Cheap flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns from $116
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 30/5. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
MEL — CNS
8 Jun — 15 Jun1
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 November, 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 9 May 2026.
Tue 1/919:15
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 25m
Jetstar
Thu 10/920:10
CNS
-
MEL
Nonstop3h 25m
Jetstar
Deal found 9/5$208
Thu 13/819:15
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 25m
Jetstar
Tue 18/821:40
CNS
-
MEL
Nonstop3h 20m
Jetstar
Deal found 7/5$212
Sun 9/806:25
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 20m
Jetstar
Wed 19/819:00
CNS
-
MEL
Nonstop3h 25m
Jetstar
Deal found 7/5$214
Thu 16/719:15
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 25m
Jetstar
Sun 19/721:40
CNS
-
MEL
Nonstop3h 20m
Jetstar
Deal found 7/5$219
Fri 17/706:25
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 20m
Jetstar
Mon 20/707:00
CNS
-
MEL
Nonstop3h 30m
Jetstar
Deal found 8/5$222
Tue 26/519:15
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 25m
Jetstar
Mon 1/621:40
CNS
-
MEL
Nonstop3h 20m
Jetstar
Deal found 6/5$223
Fri 29/519:15
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 25m
Jetstar
Fri 5/621:40
CNS
-
MEL
Nonstop3h 20m
Jetstar
Deal found 6/5$230
Thu 16/706:25
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 20m
Jetstar
Tue 21/721:40
CNS
-
MEL
Nonstop3h 20m
Jetstar
Deal found 9/5$233
Wed 21/1020:15
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 25m
Multiple Airlines
Sun 25/1019:50
CNS
-
MEL
Nonstop3h 25m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 8/5$236
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 9 May 2026.
Fri 30/1011:00
MEL
-
CNS
1 stop6h 45m
Virgin Australia
Sun 1/1123:55
CNS
-
MEL
Nonstop3h 25m
Virgin Australia
Deal found 8/5$379
Mon 6/719:15
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 25m
Jetstar
Sat 11/721:40
CNS
-
MEL
Nonstop3h 20m
Jetstar
Deal found 7/5$414
Tue 3/1110:00
MEL
-
CNS
1 stop5h 55m
Virgin Australia
Wed 11/1119:50
CNS
-
MEL
Nonstop3h 25m
Virgin Australia
Deal found 4/5$405
Thu 15/1006:05
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 25m
Virgin Australia
Sat 24/1011:50
CNS
-
MEL
1 stop8h 30m
Virgin Australia
Deal found 6/5$411
Sat 30/506:25
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 25m
Virgin Australia
Wed 3/616:35
CNS
-
MEL
1 stop5h 30m
Virgin Australia
Deal found 8/5$455
Sat 17/1009:00
MEL
-
CNS
1 stop6h 55m
Virgin Australia
Sun 25/1015:45
CNS
-
MEL
1 stop6h 20m
Virgin Australia
Deal found 6/5$483
Tue 2/610:00
MEL
-
CNS
1 stop5h 55m
Virgin Australia
Tue 9/612:10
CNS
-
MEL
1 stop6h 25m
Virgin Australia
Deal found 5/5$484
Thu 21/508:30
MEL
-
CNS
1 stop7h 25m
Virgin Australia
Tue 2/616:35
CNS
-
MEL
1 stop5h 30m
Virgin Australia
Deal found 7/5$487
Tue 23/606:00
MEL
-
CNS
1 stop5h 10m
Virgin Australia
Tue 23/616:35
CNS
-
MEL
1 stop5h 30m
Virgin Australia
Deal found 6/5$491
Wed 1/709:00
MEL
-
CNS
1 stop6h 55m
Virgin Australia
Wed 15/706:00
CNS
-
MEL
1 stop6h 20m
Virgin Australia
Deal found 8/5$506
Thu 1/1010:00
MEL
-
CNS
1 stop8h 25m
Virgin Australia
Tue 3/1115:45
CNS
-
MEL
1 stop6h 20m
Virgin Australia
Deal found 4/5$516
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 9 May 2026.
Tue 1/919:15
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 25m
Jetstar
Thu 10/920:10
CNS
-
MEL
Nonstop3h 25m
Jetstar
Deal found 9/5$208
Thu 13/819:15
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 25m
Jetstar
Tue 18/821:40
CNS
-
MEL
Nonstop3h 20m
Jetstar
Deal found 7/5$212
Sun 9/806:25
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 20m
Jetstar
Wed 19/819:00
CNS
-
MEL
Nonstop3h 25m
Jetstar
Deal found 7/5$214
Thu 16/719:15
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 25m
Jetstar
Sun 19/721:40
CNS
-
MEL
Nonstop3h 20m
Jetstar
Deal found 7/5$219
Fri 17/706:25
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 20m
Jetstar
Mon 20/707:00
CNS
-
MEL
Nonstop3h 30m
Jetstar
Deal found 8/5$222
Tue 26/519:15
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 25m
Jetstar
Mon 1/621:40
CNS
-
MEL
Nonstop3h 20m
Jetstar
Deal found 6/5$223
Fri 29/519:15
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 25m
Jetstar
Fri 5/621:40
CNS
-
MEL
Nonstop3h 20m
Jetstar
Deal found 6/5$230
Thu 16/706:25
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 20m
Jetstar
Tue 21/721:40
CNS
-
MEL
Nonstop3h 20m
Jetstar
Deal found 9/5$233
Wed 21/1020:15
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 25m
Multiple Airlines
Sun 25/1019:50
CNS
-
MEL
Nonstop3h 25m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 8/5$236
Last-minute flights from Melbourne to Cairns
Discover last-minute flight deals from Melbourne to Cairns. Data last updated 9 May 2026 and is based on user searches.
Sat 16/519:15
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 25m
Jetstar
Sun 17/521:40
CNS
-
MEL
Nonstop3h 20m
Jetstar
Deal found 4/5$247
Sat 16/519:15
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 25m
Jetstar
Wed 20/521:40
CNS
-
MEL
Nonstop3h 20m
Jetstar
Deal found 6/5$254
Sat 16/519:15
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 25m
Jetstar
Sat 23/514:50
CNS
-
MEL
Nonstop3h 30m
Jetstar
Deal found 8/5$290
Mon 18/519:15
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 25m
Jetstar
Wed 20/521:40
CNS
-
MEL
Nonstop3h 20m
Jetstar
Deal found 6/5$273
Mon 18/519:15
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 25m
Jetstar
Fri 22/521:40
CNS
-
MEL
Nonstop3h 20m
Jetstar
Deal found 8/5$276
Tue 19/519:15
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 25m
Jetstar
Fri 22/521:40
CNS
-
MEL
Nonstop3h 20m
Jetstar
Deal found 8/5$250
Tue 19/516:55
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 25m
Jetstar
Sat 23/514:50
CNS
-
MEL
Nonstop3h 30m
Jetstar
Deal found 5/5$294
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 9 May 2026.
Sat 30/519:15
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 25m
Jetstar
Deal found 8/5$116
Mon 15/619:15
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 25m
Jetstar
Deal found 9/5$117
Fri 29/519:15
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 25m
Jetstar
Deal found 7/5$119
Tue 28/717:25
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 25m
Jetstar
Deal found 8/5$120
Sat 23/519:15
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 25m
Jetstar
Deal found 8/5$121
Wed 20/519:15
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 25m
Jetstar
Deal found 6/5$123
Sun 21/619:15
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 25m
Jetstar
Deal found 5/5$124
Tue 23/619:15
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 25m
Jetstar
Deal found 9/5$127
Tue 19/519:15
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 25m
Jetstar
Deal found 6/5$128
Tue 26/519:15
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 25m
Jetstar
Deal found 8/5$131
Find flight deals from Melbourne to Cairns
Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from Melbourne (MEL) 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 9 May 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 647,157 searches. Data last updated 9 May 2026.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns that are best for you.
Fly from
Fly to
Route
Depart
Return
Price
Cheapest return flight
MelbourneCairns
MEL - CNS
MELCNS
Melbourne
Fri 30/10
11:00-16:45
1 stop6h 45m
Cairns
Sun 1/11
23:55-04:20
Nonstop3h 25m
$379
MelbourneCairns
MEL - CNS
MELCNS
Melbourne
Tue 3/11
10:00-14:55
1 stop5h 55m
Cairns
Wed 11/11
19:50-00:15
Nonstop3h 25m
$405
MelbourneCairns
MEL - CNS
MELCNS
Melbourne
Thu 15/10
06:05-08:30
Nonstop3h 25m
Cairns
Sat 24/10
11:50-21:20
1 stop8h 30m
$411
Fastest return journey
MelbourneCairns
MEL - CNS
MELCNS
Melbourne
Mon 6/7
19:15-22:40
Nonstop3h 25m
Cairns
Sat 11/7
21:40-01:00
Nonstop3h 20m
$414
MelbourneCairns
MEL - CNS
MELCNS
Melbourne
Sat 30/5
06:25-09:50
Nonstop3h 25m
Cairns
Wed 3/6
16:35-22:05
1 stop5h 30m
$455
MelbourneCairns
MEL - CNS
MELCNS
Melbourne
Sat 17/10
09:00-14:55
1 stop6h 55m
Cairns
Sun 25/10
15:45-23:05
1 stop6h 20m
$483
MelbourneCairns
MEL - CNS
MELCNS
Melbourne
Tue 2/6
10:00-15:55
1 stop5h 55m
Cairns
Tue 9/6
12:10-18:35
1 stop6h 25m
$484
MelbourneCairns
MEL - CNS
MELCNS
Melbourne
Thu 21/5
08:30-15:55
1 stop7h 25m
Cairns
Tue 2/6
16:35-22:05
1 stop5h 30m
$487
MelbourneCairns
MEL - CNS
MELCNS
Melbourne
Tue 23/6
06:00-11:10
1 stop5h 10m
Cairns
Tue 23/6
16:35-22:05
1 stop5h 30m
$491
MelbourneCairns
MEL - CNS
MELCNS
Melbourne
Wed 1/7
09:00-15:55
1 stop6h 55m
Cairns
Wed 15/7
06:00-12:20
1 stop6h 20m
$506
Flights are sorted by cheapest return flights first.
Deals found on 6/5
Showing 1-10 of 22 resultsSorted by cheapest first
1
2
3
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.
MEL-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 Airport to Cairns
Prices
Airlines
Delays
How far ahead should I book a flight from Melbourne Airport to Cairns?
To ensure you get the cheapest price possible for a flight from Melbourne Airport to Cairns, you should look to book at least 70 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 Melbourne Airport to Cairns?
Currently, February is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Melbourne Airport to Cairns (average of $247). Flying from Melbourne Airport to Cairns in July is currently the most expensive (average of $372). 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 9 May 2026.
Unlike at midday, when flights are generally more expensive, you can save up to 70% on flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns by exploring options for tickets in the evening.
What is the cheapest day to fly from Melbourne Airport to Cairns?
Use this chart to determine the cheapest time to fly return from Melbourne to Cairns. Price data was last updated on 2 May 2026.
Travellers seeking maximum savings on their Melbourne Airport to Cairns flight should consider departing on Wednesday at midday when fares are most often at their lowest. Sunday at midday flights should be avoided if possible as fares are typically the most expensive at this time.
How much does it cost for a return flight from Melbourne Airport to Cairns?
Weekly flight availability from Melbourne Airport 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 9 May 2026.
The most flights from MEL to CNS are scheduled on a Saturday (23 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Tuesday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (17 on average).
How often are flights from Melbourne to Cairns delayed?
About 18% of weekly flights between Melbourne and Cairns have experienced delays in the past year, with the average delay time being 107 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 early afternoon 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, Qantas Airways have had the lowest number of delays on this route, with just 11% of flights being delayed.
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 9 May 2026.
Read reviews from past customers who have flown with Virgin Australia,Qantas Airways, andJetstar
from Melbourne Airport to Cairns. Users can see the overall rating for each airline as well as how each is rated 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?
If you book a flight to Cairns from Melbourne, you will be flying to Cairns, which is the city’s only airport. Cairns (CNS) is located 4.4 km from the centre of Cairns. There are 19 flights from Melbourne to Cairns per day from 3 different airlines.
How long is the flight from Melbourne Airport to Cairns?
Airlines like Virgin Australia and Jetstar fly from Melbourne Airport to Cairns in about 3h 25m. The time it takes to get you to your destination can typically vary by up to 3h 20m. The distance between Melbourne Airport and Cairns is about 2311 km. When browsing for deals, the options you’ll see will be for both direct flights and flights with stops.
What are the cheapest airlines flying from Melbourne Airport to Cairns round-trip?
Our cheapest airline available from Melbourne Airport to Cairns is Jetstar. Our recent data shows that you can find tickets from as low as $115 on this airline. Additional options worth looking into are Virgin Australia and Qantas Airways, starting at $149 and $207 round-trip. Jetstar is priced at 61% lower than the current average price of a flight leaving 3 months from now.
What are the cheapest airlines to fly from Melbourne Airport to Cairns one-way?
$99 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 $129 and $229, respectively.
What are the most reliable airlines from Melbourne Airport to Cairns?
The top 3 most reliable airlines when flying from Melbourne Airport to Cairns are Qatar Airways (99%), Air India (97%) and China Southern (94%).
What are the cheapest flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns?
On average you can expect to pay $502 for a flight from Melbourne Airport to Cairns. The cheapest flight overall is $102 while the most popular route, (Melbourne - Cairns) is currently priced at $192.
Where are the most common stopover locations when flying from Melbourne Airport to Cairns?
Melbourne Airport to Cairns flights have a stopover in Brisbane most often.
What are some popular things to do or see while on a stopover in Brisbane?
If you're on a stopover in Brisbane and looking for things to do, consider visiting Roma Street Parkland, Cathedral of St Stephen, or Queensland Performing Arts Centre. Roma Street Parkland, Cathedral of St Stephen and Queensland Performing Arts Centre are located about 12.6 km, 12.3 km, and 13.5 km, respectively from Brisbane if you are interested in checking them out. Travellers in need of a car in Brisbane can hire one for about $49 per day.
Where are the least popular stopover locations for Melbourne Airport to Cairns flights?
The least popular stopover on flights from Melbourne Airport 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 Airport to Cairns?
Currently, February is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Melbourne Airport to Cairns (average of $247). Flying from Melbourne Airport to Cairns in July is currently the most expensive (average of $372). 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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Complete your trip
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Popular flights
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 9 May 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 647,157 searches. Data last updated 9 May 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?
Millions of users choose and trust Cheapflights to book the best flight deals from Melbourne to Cairns for free. We help you search and compare prices from hundreds of airlines for the right flight just for you.
Can Cheapflights find flights from Melbourne to Cairns with no change fees?
Cheapflights does show flights with no change fees to all users. To see these options for flights from Melbourne to Cairns, users can toggle the no change fees filter when performing a flight search.
Can Cheapflights notify me if prices for flights from Melbourne to Cairns become cheaper?
Yes, Cheapflights offers price alerts on Melbourne to Cairns flights so you can book your travel at the perfect time. Price Alerts can be enabled by clicking the bell icon next to the flight deals above and providing your email address where you want to receive the alerts.
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