Australia
AUD

DRW - CNS

$231 Find Cheap Flights from Darwin to Cairns – Compare and Save

1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

Save 26% or more on flights. Compare deals from all over the web.

Never overpay with our price tracking tools.

Filter searches by price, airline and more to find your best flights.

Everything you should know

Cheapest return flight
$485
Typical prices: $717-$902
Qantas Airways
Tue 4/12Fri 7/12
DRW - CNS • Direct
Cheapest one-way flight
$231
Typical prices: $366-$482
Qantas Airways
Wed 5/12
DRW - CNS • Direct
Direct flights
Every day
You can fly direct with Qantas Airways. Average duration is 2h 35m
Direct flights
+1
Direct flights
+1
When to travel
January
Cheapest • 15% price drop
September
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
Top stopover airports
Nhulunbuy Gove (GOV)
Cheapest • Avg $710 (return)
Brisbane (BNE)
Shortest trip • 9h 40m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
Start a new search
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 Darwin to Cairns (DRW-CNS)

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

Recent return flight deals from Darwin to Cairns

Fri, 4 Dec - Mon, 7 Dec
Qantas Airways Logo
07:00 - 10:05DRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
2h 35mdirect
Qantas Airways Logo
10:45 - 12:50CNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
2h 35mdirect
$485Qantas Airways
3+ days ago
Fri, 26 Feb - Mon, 8 Mar
Airnorth Logo
05:45 - 12:00DRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
5h 45m1 stop Nhulunbuy Gove
Airnorth Logo
16:10 - 16:35CNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
24h 55m1 stop Nhulunbuy Gove
$541Airnorth
2 days ago
Fri, 26 Feb - Mon, 8 Mar
Airnorth Logo
05:45 - 12:00DRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
5h 45m2 stops Groote Eylandt Alyangula Nhulunbuy Gove
Airnorth Logo
16:10 - 16:35CNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
24h 55m1 stop Nhulunbuy Gove
$542Airnorth
2 days ago
Fri, 4 Dec - Mon, 7 Dec
Multiple Airlines Logo
05:45 - 12:00DRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
5h 45m2 stops Groote Eylandt Alyangula Nhulunbuy Gove
Multiple Airlines Logo
10:45 - 12:50CNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
2h 35mdirect
$565Multiple Airlines
3+ days ago
Wed, 30 Dec - Wed, 6 Jan
Multiple Airlines Logo
07:00 - 10:05DRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
2h 35mdirect
Multiple Airlines Logo
16:10 - 19:20CNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
3h 40m1 stop Nhulunbuy Gove
$598Multiple Airlines
7 hours ago
Sat, 5 Dec - Mon, 7 Dec
Qantas Airways Logo
07:00 - 10:05DRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
2h 35mdirect
Qantas Airways Logo
10:45 - 12:50CNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
2h 35mdirect
$623Qantas Airways
2 days ago
Wed, 25 Nov - Wed, 2 Dec
Virgin Australia Logo
14:20 - 23:05DRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
8h 15m1 stop Brisbane
Virgin Australia Logo
06:00 - 13:35CNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
8h 05m1 stop Brisbane
$750Virgin Australia
1 day ago
Sun, 8 Nov - Sun, 15 Nov
Virgin Australia Logo
14:20 - 23:05DRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
8h 15m1 stop Brisbane
Virgin Australia Logo
06:00 - 13:35CNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
8h 05m1 stop Brisbane
$769Virgin Australia
2 days ago
Tue, 24 Nov - Tue, 1 Dec
Jetstar Logo
16:50 - 08:30DRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
15h 10m1 stop Melbourne
Jetstar Logo
06:00 - 23:25CNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
17h 55m2 stops Brisbane Sydney Kingsford Smith
$938Jetstar
3+ days ago
Sat, 5 Dec - Mon, 7 Dec
Jetstar Logo
19:05 - 18:25DRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
22h 50m2 stops Brisbane Melbourne
Jetstar Logo
18:05 - 16:10CNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
22h 35m2 stops Sydney Kingsford Smith Melbourne
$991Jetstar
2 days ago
Booking Insights

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

Return flights from Darwin to Cairns typically range from $717 to $902. The lowest price found in the past 5 days was $485 on Qantas Airways.

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

Based on deals KAYAK users found in the last 12 months, Thursday is the cheapest day of the week to fly from Darwin to Cairns. It’s 6% cheaper than the average day, while Tuesday is the most expensive, with prices 22% higher.

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

•January is the cheapest month to fly from Darwin to Cairns at $654 return.
•June ($1,003) and September ($947) are the most expensive months.
•The price difference between flying in the cheapest and most expensive months is 53% on average.
This is based on KAYAK aggregated and averaged internal data over the past 12 months.

Find deals

Key details for Darwin to Cairns flights

Low season

April

Cheapest flight

$231
Beat the crowds with an average 39% drop in traveller numbers.
The most popular month to fly with an average 35% increase in traveller numbers.
One-way flight from Darwin to Cairns

When to book flights from Darwin to Cairns

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

Your Darwin to Cairns 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 Darwin to Cairns?

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

    • Earliest: departs at 07:00 and lands at 09:35
    • Latest: departs at 17:35 and lands at 20:10.

    The flight takes about 2h 35m.

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

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

  • How long is a flight from Darwin to Cairns?

    A direct flight from Darwin to Cairns takes 2h 35m, covering 2,694 km.

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

    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 Darwin to Cairns flight?

    Return flights from Darwin to Cairns range from $717 to $902, with an average of $772 over the past 12 months. Anything below $717 counts as a good deal.

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

    On this route, stopover flights are cheaper than direct options on average. Stopover fares average $710 return via Nhulunbuy Gove (GOV), compared with $798 for direct.

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

    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 Embraer 170 / 175 / 190 / 195 variants.

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

    Morning is the busiest departure period on Darwin to Cairns 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 Darwin 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 $485 to $1,968. That means the highest observed fare was about 4x higher than the lowest one.

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

    One-way fares from Darwin to Cairns are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about $350, which is 16% below 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
    • Europcar
    • Ace Rental Cars

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

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

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

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

    • Nhulunbuy Gove (GOV) – 75% of one-stop connections
    • Brisbane (BNE) – 24% of one-stop connections
    • Melbourne (MEL) – 2% of one-stop connections

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

    Yes. Flexible dates can save you up to 23% on flights from Darwin to Cairns. Thursday is the cheapest departure day at $733 return on average, while Tuesday is the most expensive at $948, a difference of $215.

    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 Darwin to Cairns?

    Only Qantas Airways operates flights between Darwin and Cairns.

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

    Flying via Nhulunbuy Gove (GOV) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time of 3h 31m, compared to 9h 40m via Brisbane (BNE) and 11h 17m 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.

  • Which airlines include bags at no extra cost on Darwin to Cairns 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 Darwin 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 Thursday departure and avoid flying on Tuesday. On this route, Thursday flights average $733, about $215 less than Tuesday fares (23% savings) based on the last 12 months.
  • If you can choose when to travel, plan your Darwin to Cairns trip for January. Fares historically average $654 return in that month – typically $349 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 Nhulunbuy Gove Airport (GOV) can be cheaper than flying direct. The cheapest stopover option averages $710 return on this route – about $89 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 Cairns Airport.

    • Cairns Colonial Club Resort
    • Cairns Harbourside Hotel
    • Cairns Sheridan Hotel

Prefer to fly direct from Darwin to Cairns?

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

Direct departures

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

Direct returns

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

More options for your flight from Darwin to Cairns

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

Car hire in Cairns
Hotels in Cairns
Holidays in Cairns