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Cheap flights from Darwin to Cairns from $247

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a Cheapflights user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight departing on 29/11. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
DRW — CNS
18 Oct — 25 Oct1
1 adult
1 adult, Economy

Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Darwin to Cairns are usually found in January or February, booked 36 days in advance, depart on a Wednesday or Sunday and return on a Thursday

Cheap flight deals from Darwin to Cairns

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from Darwin (DRW) to Cairns (CNS). Learn about various techniques such as flexible date searches, comparing prices across and setting up price alerts. Use these methods to find the cheapest flights available for your travel needs. Data last updated 18 September 2025.

Round-trip from

$510

One-way from

$247

Popular in

July

Cheapest in

January

Average price

$739

Good round-trip deal

$762 or less

Good one-way deal

$398 or less
Airnorth
  • Airnorth
  • 1/11-8/11
  • 2 total stops
  • 7h 00m total
  • Darwin to Cairns
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Airnorth
  • Airnorth
  • 29/11
  • 1 total stop
  • 3h 30m total
  • Darwin to Cairns
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Highest demand for flights based on searches. 12% potential increase in price ($155 potential increase over avg. return price).
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Cheapest flight prices on average. 2% potential price decrease ($25 potential savings vs. average return price).
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Average for round-trip flights in September 2025
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Price to beat on a round-trip flight from Darwin to Cairns.
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Price to beat on a one-way flight from Darwin to Cairns.
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Find flight deals from Darwin to Cairns

Cheapest flights from Darwin to Cairns
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Darwin to Cairns. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on 18 September 2025.

Sat 1/1107:20DRW - CNS
1 stop3h 30mAirnorth
Sat 8/1112:20CNS - DRW
1 stop3h 30mAirnorth
Deal found 16/9$510
Fri 31/1001:05DRW - CNS
1 stop15h 40mMultiple Airlines
Sat 8/1112:20CNS - DRW
1 stop3h 30mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 17/9$580
Mon 13/1001:50DRW - CNS
1 stop30h 50mJetstar
Sat 18/1009:05CNS - DRW
1 stop16h 00mJetstar
Deal found 17/9$589
Tue 4/1114:20DRW - CNS
1 stop8h 15mMultiple Airlines
Wed 12/1109:45CNS - DRW
Nonstop2h 35mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 17/9$675

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customise your flight search to find flights from Darwin to Cairns that fit within your specific budget. Explore options based on user searches and filter the results based on your desired price range. Find flights that match your budget for a cost-effective journey. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 647,157 searches. Data last updated 18 September 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Darwin to Cairns that are best for you.

Fly from

Darwin

Fly to

Cairns

Route

Depart

Return

Price

DarwinCairns

DRW - CNS

DRWCNS

Darwin

Sat 1/11

07:20-11:20

1 stop3h 30m

Cairns

Sat 8/11

12:20-15:20

1 stop3h 30m

$510

DarwinCairns

DRW - CNS

DRWCNS

Darwin

Fri 31/10

01:05-17:15

1 stop15h 40m

Cairns

Sat 8/11

12:20-15:20

1 stop3h 30m

$580

DarwinCairns

DRW - CNS

DRWCNS

Darwin

Sun 2/11

07:20-11:20

1 stop3h 30m

Cairns

Sun 9/11

12:20-15:20

1 stop3h 30m

$600

DarwinCairns

DRW - CNS

DRWCNS

Darwin

Mon 3/11

01:05-11:20

1 stop9h 45m

Cairns

Wed 12/11

09:45-11:50

Nonstop2h 35m

$696

DarwinCairns

DRW - CNS

DRWCNS

Darwin

Sun 2/11

07:20-11:20

1 stop3h 30m

$273

DarwinCairns

DRW - CNS

DRWCNS

Darwin

Fri 31/10

01:05-11:20

1 stop9h 45m

$283

DarwinCairns

DRW - CNS

DRWCNS

Darwin

Tue 21/10

01:50-09:10

1 stop30h 50m

$316

DarwinCairns

DRW - CNS

DRWCNS

Darwin

Mon 12/1

00:10-22:30

1 stop21h 50m

$337

DarwinCairns

DRW - CNS

DRWCNS

Darwin

Wed 22/10

01:30-20:55

1 stop18h 55m

$355

DarwinCairns

DRW - CNS

DRWCNS

Darwin

Sat 3/1

06:00-09:05

Nonstop2h 35m

$375

Flights are sorted by cheapest return flights first.

Deals found on 16/9

Showing 1-10 of 15 results
1
2

Best time to book a flight from Darwin to Cairns

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to Cairns from Darwin with our price prediction graph.
Estimated return price
Rates are based on past data. Find the cheapest month and day to book your flight based on your travel requirements, then search for cheap deals.

Cheapflights Insights

Everything you need to know about your flight from Darwin to Cairns

How far ahead should I book a flight from Darwin to Cairns?

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a return flight from Darwin to Cairns. Price data was last updated on 12 September 2025.

To ensure you get the cheapest price possible for a flight from Darwin to Cairns, you should look to book at least 36 days in advance of your intended travel date. The price of your flight may increase if you delay and leave booking until a week or so before departure.

What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Darwin to Cairns?

Currently, March is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Darwin to Cairns (average of $166). Flying from Darwin to Cairns in October is currently the most expensive (average of $233). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly from DRW to CNS?

Find hourly flight availability from Darwin to Cairns. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated 18 September 2025.

When flying from Darwin to Cairns, the time of day you fly usually plays a role in the price. Save by searching for a flight in the afternoon, which can drop the price by up to 15% versus a flight at midday.

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

Use this chart to determine the cheapest time to fly return from Darwin to Cairns. Price data was last updated on 14 September 2025.

Travellers seeking maximum savings on their Darwin to Cairns flight should consider departing on Tuesday evenings when fares are most often at their lowest. Saturday at midday flights should be avoided if possible as fares are typically the most expensive at this time.

Reviews of airlines servicing Cairns

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to Cairns. Read reviews, discover amenities, and learn about the overall travel experience offered by airlines. Use this information to make informed decisions when choosing an airline for your flight to Cairns. Reviews last updated 18 September 2025.
Get a feel of what it's like to fly with Virgin Australia, Qantas Airways, andJetstar from Darwin to Cairns by reading reviews from past customers. Users have also rated airlines in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Virgin Australia
7.6
Good
416 reviews
Check prices

Boarding

7.7

Overall

7.6

Comfort

7.5

Crew

8.2

Entertainment

6.4

Food

6.4

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Andrew,June 2025

MEL - CNS

We didn’t eat or drink, but feel like a sardine. No room at all.
Virgin Australia
7.6
Good
416 reviews
Virgin Australia
7.6
Good
416 reviews
Check prices

Boarding

7.7

Overall

7.6

Comfort

7.5

Crew

8.2

Entertainment

6.4

Food

6.4

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Andrew,June 2025

MEL - CNS

We didn’t eat or drink, but feel like a sardine. No room at all.
Qantas Airways
7.5
Good
907 reviews
Virgin Australia
7.6
Good
416 reviews
Check prices

Boarding

7.7

Overall

7.6

Comfort

7.5

Crew

8.2

Entertainment

6.4

Food

6.4

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Andrew,June 2025

MEL - CNS

We didn’t eat or drink, but feel like a sardine. No room at all.
Jetstar
6.5
Okay
474 reviews
Virgin Australia
7.6
Good
416 reviews
Check prices

Boarding

7.7

Overall

7.6

Comfort

7.5

Crew

8.2

Entertainment

6.4

Food

6.4

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Andrew,June 2025

MEL - CNS

We didn’t eat or drink, but feel like a sardine. No room at all.

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from Darwin to Cairns. Access travel guides, tips, and recommendations to enhance your travel experience. Get information about local attractions, weather, transportation options, and more.

  • What airports do I use to fly from Darwin to Cairns?

    If you wish to fly to Cairns from Darwin, then you need to book flights from Darwin to Cairns. There are 3 flights from Darwin (DRW) to Cairns (CNS) per day to choose from. Flights to Cairns from Darwin are available from 4 different airlines, which means you should have some options if you want to compare airfare deals. 2h 30m is how long a nonstop flight from Darwin to Cairns typically takes.

  • How popular is this Darwin to Cairns flight route?

    Within the past month, 273 users have taken a look at flights from Darwin to Cairns.

  • How long is the flight from Darwin to Cairns?

    Departing from Darwin to Cairns will take you 3h 30m. Darwin and Cairns are separated by a distance of 1674 km.

  • What are the cheapest airlines flying from Darwin to Cairns round-trip?

    Currently priced at $271, Jetstar will fly you from Darwin to Cairns and back. In addition to Jetstar, many other airlines offer competitively priced options for your trip. Search Cheapflights for deals from Airnorth and Virgin Australia - these airlines can fly you to your destination from $385 and $517, respectively. Jetstar is currently priced 62% below the average price you’ll pay for this route.

  • What are the cheapest flights from Darwin to Cairns?

    Looking for the cheapest flight from Darwin to Cairns? While on average our users pay $677, our data indicates the cheapest price to be $292. The most popular route (Darwin - Cairns), is priced around $511.

  • Can I find deals for flights from Darwin to Cairns that include hotel bookings?

    Yes. In addition to deals on Darwin to Cairns flights, Cheapflights offers holiday packages that include both flights and hotel.

  • How can I find direct flights from Darwin to Cairns?

    After entering your origin and destination, apply the non-stop filter on the search result page to find direct flights from Darwin to Cairns.

  • Can I find deals for business class flights from Darwin to Cairns?

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from Darwin to Cairns by cabin class. In addition to browsing deals, you can also filter by cabin class on the search results page after making a search.

  • What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Darwin to Cairns?

    Currently, March is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Darwin to Cairns (average of $166). Flying from Darwin to Cairns in October is currently the most expensive (average of $233). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

See more FAQs

Travelling to a place near Cairns?

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

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Fly from Darwin to Cairns on these airlines

Choose from the following airlines for your flight from Darwin to Cairns. Flights are based on user searches made on Cheapflights and were last updated on 18 September 2025.
Qantas Airways flights from Darwin to Cairns
Airnorth flights from Darwin to Cairns
Jetstar flights from Darwin to Cairns

Top 4 airlines flying from Darwin to Cairns

Discover the top 4 airlines that operate flights from Darwin to Cairns. Compare their services, reliability, and customer satisfaction ratings to choose the airline that best suits your travel preferences and needs. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 647,157 searches. Data last updated 18 September 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
JetstarCheapest$271Average$697FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time74%
Search Jetstar flights
AirnorthCheapest$385Average$677FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
Search Airnorth flights
Virgin AustraliaCheapest$517Average$727FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time80%
Search Virgin Australia flights
Qantas AirwaysCheapest$533Average$752FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time74%
Search Qantas Airways flights

Fly with Cheapflights

Find the best flight deals on Cheapflights, where travellers can enjoy low prices and a wide availability of flights to their desired destinations.

How does Cheapflights help users find flights from Darwin to Cairns?

Deals for Darwin to Cairns flights are sourced from 900+ travel sites when you use Cheapflights. When all flight results come back, Cheapflights lets you sort and filter flights using different criteria to choose better, like price, airport, cabin class, and plenty of other options.

Why should you use Cheapflights to find cheap flight tickets from Darwin to Cairns?

By finding flights from multiple airlines and providers at completely no cost, Cheapflights helps millions of users like you annually find the best flights to Cairns from Darwin.

Can Cheapflights find flights from Darwin to Cairns with no change fees?

Certainly. Search results for flights to Cairns from Darwin shown to you on Cheapflights can be narrowed down with different useful search filters, which includes flexible booking options.

Can Cheapflights notify me if prices for flights from Darwin to Cairns become cheaper?

Yes, and it’s super simple to set up. Click the bell icon next to the flight deals above and provide a valid email address to enable Price Alerts. That’s it!

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