Cheap flights from Darwin to Cairns from $261

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 19/10. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
DRW — CNS
21 Jul — 28 Jul1
1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

Cheap flight deals from Darwin to Cairns

Enter your travel dates to find the best prices.

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 21 June 2026.

Mon 19/1007:00
DRW
-
CNS
Nonstop2h 30m
Qantas Airways
Mon 2/1111:00
CNS
-
DRW
Nonstop2h 35m
Qantas Airways
Deal found 16/6$511
Fri 24/717:35
DRW
-
CNS
Nonstop2h 30m
Qantas Airways
Sun 26/710:45
CNS
-
DRW
Nonstop2h 40m
Qantas Airways
Deal found 16/6$564
Fri 24/717:35
DRW
-
CNS
Nonstop2h 30m
Qantas Airways
Mon 27/714:40
CNS
-
DRW
Nonstop2h 40m
Qantas Airways
Deal found 16/6$623
Mon 19/1017:35
DRW
-
CNS
Nonstop2h 30m
Multiple Airlines
Mon 2/1114:40
CNS
-
DRW
1 stop9h 55m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 16/6$648
Thu 23/701:30
DRW
-
CNS
1 stop30h 30m
Multiple Airlines
Mon 27/714:40
CNS
-
DRW
Nonstop2h 40m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 16/6$654
Wed 22/701:30
DRW
-
CNS
1 stop9h 10m
Virgin Australia
Thu 23/716:55
CNS
-
DRW
1 stop8h 20m
Virgin Australia
Deal found 20/6$657
Thu 27/818:45
DRW
-
CNS
1 stop14h 15m
Jetstar
Thu 10/909:10
CNS
-
DRW
1 stop15h 40m
Jetstar
Deal found 20/6$668
Fri 17/701:30
DRW
-
CNS
1 stop9h 10m
Virgin Australia
Sat 25/706:00
CNS
-
DRW
1 stop8h 15m
Virgin Australia
Deal found 20/6$678
Thu 23/701:30
DRW
-
CNS
1 stop15h 10m
Multiple Airlines
Sun 26/710:45
CNS
-
DRW
Nonstop2h 40m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 16/6$689
Tue 25/801:15
DRW
-
CNS
1 stop15h 25m
Jetstar
Mon 31/809:10
CNS
-
DRW
1 stop15h 40m
Jetstar
Deal found 19/6$692
Sat 18/719:20
DRW
-
CNS
1 stop12h 40m
Jetstar
Sat 25/710:15
CNS
-
DRW
1 stop14h 45m
Jetstar
Deal found 20/6$694

Find 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 21 June 2026.

Round-trip from

$511

One-way from

$261

Popular in

June

Cheapest in

January

Average price

$996

Good round-trip deal

$996 or less

Good one-way deal

$300 or less
Qantas Airways
  • Qantas Airways
  • 19/10-2/11
  • Nonstop
  • 5h 05m total
  • Darwin to Cairns
Qantas Airways
  • Qantas Airways
  • 19/10
  • Nonstop
  • 2h 30m total
  • Darwin to Cairns
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 10% potential increase in price ($133 potential increase over avg. return price).
Cheapest flight prices on average. 2% potential price decrease ($25 potential savings vs. average return price).
Average for round-trip flights in June 2026
Price to beat on a round-trip flight from Darwin to Cairns.
Price to beat on a one-way flight from Darwin to Cairns.

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 21 June 2026.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Darwin to Cairns that are best for you.

Fly from

Fly to

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Cheapest return flight

DarwinCairns

DRW - CNS

DRWCNS

Darwin

Thu 27/8

18:45-09:30

1 stop14h 15m

Cairns

Thu 10/9

09:10-00:20

1 stop15h 40m

$674

DarwinCairns

DRW - CNS

DRWCNS

Darwin

Fri 17/7

14:35-23:20

1 stop8h 15m

Cairns

Thu 23/7

16:55-00:45

1 stop8h 20m

$699

DarwinCairns

DRW - CNS

DRWCNS

Darwin

Thu 27/8

18:45-09:30

1 stop14h 15m

Cairns

Fri 11/9

13:30-00:30

1 stop11h 30m

$719

DarwinCairns

DRW - CNS

DRWCNS

Darwin

Tue 18/8

01:15-08:30

1 stop30h 45m

Cairns

Mon 24/8

06:00-00:20

1 stop18h 50m

$729

DarwinCairns

DRW - CNS

DRWCNS

Darwin

Wed 7/10

01:10-10:35

1 stop8h 55m

Cairns

Thu 15/10

10:45-12:55

Nonstop2h 40m

$731

DarwinCairns

DRW - CNS

DRWCNS

Darwin

Thu 27/8

14:35-23:20

1 stop8h 15m

Cairns

Thu 10/9

06:00-13:45

1 stop8h 15m

$828

DarwinCairns

DRW - CNS

DRWCNS

Darwin

Sat 12/9

14:35-20:10

1 stop29h 05m

Cairns

Wed 16/9

06:00-13:45

1 stop8h 15m

$860
Fastest return journey

DarwinCairns

DRW - CNS

DRWCNS

Darwin

Wed 19/8

07:00-10:00

Nonstop2h 30m

Cairns

Mon 24/8

14:40-16:50

Nonstop2h 40m

$896

DarwinCairns

DRW - CNS

DRWCNS

Darwin

Wed 26/8

01:10-10:35

1 stop8h 55m

Cairns

Thu 10/9

13:55-00:35

2 stops11h 10m

$902
Cheapest one-way

DarwinCairns

DRW - CNS

DRWCNS

Darwin

Thu 27/8

18:45-09:30

1 stop14h 15m

$362

Flights are sorted by cheapest return flights first.

Deals found on 20/6

Showing 1-10 of 20 resultsSorted by cheapest first
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

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

Currently, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Darwin to Cairns (average of $647). Flying from Darwin to Cairns in June is currently the most expensive (average of $996). 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 21 June 2026.

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 evening, which can drop the price by up to 39% versus a flight at midday.

How much does it cost for a return flight from Darwin to Cairns?

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 21 June 2026.
Get a feel of what it's like to fly with Qantas Airways and Jetstar 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.

Comfort

7.5

Entertainment

7.2

Boarding

7.7

Crew

8.1

Food

7.0

Overall

7.5

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Midhat,Apr 2026

AKL - ADL

Poor as usual. Flight was delayed for more than 4 hours. The Staff was rude. Food was terrible. Very unreliable, unprofessional and unpleasant.

Comfort

7.5

Entertainment

7.2

Boarding

7.7

Crew

8.1

Food

7.0

Overall

7.5

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Midhat,Apr 2026

AKL - ADL

Poor as usual. Flight was delayed for more than 4 hours. The Staff was rude. Food was terrible. Very unreliable, unprofessional and unpleasant.

Comfort

7.5

Entertainment

7.2

Boarding

7.7

Crew

8.1

Food

7.0

Overall

7.5

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Midhat,Apr 2026

AKL - ADL

Poor as usual. Flight was delayed for more than 4 hours. The Staff was rude. Food was terrible. Very unreliable, unprofessional and unpleasant.

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 3 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?

  • How long is the flight from Darwin to Cairns?

    Departing from Darwin to Cairns will take you 8h 15m. Darwin and Cairns are separated by a distance of 1674 km. Both multi-stop and direct flights can be found to your destination and back.

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

    Currently priced at $242, 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 Qantas Airways and Airnorth - these airlines can fly you to your destination from $516 and $517, respectively. Jetstar is currently priced 70% below the average price you’ll pay for this route.

  • What are the cheapest airlines to fly from Darwin to Cairns one-way?

    To fly one-way, consider booking your trip with Jetstar, which is currently one of the cheapest options available, starting at $233. Airnorth flights start at $244 while deals on Qantas Airways start at $279 one-way.

  • What are the most reliable airlines from Darwin to Cairns?

    Consider Alliance Airlines (93%), Qantas Airways (93%) or Fiji Airways (0%) when booking your flight. These represent the most reliable airlines when flying from Darwin to Cairns.

  • What are the cheapest flights from Darwin to Cairns?

    Looking for the cheapest flight from Darwin to Cairns? While on average our users pay $905, our data indicates the cheapest price to be $412. The most popular route (Darwin - Cairns), is priced around $687.

  • 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, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Darwin to Cairns (average of $647). Flying from Darwin to Cairns in June is currently the most expensive (average of $996). 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
Mission Beach
Trinity 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 21 June 2026.

Top 3 airlines flying from Darwin to Cairns

Discover the top 3 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 21 June 2026.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
JetstarCheapest$242Average$628FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time74%
Search Jetstar flights
Qantas AirwaysCheapest$516Average$851FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time74%
Search Qantas Airways flights
AirnorthCheapest$517Average$615FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
Search Airnorth 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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