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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 26/3. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
CNS — DRW
15 Feb — 22 Feb1
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

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 16 January 2026.

Round-trip from

$537

One-way from

$276

Popular in

January

Cheapest in

May

Average price

$1,100

Good round-trip deal

$883 or less
Virgin Australia
  • Virgin Australia
  • 17/2-2/3
  • 2 total stops
  • 16h 20m total
  • Cairns to Darwin
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Virgin Australia
  • Virgin Australia
  • 26/3
  • 1 total stop
  • 8h 05m total
  • Cairns to Darwin
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 9% potential increase in price ($125 potential increase over avg. return price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 3% potential price decrease ($41 potential savings vs. average return price).
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Average for round-trip flights in January 2026
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Price to beat on a round-trip flight from Cairns to Darwin.
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Find 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 16 January 2026.

Tue 17/206:00
CNS
-
DRW
1 stop8h 05m
Virgin Australia
Mon 2/314:20
DRW
-
CNS
1 stop8h 15m
Virgin Australia
Deal found 13/1$537
Sun 1/317:20
CNS
-
DRW
1 stop20h 45m
Virgin Australia
Sun 8/314:20
DRW
-
CNS
1 stop8h 15m
Virgin Australia
Deal found 15/1$580
Sat 28/214:40
CNS
-
DRW
1 stop23h 25m
Virgin Australia
Sat 7/314:20
DRW
-
CNS
1 stop20h 10m
Virgin Australia
Deal found 14/1$590
Wed 10/606:00
CNS
-
DRW
1 stop9h 05m
Multiple Airlines
Tue 16/607:20
DRW
-
CNS
1 stop3h 30m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 13/1$613
Wed 28/106:00
CNS
-
DRW
1 stop8h 05m
Multiple Airlines
Sun 1/215:55
DRW
-
CNS
1 stop16h 55m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 13/1$620
Tue 17/206:00
CNS
-
DRW
1 stop8h 05m
Multiple Airlines
Mon 2/306:00
DRW
-
CNS
Nonstop2h 35m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 13/1$656
Sun 1/309:45
CNS
-
DRW
Nonstop2h 35m
Multiple Airlines
Sun 8/314:20
DRW
-
CNS
1 stop8h 15m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 14/1$661
Tue 3/206:00
CNS
-
DRW
1 stop8h 05m
Multiple Airlines
Fri 6/215:55
DRW
-
CNS
1 stop16h 55m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 13/1$699
Sat 28/209:45
CNS
-
DRW
Nonstop2h 35m
Multiple Airlines
Sat 7/314:20
DRW
-
CNS
1 stop20h 10m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 14/1$702

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 16 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

Sat 28/2

14:40-13:35

1 stop23h 25m

Darwin

Sat 7/3

14:20-11:00

1 stop20h 10m

$590

CairnsDarwin

CNS - DRW

CNSDRW

Cairns

Sun 1/3

17:20-13:35

1 stop20h 45m

Darwin

Sun 8/3

14:20-23:05

1 stop8h 15m

$595

CairnsDarwin

CNS - DRW

CNSDRW

Cairns

Wed 10/6

06:00-14:35

1 stop9h 05m

Darwin

Tue 16/6

07:20-11:20

1 stop3h 30m

$613

CairnsDarwin

CNS - DRW

CNSDRW

Cairns

Sun 1/3

09:45-11:50

Nonstop2h 35m

Darwin

Sun 8/3

14:20-11:00

1 stop20h 10m

$699

CairnsDarwin

CNS - DRW

CNSDRW

Cairns

Sat 28/2

14:40-13:35

1 stop23h 25m

Darwin

Sat 7/3

06:00-09:05

Nonstop2h 35m

$708

CairnsDarwin

CNS - DRW

CNSDRW

Cairns

Fri 30/1

06:00-13:35

1 stop8h 05m

Darwin

Tue 3/2

14:20-14:00

1 stop23h 10m

$722

CairnsDarwin

CNS - DRW

CNSDRW

Cairns

Wed 28/1

06:00-13:35

1 stop8h 05m

Darwin

Thu 29/1

14:20-11:00

1 stop20h 10m

$722

CairnsDarwin

CNS - DRW

CNSDRW

Cairns

Tue 3/2

06:00-13:35

1 stop8h 05m

Darwin

Fri 6/2

06:00-09:05

Nonstop2h 35m

$725

CairnsDarwin

CNS - DRW

CNSDRW

Cairns

Tue 17/2

06:00-23:20

2 stops17h 50m

Darwin

Mon 2/3

14:20-11:20

1 stop20h 30m

$731

CairnsDarwin

CNS - DRW

CNSDRW

Cairns

Fri 30/1

06:00-13:35

1 stop8h 05m

Darwin

Tue 3/2

06:00-09:05

Nonstop2h 35m

$731

Flights are sorted by cheapest return flights first.

Deals found on 14/1

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 9 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 $297). Flying from Cairns to Darwin in September is currently the most expensive (average of $671). 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 16 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 at midday tend to be the most expensive. A flight in the evening could potentially save you up to 60% 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 16 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
430 reviews
Check prices

Boarding

7.7

Food

6.4

Comfort

7.5

Overall

7.6

Crew

8.2

Entertainment

6.4

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Leanne,Dec 2025

MEL - LST

The crew were very welcoming and the landing was excellent
Virgin Australia
7.6
Good
430 reviews
Virgin Australia
7.6
Good
430 reviews
Check prices

Boarding

7.7

Food

6.4

Comfort

7.5

Overall

7.6

Crew

8.2

Entertainment

6.4

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Leanne,Dec 2025

MEL - LST

The crew were very welcoming and the landing was excellent
Qantas Airways
7.5
Good
971 reviews
Virgin Australia
7.6
Good
430 reviews
Check prices

Boarding

7.7

Food

6.4

Comfort

7.5

Overall

7.6

Crew

8.2

Entertainment

6.4

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Leanne,Dec 2025

MEL - LST

The crew were very welcoming and the landing was excellent

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, 351 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 23h 25m. There are 1674 km between Cairns and Darwin.

  • 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 $266 on this airline. Additional options worth looking into are Airnorth and Qantas Airways, starting at $312 and $460 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 $253. 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 $1,011, our data shows the cheapest flight currently is $755. When looking at the most popular route, (Cairns - Darwin), you can expect to pay $537 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 $297). Flying from Cairns to Darwin in September is currently the most expensive (average of $671). 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 16 January 2026.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
Virgin AustraliaCheapest$266Average$492FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time80%
Search Virgin Australia flights
AirnorthCheapest$312Average$756FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
Search Airnorth flights
Qantas AirwaysCheapest$460Average$810FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time74%
Search Qantas Airways flights

Fly with Cheapflights

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How does Cheapflights help users find flights from Cairns to Darwin?

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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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