$181 Find Cheap Flights from New Zealand to Cairns – Compare and Save

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight to Cairns departing on 31/8. 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, 0 bags

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Cheap Flights from New Zealand to Cairns

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

Mon, 21 Sep - Sun, 27 Sep
Jetstar Logo
06:55 - 10:40
CHC
-
CNS
5h 45mdirect
Jetstar Logo
07:00 - 14:55
CNS
-
CHC
4h 55mdirect
$477Jetstar
Wed, 16 Sep - Sun, 27 Sep
Jetstar Logo
06:55 - 10:40
CHC
-
CNS
5h 45mdirect
Jetstar Logo
07:00 - 14:55
CNS
-
CHC
4h 55mdirect
$484Jetstar
Mon, 21 Sep - Sun, 27 Sep
Jetstar Logo
06:55 - 10:40
CHC
-
CNS
5h 45mdirect
Jetstar Logo
07:00 - 14:55
CNS
-
CHC
4h 55mdirect
$485Jetstar
Mon, 21 Sep - Sun, 27 Sep
Jetstar Logo
06:55 - 10:40
CHC
-
CNS
5h 45mdirect
Jetstar Logo
07:00 - 14:55
CNS
-
CHC
4h 55mdirect
$488Jetstar
Mon, 21 Sep - Sun, 27 Sep
Multiple Airlines Logo
06:55 - 10:40
CHC
-
CNS
5h 45mdirect
Multiple Airlines Logo
10:55 - 08:10
CNS
-
CHC
18h 15m
1 stop
$589Multiple Airlines
Mon, 21 Sep - Sun, 27 Sep
Multiple Airlines Logo
06:55 - 10:40
CHC
-
CNS
5h 45mdirect
Multiple Airlines Logo
10:55 - 08:10
CNS
-
CHC
18h 15m
1 stop
$596Multiple Airlines
Tue, 1 Sep - Thu, 10 Sep
Multiple Airlines Logo
17:25 - 23:20
AKL
-
CNS
7h 55m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
06:00 - 05:00
CNS
-
AKL
21h 00m
1 stop
$649Multiple Airlines
Tue, 10 Nov - Tue, 17 Nov
Qantas Airways Logo
16:30 - 08:30
WLG
-
CNS
19h 00m
1 stop
Qantas Airways Logo
17:40 - 15:30
CNS
-
WLG
18h 50m
1 stop
$986Qantas Airways
Mon, 31 Aug - Tue, 8 Sep
Qantas Airways Logo
15:40 - 22:45
WLG
-
CNS
9h 05m
1 stop
Qantas Airways Logo
11:20 - 14:40
CNS
-
WLG
25h 20m
1 stop
$1,000Qantas Airways
Sun, 6 Dec - Thu, 10 Dec
Qantas Airways Logo
13:40 - 09:05
HLZ
-
CNS
22h 25m
1 stop
Qantas Airways Logo
11:25 - 08:30
CNS
-
HLZ
18h 05m
2 stops
$1,231Qantas Airways
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for flights to Cairns

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

What is the cheapest flight to Cairns?

These are the best return prices found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 5 days.

In the last 5 days, the cheapest flight deal to Cairns was found on the route from Christchurch, at $477 return. The most popular connection is from Auckland to Cairns, while KAYAK users have found return deals for as low as $556 in the last 5 days.

What is the cheapest day to fly to Cairns?

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

Based on KAYAK data, the cheapest day to fly to Cairns is Friday where round-trip tickets can be as cheap as $418. On the other hand, the most expensive day to fly is Saturday, where round-trip prices are $1,175 on average.

What is the cheapest month to fly to Cairns?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights to Cairns, 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 to Cairns is January, where tickets cost $635 on average for return flights. On the other hand, the most expensive months are June and December, where the average cost of tickets from New Zealand is $847 and $835 respectively. For one-way flights, the best month to travel is June with an average price of $350.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly to Cairns?

The average price for all round-trip flights to Cairns depending on the time of departure, clicked by users on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks.

The cheapest time of day to fly to Cairns is generally in the morning, when round-trip flights cost $954 on average. The most expensive time of day to fly to Cairns is generally in the morning, which is peak travel time and where the average cost of a ticket is $954.

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

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights to Cairns, 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, you should book around 3 weeks before departure, which saves you about 13% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 11 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Low season

February

Cheapest flight

$181
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 8% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly (3% more expensive on average)
Flight from Christchurch to Cairns

FAQs - booking Cairns flights

  • What is the cheapest flight to Cairns?

    In the last 5 days, the cheapest flight deal to Cairns was found on the route from Christchurch, at $477 return. The most popular connection is from Auckland to Cairns, while KAYAK users have found return deals for as low as $556 in the last 5 days.

  • How far is Cairns Airport from central Cairns?

    Central Cairns is 4 km away from Cairns Airport.

  • What is the name of Cairns’s airport?

    Cairns is served by Cairns Airport, also commonly referred to as Cairns or Cairns Intl. The airport code is CNS.

  • How much is a flight to Cairns?

    On average, a flight to Cairns costs $635. The cheapest price found on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks cost $266 and departed from Auckland Intl Airport.

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

    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 to Cairns.

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

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

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional round-trip ticket. You could then fly to Cairns 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 to Cairns?

    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 Cairns 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 Cairns

  • Looking for cheap airfare to Cairns? 25% of our users found return tickets to Cairns for the following prices or less: From Christchurch $345, from Auckland $401
  • Enter your preferred departure airport and travel dates into the search form above to unlock the latest Cairns flight deals.

Reviews of the top airlines flying from New Zealand to Cairns

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying to Cairns. Airline scores are aggregated from all reviews left by passengers on KAYAK after flying with an airline from New Zealand to Cairns. KAYAK doesn’t show reviews that are older than 5 years. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.
Need help choosing which airline to fly with to Cairns? 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 1074 reviews
8.1Crew
7.4Comfort
7.2Entertainment
7.7Boarding
7.0Food
Airline reviews

Was disappointed that we couldn't use our lounge passes as the booking was a group booking.

8.0 ExcellentDiane, July 2026
NLK - BNE
Read more Qantas Airways reviews

Was disappointed that we couldn't use our lounge passes as the booking was a group booking.

I never flew with alliance. Kayak is a joke and none of the flights or times were correct. Won’t ever use kayak again

My experience was great overall. Tanya was particularly friendly and helpful the entire trip. I was very pleased with her customer service skills. The plane was an older aircraft but the entire way was comfortable with barely any turbulence at all. Qantas should speed up its fleet renovation. Totally recommend using this airline.

I liked boarding the plane. The staff were rude, the food was appalling and the chairs the most uncomfortable I have ever experienced

Flight was canceled. I was not alerted. It was only kayak that alerted me

After already paying for excess luggage prior to flight, i was advised AT check in that i had to pay $816 or forfeit my flight! The lady at the counter was SO rude and had already started offboarding me when i said i would pay it after asking her three times for the exact amount! Have lodged a formal complaint yet heard nothing. Will not ever travel via Qantas again

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.

I have flown Qantas multiple times in the past it seemed this flight the plane had less seat room or the seats were way less comfortable than before. Everything else was about the same. Thanks

I really appreciated the fact that when I checked my bags at the Quantas counter after arriving from an international flight an hour early, the agent noticed I had a very long layover. He then found an earlier flight that allowed me to get to Cairns several hours earlier than I planned. That was amazing because I had already traveled over 20 hours and wasn’t looking forward to such a long layover. It allowed me to see my daughter and grandchildren much earlier (it had been two years since I visited last).

Knees in back from passenger behind, limited seat pockets, no entertainment.

Great. Seats are a little cramped with only a very small recline. Service was great. Food was fine.

Flight was fine with boarding starting a few minutes early. Not a fan of the crew pushing political messaging regarding indigenous naming of Brisbane city… really pushed it like I haven’t heard on Jetstar before.

Flight was delayed both directions but once in the air was ok. Boarding out of Melbourne is just a mess.

Delayed twice. Poor communication and people made to change gates too often.

Excellent help with Wife needing disability access at Brisbane airport

a constant reminder that you need to work harder so you can avoid this airline

My Dad needed assistance to board the plane. The Jetstar staff were excellent with him and made the experience a lot easier😁

Plane was late leaving darwin so we didn’t get home till 1130pm 2nd time in a fortnight that has happened. Hard when you have to work the next day

Captains address to passengers was excellent. Knee room in seating was very uncomfortable.

Travelling to a place near Cairns?

Book flights to Cairns if you plan to visit one of these locations
Mission Beach
Trinity Beach

Everything you need to know for your flight to Cairns

Information on the airport you'll fly into in Cairns