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Cheap flights from Cairns to Darwin from $276

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 3/3. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
CNS — DRW
26 Feb — 5 Mar1
1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags
Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Cairns to Darwin are usually found in May or March, booked 79 days in advance, depart on a Thursday or Friday and return on a Sunday

Cheap flight deals from Cairns to Darwin

Enter your travel dates to find the best prices.

Cheapest flights from Cairns to Darwin
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Cairns to Darwin. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on 27 January 2026.

Tue 24/209:45
CNS
-
DRW
Nonstop2h 35m
Qantas Airways
Thu 26/206:00
DRW
-
CNS
Nonstop2h 35m
Qantas Airways
Deal found 25/1$546
Sun 22/209:45
CNS
-
DRW
Nonstop2h 35m
Multiple Airlines
Sun 1/315:55
DRW
-
CNS
1 stop30h 40m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 25/1$602
Sat 14/311:40
CNS
-
DRW
1 stop28h 05m
Multiple Airlines
Mon 23/315:55
DRW
-
CNS
1 stop18h 35m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 26/1$604
Sat 14/311:40
CNS
-
DRW
1 stop28h 05m
Multiple Airlines
Wed 25/315:55
DRW
-
CNS
1 stop16h 10m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 26/1$610
Sun 15/306:00
CNS
-
DRW
1 stop9h 45m
Multiple Airlines
Sun 22/315:55
DRW
-
CNS
1 stop16h 10m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 26/1$611
Tue 24/206:00
CNS
-
DRW
1 stop8h 05m
Multiple Airlines
Thu 26/206:00
DRW
-
CNS
Nonstop2h 35m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 25/1$613
Thu 19/317:20
CNS
-
DRW
1 stop22h 25m
Multiple Airlines
Wed 25/315:55
DRW
-
CNS
1 stop16h 10m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 26/1$614
Sun 15/306:00
CNS
-
DRW
1 stop9h 45m
Multiple Airlines
Wed 25/315:55
DRW
-
CNS
1 stop16h 10m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 26/1$617
Mon 16/319:30
CNS
-
DRW
1 stop20h 40m
Multiple Airlines
Sun 22/315:55
DRW
-
CNS
1 stop16h 10m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 26/1$624
Wed 25/209:45
CNS
-
DRW
Nonstop2h 35m
Multiple Airlines
Wed 4/315:55
DRW
-
CNS
1 stop16h 55m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 26/1$627

Find flight deals from Cairns to Darwin

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from Cairns (CNS) to Darwin (DRW). 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 27 January 2026.

Round-trip from

$535

One-way from

$276

Popular in

January

Cheapest in

May

Average price

$965

Good round-trip deal

$816 or less

Good one-way deal

$382 or less
Qantas Airways
  • Qantas Airways
  • 17/2-20/2
  • Nonstop
  • 5h 10m total
  • Cairns to Darwin
Search Deals
3/3
  • 3/3
  • 1 total stop
  • 22h 25m total
  • Cairns to Darwin
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 6% potential increase in price ($79 potential increase over avg. return price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 2% potential price decrease ($28 potential savings vs. average return price).
Search Deals
Average for round-trip flights in January 2026
Search Deals
Price to beat on a round-trip flight from Cairns to Darwin.
Search Deals
Price to beat on a one-way flight from Cairns to Darwin.
Search Deals

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customise your flight search to find flights from Cairns to Darwin 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 27 January 2026.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Cairns to Darwin that are best for you.

Fly from

Cairns

Fly to

Darwin

Route

Depart

Return

Price

CairnsDarwin

CNS - DRW

CNSDRW

Cairns

Tue 24/2

09:45-11:50

Nonstop2h 35m

Darwin

Thu 26/2

06:00-09:05

Nonstop2h 35m

$546

CairnsDarwin

CNS - DRW

CNSDRW

Cairns

Sun 22/2

09:45-11:50

Nonstop2h 35m

Darwin

Sun 1/3

15:55-23:05

1 stop30h 40m

$602

CairnsDarwin

CNS - DRW

CNSDRW

Cairns

Sun 15/3

06:00-15:15

1 stop9h 45m

Darwin

Mon 23/3

15:55-11:00

1 stop18h 35m

$611

CairnsDarwin

CNS - DRW

CNSDRW

Cairns

Tue 24/2

06:00-13:35

1 stop8h 05m

Darwin

Thu 26/2

06:00-09:05

Nonstop2h 35m

$613

CairnsDarwin

CNS - DRW

CNSDRW

Cairns

Wed 25/2

09:45-11:50

Nonstop2h 35m

Darwin

Wed 4/3

15:55-09:20

1 stop16h 55m

$627

CairnsDarwin

CNS - DRW

CNSDRW

Cairns

Sun 22/2

06:00-15:15

1 stop9h 45m

Darwin

Sun 1/3

15:55-09:20

1 stop16h 55m

$644

CairnsDarwin

CNS - DRW

CNSDRW

Cairns

Tue 21/4

10:30-12:40

Nonstop2h 40m

Darwin

Fri 24/4

13:30-16:30

Nonstop2h 30m

$647

CairnsDarwin

CNS - DRW

CNSDRW

Cairns

Fri 27/3

06:40-23:20

1 stop17h 10m

Darwin

Sun 29/3

15:30-08:30

1 stop16h 30m

$656

CairnsDarwin

CNS - DRW

CNSDRW

Cairns

Mon 2/3

06:00-15:15

1 stop9h 45m

Darwin

Mon 2/3

16:50-08:30

1 stop15h 10m

$662

CairnsDarwin

CNS - DRW

CNSDRW

Cairns

Wed 11/3

06:00-15:15

1 stop9h 45m

Darwin

Wed 18/3

15:55-09:20

1 stop16h 55m

$662

Flights are sorted by cheapest return flights first.

Deals found on 25/1

Showing 1-10 of 23 results
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Best time to book a flight from Cairns to Darwin

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

How far ahead should I book a flight from Cairns to Darwin?

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a return flight from Cairns to Darwin. Price data was last updated on 23 January 2026.

Booking 79 days in advance of your planned departure date is, on average, the best time to get cheap flights from Cairns to Darwin. The general trend is that the closer you book to the departure date, the more expensive your flight will be.

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

Currently, May is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Cairns to Darwin (average of $288). Flying from Cairns to Darwin in September is currently the most expensive (average of $649). 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 CNS to DRW?

Find hourly flight availability from Cairns to Darwin. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated 27 January 2026.

One of the essential ways to save on airfare from Cairns to Darwin is to remain as flexible as possible. Flights that are in the morning tend to be the most expensive. A flight in the evening could potentially save you up to 59% on airfare.

Reviews of airlines servicing Darwin

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to Darwin. 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 Darwin. Reviews last updated 27 January 2026.
Check out reviews from past customers who have flown with Virgin Australia and Qantas Airways from Cairns to Darwin 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.
Virgin Australia
7.6
Good
432 reviews
Check prices

Crew

8.2

Boarding

7.7

Food

6.4

Entertainment

6.4

Overall

7.6

Comfort

7.5

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
432 reviews
Virgin Australia
7.6
Good
432 reviews
Check prices

Crew

8.2

Boarding

7.7

Food

6.4

Entertainment

6.4

Overall

7.6

Comfort

7.5

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
977 reviews
Virgin Australia
7.6
Good
432 reviews
Check prices

Crew

8.2

Boarding

7.7

Food

6.4

Entertainment

6.4

Overall

7.6

Comfort

7.5

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 Cairns to Darwin. 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 Cairns to Darwin?

    To fly from Cairns to Darwin, you need to book a flight from Cairns (CNS) to Darwin (DRW). Nonstop flights to Darwin from Cairns take 2h 35m on average. When it comes time to book airfare, you have a few options: there are 2 outbound flights from Cairns to Darwin offered by 3 different airlines.

  • How popular is this Cairns to Darwin flight route?

    Within the past month, 312 users have taken a look at flights from Cairns to Darwin.

  • How long is the flight from Cairns to Darwin?

    Departing from Cairns to Darwin will take you 2h 35m. There are 1674 km between Cairns and Darwin. All flights are typically direct.

  • What are the cheapest airlines flying from Cairns to Darwin round-trip?

    Our cheapest airline available from Cairns to Darwin is Virgin Australia. Our recent data shows that you can find tickets from as low as $257 on this airline. Additional options worth looking into are Airnorth and Qantas Airways, starting at $302 and $389 round-trip. Virgin Australia is priced at 66% lower than the current average price of a flight leaving 3 months from now.

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

    The cheapest airline one-way is Jetstar, with whom users have recently found tickets for as low as $248. However, be on the lookout for offers from Qantas Airways and Virgin Australia, as they are both options that can get you from Cairns to Darwin for a low price.

  • What are the cheapest flights from Cairns to Darwin?

    While on average a flight from Cairns to Darwin is generally $743, our data shows the cheapest flight currently is $281. When looking at the most popular route, (Cairns - Darwin), you can expect to pay $546 for that flight.

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

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

  • How can I find direct flights from Cairns to Darwin?

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

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

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from Cairns to Darwin 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 Cairns to Darwin?

    Currently, May is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Cairns to Darwin (average of $288). Flying from Cairns to Darwin in September is currently the most expensive (average of $649). 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

Browse thousands of different options on Cheapflights for your next trip

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Top 3 airlines flying from Cairns to Darwin

Discover the top 3 airlines that operate flights from Cairns to Darwin. 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 27 January 2026.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
Virgin AustraliaCheapest$257Average$475FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time80%
Search Virgin Australia flights
AirnorthCheapest$302Average$755FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
Search Airnorth flights
Qantas AirwaysCheapest$389Average$769FlexibilityNo 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 Cairns to Darwin?

Cheapflights helps you search for flights from Cairns to Darwin via 900+ travel sites so you don’t have to. After performing a flight search, users can also filter their flight selection by filtering for price, number of stops, airlines, and so on.

Why should you use Cheapflights to find cheap flight tickets from Cairns to Darwin?

Cheapflights helps you find that perfect flight to Darwin from Cairns 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 Cairns to Darwin with no change fees?

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

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

Of course! You can now track prices for flights from Cairns to Darwin and get an alert from Cheapflights when they change. Have a valid email address ready and click the bell icon next to the flight deals above to set up your price alerts.

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