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Cheap flights from New Zealand to Cairns from $183

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 24/12. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
AKL — CNS
17 Jan — 24 Jan1
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 18 December 2025.

Tue 16/1219:45WLG - CNS
1 stop18h 10mJetstar
Sat 10/107:50CNS - WLG
1 stop28h 00mJetstar
Deal found 14/12$821
Wed 17/1215:55WLG - CNS
1 stop20h 10mJetstar
Sat 10/107:50CNS - WLG
1 stop28h 00mJetstar
Deal found 14/12$854
Thu 25/1219:45WLG - CNS
1 stop18h 10mJetstar
Sat 10/107:50CNS - WLG
1 stop28h 00mJetstar
Deal found 14/12$863
Thu 18/1219:45WLG - CNS
1 stop18h 10mJetstar
Sat 10/107:50CNS - WLG
1 stop28h 00mJetstar
Deal found 14/12$889
Tue 16/1219:45WLG - CNS
1 stop18h 10mJetstar
Thu 8/115:30CNS - WLG
1 stop20h 20mJetstar
Deal found 14/12$892
Thu 18/1208:10WLG - CNS
1 stop29h 45mJetstar
Thu 8/115:30CNS - WLG
1 stop20h 20mJetstar
Deal found 14/12$904
Wed 17/1215:55WLG - CNS
1 stop20h 10mJetstar
Thu 8/115:30CNS - WLG
1 stop20h 20mJetstar
Deal found 14/12$926
Sun 21/1219:45WLG - CNS
1 stop18h 10mJetstar
Sat 10/107:50CNS - WLG
1 stop28h 00mJetstar
Deal found 14/12$936
Sun 21/1219:45WLG - CNS
1 stop18h 10mJetstar
Sun 11/109:45CNS - WLG
1 stop26h 50mJetstar
Deal found 14/12$960
Tue 16/1219:45WLG - CNS
1 stop18h 10mJetstar
Tue 6/107:15CNS - WLG
1 stop21h 20mJetstar
Deal found 14/12$961
Tue 23/1219:45WLG - CNS
1 stop18h 10mJetstar
Sat 10/107:50CNS - WLG
1 stop28h 00mJetstar
Deal found 14/12$978
Tue 30/1206:20CHC - CNS
1 stop19h 45mQantas Airways
Mon 5/114:50CNS - CHC
1 stop21h 05mQantas Airways
Deal found 16/12$1,167

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 18 December 2025.

Round-trip from

$617

One-way from

$183

Popular in

December

Cheapest in

October

Average price

$972

Good one-way deal

$170 or less
Jetstar
  • Jetstar
  • 29/1-5/2
  • 2 total stops
  • 25h 40m total
  • New Zealand to Cairns
Search Deals
Jetstar
  • Jetstar
  • 24/12
  • Nonstop
  • 5h 35m total
  • New Zealand to Cairns
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 5% potential increase in price ($79 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 December 2025
Search Deals
Price to beat on a one-way flight from New Zealand to Cairns.
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 18 December 2025.
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

AucklandCairns

AKL - CNS

AKLCNS

Auckland Intl

Fri 23/1

06:35-18:00

1 stop14h 25m

Cairns

Fri 30/1

14:25-05:05

1 stop11h 40m

$639

ChristchurchCairns

CHC - CNS

CHCCNS

Christchurch

Fri 1/5

07:05-10:40

Nonstop5h 35m

Cairns

Fri 8/5

21:40-16:20

1 stop16h 40m

$679

AucklandCairns

AKL - CNS

AKLCNS

Auckland Intl

Thu 29/1

20:55-10:55

1 stop17h 00m

Cairns

Wed 4/2

14:25-05:05

1 stop11h 40m

$686

ChristchurchCairns

CHC - CNS

CHCCNS

Christchurch

Fri 30/1

08:20-10:55

Nonstop5h 35m

Cairns

Fri 6/2

17:35-00:25

1 stop27h 50m

$692

ChristchurchCairns

CHC - CNS

CHCCNS

Christchurch

Fri 30/1

08:20-10:55

Nonstop5h 35m

Cairns

Fri 6/2

18:05-00:05

2 stops27h 00m

$698

ChristchurchCairns

CHC - CNS

CHCCNS

Christchurch

Fri 16/1

08:20-10:55

Nonstop5h 35m

Cairns

Fri 23/1

09:45-00:05

1 stop11h 20m

$718

AucklandCairns

AKL - CNS

AKLCNS

Auckland Intl

Fri 30/1

19:30-09:20

1 stop16h 50m

Cairns

Fri 6/2

14:25-18:15

1 stop24h 50m

$738

AucklandCairns

AKL - CNS

AKLCNS

Auckland Intl

Wed 14/1

06:15-13:50

1 stop10h 35m

Cairns

Wed 21/1

09:45-00:15

1 stop11h 30m

$771

WellingtonCairns

WLG - CNS

WLGCNS

Wellington

Sun 11/1

08:10-10:55

1 stop29h 45m

Cairns

Wed 14/1

09:45-07:05

2 stops18h 20m

$793

ChristchurchCairns

CHC - CNS

CHCCNS

Christchurch

Thu 29/1

09:15-18:45

1 stop12h 30m

Cairns

Thu 5/2

07:15-15:10

Nonstop4h 55m

$806

Flights are sorted by cheapest return flights first.

Deals found on 16/12

Showing 1-10 of 57 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 $213). Flying from New Zealand to Cairns in March is currently the most expensive (average of $529). 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 18 December 2025.

It’s optimal to fly from New Zealand to Cairns in the evening. By choosing this option you can save up to 33% on the cost of your flight, compared to a flight at midday.

How often are flights from New Zealand to Cairns delayed?

About 7% of weekly flights between New Zealand and Cairns have experienced delays in the past year, with the average delay time being 93 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?

Sunday 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 2% 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 18 December 2025.
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
6.6
Okay
493 reviews
Check prices

Comfort

6.4

Boarding

6.8

Food

5.7

Overall

6.6

Entertainment

5.1

Crew

7.3

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Graeme,Dec 2025

AKL - OOL

Good crew. Cramped seating Pilot mumbled when sending information to the passengers
Jetstar
6.6
Okay
493 reviews
Jetstar
6.6
Okay
493 reviews
Check prices

Comfort

6.4

Boarding

6.8

Food

5.7

Overall

6.6

Entertainment

5.1

Crew

7.3

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Graeme,Dec 2025

AKL - OOL

Good crew. Cramped seating Pilot mumbled when sending information to the passengers

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 8h 35m. Airlines will cover a distance of 3788 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 $144 on Jetstar. Other airlines that offer cheap prices include Air New Zealand from $317 and Qantas Airways from $409 one-way.

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

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

  • What are the most reliable airlines from New Zealand to Cairns?

    The top 3 most reliable airlines when flying from New Zealand to Cairns are Virgin Australia (100%), Air New Zealand (100%) and Singapore Airlines (100%).

  • 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 $213). Flying from New Zealand to Cairns in March is currently the most expensive (average of $529). 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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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 18 December 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
JetstarCheapest$305Average$586FlexibilityNo 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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