CNS - MEL

$121 Find Cheap Flights from Cairns to Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine)

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from Cairns to Melbourne departing on 18/11. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
1 adult
1 adult, Economy

KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to Melbourne Airport

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Cairns to Melbourne, as well as popular online travel agencies
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Cairns to Melbourne, as well as popular online travel agencies
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Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Cairns to Melbourne (CNS-MEL)

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for return flights from Cairns to Melbourne that are departing in the next months. While these flights were available on KAYAK in the last 72 hours, prices and availability are subject to change and deals may expire.
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent return flight deals from Cairns to Melbourne

Wed, 15 Oct - Sun, 19 Oct
Jetstar Logo
20:30 - 00:55CNS-MEL
3h 25mdirect
Jetstar Logo
06:25 - 08:45MEL-CNS
3h 20mdirect
$235Jetstar
Find Deal
Thu, 9 Oct - Wed, 15 Oct
Jetstar Logo
20:30 - 00:55CNS-MEL
3h 25mdirect
Jetstar Logo
20:45 - 23:05MEL-CNS
3h 20mdirect
$237Jetstar
Find Deal
Tue, 13 Jan - Sat, 24 Jan
Jetstar Logo
19:30 - 23:55CNS-MEL
3h 25mdirect
Jetstar Logo
19:45 - 22:05MEL-CNS
3h 20mdirect
$238Jetstar
Find Deal
Thu, 9 Oct - Wed, 15 Oct
Jetstar Logo
20:30 - 00:55CNS-MEL
3h 25mdirect
Jetstar Logo
20:45 - 23:05MEL-CNS
3h 20mdirect
$240Jetstar
Find Deal
Mon, 20 Oct - Sat, 25 Oct
Jetstar Logo
20:30 - 00:55CNS-MEL
3h 25mdirect
Jetstar Logo
20:45 - 23:05MEL-CNS
3h 20mdirect
$246Jetstar
Find Deal
Fri, 14 Nov - Tue, 18 Nov
Jetstar Logo
19:30 - 23:55CNS-MEL
3h 25mdirect
Jetstar Logo
06:15 - 08:30MEL-CNS
3h 15mdirect
$247Jetstar
Find Deal
Fri, 31 Oct - Fri, 7 Nov
Virgin Australia Logo
23:55 - 04:20CNS-MEL
3h 25mdirect
Virgin Australia Logo
21:25 - 23:55MEL-CNS
3h 30mdirect
$253Virgin Australia
Find Deal
Sat, 15 Nov - Wed, 19 Nov
Multiple Airlines Logo
19:50 - 00:15CNS-MEL
3h 25mdirect
Multiple Airlines Logo
06:15 - 08:30MEL-CNS
3h 15mdirect
$256Multiple Airlines
Find Deal
Fri, 31 Oct - Fri, 7 Nov
Virgin Australia Logo
23:55 - 04:20CNS-MEL
3h 25mdirect
Virgin Australia Logo
21:25 - 23:55MEL-CNS
3h 30mdirect
$258Virgin Australia
Find Deal
Thu, 30 Oct - Mon, 3 Nov
Virgin Australia Logo
23:55 - 04:20CNS-MEL
3h 25mdirect
Virgin Australia Logo
21:25 - 23:55MEL-CNS
3h 30mdirect
$276Virgin Australia
Find Deal

Everything you should know

Top airlines
Jetstar
Cheapest • from $235 (return)
Virgin Australia
Best reviews • 7.5 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
+1
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
When to book
5 weeks
in advance
Our data shows that travellers who book at least 5 weeks in advance save around 36% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
February
Cheapest • 23% price drop
December
Most popular
Good to know
Good to know
+1
+1
Good to know
Good to know
+1
Cheapest return fare
$235
Overall average: $385
Jetstar
Wed 15/10Sun 19/10
CNS - MEL • Direct
Cheapest one-way flight
$121
Typical prices: $219-345
Jetstar
Tue 18/11
CNS - MEL • Direct
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KAYAK searches hundreds of sites at once to find you the best travel deals.
We hope you love your trip to Melbourne!
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for Cairns to Melbourne flights

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from Cairns to Melbourne to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more.

What’s the cheapest day of the week to fly from Cairns to Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine)?

The average price of all round-trip flights from Cairns to Melbourne Airport clicked on KAYAK for each day over the last 12 months.

If you are looking for a flight deal from Cairns to Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine), look for departures on Fridays and avoid leaving on a Tuesday, as it's usually the priciest day. When flying back from Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine), Tuesday is the cheapest day to fly and Sunday is the most expensive.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Cairns to Melbourne Airport?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from Cairns to Melbourne Airport, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the median of all values for each month.

The cheapest month for flights from Cairns to Melbourne Airport is February, where tickets cost $240 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are November and July, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $393 and $388 respectively.

How far in advance should I book a flight from Cairns to Melbourne Airport?

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights from Cairns to Melbourne Airport, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the average of all the values for each week.

To get a below average price on the flight from Cairns to Melbourne Airport, you should book around 5 weeks before departure, which saves you about 36% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 26 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Low seasonApril
Cheapest flight$121
Best time to beat the crowds (13% less expensive on average)
Most popular time to fly (9% more expensive on average)
Flight from Cairns to Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine)

When to book flights from Cairns to Melbourne

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Cairns to Melbourne based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated return price
KAYAK looks at all historical flight data for each date to provide a predicted price for one-way trips or returns with a duration up to 40 days. While we try to provide actual minimum prices for each date, some prices are predictions and actual prices may differ.

FAQs for booking Cairns to Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) flights

  • What is the easiest way to get from Melbourne Airport to the city centre?

    SkyBus offers express bus services between Melbourne Airport and the city centre that take 40min and cost around A$ 15 for a one-way trip. Taxi ranks can be found at all terminals. A trip to the city centre will take 30min and cost around A$ 40, with an additional fee for airport pickups. Rideshare services also have dedicated pickup points. If you prefer to hire a car, a number of leading car rental companies are conveniently located opposite Terminal 2.

  • Can I park my car at Cairns Airport?

    If you are driving to Cairns Airport, you can leave your vehicle safely at the airport for the duration of your trip. Whether you’re visiting Melbourne for a weekend getaway, a week-long trip or planning an extended stay, travellers can get great savings on short and long-term parking if you pre-book online. Parking rates start from about A$ 77 per week.

  • Are there any direct flights from Cairns to Melbourne (MEL)?

    Yes, there are direct flights to Melbourne from Cairns. A number of airlines, including Jetstar, Qantas and Virgin Australia offer direct flights along the route from tropical Northern Queensland to Melbourne. Some flights also have a layover in Sydney or Brisbane.

  • What’s the carry-on allowance for flights from Cairns to Melbourne?

    Your carry-on allowance will depend on your airline and your fare. For example, Jetstar generally allows one carry-on item up to 7 kg with the option to pay for an additional bag. Qantas offers a range of allowable configurations, with a maximum of two bags and one personal item, a 10 kg restriction per bag and a 14 kg limit in total.

  • Are there premium economy fares between Cairns and Melbourne?

    You won’t find premium economy, but Qantas and Virgin offer business-class fares featuring a range of premium advantages. Some Australian airlines also offer variations on the basic economy fare. For example, Virgin Australia’s Flex fare gives you checked luggage, free seat selection and flexibility with changing and cancelling your flight.

  • Do kids need a child car seat to get to and from the airport?

    You must abide by Australia’s child car seat laws, even if you’re taking a taxi or getting a ride to and from the airport. This means kids under the age of seven must use a booster or a rear or forward-facing car seat suitable for their age and height.

  • Can I take a pet on my flight from Cairns Airport (CNS) to Melbourne?

    Each Australian airline has its own rules regarding pets. However, you will generally find that they only allow service animals to travel with you in the passenger cabin. All other pets must generally travel in an appropriate-sized container in the cargo hold. To book pet travel, you can either contact your airline directly or use a commercial pet transport company.

  • What is the cheapest flight from Cairns to Melbourne Airport?

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from Cairns to Melbourne Airport was $81 for a one-way ticket and $157 for a return.

  • Which aircraft models fly most regularly from Cairns to Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine)?

    The Boeing 737-800 Passenger/BBJ2 (winglets) is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the Cairns to Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) flight route.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from Cairns to Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine)?

    Star Alliance, oneworld, and SkyTeam are the airline alliances operating flights between Cairns and Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine), with oneworld being the most commonly used for this route.

  • On which days can I fly direct from Cairns to Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine)?

    There are direct flights from Cairns to Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) on a daily basis.

  • Which is the best airline for flights from Cairns to Melbourne, Virgin Australia or Jetstar?

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from Cairns to Melbourne are Virgin Australia and Jetstar. With an average price for the route of $407 and an overall rating of 7.5, Virgin Australia is the most popular choice. Jetstar is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $300 and an overall rating of 6.5.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from Cairns to Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine)?

    KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from Cairns to Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine).

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from Cairns to Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine)?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) from Cairns is likely to change within 7 days, so travellers know whether to wait or book now.

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from Cairns to Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine)?

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional return ticket. You could then fly to Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) with an airline and back to Cairns with another airline.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from Cairns to Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine)?

    Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying to Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) from Cairns up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

KAYAK’s top tips for finding a cheap flight from Cairns to Melbourne Airport

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found flights on this route for $181 or less one-way and $255 or less round-trip.
  • If you need a transfer to Cairns Airport (CNS), you can book a shuttle bus service, ride share or take a taxi. Taxis cost about A$ 23 and will take around 10min from the city centre, depending on where you're departing from.
  • Business travellers and Qantas Club members can enjoy a comfortable pre-flight experience at the Lounge on Level 1 of the Domestic Terminal at Cairns Airport, which offers complimentary refreshments, business facilities, and Wi-Fi.
  • Cairns Airport offers infrastructure and facilities for passengers with disabilities, including accessible drop-off areas and parking, lowered check-in counters for people in wheelchairs, and accessible bathrooms throughout the airport.
  • If you need to travel with a lot of luggage and want the ability to change or cancel your flight without fees, consider booking a business class fare with Qantas or Virgin Australia.
  • Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) is the home base for Jetstar and a key hub for Qantas and Virgin Australia. The airport features four terminals, with T1 and T3 handling domestic flights, T2 handling international flights and T4 servicing budget domestic flights.

Prefer to fly direct from Cairns to Melbourne?

 
Direct data is based off flight results for the next 60 days. Find direct flights from all airlines flying direct from Cairns to Melbourne.
Find which airlines fly direct from Cairns Airport to Melbourne Airport, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

Cairns to Melbourne

Monday

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, Virgin Australia

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, +1 more

Tuesday

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, Virgin Australia

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, +1 more

Wednesday

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, Virgin Australia

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, +1 more

Thursday

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, Virgin Australia

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, +1 more

Friday

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, Virgin Australia

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, +1 more

Saturday

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, Virgin Australia

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, +1 more

Sunday

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, Virgin Australia

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, +1 more

See more direct flights

Direct returns

Melbourne to Cairns

Monday

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, Virgin Australia

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, +1 more

Tuesday

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, Virgin Australia

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, +1 more

Wednesday

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, Virgin Australia

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, +1 more

Thursday

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, Virgin Australia

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, +1 more

Friday

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, Virgin Australia

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, +1 more

Saturday

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, Virgin Australia

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, +1 more

Sunday

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, Virgin Australia

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, +1 more

See more direct flights

Reviews of the top airlines flying from Cairns to Melbourne

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from Cairns to Melbourne. Airline scores are aggregated from all reviews left by passengers on KAYAK after flying with an airline. KAYAK doesn’t show reviews that are older than 5 years. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from Cairns to Melbourne? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
7.5
Virgin AustraliaOverall score based on 416 reviews
7.7Boarding
7.5Comfort
8.2Crew
6.4Food
6.4Entertainment
Airline reviews

Overall experience was good but what really impressed me the most was the care the flight attendants took of a sick passenger who was sitting in front of me. The flight attendants would come and check on her quite regularly providing her support and comfort. Brilliant service!

10.0 ExcellentManish, Aug 2025MEL - SYD
Read more Virgin Australia reviews

Overall experience was good but what really impressed me the most was the care the flight attendants took of a sick passenger who was sitting in front of me. The flight attendants would come and check on her quite regularly providing her support and comfort. Brilliant service!

Only answered OK and poor as there was no entertainment and I didnt have any food

4.5 hr international flight. We got a glass of water. Ranks up there with Ryan Air, Easy Jet, Spirit and Frontier. Expected better.

Gluten free options less explicit on business class, but great service

Very good… seems the virgin staff particularly in the lounge and in flight exceeded expectations.

I liked everything about the experience but would have liked some free snacks!

Crew was great but flight was delayed almost three hours due to a technical issue and we had to go back to the terminal and wait for another one.

Being told why we delayed three hours and not even given an apology by someone. Not a word. Not my airline of choice ever.

Checked Baggage line up was long but moved quickly, rest of the process, boarding, crew was excellent

Virgin has always provided a smooth and comfortable flight. This one was no different. Seats are comfortable. Staff are great. This is my favourite airline.

Late leaving and desintuon board showed ‘gate closed’ when they hadn’t even commenced boarding!

Flight was delayed more than 1.5 hours. Gate changed multiple times

The good thing is that the flight got us from Darwin to Brisbane. However, it would have to be the most uncomfortable flight I have ever taken and if I can possibly avoid flying Jetstar again, I will.

no announcement about why we where delayed which is very poor

It was better than I expected. Thought $5 for a small cup of tea was a bit much!

Overall good trip I find seats a bit hard. We were waiting on board for about an hour for 2 passengers with some document issue. This main our arrival late for our pickup person.

15kg allowance is outrageous. Change of time a few days before departure and more than 2 hours of delay in the end. The worse we’ve taken so far in Oceania.

stuck in the aircraft for over three hours due to engineering work, significantly delayed and made a lot of passengers missed the connecting transport, no mention any compensation

Very quiet plane!! One of the quietest planes we have been on.

Jetsatar refused to take my foldable stroller in the plane, despite following all the rules on dimensions and packaging. Similar thing happened on our previous fight. However, at that instance, they offered to check in the stroller. At this fight, the staff was rude, trying to rush us to board the flight. They made excuses that the stroller was not allowed and even offer to leave it behind and ship it back at our own cost. Fortunately, we had someone else attending. Since the flight was about to take off, they left it behind and send it back to us on the next available flight.

Everything you need to know for your flight from Cairns to Melbourne

Other airlines flying to Cairns

Flight deals from the most popular airlines with KAYAK users flying the route

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