What’s the cheapest stopover airport for flights from Cairns to Darwin?

Brisbane (BNE) is the most affordable one-stop option, with an average return flight price of $675.

Which airport typically offers the quickest stopover for flights from Cairns to Darwin?

Flights via Nhulunbuy (GOV) offer the fastest connection on this route, with an average stopover time of 0h 30m.

What’s the fastest stopover option from Cairns to Darwin?

Flights via Nhulunbuy (GOV) have the shortest average one-way travel time for one-stop routes: 3h 34m.

What’s the top stopover airport for flights from Cairns to Darwin?

Nhulunbuy (GOV) – chosen by Cheapflights users on 68% of one-stop itineraries from Cairns to Darwin on Cheapflights.

How popular is this Cairns to Darwin flight route?

Within the past month, 113 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 3h 40m. 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 Qantas Airways. Our recent data shows that you can find tickets from as low as $562 on this airline. An additional option worth looking into is Airnorth, starting at $673. Qantas Airways is priced at 32% 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 Airnorth, with whom users have recently found tickets for as low as $263. However, be on the lookout for offers from Qantas Airways and Jetstar, as they are both options that can get you from Cairns to Darwin for a low price.

Weekly flight availability from Cairns to Darwin

The most flights from CNS to DRW are scheduled on a Friday (4 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Thursday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (1 on average).

In terms of precipitation, rainfall in Darwin ranges from 0.0 - 400.0 inches per month. January is typically the wettest month, when rainfall can reach 400.0 mm. June is typically the driest time to visit Darwin when rainfall is around 0.0 mm.

If weather is an important factor for your trip to Darwin, use this chart to help with planning. For those seeking warmer temperatures, November is the ideal time of year to visit, when temperatures reach an average of 29.0 C. Travellers hoping to avoid the cold should look outside of June, when temperatures are typically at their lowest (around 25.0 C).

What are the cheapest flights from Cairns to Darwin?

While on average a flight from Cairns to Darwin is generally $599, our data shows the cheapest flight currently is $343. When looking at the most popular route, (Cairns - Darwin), you can expect to pay $531 for that flight.

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 2 different airlines.

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.

$231+ Cheap Flights from Cairns to Darwin

Cheap flight deals from Cairns to Darwin

Enter your travel dates to find the best prices.

Cheapest

Best

Direct

Last-minute

One-way

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 13 October 2026.

Wed 25/1110:45 -

Nonstop2h 35m

Wed 2/1207:00 -

Nonstop2h 35m

Deal found 11/10$531

Thu 19/1110:45 -

Nonstop2h 35m

Mon 23/1119:05 -

1 stop21h 40m

Deal found 7/10$560

Sun 22/1110:45 -

Nonstop2h 35m

Sun 29/1108:00 -

1 stop3h 30m

Deal found 8/10$572

Wed 25/1116:10 -

1 stop3h 40m

Wed 2/1207:00 -

Nonstop2h 35m

Deal found 11/10$621

Wed 25/1116:10 -

1 stop3h 40m

Wed 2/1208:00 -

1 stop3h 30m

Deal found 11/10$637

Sun 22/1116:10 -

1 stop3h 40m

Sun 29/1108:00 -

1 stop3h 30m

Deal found 8/10$647

Tue 24/1113:35 -

1 stop3h 30m

Tue 1/1208:35 -

1 stop3h 30m

Deal found 10/10$650

Thu 19/1113:35 -

Nonstop3h 30m

Mon 23/1108:00 -

Nonstop3h 30m

Deal found 11/10$664

Thu 5/1110:45 -

Nonstop2h 35m

Mon 9/1113:30 -

1 stop22h 35m

Deal found 11/10$679

Thu 5/1110:50 -

Nonstop2h 35m

Mon 9/1107:05 -

Nonstop2h 35m

Deal found 12/10$683

Find flight deals from Cairns to Darwin

Round-trip from	$501
One-way from	$231
Popular in	June
Cheapest in	February
Average price	$742
Good round-trip deal	$718 or less
Good one-way deal	$414 or less

Qantas Airways
1/3-5/3
Nonstop
5h 10m total
Cairns to Darwin

Search Deals

Qantas Airways
22/11-31/12
Nonstop
2h 35m total
Cairns to Darwin

Search Deals

Highest demand for flights based on searches. 13% potential increase in price ($192 potential increase over avg. return price).

Search Deals

Cheapest flight prices on average. 3% potential price decrease ($43 potential savings vs. average return price).

Search Deals

Average for round-trip flights in October 2026

Search Deals

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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Fly from

Fly to

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Cheapest return flight

CairnsDarwin

CNS Cairns - DRW Darwin

CNSDRW

Cairns

Tue 5/1

13:35-16:35

1 stop3h 30m

Darwin

Wed 31/12

00:00-00:30

Nonstop0h 00m

$274

CairnsDarwin

CNS Cairns - DRW Darwin

CNSDRW

Cairns

Thu 7/1

13:35-16:35

1 stop3h 30m

Darwin

Wed 31/12

00:00-00:30

Nonstop0h 00m

$285

CairnsDarwin

CNS Cairns - DRW Darwin

CNSDRW

Cairns

Thu 11/2

13:35-10:55

1 stop21h 50m

Darwin

Wed 31/12

00:00-00:30

Nonstop0h 00m

$287

CairnsDarwin

CNS Cairns - DRW Darwin

CNSDRW

Cairns

Sun 13/12

06:00-13:35

1 stop8h 05m

Darwin

Wed 31/12

00:00-00:30

Nonstop0h 00m

$329

CairnsDarwin

CNS Cairns - DRW Darwin

CNSDRW

Cairns

Mon 9/11

16:10-19:20

1 stop3h 40m

Darwin

Wed 31/12

00:00-00:30

Nonstop0h 00m

$336

CairnsDarwin

CNS Cairns - DRW Darwin

CNSDRW

Cairns

Mon 19/10

14:40-16:50

Nonstop2h 40m

Darwin

Wed 31/12

00:00-00:30

Nonstop0h 00m

$349

Fastest return journey

CairnsDarwin

CNS Cairns - DRW Darwin

CNSDRW

Cairns

Thu 26/11

10:50-12:55

Nonstop2h 35m

Darwin

Wed 31/12

00:00-00:30

Nonstop0h 00m

$350

CairnsDarwin

CNS Cairns - DRW Darwin

CNSDRW

Cairns

Thu 11/2

10:45-12:50

Nonstop2h 35m

Darwin

Wed 31/12

00:00-00:30

Nonstop0h 00m

$351

CairnsDarwin

CNS Cairns - DRW Darwin

CNSDRW

Cairns

Thu 1/4

10:45-12:55

Nonstop2h 40m

Darwin

Wed 31/12

00:00-00:30

Nonstop0h 00m

$377

CairnsDarwin

CNS Cairns - DRW Darwin

CNSDRW

Cairns

Tue 20/10

06:00-13:15

1 stop7h 45m

Darwin

Wed 31/12

00:00-00:30

Nonstop0h 00m

$384

Flights are sorted by cheapest return flights first.

Deals found on 10/10

Showing 1-10 of 15 resultsSorted by cheapest first

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.

CNS-DRW

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

Prices

Airlines

Currently, February is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Cairns to Darwin (average of $676). Flying from Cairns to Darwin in June is currently the most expensive (average of $1,158). 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?

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

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

Airfare is below average for this route at the moment.

Cairns to Darwin flights typically cost between $736 and $832 in November.
The cheapest return price found within the last 5 days was $531 on Qantas Airways (25 Nov–2 Dec).

Reviews of airlines servicing Darwin

Check out reviews from past customers who have flown with 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.

Qantas Airways

7.5

Good

1,109 reviews

Check prices

Reviews

1 / 20

6.0

Good

Brian,Sept 2026

HID - CNS

Requested special assistance (wheelchair) for my 95yo mother, but airport staff forgot about it. When it can time to board she wasn’t able to. We had to wait until all passengers had boarded & wait for ground staff to arrive with wheelchair

Qantas Airways

7.5

Good

1,109 reviews

Qantas Airways

7.5

Good

1,109 reviews

Check prices

Reviews

1 / 20

6.0

Good

Brian,Sept 2026

HID - CNS

Related info for your journey

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 2 different airlines.
How popular is this Cairns to Darwin flight route?
Within the past month, 113 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 3h 40m. 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 Qantas Airways. Our recent data shows that you can find tickets from as low as $562 on this airline. An additional option worth looking into is Airnorth, starting at $673. Qantas Airways is priced at 32% 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 Airnorth, with whom users have recently found tickets for as low as $263. However, be on the lookout for offers from Qantas Airways and Jetstar, 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 $599, our data shows the cheapest flight currently is $343. When looking at the most popular route, (Cairns - Darwin), you can expect to pay $531 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, February is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Cairns to Darwin (average of $676). Flying from Cairns to Darwin in June is currently the most expensive (average of $1,158). 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

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Top 2 airlines flying from Cairns to Darwin

Airline	Cheapest	Average	Flexibility	On-time
Qantas Airways	Cheapest$562	Average$805	FlexibilityNo cancel fee	On-time74%	Search Qantas Airways flights
Airnorth	Cheapest$673	Average$857	FlexibilityNo cancel fee	On-timeN/A	Search Airnorth flights

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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?

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Cheap flights from Cairns to Darwin from $231

This is the cheapest retur flight price found by a Cheapflights user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight departing on 22/11. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.

Cheap flight deals from Cairns to Darwin

Cheapest flights from Cairns to DarwinExplore 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 13 October 2026.

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 13 October 2026.

Best flights from Cairns to DarwinDiscover carefully curated flight deals from Cairns to Darwin that have cost, travel time, and stopovers in mind to ensure you get the best travel experience. Data last updated 13 October 2026.

Discover carefully curated flight deals from Cairns to Darwin that have cost, travel time, and stopovers in mind to ensure you get the best travel experience. Data last updated 13 October 2026.

Direct flights from Cairns to DarwinExplore direct flight options from Cairns to Darwin based on user searches, and compare prices and availability for your desired travel dates. Data last updated 13 October 2026.

Explore direct flight options from Cairns to Darwin based on user searches, and compare prices and availability for your desired travel dates. Data last updated 13 October 2026.

Last-minute flights from Cairns to DarwinDiscover last-minute flight deals from Cairns to Darwin. Data last updated 13 October 2026 and is based on user searches.

Discover last-minute flight deals from Cairns to Darwin. Data last updated 13 October 2026 and is based on user searches.

One-way flights from Cairns to DarwinSearch for one-way flight options from Cairns to Darwin. Find affordable one-way fares based on user searches. Data last updated 13 October 2026.

Search for one-way flight options from Cairns to Darwin. Find affordable one-way fares based on user searches. Data last updated 13 October 2026.

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Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Cairns to Darwin that are best for you.

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.

Cheapflights Insights

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

What is the cheapest time of day to fly from CNS to DRW?

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

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

Airfare is below average for this route at the moment.

Cairns to Darwin flights typically cost between $736 and $832 in November.The cheapest return price found within the last 5 days was $531 on Qantas Airways (25 Nov–2 Dec).

Weekly flight availability from Cairns to Darwin

The most flights from CNS to DRW are scheduled on a Friday (4 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Thursday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (1 on average).

What’s the top stopover airport for flights from Cairns to Darwin?

Nhulunbuy (GOV) – chosen by Cheapflights users on 68% of one-stop itineraries from Cairns to Darwin on Cheapflights.

What’s the cheapest stopover airport for flights from Cairns to Darwin?

Brisbane (BNE) is the most affordable one-stop option, with an average return flight price of $675.

What’s the fastest stopover option from Cairns to Darwin?

Flights via Nhulunbuy (GOV) have the shortest average one-way travel time for one-stop routes: 3h 34m.

Which airport typically offers the quickest stopover for flights from Cairns to Darwin?

Flights via Nhulunbuy (GOV) offer the fastest connection on this route, with an average stopover time of 0h 30m.

Reviews of airlines servicing Darwin

Check out reviews from past customers who have flown with 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.

Related info for your journey

What airports do I use to fly from Cairns to Darwin?

How popular is this Cairns to Darwin flight route?

How long is the flight from Cairns to Darwin?

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

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

What are the cheapest flights from Cairns to Darwin?

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

How can I find direct flights from Cairns to Darwin?

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

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

Browse thousands of different options on Cheapflights for your next trip

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Complete your trip

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Other flights to Darwin

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Cairns and Darwin flights

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Top 2 airlines flying from Cairns to Darwin

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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 13 October 2026.

Best flights from Cairns to Darwin
Discover carefully curated flight deals from Cairns to Darwin that have cost, travel time, and stopovers in mind to ensure you get the best travel experience. Data last updated 13 October 2026.

Direct flights from Cairns to Darwin
Explore direct flight options from Cairns to Darwin based on user searches, and compare prices and availability for your desired travel dates. Data last updated 13 October 2026.

Last-minute flights from Cairns to Darwin
Discover last-minute flight deals from Cairns to Darwin. Data last updated 13 October 2026 and is based on user searches.

One-way flights from Cairns to Darwin
Search for one-way flight options from Cairns to Darwin. Find affordable one-way fares based on user searches. Data last updated 13 October 2026.

Cairns to Darwin flights typically cost between $736 and $832 in November.
The cheapest return price found within the last 5 days was $531 on Qantas Airways (25 Nov–2 Dec).