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Cheap flights from South Island to Cairns from $319

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 8/9. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
CHC — CNS
6 Jul — 13 Jul1
1 adult

Cheap 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 1 July 2025.

Round-trip from

$431

One-way from

$319
Jetstar
  • Jetstar
  • 20/8-28/8
  • Nonstop
  • 10h 30m total
  • South Island to Cairns
Jetstar
  • Jetstar
  • 8/9
  • Nonstop
  • 5h 35m total
  • South Island to Cairns

Find flight deals from South Island to Cairns

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 1 July 2025.

Wed 20/807:05CHC - CNS
Nonstop5h 35mJetstar
Thu 28/822:55CNS - CHC
Nonstop4h 55mJetstar
Deal found 30/6$431
Wed 20/810:30CHC - CNS
2 stops15h 05mMultiple Airlines
Thu 28/822:55CNS - CHC
Nonstop4h 55mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 30/6$666
Thu 14/813:05ZQN - CNS
1 stop23h 35mMultiple Airlines
Thu 21/822:55CNS - ZQN
1 stop7h 30mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 30/6$742
Wed 20/820:10CHC - CNS
1 stop16h 35mAir New Zealand
Thu 28/806:00CNS - CHC
2 stops11h 55mAir New Zealand
Deal found 30/6$938
Sun 13/714:40ZQN - CNS
1 stop10h 55mVirgin Australia
Wed 16/706:00CNS - ZQN
1 stop9h 10mVirgin Australia
Deal found 29/6$946
Thu 14/816:50ZQN - CNS
2 stops30h 05mJetstar
Thu 21/819:00CNS - ZQN
2 stops19h 10mJetstar
Deal found 30/6$1,055
Sun 13/715:45CHC - CNS
1 stop9h 20mQantas Airways
Fri 18/718:40CNS - CHC
1 stop27h 40mQantas Airways
Deal found 30/6$1,247

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 1 July 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

Wed 20/8

07:05-10:40

Nonstop5h 35m

Cairns

Thu 28/8

22:55-05:50

Nonstop4h 55m

$431

ChristchurchCairns

CHC - CNS

CHCCNS

Christchurch

Wed 20/8

10:30-23:35

2 stops15h 05m

Cairns

Thu 28/8

22:55-05:50

Nonstop4h 55m

$666

QueenstownCairns

ZQN - CNS

ZQNCNS

Queenstown Intl

Thu 14/8

13:05-10:40

1 stop23h 35m

Cairns

Thu 21/8

22:55-08:25

1 stop7h 30m

$742

QueenstownCairns

ZQN - CNS

ZQNCNS

Queenstown Intl

Thu 21/8

18:00-09:40

1 stop17h 40m

Cairns

Sat 30/8

06:00-15:40

1 stop7h 40m

$875

ChristchurchCairns

CHC - CNS

CHCCNS

Christchurch

Wed 20/8

20:10-10:45

1 stop16h 35m

Cairns

Thu 28/8

06:00-19:55

2 stops11h 55m

$938

QueenstownCairns

ZQN - CNS

ZQNCNS

Queenstown Intl

Mon 18/8

16:50-20:55

2 stops30h 05m

Cairns

Wed 27/8

15:35-12:20

2 stops18h 45m

$1,030

ChristchurchCairns

CHC - CNS

CHCCNS

Christchurch

Sun 13/7

15:45-23:05

1 stop9h 20m

Cairns

Fri 18/7

18:40-00:20

1 stop27h 40m

$1,247

ChristchurchCairns

CHC - CNS

CHCCNS

Christchurch

Mon 8/9

07:05-10:40

Nonstop5h 35m

$319

QueenstownCairns

ZQN - CNS

ZQNCNS

Queenstown Intl

Sat 22/11

13:35-09:05

1 stop22h 30m

$349

QueenstownCairns

ZQN - CNS

ZQNCNS

Queenstown Intl

Wed 1/10

19:00-09:40

1 stop17h 40m

$367

Flights are sorted by cheapest return flights first.

Deals found on 29/6

Showing 1-10 of 14 results
1
2

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 $459). Flying from South Island to Cairns in December is currently the most expensive (average of $642). 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 1 July 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 1 July 2025.
Read through reviews of airlines operating flights from South Island to Cairns, such as Air New Zealand, Qantas Airways, andVirgin Australia. You can also see how each airline compares in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.

Boarding

8.2

Crew

8.5

Food

7.3

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.4

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Anonymous,May 2025

AKL - SFO

It was a United plane, the seating was too tight.

Boarding

8.2

Crew

8.5

Food

7.3

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.4

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Anonymous,May 2025

AKL - SFO

It was a United plane, the seating was too tight.

Boarding

8.2

Crew

8.5

Food

7.3

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.4

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Anonymous,May 2025

AKL - SFO

It was a United plane, the seating was too tight.

Boarding

8.2

Crew

8.5

Food

7.3

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.4

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Anonymous,May 2025

AKL - SFO

It was a United plane, the seating was too tight.

Boarding

8.2

Crew

8.5

Food

7.3

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.4

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Anonymous,May 2025

AKL - SFO

It was a United plane, the seating was too tight.

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?

  • What are the cheapest airlines to fly from South Island to Cairns one-way?

    For one-way options, check prices for Jetstar. According to our data, you can fly for as low as $319. Users have also found prices from $367 and $494 on Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand, respectively.

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

    On average you can expect to pay $499 for a flight from South Island to Cairns. The cheapest flight overall is $220 while the most popular route, (Christchurch - Cairns) is currently priced at $431.

  • 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 $459). Flying from South Island to Cairns in December is currently the most expensive (average of $642). 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 South Island?

Book flights to South Island 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 1 July 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
JetstarCheapest$451Average$611FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time74%
Search Jetstar flights
Qantas AirwaysCheapest$715Average$998FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time74%
Search Qantas Airways flights
Virgin AustraliaCheapest$777Average$950FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time80%
Search Virgin Australia flights
Air New ZealandCheapest$849Average$979FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time78%
Search Air New Zealand flights
EmiratesCheapest$1,035Average$1,141FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time75%
Search Emirates flights

Fly with Cheapflights

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

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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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