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Cheap flights from New Zealand to Cairns from $180

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 20/2. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
AKL — CNS
27 Feb — 6 Mar1
1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

Cheap flight deals from New Zealand to Cairns

Enter your travel dates to find the best prices.

Cheapest flights from New Zealand to Cairns
Explore the most affordable flight options available from New Zealand to Cairns. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on 28 January 2026.

Fri 29/507:05
CHC
-
CNS
Nonstop5h 35m
Jetstar
Tue 2/607:00
CNS
-
CHC
Nonstop4h 55m
Jetstar
Deal found 27/1$520
Sat 25/407:00
AKL
-
CNS
1 stop13h 45m
Jetstar
Tue 5/507:00
CNS
-
AKL
1 stop9h 40m
Jetstar
Deal found 24/1$584
Fri 27/208:05
AKL
-
CNS
1 stop12h 10m
Jetstar
Fri 6/314:25
CNS
-
AKL
1 stop11h 40m
Jetstar
Deal found 26/1$623
Wed 10/617:25
AKL
-
CNS
1 stop17h 05m
Jetstar
Fri 19/614:50
CNS
-
AKL
1 stop12h 40m
Jetstar
Deal found 27/1$632
Tue 24/220:55
AKL
-
CNS
1 stop17h 00m
Jetstar
Tue 3/307:15
CNS
-
AKL
1 stop10h 00m
Jetstar
Deal found 27/1$636
Sun 15/321:45
AKL
-
CNS
1 stop16h 10m
Jetstar
Tue 24/307:15
CNS
-
AKL
1 stop10h 00m
Jetstar
Deal found 27/1$641
Tue 31/307:00
AKL
-
CNS
1 stop14h 45m
Jetstar
Wed 1/409:40
CNS
-
AKL
1 stop10h 55m
Jetstar
Deal found 26/1$643
Mon 25/517:25
AKL
-
CNS
1 stop17h 05m
Jetstar
Sun 7/606:00
CNS
-
AKL
1 stop8h 10m
Jetstar
Deal found 26/1$648
Tue 2/608:20
CHC
-
CNS
1 stop14h 30m
Jetstar
Tue 9/607:00
CNS
-
CHC
Nonstop4h 55m
Jetstar
Deal found 27/1$666
Wed 10/617:25
AKL
-
CNS
1 stop17h 05m
Jetstar
Thu 18/606:00
CNS
-
AKL
1 stop8h 10m
Jetstar
Deal found 24/1$672
Fri 13/308:20
CHC
-
CNS
Nonstop5h 35m
Multiple Airlines
Fri 20/312:05
CNS
-
CHC
1 stop9h 20m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 26/1$689
Mon 9/306:15
AKL
-
CNS
1 stop10h 35m
Jetstar
Mon 23/306:00
CNS
-
AKL
1 stop8h 35m
Jetstar
Deal found 26/1$694

Find flight deals from New Zealand to Cairns

Keep the following information in mind while searching for New Zealand to Cairns flight deals. Data was last updated 28 January 2026.

Round-trip from

$520

One-way from

$180

Popular in

December

Cheapest in

October

Average price

$879
Jetstar
  • Jetstar
  • 29/5-2/6
  • Nonstop
  • 10h 30m total
  • New Zealand to Cairns
Search Deals
Jetstar
  • Jetstar
  • 20/2
  • Nonstop
  • 5h 35m total
  • New Zealand to Cairns
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 5% potential increase in price ($67 potential increase over avg. return price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 1% potential price decrease ($15 potential savings vs. average return price).
Search Deals
Average for round-trip flights in January 2026
Search Deals

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customise your flight search to find flights from New Zealand 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 28 January 2026.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from New Zealand to Cairns that are best for you.

Fly from

New Zealand

Fly to

Cairns

Route

Depart

Return

Price

ChristchurchCairns

CHC - CNS

CHCCNS

Christchurch

Fri 29/5

07:05-10:40

Nonstop5h 35m

Cairns

Tue 2/6

07:00-13:55

Nonstop4h 55m

$520

ChristchurchCairns

CHC - CNS

CHCCNS

Christchurch

Fri 29/5

07:05-10:40

Nonstop5h 35m

Cairns

Mon 1/6

21:40-16:20

1 stop16h 40m

$560

ChristchurchCairns

CHC - CNS

CHCCNS

Christchurch

Fri 29/5

07:05-10:40

Nonstop5h 35m

Cairns

Fri 29/5

21:40-16:20

1 stop16h 40m

$560

AucklandCairns

AKL - CNS

AKLCNS

Auckland Intl

Tue 2/6

06:15-17:00

1 stop12h 45m

Cairns

Tue 9/6

06:00-16:10

1 stop8h 10m

$623

AucklandCairns

AKL - CNS

AKLCNS

Auckland Intl

Fri 27/2

08:05-17:15

1 stop12h 10m

Cairns

Fri 6/3

14:25-05:05

1 stop11h 40m

$623

AucklandCairns

AKL - CNS

AKLCNS

Auckland Intl

Wed 11/3

08:05-19:50

1 stop14h 45m

Cairns

Wed 18/3

06:00-17:35

1 stop8h 35m

$623

AucklandCairns

AKL - CNS

AKLCNS

Auckland Intl

Wed 10/6

17:25-08:30

1 stop17h 05m

Cairns

Fri 19/6

14:50-05:30

1 stop12h 40m

$632

AucklandCairns

AKL - CNS

AKLCNS

Auckland Intl

Thu 19/3

08:05-17:15

1 stop12h 10m

Cairns

Mon 23/3

14:25-05:05

1 stop11h 40m

$641

AucklandCairns

AKL - CNS

AKLCNS

Auckland Intl

Tue 31/3

07:00-18:45

1 stop14h 45m

Cairns

Wed 1/4

09:40-23:35

1 stop10h 55m

$643

AucklandCairns

AKL - CNS

AKLCNS

Auckland Intl

Mon 25/5

17:25-08:30

1 stop17h 05m

Cairns

Sun 7/6

06:00-16:10

1 stop8h 10m

$648

Flights are sorted by cheapest return flights first.

Deals found on 27/1

Showing 1-10 of 55 results
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Best time to book a flight from New Zealand to Cairns

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to Cairns from New Zealand 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 New Zealand to Cairns

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

Currently, October is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from New Zealand to Cairns (average of $204). Flying from New Zealand to Cairns in March is currently the most expensive (average of $472). 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 NZ to CNS?

Find hourly flight availability from New Zealand 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 28 January 2026.

When flying from New Zealand to Cairns, the time of day you decide to fly out makes little to no difference towards the overall price you’ll pay on tickets.

How often are flights from New Zealand to Cairns delayed?

About 6% of weekly flights between New Zealand and Cairns have experienced delays in the past year, with the average delay time being 98 minutes.

What is the most punctual flight time for New Zealand to Cairns flights?

Historically, flights departing in the early afternoon are less likely to be delayed, whereas flights leaving in the morning tend to experience delays more often.

What day of the week experiences the fewest flight delays on this route?

Thursday tends to have the lowest number of delays on this route, whereas Monday has historically faced a higher average of delays compared to other days of the week.

Which airline has the best punctuality record on New Zealand to Cairns flights?

Over the past year, China Eastern have had the lowest number of delays on this route, with just 1% 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 28 January 2026.
Check out reviews from past customers who have flown with Jetstar from New Zealand to Cairns to help guide your decision. You can also see how each airline stacks up in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Jetstar
6.5
Okay
513 reviews
Check prices

Entertainment

5.1

Crew

7.3

Food

5.6

Overall

6.5

Comfort

6.4

Boarding

6.8

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Tracy,Jan 2026

SYD - MEL

My tickets have been cancelled this morning at 3am for 6:30am’ scheduled. I had to contact myself to reschedule it. I finally confirmed flight at 9:40am, however it delayed to 11am… I missed the pickup at Mel airport and need to pay double amount …. Such a bad experience
Jetstar
6.5
Okay
513 reviews
Jetstar
6.5
Okay
513 reviews
Check prices

Entertainment

5.1

Crew

7.3

Food

5.6

Overall

6.5

Comfort

6.4

Boarding

6.8

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Tracy,Jan 2026

SYD - MEL

My tickets have been cancelled this morning at 3am for 6:30am’ scheduled. I had to contact myself to reschedule it. I finally confirmed flight at 9:40am, however it delayed to 11am… I missed the pickup at Mel airport and need to pay double amount …. Such a bad experience

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from New Zealand 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 New Zealand?

    Cairns (CNS) is the airport you will fly into if you book a flight from New Zealand to Cairns. It is only a 4.4 km journey from Cairns (CNS) to Cairns’s city centre.

  • How popular is this New Zealand to Cairns flight route?

    Flights from New Zealand to Cairns have been viewed 3 times in the past calendar month.

  • How long is the flight from New Zealand to Cairns?

    Departing from New Zealand to Cairns will take you 5h 35m. Airlines will cover a distance of 3883 km. This flight may include one or multiple stops.

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

    One-way options have recently been found by users for as low as $137 on Jetstar. Other airlines that offer cheap prices include Qantas Airways from $237 and Air New Zealand from $302 one-way.

  • What are the most popular routes from New Zealand to Cairns?

    Most travellers choose Wellington - Cairns, Auckland Intl - Cairns or Christchurch - Cairns when deciding on the best route from New Zealand to Cairns.

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

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

  • How can I find direct flights from New Zealand to Cairns?

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

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

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from New Zealand 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 New Zealand to Cairns?

    Currently, October is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from New Zealand to Cairns (average of $204). Flying from New Zealand to Cairns in March is currently the most expensive (average of $472). 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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Alternative routes for New Zealand to Cairns

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Top airline flying from New Zealand to Cairns

Discover the top airline that operate flights from New Zealand 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 28 January 2026.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
JetstarCheapest$233Average$558FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time74%
Search Jetstar 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 New Zealand to Cairns?

Deals for New Zealand 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 New Zealand to Cairns?

Cheapflights helps you find that perfect flight to Cairns from New Zealand by searching from hundreds of airlines and agencies you know and love. We are also free to use, in case you were wondering!

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

Yes! Cheapflights helps users easily find flights from New Zealand to Cairns with no change fees.

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

Yes, Cheapflights offers price alerts on New Zealand 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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