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Cheap flights from Cairns to Darwin from $278

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 21/1. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
CNS — DRW
27 Dec — 3 Jan1
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 27 November 2025.

Round-trip from

$617

One-way from

$278

Popular in

January

Cheapest in

May

Average price

$790

Good round-trip deal

$853 or less

Good one-way deal

$328 or less
Virgin Australia
  • Virgin Australia
  • 23/1-25/1
  • 2 total stops
  • 25h 50m total
  • Cairns to Darwin
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Virgin Australia
  • Virgin Australia
  • 21/1
  • 1 total stop
  • 8h 05m total
  • Cairns to Darwin
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Highest demand for flights based on searches. 4% potential increase in price ($57 potential increase over avg. return price).
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Cheapest flight prices on average. 2% potential price decrease ($33 potential savings vs. average return price).
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Average for round-trip flights in November 2025
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Price to beat on a round-trip flight from Cairns to Darwin.
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Price to beat on a one-way 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 27 November 2025.

Thu 11/1206:00CNS - DRW
1 stop8h 05mVirgin Australia
Wed 31/1214:20DRW - CNS
1 stop8h 15mVirgin Australia
Deal found 24/11$695
Thu 11/1206:00CNS - DRW
1 stop9h 45mMultiple Airlines
Wed 31/1206:00DRW - CNS
Nonstop2h 35mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 24/11$724
Wed 24/1209:45CNS - DRW
Nonstop2h 35mMultiple Airlines
Wed 31/1214:20DRW - CNS
1 stop8h 15mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 24/11$756
Fri 5/1209:45CNS - DRW
Nonstop2h 35mQantas Airways
Mon 8/1206:00DRW - CNS
Nonstop2h 35mQantas Airways
Deal found 24/11$764
Thu 11/1209:45CNS - DRW
Nonstop2h 35mQantas Airways
Wed 31/1206:00DRW - CNS
Nonstop2h 35mQantas Airways
Deal found 24/11$796
Wed 24/1223:55CNS - DRW
1 stop24h 25mVirgin Australia
Wed 31/1214:20DRW - CNS
1 stop8h 15mVirgin Australia
Deal found 24/11$818
Wed 3/1216:00CNS - DRW
1 stop3h 30mMultiple Airlines
Mon 8/1206:00DRW - CNS
Nonstop2h 35mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 26/11$836
Wed 3/1216:00CNS - DRW
1 stop3h 30mAirnorth
Wed 10/1208:00DRW - CNS
1 stop3h 30mAirnorth
Deal found 25/11$852
Thu 11/1206:00CNS - DRW
1 stop9h 45mMultiple Airlines
Mon 15/1206:00DRW - CNS
Nonstop2h 35mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 25/11$921

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 November 2025.
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

Thu 12/2

06:00-13:35

1 stop8h 05m

Darwin

Mon 16/2

14:20-23:05

1 stop8h 15m

$630

CairnsDarwin

CNS - DRW

CNSDRW

Cairns

Fri 23/1

06:00-13:35

1 stop8h 05m

Darwin

Sat 24/1

00:10-14:55

1 stop14h 15m

$649

CairnsDarwin

CNS - DRW

CNSDRW

Cairns

Thu 11/12

06:00-13:35

1 stop8h 05m

Darwin

Wed 31/12

14:20-23:05

1 stop8h 15m

$695

CairnsDarwin

CNS - DRW

CNSDRW

Cairns

Thu 8/1

06:00-13:35

1 stop8h 05m

Darwin

Thu 15/1

15:55-09:20

1 stop16h 55m

$715

CairnsDarwin

CNS - DRW

CNSDRW

Cairns

Thu 11/12

06:00-15:15

1 stop9h 45m

Darwin

Wed 31/12

06:00-09:05

Nonstop2h 35m

$724

CairnsDarwin

CNS - DRW

CNSDRW

Cairns

Sat 10/1

06:00-13:35

1 stop8h 05m

Darwin

Sat 17/1

15:55-23:05

1 stop30h 40m

$726

CairnsDarwin

CNS - DRW

CNSDRW

Cairns

Fri 23/1

06:00-13:35

1 stop8h 05m

Darwin

Sun 25/1

14:20-23:55

2 stops33h 05m

$740

CairnsDarwin

CNS - DRW

CNSDRW

Cairns

Wed 21/1

06:00-13:35

1 stop8h 05m

$278

CairnsDarwin

CNS - DRW

CNSDRW

Cairns

Fri 23/1

06:00-13:35

1 stop8h 05m

$280

CairnsDarwin

CNS - DRW

CNSDRW

Cairns

Tue 20/1

06:00-13:35

1 stop8h 05m

$280

Flights are sorted by cheapest return flights first.

Deals found on 26/11

Showing 1-10 of 18 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 21 November 2025.

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, December is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Cairns to Darwin (average of $301). Flying from Cairns to Darwin in November is currently the most expensive (average of $617). 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 November 2025.

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 58% on airfare.

How much does it cost for a return flight from Cairns to Darwin?

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 November 2025.
Check out reviews from past customers who have flown with Virgin Australia, Qantas Airways, andJetstar 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
425 reviews
Check prices

Comfort

7.5

Crew

8.2

Overall

7.6

Food

6.4

Entertainment

6.4

Boarding

7.7

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Andrew,June 2025

MEL - CNS

We didn’t eat or drink, but feel like a sardine. No room at all.
Virgin Australia
7.6
Good
425 reviews
Virgin Australia
7.6
Good
425 reviews
Check prices

Comfort

7.5

Crew

8.2

Overall

7.6

Food

6.4

Entertainment

6.4

Boarding

7.7

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Andrew,June 2025

MEL - CNS

We didn’t eat or drink, but feel like a sardine. No room at all.
Qantas Airways
7.5
Good
946 reviews
Virgin Australia
7.6
Good
425 reviews
Check prices

Comfort

7.5

Crew

8.2

Overall

7.6

Food

6.4

Entertainment

6.4

Boarding

7.7

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Andrew,June 2025

MEL - CNS

We didn’t eat or drink, but feel like a sardine. No room at all.
Jetstar
6.6
Okay
486 reviews
Virgin Australia
7.6
Good
425 reviews
Check prices

Comfort

7.5

Crew

8.2

Overall

7.6

Food

6.4

Entertainment

6.4

Boarding

7.7

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Andrew,June 2025

MEL - CNS

We didn’t eat or drink, but feel like a sardine. No room at all.

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 3 outbound flights from Cairns to Darwin offered by 3 different airlines.

  • How popular is this Cairns to Darwin flight route?

    Within the past month, 369 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 8h 05m. 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 $317 on this airline. Additional options worth looking into are Airnorth and Qantas Airways, starting at $362 and $563 round-trip. Virgin Australia is priced at 60% lower than the current average price of a flight leaving 3 months from now.

  • What are the cheapest flights from Cairns to Darwin?

    While on average a flight from Cairns to Darwin is generally $748, our data shows the cheapest flight currently is $279. When looking at the most popular route, (Cairns - Darwin), you can expect to pay $630 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, December is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Cairns to Darwin (average of $301). Flying from Cairns to Darwin in November is currently the most expensive (average of $617). 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 November 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
Virgin AustraliaCheapest$317Average$600FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time80%
Search Virgin Australia flights
AirnorthCheapest$362Average$766FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
Search Airnorth flights
Qantas AirwaysCheapest$563Average$836FlexibilityNo 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!

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

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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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