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Cheap flights from Darwin to Cairns from $279

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 5/5. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
DRW — CNS
12 May — 19 May1
1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags
Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Darwin to Cairns are usually found in January or June, booked 45 days in advance, depart on a Monday or Friday and return on a Friday

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 12 April 2026.

Fri 8/519:20
DRW
-
CNS
1 stop15h 25m
Multiple Airlines
Fri 15/513:55
CNS
-
DRW
1 stop11h 20m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 8/4$577
Thu 23/419:20
DRW
-
CNS
1 stop12h 40m
Jetstar
Sat 25/406:00
CNS
-
DRW
1 stop13h 05m
Jetstar
Deal found 8/4$590
Fri 24/419:20
DRW
-
CNS
1 stop12h 40m
Jetstar
Mon 27/406:00
CNS
-
DRW
1 stop13h 05m
Jetstar
Deal found 9/4$618
Sat 25/419:20
DRW
-
CNS
1 stop12h 40m
Jetstar
Wed 29/406:45
CNS
-
DRW
1 stop18h 15m
Jetstar
Deal found 10/4$624
Fri 8/519:20
DRW
-
CNS
1 stop15h 25m
Jetstar
Mon 11/506:00
CNS
-
DRW
1 stop13h 05m
Jetstar
Deal found 10/4$648
Wed 22/414:35
DRW
-
CNS
1 stop8h 15m
Multiple Airlines
Sat 25/406:00
CNS
-
DRW
1 stop13h 05m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 8/4$652
Wed 6/518:00
DRW
-
CNS
1 stop28h 10m
Multiple Airlines
Fri 10/706:00
CNS
-
DRW
1 stop19h 15m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 7/4$659
Tue 30/601:15
DRW
-
CNS
1 stop18h 30m
Multiple Airlines
Fri 10/713:55
CNS
-
DRW
1 stop11h 20m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 7/4$661
Sat 25/419:20
DRW
-
CNS
1 stop12h 40m
Multiple Airlines
Mon 27/417:15
CNS
-
DRW
Nonstop2h 40m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 10/4$663
Sat 9/519:20
DRW
-
CNS
1 stop12h 40m
Multiple Airlines
Sat 16/506:00
CNS
-
DRW
1 stop8h 15m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 10/4$665
Tue 5/519:20
DRW
-
CNS
1 stop12h 40m
Multiple Airlines
Tue 12/516:35
CNS
-
DRW
1 stop32h 25m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 7/4$669

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 12 April 2026.

Round-trip from

$569

One-way from

$279

Popular in

July

Cheapest in

January

Average price

$819

Good round-trip deal

$802 or less

Good one-way deal

$421 or less
Jetstar
  • Jetstar
  • 23/4-25/4
  • 2 total stops
  • 25h 45m total
  • Darwin to Cairns
Search Deals
Jetstar
  • Jetstar
  • 5/5
  • 1 total stop
  • 12h 40m total
  • Darwin to Cairns
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 4% potential increase in price ($56 potential increase over avg. return price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 1% potential price decrease ($19 potential savings vs. average return price).
Search Deals
Average for round-trip flights in April 2026
Search Deals
Price to beat on a round-trip flight from Darwin to Cairns.
Search Deals
Price to beat on a one-way flight from Darwin to Cairns.
Search Deals

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 12 April 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

Sat 25/4

19:20-08:30

1 stop12h 40m

Cairns

Wed 29/4

06:45-00:30

1 stop18h 15m

$624

DarwinCairns

DRW - CNS

DRWCNS

Darwin

Wed 2/9

01:30-11:15

1 stop9h 15m

Cairns

Sun 6/9

07:30-18:00

1 stop11h 00m

$743
Fastest return journey

DarwinCairns

DRW - CNS

DRWCNS

Darwin

Thu 27/8

07:00-10:00

Nonstop2h 30m

Cairns

Thu 10/9

10:45-12:55

Nonstop2h 40m

$890

DarwinCairns

DRW - CNS

DRWCNS

Darwin

Sun 17/5

14:35-23:20

1 stop8h 15m

Cairns

Wed 20/5

06:00-13:45

1 stop8h 15m

$959

DarwinCairns

DRW - CNS

DRWCNS

Darwin

Sun 30/8

01:10-22:45

1 stop21h 05m

Cairns

Fri 4/9

10:45-12:55

Nonstop2h 40m

$959

DarwinCairns

DRW - CNS

DRWCNS

Darwin

Mon 31/8

14:35-23:20

1 stop8h 15m

Cairns

Fri 4/9

16:55-15:00

2 stops22h 35m

$969

DarwinCairns

DRW - CNS

DRWCNS

Darwin

Sun 17/5

07:00-10:00

Nonstop2h 30m

Cairns

Wed 20/5

10:45-12:55

Nonstop2h 40m

$1,072
Cheapest one-way

DarwinCairns

DRW - CNS

DRWCNS

Darwin

Tue 5/5

19:20-08:30

1 stop12h 40m

$279

DarwinCairns

DRW - CNS

DRWCNS

Darwin

Wed 3/6

19:20-08:30

1 stop12h 40m

$287

DarwinCairns

DRW - CNS

DRWCNS

Darwin

Sun 7/6

19:20-08:30

1 stop12h 40m

$356

Flights are sorted by cheapest return flights first.

Deals found on 7/4

Showing 1-10 of 17 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

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 10 April 2026.

To ensure you get the cheapest price possible for a flight from Darwin to Cairns, you should look to book at least 45 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, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Darwin to Cairns (average of $270). Flying from Darwin to Cairns in October is currently the most expensive (average of $608). 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 12 April 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 41% versus a flight in the afternoon.

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 12 April 2026.
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
453 reviews
Check prices

Comfort

7.5

Crew

8.2

Food

6.4

Overall

7.6

Entertainment

6.4

Boarding

7.7

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Elio,Jan 2026

MEL - ADL

Starting to be as efficient as qantas… bar the food offerings Virgin is up there now
Virgin Australia
7.6
Good
453 reviews
Virgin Australia
7.6
Good
453 reviews
Check prices

Comfort

7.5

Crew

8.2

Food

6.4

Overall

7.6

Entertainment

6.4

Boarding

7.7

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Elio,Jan 2026

MEL - ADL

Starting to be as efficient as qantas… bar the food offerings Virgin is up there now
Qantas Airways
7.5
Good
1,018 reviews
Virgin Australia
7.6
Good
453 reviews
Check prices

Comfort

7.5

Crew

8.2

Food

6.4

Overall

7.6

Entertainment

6.4

Boarding

7.7

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Elio,Jan 2026

MEL - ADL

Starting to be as efficient as qantas… bar the food offerings Virgin is up there now
Jetstar
6.5
Okay
537 reviews
Virgin Australia
7.6
Good
453 reviews
Check prices

Comfort

7.5

Crew

8.2

Food

6.4

Overall

7.6

Entertainment

6.4

Boarding

7.7

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Elio,Jan 2026

MEL - ADL

Starting to be as efficient as qantas… bar the food offerings Virgin is up there now

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, 148 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 2h 30m. 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 $256, 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 Virgin Australia and Airnorth - these airlines can fly you to your destination from $269 and $407, respectively. Jetstar is currently priced 66% 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 $174. Virgin Australia flights start at $254 while deals on Airnorth start at $266 one-way.

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

    Consider Alliance Airlines (79%), Qantas Airways (59%) 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 $651, our data indicates the cheapest price to be $256. The most popular route (Darwin - Cairns), is priced around $591.

  • 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 $270). Flying from Darwin to Cairns in October is currently the most expensive (average of $608). 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 12 April 2026.
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 12 April 2026.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
JetstarCheapest$256Average$624FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time74%
Search Jetstar flights
Virgin AustraliaCheapest$269Average$687FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time80%
Search Virgin Australia flights
AirnorthCheapest$407Average$647FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
Search Airnorth flights
Qantas AirwaysCheapest$493Average$783FlexibilityNo 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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