$251 Find Cheap Flights from Cairns to South Island

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 South Island departing on 8/5. 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.
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KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to South Island

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

Best South Island Flight Deals from Cairns

Cheapest return prices found by our users on KAYAK in the last 72 hours

Queenstown
Queenstown1 stop$665
Christchurch
Christchurch1 stop$540
Queenstown
Queenstown1 stop$665
Christchurch
Christchurch1 stop$540

Cheap Flight Deals from Cairns to South Island (CNS-zzEDG)

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for return flights from Cairns to South Island 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.

Recent return flight deals from Cairns to South Island

Recommended return flight deals departing in the coming months from the most popular airlines that fly from Cairns to South Island.
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.
Jetstar Logo
21:30 - 16:20CNS-CHC
16h 50m1 stop
Jetstar Logo
07:05 - 10:40CHC-CNS
5h 35mdirect
$540Jetstar
Find Deal
Fri, 13 Jun - Fri, 20 Jun
Jetstar Logo
21:30 - 16:20CNS-CHC
16h 50m1 stop
Jetstar Logo
07:05 - 10:40CHC-CNS
5h 35mdirect
$562Jetstar
Find Deal
Fri, 13 Jun - Fri, 20 Jun
Jetstar Logo
21:30 - 16:20CNS-CHC
16h 50m1 stop
Jetstar Logo
07:05 - 10:40CHC-CNS
5h 35mdirect
$590Jetstar
Find Deal
Fri, 13 Jun - Fri, 20 Jun
Jetstar Logo
15:35 - 09:50CNS-CHC
16h 15m2 stops
Jetstar Logo
07:05 - 10:40CHC-CNS
5h 35mdirect
$609Jetstar
Find Deal
Fri, 13 Jun - Fri, 20 Jun
 Logo
22:55 - 09:40CNS-ZQN
8h 45m1 stop
 Logo
13:05 - 10:40ZQN-CNS
23h 35m1 stop
Thu, 12 Jun - Thu, 19 Jun
 Logo
22:55 - 09:40CNS-ZQN
8h 45m1 stop
 Logo
16:50 - 10:40ZQN-CNS
19h 50m2 stops
Thu, 12 Jun - Thu, 19 Jun
Virgin Australia Logo
11:50 - 15:40CNS-ZQN
25h 50m1 stop
Virgin Australia Logo
18:00 - 09:40ZQN-CNS
17h 40m1 stop
$760Virgin Australia
Find Deal
Mon, 8 Sep - Mon, 15 Sep
Virgin Australia Logo
16:55 - 16:45CNS-ZQN
21h 50m2 stops
Virgin Australia Logo
18:00 - 11:25ZQN-CNS
19h 25m2 stops
$909Virgin Australia
Find Deal
Mon, 8 Sep - Mon, 15 Sep
Air New Zealand Logo
13:40 - 09:40CNS-ZQN
18h 00m3 stops
Air New Zealand Logo
12:10 - 22:50ZQN-CNS
12h 40m2 stops
$1,579Air New Zealand
Find Deal
Thu, 12 Jun - Thu, 19 Jun
Air New Zealand Logo
15:35 - 08:25CNS-ZQN
14h 50m2 stops
Air New Zealand Logo
13:05 - 13:45ZQN-CNS
26h 40m3 stops
$2,275Air New Zealand
Find Deal
Sun, 6 Jul - Fri, 11 Jul
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KAYAK's insights & trends for Cairns to South Island flights

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

What is the cheapest Cairns to South Island flight route?

The cheapest price for flight routes found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks for round-trip flights from Cairns to South Island.
The cheapest ticket to South Island from Cairns found in the last 72 hours was to Christchurch, at $380 return. The most popular route is from Cairns (CNS) to Christchurch (CHC), and the cheapest round-trip airline ticket found on this route in the last 72 hours was $380.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly to South Island?

The average price for all round-trip flights from Cairns to South Island depending on the time of departure, clicked by users on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks.
The cheapest time of day to fly to South Island is generally in the afternoon, when retur flights cost $463 on average. Morning departures are around 16% more expensive than evening flights, on average. The most expensive time of day to fly to South Island is generally in the morning, which is peak travel time and where the average cost of a ticket is $560.

Can I save money by flying with a stopover from Cairns to South Island?

The average return price for all direct flights, flights with one stopover, and flights with two stopovers for the route found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks.
No, with an average price for the route of $238, prices are generally cheapest when you fly direct.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Cairns to South Island?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from Cairns to South Island, 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 South Island is February, when tickets cost $693 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are October and November, when the average cost of return tickets is $1,223 and $1,102 respectively.

Good to know

Low season

January

High season

May

Cheapest flight

$251
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 8% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 22% lower on average.
Flight from Cairns to Christchurch

FAQs - booking South Island flights

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from Cairns to South Island?

    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 South Island.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from Cairns to South Island?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight from Cairns to South Island 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 South Island?

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional return ticket. You could then fly from Cairns to South Island with an airline and back with another airline.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from Cairns to South Island?

    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 from Cairns to South Island up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

Top tips for finding cheap flights to South Island

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found tickets from Cairns to the following destinations at these prices or less: Christchurch $234 one-way - $434 round-trip

Top 3 airlines serving from Cairns to South Island

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from Cairns to South Island. 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 South Island? 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
Qantas AirwaysOverall score based on 829 reviews
7.7Boarding
8.2Crew
7.2Entertainment
6.9Food
7.4Comfort
Airline reviews

Pretty excellent. I don’t know what the pilot could have done better with the bumping ( there was a storm) nor what happened to my ears coming down into bendigo. It doesn’t happen coming down into Sydney just the return flight. I wonder why?

10.0 ExcellentAnonymous, Apr 2025SYD - BXG
Read more Qantas Airways reviews

Pretty excellent. I don’t know what the pilot could have done better with the bumping ( there was a storm) nor what happened to my ears coming down into bendigo. It doesn’t happen coming down into Sydney just the return flight. I wonder why?

Touch screens were very difficult to use, generally being laggy and unresponsive- it was quite an art to get it to play the thing you wanted rather than some thing at random. Selection of films and Tv was good when touchscreen decided to finally respond.

Their aircraft are old and amenities lack way behind other international carriers leaving from BNE. Even in economy

Airport and crew experience was excellent. We had to queue for the runway - no one’s fault, but it did mean we were 30 minutes late leaving

Overall good experience with flight and airport wheelchair staff. Also got Indian food in the flights

Friendly staff, surprisingly good premium economy seats allowing good sleep/ snooze opportunity and very good menu.

Very good as always, stand out airline. The passengers whom choose to stuff baggage that otherwise should be checked-in is a real bother but that's not the airlines doing. A real frustration that passengers just don't want to check-in luggage. This is a pet hate unfortunately.

It’s a two prop flight so I had problems with my ears on re- entering ! But otherwise fine

I love flying with Qantas. There was no onscreen entertaining on this flight, and only a snack provided (not a meal) but still better than Jetstar or Virgin (in my opinion) so still happy.

Wheelchair assistance to move through the terminals and to/from the plane door was excellent. No vegan snack on the flight, only something with salami and cheese in it.

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.

Virgin changed the flight to an Alliance flight. Smaller plane, tea coffee and water the only refreshments available and not sure what happened to the extra money I paid to sit in a selected seat with extra leg room. This is obviously a regular switch as it happened on our flight there and back. Do not recommend.

Late boarding, late departure due to weather and slow boarding, packed 5+hour flight, only 2 toilets for main cabin, tight leg room, no free food except tea, coffee, and water, arrived 75 minutes late.

Cramped, crowded flight, with no complimentary food except coffee, tea, or water.

Overall, it was good. The only concern was that I couldn't charge my phone because the USB port didn't work after we took off. One of the crew members tried to restart it but never came back to me with an update.

Comfortable seats, boarding was easy and staff were very nice.

Flight was fine but a domestic flight was called by Jetstar international. This meant going through immigration and custom scanning twice. Long queues were experienced which were frustrating. We were using a wheelchair and exit at Perth needed a scissor lift as no air bridge provided. No fast lane at Perth for wheelchair. The staff were helpful but this system is poor.

The crew were great. The seat was older than an old Holden with a big metal bar sticking right into my back. The passenger next to me complained that hers was the same. The pre purchase system for food was disappointing as the pie/quiche took 20 mins to warm up, arrived too hot and with no utensils. It was one of the most uncomfortable flights I've ever been on.

Not very good, no food and not drink ( caffe or tea). Never ever fly with jet star.

Fabulous I have no issues with JetStar great service always use them to fly

Flight was as expected - we got what we paid for which was a base fare

Hardly we had overweight and we were asked to pay $75. We were checked by a female and weight was alright

Unaware of charge for carry on until i got to gate

I got what I paid for - flight was clean, staff were friendly

Everything you need to know for your flight to South Island

Information on your arrival and departure airports

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