This is the cheapest retur flight price found by a Cheapflights user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight departing on 3/10. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
MEL — CNS
14 Oct — 21 Oct1
Return
1 adult
Economy
Return
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags
Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Melbourne to Cairns are usually found in February or March, booked 83 days in advance, depart on a Tuesday or Wednesday and return on a Friday
Cheap flight deals from Melbourne to Cairns
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Cheapest flights from Melbourne to Cairns
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Melbourne to Cairns. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on 14 September 2026.
Fri 23/1020:05 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Tue 27/1019:10 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Deal found 11/9$250
Mon 19/1020:05 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Tue 27/1019:10 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Deal found 10/9$251
Thu 22/1017:25 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Tue 27/1019:10 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Deal found 11/9$258
Sat 10/1020:05 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Wed 14/1020:35 -
Nonstop3h 20m
Deal found 10/9$261
Thu 10/1219:50 -
Nonstop3h 20m
Mon 14/1210:15 -
Nonstop3h 30m
Deal found 11/9$273
Tue 24/1106:15 -
Nonstop3h 15m
Sun 29/1119:10 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Deal found 14/9$278
Tue 13/1021:40 -
1 stop11h 50m
Tue 20/1006:00 -
1 stop14h 05m
Deal found 13/9$430
Fri 23/1021:40 -
1 stop11h 50m
Thu 29/1006:00 -
1 stop13h 40m
Deal found 14/9$456
Fri 23/1021:40 -
1 stop11h 50m
Thu 29/1011:40 -
1 stop8h 00m
Deal found 14/9$466
Sat 7/1121:15 -
1 stop12h 45m
Wed 11/1112:05 -
1 stop7h 35m
Deal found 12/9$469
Wed 28/1006:00 -
1 stop27h 20m
Sat 31/1012:05 -
1 stop7h 35m
Deal found 13/9$473
Fri 9/1021:45 -
1 stop11h 45m
Mon 12/1006:00 -
1 stop14h 05m
Deal found 9/9$474
Best flights from Melbourne to Cairns
Discover carefully curated flight deals from Melbourne to Cairns that have cost, travel time, and stopovers in mind to ensure you get the best travel experience. Data last updated 14 September 2026.
Fri 23/1020:05 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Tue 27/1019:10 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Deal found 11/9$250
Mon 26/1020:35 -
1 stop13h 30m
Sat 7/1119:50 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Deal found 9/9$445
Sun 13/1206:15 -
Nonstop3h 15m
Thu 17/1219:10 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Deal found 14/9$258
Sun 11/1020:05 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Thu 15/1007:00 -
Nonstop3h 30m
Deal found 11/9$314
Thu 15/1017:25 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Thu 29/1019:10 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Deal found 10/9$342
Sat 7/1119:50 -
Nonstop3h 20m
Tue 10/1109:45 -
Nonstop3h 30m
Deal found 13/9$358
Tue 6/1020:05 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Sun 11/1020:35 -
Nonstop3h 20m
Deal found 11/9$360
Mon 19/1020:55 -
1 stop12h 25m
Tue 27/1015:45 -
1 stop6h 30m
Deal found 10/9$558
Wed 11/1106:15 -
Nonstop3h 15m
Sun 15/1119:10 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Deal found 13/9$393
Wed 7/1020:05 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Fri 9/1020:35 -
Nonstop3h 20m
Deal found 14/9$416
Thu 31/1211:40 -
1 stop6h 05m
Mon 4/115:55 -
1 stop6h 20m
Deal found 12/9$689
Fri 16/1017:25 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Mon 19/1020:35 -
Nonstop3h 20m
Deal found 13/9$441
Wed 14/1020:05 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Sun 18/1020:35 -
Nonstop3h 20m
Deal found 14/9$443
Thu 1/1006:25 -
Nonstop3h 20m
Mon 12/1019:35 -
Nonstop3h 20m
Deal found 10/9$463
Sat 31/1021:15 -
1 stop12h 45m
Wed 4/1106:40 -
1 stop7h 55m
Deal found 13/9$517
Sun 25/1008:10 -
1 stop6h 20m
Thu 29/1006:00 -
1 stop13h 40m
Deal found 10/9$548
Wed 28/1020:55 -
1 stop12h 25m
Thu 5/1112:05 -
1 stop7h 35m
Deal found 12/9$562
Sat 31/1021:15 -
1 stop12h 45m
Tue 3/1112:05 -
1 stop7h 35m
Deal found 14/9$580
Fri 6/1121:15 -
1 stop12h 45m
Sun 22/1112:05 -
1 stop7h 35m
Deal found 14/9$586
Sat 24/1006:00 -
1 stop12h 25m
Thu 29/1006:00 -
1 stop13h 40m
Deal found 10/9$623
Fri 30/1021:15 -
1 stop12h 45m
Tue 3/1112:05 -
1 stop7h 35m
Deal found 14/9$647
Thu 28/106:00 -
1 stop8h 30m
Thu 28/118:05 -
1 stop12h 30m
Deal found 12/9$736
Fri 16/1020:55 -
2 stops15h 20m
Mon 19/1006:45 -
1 stop15h 05m
Deal found 13/9$759
Direct flights from Melbourne to Cairns
Explore direct flight options from Melbourne to Cairns based on user searches, and compare prices and availability for your desired travel dates. Data last updated 14 September 2026.
Fri 23/1020:05 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Tue 27/1019:10 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Deal found 11/9$250
Mon 19/1020:05 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Tue 27/1019:10 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Deal found 10/9$251
Thu 22/1017:25 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Tue 27/1019:10 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Deal found 11/9$258
Sat 10/1020:05 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Wed 14/1020:35 -
Nonstop3h 20m
Deal found 10/9$261
Thu 10/1219:50 -
Nonstop3h 20m
Mon 14/1210:15 -
Nonstop3h 30m
Deal found 11/9$273
Tue 24/1106:15 -
Nonstop3h 15m
Sun 29/1119:10 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Deal found 14/9$278
Last-minute flights from Melbourne to Cairns
Discover last-minute flight deals from Melbourne to Cairns. Data last updated 14 September 2026 and is based on user searches.
Sat 19/908:30 -
1 stop7h 25m
Wed 23/906:00 -
1 stop7h 20m
Deal found 12/9$524
Sat 19/916:40 -
1 stop5h 45m
Wed 23/906:45 -
1 stop7h 25m
Deal found 12/9$611
Mon 21/916:55 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Mon 28/906:00 -
1 stop6h 00m
Deal found 9/9$545
Mon 21/916:55 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Tue 22/921:35 -
Nonstop3h 20m
Deal found 10/9$556
Mon 21/914:55 -
1 stop7h 30m
Tue 22/906:45 -
1 stop16h 05m
Deal found 10/9$622
Mon 21/920:55 -
1 stop12h 25m
Fri 25/919:10 -
1 stop27h 40m
Deal found 14/9$685
Mon 21/920:55 -
1 stop12h 25m
Sat 26/907:30 -
1 stop12h 05m
Deal found 14/9$692
Tue 22/908:00 -
1 stop7h 55m
Tue 22/921:35 -
Nonstop3h 20m
Deal found 12/9$529
Tue 22/908:30 -
1 stop7h 25m
Sat 26/906:00 -
1 stop6h 20m
Deal found 13/9$538
Tue 22/908:30 -
1 stop7h 25m
Tue 22/916:55 -
1 stop7h 00m
Deal found 12/9$566
Thu 24/912:00 -
1 stop6h 25m
Tue 29/906:00 -
1 stop7h 20m
Deal found 10/9$542
Thu 24/913:00 -
1 stop5h 25m
Sun 27/906:00 -
1 stop7h 20m
Deal found 12/9$551
One-way flights from Melbourne to Cairns
Search for one-way flight options from Melbourne to Cairns. Find affordable one-way fares based on user searches. Data last updated 14 September 2026.
Sat 3/1019:05 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Wed 31/1200:00 -
Nonstop0h 00m
Deal found 11/9$134
Sat 10/1020:05 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Wed 31/1200:00 -
Nonstop0h 00m
Deal found 9/9$135
Sun 22/1106:15 -
Nonstop3h 15m
Wed 31/1200:00 -
Nonstop0h 00m
Deal found 11/9$137
Wed 4/1106:15 -
Nonstop3h 15m
Wed 31/1200:00 -
Nonstop0h 00m
Deal found 10/9$139
Sat 17/1006:25 -
Nonstop3h 20m
Wed 31/1200:00 -
Nonstop0h 00m
Deal found 13/9$148
Sun 18/1020:05 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Wed 31/1200:00 -
Nonstop0h 00m
Deal found 13/9$158
Sun 25/1019:50 -
Nonstop3h 20m
Wed 31/1200:00 -
Nonstop0h 00m
Deal found 14/9$159
Sun 4/1020:05 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Wed 31/1200:00 -
Nonstop0h 00m
Deal found 11/9$160
Sun 1/1119:50 -
Nonstop3h 20m
Wed 31/1200:00 -
Nonstop0h 00m
Deal found 13/9$162
Tue 10/1106:15 -
Nonstop3h 15m
Wed 31/1200:00 -
Nonstop0h 00m
Deal found 14/9$165
Tue 3/1117:00 -
1 stop17h 05m
Wed 31/1200:00 -
Nonstop0h 00m
Deal found 13/9$190
Wed 16/1217:00 -
1 stop17h 05m
Wed 31/1200:00 -
Nonstop0h 00m
Deal found 10/9$192
Find flight deals from Melbourne to Cairns
Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from Melbourne (ME1) 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 14 September 2026.
Customise your flight search to find flights from Melbourne 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 7,457,451 searches. Data last updated 14 September 2026.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Melbourne to Cairns that are best for you.
Fly from
Fly to
Route
Depart
Return
Price
Cheapest return flight
MelbourneCairns
MEL Melbourne - CNS Cairns
MELCNS
Melbourne
Fri 6/11
19:50-22:10
Nonstop3h 20m
Cairns
Wed 31/12
00:00-00:00
Nonstop0h 00m
$135
MelbourneCairns
MEL Melbourne - CNS Cairns
MELCNS
Melbourne
Sun 18/10
20:05-22:30
Nonstop3h 25m
Cairns
Wed 31/12
00:00-00:00
Nonstop0h 00m
$158
Fastest return journey
MelbourneCairns
MEL Melbourne - CNS Cairns
MELCNS
Melbourne
Thu 12/11
06:15-08:30
Nonstop3h 15m
Cairns
Wed 31/12
00:00-00:00
Nonstop0h 00m
$160
MelbourneCairns
MEL Melbourne - CNS Cairns
MELCNS
Melbourne
Tue 27/10
16:05-18:25
Nonstop3h 20m
Cairns
Wed 31/12
00:00-00:00
Nonstop0h 00m
$160
MelbourneCairns
MEL Melbourne - CNS Cairns
MELCNS
Melbourne
Sun 4/10
20:05-22:30
Nonstop3h 25m
Cairns
Wed 31/12
00:00-00:00
Nonstop0h 00m
$166
MelbourneCairns
MEL Melbourne - CNS Cairns
MELCNS
Melbourne
Tue 6/10
20:05-22:30
Nonstop3h 25m
Cairns
Wed 31/12
00:00-00:00
Nonstop0h 00m
$181
MelbourneCairns
MEL Melbourne - CNS Cairns
MELCNS
Melbourne
Wed 7/10
20:05-22:30
Nonstop3h 25m
Cairns
Wed 31/12
00:00-00:00
Nonstop0h 00m
$208
MelbourneCairns
MEL Melbourne - CNS Cairns
MELCNS
Melbourne
Mon 9/11
06:15-08:30
Nonstop3h 15m
Cairns
Wed 31/12
00:00-00:00
Nonstop0h 00m
$211
MelbourneCairns
MEL Melbourne - CNS Cairns
MELCNS
Melbourne
Fri 2/10
17:25-20:50
Nonstop3h 25m
Cairns
Wed 31/12
00:00-00:00
Nonstop0h 00m
$211
MelbourneCairns
AVV Melbourne Avalon - CNS Cairns
AVVCNS
Melbourne Avalon
Tue 6/10
20:55-22:25
1 stop26h 30m
Cairns
Wed 31/12
00:00-00:00
Nonstop0h 00m
$215
Flights are sorted by cheapest return flights first.
Deals found on 9/9
Showing 1-10 of 45 resultsSorted by cheapest first
1
2
3
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5
Best time to book a flight from Melbourne to Cairns
Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to Cairns from Melbourne with our price prediction graph.
ME1-CNS
MEL-CNS
AVV-CNS
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 Melbourne to Cairns
ME1-CNS
MEL-CNS
AVV-CNS
What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Melbourne to Cairns?
Currently, February is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Melbourne to Cairns (average of $248). Flying from Melbourne to Cairns in June is currently the most expensive (average of $428). 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 MEL to CNS?
Find hourly flight availability from Melbourne 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 14 September 2026.
Unlike at midday, when flights are generally more expensive, you can save up to 39% on flights from Melbourne to Cairns by exploring options for tickets in the evening.
Weekly flight availability from Melbourne to Cairns
Explore weekly flight availability from Melbourne to Cairns. Discover flights operating on different days of the week, giving you the flexibility to choose a travel day that best fits your plans. Compare info to find the most convenient option for your journey. Data last updated 14 September 2026.
The most flights from ME1 to CNS are scheduled on a Friday (31 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Wednesday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (21 on average).
How much does it cost for a return flight from Melbourne to Cairns?
Airfare is below average for this route at the moment.
Melbourne to Cairns flights typically cost between $301 and $576 in October.The cheapest return price found within the last 5 days was $250 on Jetstar (23 Oct–27 Oct).
How often are flights from Melbourne to Cairns delayed?
About 19% of weekly flights between Melbourne and Cairns have experienced delays in the past year, with the average delay time being 112 minutes.
What is the most punctual flight time for Melbourne to Cairns flights?
Historically, flights departing at night are less likely to be delayed, whereas flights leaving in the evening tend to experience delays more often.
What day of the week experiences the fewest flight delays on this route?
Saturday tends to have the lowest number of delays on this route, whereas Wednesday has historically faced a higher average of delays compared to other days of the week.
Which airline has the best punctuality record on Melbourne to Cairns flights?
Over the past year, Virgin Australia have had the lowest number of delays on this route, with just 13% of flights being delayed.
How far ahead should I book a flight from Melbourne to Cairns?
The best time to book flights from Melbourne to Cairns is 82 days before your desired departure date. The cost of your flight will likely increase significantly if you book two weeks in advance of your flight.
What is the cheapest day to fly from Melbourne to Cairns?
Use this chart to determine the cheapest time to fly return from Melbourne to Cairns. Price data was last updated on 12 September 2026.
Travellers seeking maximum savings on their Melbourne to Cairns flight should consider departing on Wednesday at midday when fares are most often at their lowest. Monday 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 14 September 2026.
See what other customers who have flown with Virgin Australia,Qantas Airways, andJetstar from Melbourne to Cairns have to say. You can also see how each airline compares in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
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 Melbourne to Cairns. Access travel guides, tips, and recommendations to enhance your travel experience. Get information about local attractions, weather, transportation options, and more.
What airport do you fly into for flights to Cairns from Melbourne?
For a flight from Melbourne to Cairns, you will be flying into Cairns. Cairns (CNS) is just 4.4 km from the centre vof the city. Cairns is the only Cairns airport and it handles 25 inbound flights from Melbourne per day. 3 airlines have flights to Cairns from Melbourne on a regular basis.
How long is the flight from Melbourne to Cairns?
Airlines like Jetstar fly from Melbourne to Cairns in about 3h 25m. The time it takes to get you to your destination is usually consistent. Melbourne and Cairns are separated by a distance of 2311 km. Most flights are nonstop.
What are the cheapest airlines flying from Melbourne to Cairns round-trip?
Our cheapest airline available from Melbourne to Cairns is Jetstar. Our recent data shows that you can find tickets from as low as $116 on this airline. Additional options worth looking into are Virgin Australia and Qantas Airways, starting at $164 and $231 round-trip. Jetstar is priced at 64% lower than the current average price of a flight leaving 3 months from now.
What are the cheapest airlines to fly from Melbourne to Cairns one-way?
$105 is the cheapest one-way deal found within the past few days, from Jetstar. You may also be able to find cheap deals on Virgin Australia and Qantas Airways, with prices starting from $133 and $209, respectively.
What are the most reliable airlines from Melbourne to Cairns?
No one likes to see their flight delayed. When booking a flight from Melbourne to Cairns consider choosing Qatar Airways(94%), China Southern(90%) or Japan Airlines(87%), as they are the most reliable in getting you off to your destination on time.
What are the cheapest flights from Melbourne to Cairns?
Looking at all options, your cheapest flight can be booked for $122. While the most popular route (Melbourne - Cairns) can be booked for $247 on average, our data indicates $1,733 when flying from Melbourne to Cairns.
Where are the most common stopover locations when flying from Melbourne to Cairns?
Melbourne to Cairns flights have a stopover in Brisbane most of the time.
What are some popular things to do or see while on a stopover in Brisbane?
Roma Street Parkland, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, and St. John's Anglican Cathedral are the most popular attractions in Brisbane if you're in need of something to do during your stopover. Roma Street Parkland, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, and St. John's Anglican Cathedral can be visited by traveling about 12.6 km, 13.5 km, and 11.9 km respectively from Brisbane. Those looking to explore during their stopover in Brisbane can hire a car from Brisbane for about $52 per day.
Where are the least popular stopover locations for Melbourne to Cairns flights?
The least popular stopover on flights from Melbourne to Cairns is Sydney.
Can I find deals for flights from Melbourne to Cairns that include hotel bookings?
Yes. In addition to deals on Melbourne to Cairns flights, Cheapflights offers holiday packages that include both flights and hotel.
How can I find direct flights from Melbourne to Cairns?
After entering your origin and destination, apply the non-stop filter on the search result page to find direct flights from Melbourne to Cairns.
Can I find deals for business class flights from Melbourne to Cairns?
Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from Melbourne 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 Melbourne to Cairns?
Currently, February is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Melbourne to Cairns (average of $248). Flying from Melbourne to Cairns in June is currently the most expensive (average of $428). 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.
Book flights to Cairns if you plan to visit one of these locations
Mission Beach
Trinity Beach
Browse thousands of different options on Cheapflights for your next trip
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Fly from Melbourne to Cairns on these airlines
Choose from the following airlines for your flight from Melbourne to Cairns. Flights are based on user searches made on Cheapflights and were last updated on 14 September 2026.
Explore flights to Cairns departing from other origins. Flights are based on user searches made on Cheapflights and were last updated on 14 September 2026.
Discover the top 3 airlines that operate flights from Melbourne 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 7,457,451 searches. Data last updated 14 September 2026.
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 Melbourne to Cairns?
Cheapflights goes through 900+ travel sites to look for the best flight deals for flights from Melbourne to Cairns. Too many options? Cheapflights also provides filters for things like airlines, price ranges, and number of stops to help you make a decision easily.
Why should you use Cheapflights to find cheap flight tickets from Melbourne to Cairns?
Cheapflights taps into our reliable network of hundreds of airlines and travel agencies to find the best deals for flights from Melbourne to Cairns for you. Better yet — we are completely free to use.
Can Cheapflights find flights from Melbourne to Cairns with no change fees?
Need flexible booking options for your flight to Cairns from Melbourne? Don’t worry, Cheapflights have you covered. Use our search filter to only show flights with no change fees.
Can Cheapflights notify me if prices for flights from Melbourne to Cairns become cheaper?
Yes, Cheapflights has a feature called Price Alert, which notifies users when flight prices change. Track prices for your flight to Cairns from Melbourne today and book when prices fit your budget.
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