CBR - CNS

$249 Find Cheap Flights from Canberra to Cairns – Compare and Save

1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

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Everything you should know

Cheapest return flight
$534
Typical prices: $546-$677
Jetstar
Mon 5/11Wed 14/11
CBR - CNS • 1 stop
Cheapest one-way flight
$249
Typical prices: $279-$360
Jetstar
Sat 27/10
CBR - CNS • 1 stop
Direct flights
Not available
There are currently no direct flights between Canberra and Cairns. You'll need to take a connecting flight to reach the destination.
Insights
Insights
When to book
23 weeks
in advance
Our data shows that travellers who book at least 23 weeks in advance save around 18% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
When to travel
January
Cheapest • 11% price drop
August
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
Top stopover airports
Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD)
Cheapest • Avg $428 (return)
Brisbane (BNE)
Shortest trip • 5h 09m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
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KAYAK searches hundreds of sites at once to find you the best travel deals.
We hope you enjoy your trip to Cairns!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Canberra to Cairns (CBR-CNS)

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

Recent return flight deals from Canberra to Cairns

Thu, 5 Nov - Sat, 14 Nov
Jetstar Logo
12:25 - 08:30CBR  Canberra-CNS Cairns
21h 05m1 stop Melbourne
Jetstar Logo
09:40 - 16:30CNS  Cairns-CBR Canberra
5h 50m1 stop Brisbane
$534Jetstar
Tue, 20 Oct - Tue, 27 Oct
Multiple Airlines Logo
17:20 - 08:30CBR  Canberra-CNS Cairns
16h 10m1 stop Brisbane
Multiple Airlines Logo
09:15 - 18:00CNS  Cairns-CBR Canberra
7h 45m1 stop Brisbane
$540Multiple Airlines
Tue, 10 Nov - Tue, 17 Nov
Jetstar Logo
17:15 - 11:20CBR  Canberra-CNS Cairns
19h 05m1 stop Brisbane
Jetstar Logo
06:00 - 16:30CNS  Cairns-CBR Canberra
9h 30m1 stop Brisbane
$541Jetstar
Tue, 20 Oct - Tue, 27 Oct
Multiple Airlines Logo
17:20 - 08:30CBR  Canberra-CNS Cairns
16h 10m1 stop Brisbane
Multiple Airlines Logo
09:15 - 18:00CNS  Cairns-CBR Canberra
7h 45m1 stop Brisbane
$558Multiple Airlines
Wed, 17 Feb - Wed, 24 Feb
Multiple Airlines Logo
12:25 - 22:10CBR  Canberra-CNS Cairns
10h 45m1 stop Melbourne
Multiple Airlines Logo
17:25 - 23:15CNS  Cairns-CBR Canberra
4h 50m1 stop Brisbane
$560Multiple Airlines
Tue, 16 Feb - Wed, 24 Feb
Multiple Airlines Logo
12:25 - 22:10CBR  Canberra-CNS Cairns
10h 45m1 stop Melbourne
Multiple Airlines Logo
17:25 - 23:15CNS  Cairns-CBR Canberra
4h 50m1 stop Brisbane
$560Multiple Airlines
Thu, 22 Oct - Sat, 31 Oct
Virgin Australia Logo
06:25 - 11:00CBR  Canberra-CNS Cairns
5h 35m1 stop Melbourne
Virgin Australia Logo
11:40 - 18:00CNS  Cairns-CBR Canberra
5h 20m1 stop Brisbane
$563Virgin Australia
Mon, 7 Dec - Sun, 13 Dec
Virgin Australia Logo
06:35 - 11:05CBR  Canberra-CNS Cairns
5h 30m1 stop Melbourne
Virgin Australia Logo
06:00 - 11:40CNS  Cairns-CBR Canberra
4h 40m1 stop Brisbane
$567Virgin Australia
Sun, 11 Oct - Thu, 15 Oct
Virgin Australia Logo
18:40 - 23:20CBR  Canberra-CNS Cairns
5h 40m1 stop Brisbane
Virgin Australia Logo
06:00 - 11:40CNS  Cairns-CBR Canberra
4h 40m1 stop Brisbane
$578Virgin Australia
Sun, 14 Feb - Sun, 21 Feb
Virgin Australia Logo
09:40 - 16:40CBR  Canberra-CNS Cairns
8h 00m1 stop Brisbane
Virgin Australia Logo
11:40 - 18:00CNS  Cairns-CBR Canberra
5h 20m1 stop Brisbane
$578Virgin Australia
Booking Insights

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

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

How much is a return flight from Canberra to Cairns?

Return flights from Canberra to Cairns start at $534. Prices are below average for this route right now, with typical return fares ranging from $546 to $677. The lowest price found in the past 5 days was $534 on Jetstar.

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

Friday is the cheapest day of the week to fly from Canberra to Cairns and is 4% cheaper than the average day. Sunday is the most expensive day with flight prices 13% higher than average. Based on deals found by KAYAK users in the last 12 months.

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

•January is the cheapest month to fly from Canberra to Cairns at $528 return.
•July ($660) and June ($632) are the most expensive months.
•The price difference between flying in the cheapest and most expensive months is 24% on average.
This is based on KAYAK aggregated and averaged internal data over the past 12 months.

When are prices from Canberra to Cairns the cheapest?

Flights from Canberra to Cairns are cheapest 23 weeks before departure. Booking in this window typically costs about 18% less than the average last-minute fare (within 2 weeks of the flight), based on KAYAK data.

Find deals

Key details for Canberra to Cairns flights

Low season

February

Cheapest flight

$249
Best time to beat the crowds (10% less expensive on average)
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 2% lower on average.
Flights from Canberra to Cairns

When to book flights from Canberra to Cairns

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

Your Canberra to Cairns flight questions, answered

Find helpful route details based on KAYAK data, including flight times, airports, airlines, and booking questions.

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

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

  • How long is a flight from Canberra to Cairns?

    A direct flight from Canberra to Cairns takes 0h 00m, covering 3,339 km.

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

    No. A passport is not required for this domestic route, but you will need a real ID-compliant driver's license, a state ID, or another TSA-accepted form of identification.

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

    Return flights from Canberra to Cairns range from $546 to $677, with an average of $592 over the past 12 months. Anything below $546 counts as a good deal.

  • How expensive are last-minute Canberra to Cairns flights?

    Last-minute fares on this route (booked within 2 weeks of departure) run 8% above the route average of $592. Book 23 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

  • Have flight prices from Canberra to Cairns 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 $534 to $1,201. That means the highest observed fare was about 2x higher than the lowest one.

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

    One-way fares from Canberra to Cairns are currently higher than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about $543, which is 74% above the typical average for this route.

  • Which car hire options are available at Cairns Airport (CNS)?

    Cairns Airport (CNS) hosts 5 major car hire companies, with daily rates starting from around $18 for economy cars. Top options include:
    • Bargain Car Rentals
    • East Coast Car Rentals
    • Simba Car Hire
    • Ace Rental Cars
    • Budget

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

    Flights from Canberra to Cairns usually depart from Canberra (CBR) and arrive at Cairns (CNS).

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

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

    • Brisbane (BNE) – 85% of one-stop connections
    • Melbourne (MEL) – 12% of one-stop connections
    • Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD) – 3% of one-stop connections

    Brisbane (BNE) handles the largest share of one-stop connections on this route.

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

    Yes. Being flexible with your travel dates can save you up to 15% on the Canberra to Cairns route. Friday is the cheapest departure day at $570 return on average, while Sunday is the most expensive at $668, a difference of $98. KAYAK's flexible dates feature shows options up to 3 days before and after your selected dates, making it easier to compare nearby fares.

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

    Flying via Brisbane (BNE) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time of 5h 09m, compared to 5h 41m via Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD) and 7h 56m via Melbourne (MEL).

  • What popular places can I visit in Cairns?

    Some of the most popular sights in Cairns are Esplanade Lagoon, Reef Hotel Casino, and Cairns Convention Centre. These are among the most viewed places in Cairns on KAYAK.

Your guide to booking Canberra to Cairns 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 Friday departure instead of Sunday. On this route, Friday flights average $570 – about $98 less than Sunday (15% savings) based on the last 12 months.
  • For the best chance at a low fare, aim to book around 23 weeks before you fly. On this route, that window historically saves about 18% versus last-minute pricing (KAYAK booking data, last 12 months).
  • If you can choose when to travel, plan your Canberra to Cairns trip for January. Fares historically average $528 return in that month – typically $131 less than the most expensive month, which is July (based on the last 12 months).
  • If you're arriving late at night and need somewhere to stay, check out these hotels close to Cairns Airport.
    - Cairns Colonial Club Resort
    - Cairns Harbourside Hotel
    - Cairns Sheridan Hotel

More options for your flight from Canberra to Cairns

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

Car hire in Cairns
Hotels in Cairns
Holidays in Cairns