetstar
Deal found 29/12$890
Wed 31/1208:20CHC - CNS
Nonstop5h 35mMultiple Airlines
Sun 4/111:45CNS - CHC
1 stop24h 10mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 29/12$996
Wed 31/1215:55CHC - CNS
1 stop8h 05mQantas Airways
Sun 4/117:35CNS - CHC
1 stop27h 50mQantas Airways
Deal found 29/12$1,373
Tue 30/1207:00ZQN - CNS
2 stops19h 05mQantas Airways
Sun 4/117:35CNS - ZQN
1 stop19h 00mQantas Airways
Deal found 29/12$1,832
Wed 31/1218:20CHC - CNS
2 stops17h 15mEmirates
Sun 4/111:45CNS - CHC
2 stops23h 15mEmirates
Deal found 29/12$2,044
Tue 30/1216:30ZQN - CNS
1 stop24h 35mEmirates
Sun 4/114:50CNS - ZQN
1 stop21h 45mEmirates
Deal found 29/12$2,488
Tue 30/1220:25ZQN - CNS
2 stops22h 50mAir New Zealand
Sun 4/112:35CNS - ZQN
3 stops18h 05mAir New Zealand
Deal found 29/12$3,581

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 30 December 2025.

Round-trip from

$480

One-way from

$353
Jetstar
  • Jetstar
  • 16/1-22/1
  • Nonstop
  • 10h 30m total
  • South Island to Cairns
Virgin Australia
  • Virgin Australia
  • 12/2
  • 1 total stop
  • 8h 35m total
  • South Island to Cairns

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 30 December 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from South Island to Cairns that are best for you.

Fly from

South Island

Fly to

Cairns

Route

Departure

Return

Price

ChristchurchCairns

CHC - CNS

CHCCNS

Christchurch

Fri 16/1

08:20-10:55

Nonstop5h 35m

Cairns

Thu 22/1

07:15-15:10

Nonstop4h 55m

$480

ChristchurchCairns

CHC - CNS

CHCCNS

Christchurch

Tue 10/2

09:15-22:05

1 stop15h 50m

Cairns

Tue 17/2

07:15-15:10

Nonstop4h 55m

$709

ChristchurchCairns

CHC - CNS

CHCCNS

Christchurch

Fri 13/2

08:20-10:55

Nonstop5h 35m

Cairns

Thu 19/2

09:45-00:05

1 stop11h 20m

$740

ChristchurchCairns

CHC - CNS

CHCCNS

Christchurch

Tue 5/5

08:20-20:50

1 stop14h 30m

Cairns

Tue 19/5

07:00-13:55

Nonstop4h 55m

$752

ChristchurchCairns

CHC - CNS

CHCCNS

Christchurch

Fri 1/5

07:05-10:40

Nonstop5h 35m

Cairns

Fri 8/5

21:40-16:20

1 stop16h 40m

$755

ChristchurchCairns

CHC - CNS

CHCCNS

Christchurch

Wed 11/2

08:20-10:55

Nonstop5h 35m

Cairns

Wed 18/2

06:00-23:05

2 stops14h 05m

$769

ChristchurchCairns

CHC - CNS

CHCCNS

Christchurch

Tue 5/5

11:25-23:10

2 stops13h 45m

Cairns

Tue 19/5

07:00-13:55

Nonstop4h 55m

$788

ChristchurchCairns

CHC - CNS

CHCCNS

Christchurch

Thu 12/2

16:10-09:05

1 stop19h 55m

Cairns

Thu 19/2

07:15-15:10

Nonstop4h 55m

$797

ChristchurchCairns

CHC - CNS

CHCCNS

Christchurch

Tue 10/2

20:35-08:35

2 stops39h 00m

Cairns

Tue 17/2

07:15-15:10

Nonstop4h 55m

$800

QueenstownCairns

ZQN - CNS

ZQNCNS

Queenstown Intl

Fri 13/2

15:05-10:15

1 stop22h 10m

Cairns

Fri 20/2

10:55-14:15

1 stop24h 20m

$965

Flights are sorted by cheapest return flights first.

Deals found on 29/12

Showing 1-10 of 27 results
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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, July is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from South Island to Cairns (average of $243). Flying from South Island to Cairns in March is currently the most expensive (average of $602). 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 30 December 2025.

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 30 December 2025.
Read through reviews of airlines operating flights from South Island to Cairns, such as Emirates, Air New Zealand, andVirgin Australia. You can also see how each airline compares in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

8.2

Crew

8.3

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.9

Overall

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Anonymous,Sept 2025

DXB - ORD

Overall it was wonderfull for the amount I paid for.

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

8.2

Crew

8.3

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.9

Overall

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Anonymous,Sept 2025

DXB - ORD

Overall it was wonderfull for the amount I paid for.

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

8.2

Crew

8.3

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.9

Overall

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Anonymous,Sept 2025

DXB - ORD

Overall it was wonderfull for the amount I paid for.

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

8.2

Crew

8.3

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.9

Overall

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Anonymous,Sept 2025

DXB - ORD

Overall it was wonderfull for the amount I paid for.

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

8.2

Crew

8.3

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.9

Overall

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Anonymous,Sept 2025

DXB - ORD

Overall it was wonderfull for the amount I paid for.

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

8.2

Crew

8.3

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.9

Overall

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Anonymous,Sept 2025

DXB - ORD

Overall it was wonderfull for the amount I paid for.

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?

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

    Airlines like Jetstar, Virgin Australia, and Air New Zealand fly from South Island to Cairns in about 5h 35m. The time it takes to get you to your destination can typically vary by up to 20h 10m. 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 $690 for a flight from South Island to Cairns. The cheapest flight overall is $188 while the most popular route, (Christchurch - Cairns) is currently priced at $465.

  • 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, July is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from South Island to Cairns (average of $243). Flying from South Island to Cairns in March is currently the most expensive (average of $602). 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

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Top 5 airlines flying from South Island to Cairns

Discover the top 5 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 30 December 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
Virgin AustraliaCheapest$402Average$942FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time80%
Search Virgin Australia flights
JetstarCheapest$450Average$594FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time74%
Search Jetstar flights
Qantas AirwaysCheapest$664Average$1,070FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time74%
Search Qantas Airways flights
Air New ZealandCheapest$984Average$1,066FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time78%
Search Air New Zealand flights
EmiratesCheapest$1,082Average$1,188FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time75%
Search Emirates 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?

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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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