CNS - DRW

$282 Find Cheap Flights from Cairns to Darwin – Compare and Save

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1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

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Everything you should know

Cheapest return flight
$621
Typical prices: $743-$953
Airnorth
Mon 19/11Fri 23/11
CNS - DRW • 1 stop
Cheapest direct flights
$658
Typical prices: $735-$947
Airnorth
Mon 19/11Fri 23/11
CNS - DRW • Direct
Direct flights
Every day
You can fly direct with Qantas Airways. Average duration is 2h 36m
Direct flights
+1
Direct flights
+1
When to travel
February
Cheapest • 13% price drop
July
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
Top stopover airports
Brisbane (BNE)
Cheapest • Avg $665 (return)
Nhulunbuy Gove (GOV)
Shortest trip • 3h 31m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
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We hope you enjoy your trip to Darwin!
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Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Cairns to Darwin (CNS-DRW)

 
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent return flight deals from Cairns to Darwin

Thu, 19 Nov - Mon, 23 Nov
Airnorth Logo
13:35 - 16:35CNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
3h 30m1 stop Nhulunbuy Gove
Airnorth Logo
08:00 - 12:00DRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
3h 30m1 stop Nhulunbuy Gove
$621Airnorth
3+ days ago
Wed, 18 Nov - Mon, 23 Nov
Airnorth Logo
16:25 - 19:35CNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
3h 40mdirect
Airnorth Logo
08:00 - 12:00DRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
3h 30m1 stop Nhulunbuy Gove
$623Airnorth
3+ days ago
Mon, 1 Mar - Fri, 5 Mar
Airnorth Logo
16:25 - 19:35CNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
3h 40m1 stop Nhulunbuy Gove
Airnorth Logo
08:00 - 12:00DRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
3h 30m1 stop Nhulunbuy Gove
$629Airnorth
3+ days ago
Mon, 1 Mar - Fri, 5 Mar
Airnorth Logo
16:25 - 19:35CNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
3h 40m1 stop Nhulunbuy Gove
Airnorth Logo
05:45 - 12:00DRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
5h 45m2 stops Groote Eylandt Alyangula Nhulunbuy Gove
$629Airnorth
3+ days ago
Thu, 19 Nov - Mon, 23 Nov
Multiple Airlines Logo
13:35 - 16:35CNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
3h 30m1 stop Nhulunbuy Gove
Multiple Airlines Logo
07:05 - 10:10DRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
2h 35mdirect
$676Multiple Airlines
3+ days ago
Thu, 19 Nov - Mon, 23 Nov
Multiple Airlines Logo
10:50 - 12:55CNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
2h 35mdirect
Multiple Airlines Logo
19:05 - 17:15DRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
21h 40m1 stop Brisbane
$678Multiple Airlines
3+ days ago
Thu, 19 Nov - Mon, 23 Nov
Multiple Airlines Logo
13:35 - 16:35CNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
3h 30m1 stop Nhulunbuy Gove
Multiple Airlines Logo
07:05 - 10:10DRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
2h 35mdirect
$685Multiple Airlines
3+ days ago
Thu, 19 Nov - Mon, 23 Nov
Qantas Airways Logo
10:50 - 12:55CNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
2h 35mdirect
Qantas Airways Logo
07:05 - 10:10DRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
2h 35mdirect
$686Qantas Airways
3+ days ago
Thu, 19 Nov - Mon, 23 Nov
Qantas Airways Logo
10:50 - 12:55CNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
2h 35mdirect
Qantas Airways Logo
07:05 - 10:10DRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
2h 35mdirect
$687Qantas Airways
2 days ago
Wed, 18 Nov - Mon, 23 Nov
Qantas Airways Logo
10:50 - 12:55CNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
2h 35mdirect
Qantas Airways Logo
07:05 - 10:10DRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
2h 35mdirect
$689Qantas Airways
22 hours ago
Booking Insights

Price, demand, and travel trends for Cairns to Darwin flights

Use KAYAK data on prices, travel dates, airlines, and seasonal trends to compare options and book flights with more confidence.

How much is a return flight from Cairns to Darwin?

Return flights from Cairns to Darwin typically range from $743 to $953. The lowest price found in the past 5 days was $621 on Airnorth.

What's the cheapest day of the week to fly from Cairns to Darwin?

Based on deals KAYAK users found in the last 12 months, Wednesday is the cheapest day of the week to fly from Cairns to Darwin. It’s 10% cheaper than the average day, while Sunday is the most expensive, with prices 17% higher.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Cairns to Darwin?

•February is the cheapest month to fly from Cairns to Darwin at $719 return.
•June ($1,149) and September ($982) are the most expensive months.
•The price difference between flying in the cheapest and most expensive months is 59% on average.
This is based on KAYAK aggregated and averaged internal data over the past 12 months.

Find deals

Key details for Cairns to Darwin flights

Low season

February

Cheapest flight

$260
Beat the crowds with an average 48% drop in traveller numbers.
The most popular month to fly with an average 47% increase in traveller numbers.
One-way flight from Cairns to Darwin

When to book flights from Cairns to Darwin

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Cairns to Darwin based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated return price

Your Cairns to Darwin flight questions, answered

Find helpful answers about this route, including flight times, airports, airlines, and booking tips.

  • What are the earliest and latest flights from Cairns to Darwin?

    These are the earliest and latest flight times available from Cairns to Darwin:

    • Earliest: departs at 10:45 and lands at 13:21
    • Latest: departs at 14:40 and lands at 17:16.

    The flight takes about 2h 36m.

  • Which cabin classes can I book on flights from Cairns to Darwin?

    Only Economy class is available on flights from Cairns to Darwin.

  • How long is a flight from Cairns to Darwin?

    A direct flight from Cairns to Darwin takes 2h 36m, covering 2,694 km.

  • Do I need a passport to fly from Cairns to Darwin?

    No, a passport is not required for this domestic route, but you will need another form of identification, such as a driving licence.

  • How much should I expect to pay for a Cairns to Darwin flight?

    Return flights from Cairns to Darwin range from $743 to $953, with an average of $830 over the past 12 months. Anything below $743 counts as a good deal.

  • How much can I save by having a stopover when flying from Cairns to Darwin?

    On this route, stopover flights are cheaper than direct options on average. Stopover fares average $665 return via Brisbane (BNE), compared with $799 for direct.

  • Which aircraft model is used most often on flights from Cairns to Darwin?

    The Embraer 190 family is used most often on this route, operated mainly by Qantas Airways and Airnorth. Other aircraft seen on the route include Airbus A350-900 variants.

  • How are flight departures from Cairns to Darwin spread across the day?

    Morning is the busiest departure period on Cairns to Darwin flights, with 100% leaving in that window. Afternoon departures account for 0%, Evening flights for 0%, and Night flights for 0%.

  • Have flight prices from Cairns to Darwin changed much recently?

    Yes. Based on fares seen in the past 5 days, return flight prices on this route showed a wide range, from about $621 to $1,757. That means the highest observed fare was about 3x higher than the lowest one.

  • How are flight prices from Cairns to Darwin looking right now?

    One-way fares from Cairns to Darwin are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about $324, which is 23% below the typical average for this route.

  • Which car hire options are available at Darwin Airport (DRW)?

    Darwin Airport (DRW) hosts 5 major car hire companies, with daily rates starting from around $21 for economy cars. Top options include:

    • Bargain Car Rentals
    • East Coast Car Rentals
    • Thrifty
    • Budget
    • Dollar

  • Which airports can I use when flying from Cairns to Darwin?

    Flights from Cairns to Darwin usually depart from Cairns (CNS) and arrive at Darwin (DRW).

  • Which airports do connecting flights from Cairns to Darwin pass through?

    One-stop flights from Cairns to Darwin most commonly connect through:

    • Nhulunbuy Gove (GOV) – 74% of one-stop connections
    • Brisbane (BNE) – 23% of one-stop connections
    • Adelaide (ADL) – 3% of one-stop connections

  • Can I save money by using flexible dates for flights from Cairns to Darwin?

    Yes. Flexible dates can save you up to 23% on flights from Cairns to Darwin. Wednesday is the cheapest departure day at $752 return on average, while Sunday is the most expensive at $974, a difference of $222.

    KAYAK's flexible dates feature shows options up to three days before and after your selected dates, making it easier to compare nearby fares.

  • Which airlines fly from Cairns to Darwin?

    Only Qantas Airways operates flights between Cairns and Darwin.

  • How much time can I save by choosing a different stopover airport from Cairns to Darwin?

    Flying via Nhulunbuy Gove (GOV) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time of 3h 31m, compared to 9h 27m via Brisbane (BNE) and 12h 37m via Adelaide (ADL).

  • What popular places can I visit in Darwin?

    Some of the most popular sights in Darwin are Crocosaurus Cove and SKYCITY Casino. These are among the most viewed places in Darwin on KAYAK.

  • Which airlines offer extra legroom and free seat selection on Cairns to Darwin flights?

    Among airlines operating Cairns to Darwin flights:

    • Qantas Airways: offers extra legroom

    Extra legroom and free seat selection availability depends on fare class and route.

  • Which airlines include bags at no extra cost on Cairns to Darwin flights?

    Here are some options for this route, based on selected ticket types and cabin classes:

    • Qantas Airways: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class
    • Airnorth: a checked bag in Economy class class

    Baggage allowance can vary by ticket type, cabin class, route, and airline, so always check the fare details before booking.

Your guide to booking Cairns to Darwin flights

Get tips on when to book, when to fly, and what to know before your trip.
  • If your dates are flexible, aim for a Wednesday departure and avoid flying on Sunday. On this route, Wednesday flights average $752, about $222 less than Sunday fares (23% savings) based on the last 12 months.
  • If you can choose when to travel, plan your Cairns to Darwin trip for February. Fares historically average $719 return in that month – typically $430 less than the most expensive month, which is June (based on the last 12 months).
  • If you have the time, taking a 1-stop flight through Brisbane Airport (BNE) can be cheaper than flying direct. The cheapest stopover option averages $665 return on this route – about $134 less than direct flights (based on the last 12 months).
  • If you're arriving late at night and need somewhere to stay, check out these hotels close to Darwin Airport.

    • Quality Hotel Darwin Airport
    • Discovery Parks - Darwin
    • Ibis Darwin Airport Hotel

Prefer to fly direct from Cairns to Darwin?

 
Find which airlines fly direct from Cairns Airport to Darwin Airport, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

Cairns to Darwin

Monday

Qantas Airways

Qantas Airways

Tuesday

Qantas Airways

Qantas Airways

Wednesday

Qantas Airways

Qantas Airways

Thursday

Qantas Airways

Qantas Airways

Friday

Qantas Airways

Qantas Airways

Saturday

Qantas Airways

Qantas Airways

Sunday

Qantas Airways

Qantas Airways

See more direct flights

Direct returns

Darwin to Cairns

Monday

Qantas Airways

Qantas Airways

Tuesday

Qantas Airways

Qantas Airways

Wednesday

Qantas Airways

Qantas Airways

Thursday

Qantas Airways

Qantas Airways

Friday

Qantas Airways

Qantas Airways

Saturday

Qantas Airways

Qantas Airways

Sunday

Qantas Airways

Qantas Airways

See more direct flights

More options for your flight from Cairns to Darwin

Complete your trip to Darwin with a hotel stay or car hire

Car hire in Darwin
Hotels in Darwin
Holidays in Darwin