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Cheap flights from Cairns to Melbourne from $117

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 2/6. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
CNS — MEL
3 Jun — 10 Jun1
1 adult

Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Cairns to Melbourne are usually found in March or February, booked 44 days in advance, depart on a Thursday or Friday and return on a Tuesday

Cheap flight deals from Cairns to Melbourne

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from Cairns (CNS) to Melbourne (ME1). 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 29 May 2025.

Round-trip from

$229

One-way from

$118

Popular in

June

Cheapest in

March

Average price

$291
Jetstar
  • Jetstar
  • 4/7-20/7
  • Nonstop
  • 6h 45m total
  • Cairns to Melbourne
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Jetstar
  • Jetstar
  • 3/6
  • Nonstop
  • 3h 25m total
  • Cairns to Melbourne
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 12% potential increase in price ($78 potential increase over avg. return price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 3% potential price decrease ($20 potential savings vs. average return price).
Search Deals
Average for round-trip flights in May 2025
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Find flight deals from Cairns to Melbourne

Cheapest flights from Cairns to Melbourne
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Cairns to Melbourne. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on 29 May 2025.

Fri 4/721:30CNS - MEL
Nonstop3h 25mJetstar
Sun 20/719:45MEL - CNS
Nonstop3h 20mJetstar
Deal found 28/5$229
Sat 31/521:30CNS - MEL
Nonstop3h 25mMultiple Airlines
Wed 4/608:30MEL - CNS
1 stop7h 25mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 28/5$353
Wed 18/606:45CNS - AVV
1 stop13h 30mJetstar
Sun 22/606:00AVV - CNS
1 stop16h 50mJetstar
Deal found 28/5$375
Fri 10/1019:50CNS - MEL
Nonstop3h 30mVirgin Australia
Thu 16/1016:10MEL - CNS
1 stop8h 10mVirgin Australia
Deal found 28/5$421
Sat 12/713:50CNS - AVV
2 stops9h 00mMultiple Airlines
Wed 16/706:00AVV - CNS
1 stop12h 35mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 28/5$561

Cheapflights Fare Finder

Customise your flight search to find flights from Cairns to Melbourne 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 29 May 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Cairns to Melbourne that are best for you.

Fly from

Cairns

Fly to

Melbourne

Route

Depart

Return

Price

CairnsMelbourne

CNS - MEL

CNSMEL

Cairns

Fri 20/6

15:20-18:50

Nonstop3h 30m

Melbourne

Mon 23/6

11:20-14:40

Nonstop3h 20m

$221

CairnsMelbourne

CNS - MEL

CNSMEL

Cairns

Wed 24/9

20:25-23:55

Nonstop3h 30m

Melbourne

Mon 29/9

15:55-19:15

Nonstop3h 20m

$336

CairnsMelbourne

CNS - MEL

CNSMEL

Cairns

Fri 10/10

19:50-00:20

Nonstop3h 30m

Melbourne

Thu 16/10

16:45-19:10

Nonstop3h 25m

$359

CairnsMelbourne

CNS - AVV

CNSAVV

Cairns

Wed 18/6

06:45-20:15

1 stop13h 30m

Melbourne Avalon

Sun 22/6

06:00-22:50

1 stop16h 50m

$375

CairnsMelbourne

CNS - AVV

CNSAVV

Cairns

Mon 25/8

16:10-22:50

1 stop6h 40m

Melbourne Avalon

Fri 29/8

20:40-08:40

1 stop12h 00m

$455

CairnsMelbourne

CNS - MEL

CNSMEL

Cairns

Wed 23/7

14:25-08:05

2 stops17h 40m

Melbourne

Sat 26/7

18:25-16:30

2 stops22h 05m

$1,642

CairnsMelbourne

CNS - MEL

CNSMEL

Cairns

Fri 4/7

13:40-08:50

2 stops43h 10m

Melbourne

Sun 20/7

15:55-12:55

2 stops45h 00m

$4,814

CairnsMelbourne

CNS - MEL

CNSMEL

Cairns

Mon 2/6

21:30-00:55

Nonstop3h 25m

$117

CairnsMelbourne

CNS - AVV

CNSAVV

Cairns

Thu 19/6

06:45-22:50

1 stop16h 05m

$169

CairnsMelbourne

CNS - AVV

CNSAVV

Cairns

Tue 28/10

15:45-23:15

1 stop6h 30m

$221

Flights are sorted by cheapest return flights first.

Deals found on 28/5

Showing 1-10 of 15 results
1
2

Best time to book a flight from Cairns to Melbourne

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to Melbourne 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 Melbourne

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

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a return flight from Cairns to Melbourne. Price data was last updated on 23 May 2025.

Booking 44 days in advance of your planned departure date is, on average, the best time to get cheap flights from Cairns to Melbourne. 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 Melbourne?

Currently, May is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Cairns to Melbourne (average of $132). Flying from Cairns to Melbourne in October is currently the most expensive (average of $184). 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 MEL?

Find hourly flight availability from Cairns to Melbourne. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated 29 May 2025.

It’s typically best to fly out from Cairns to Melbourne in the evening. Doing so could potentially save you 64% on the flight price compared to flying at midday, which is usually more expensive.

What is the cheapest day to fly from Cairns to Melbourne?

Use this chart to determine the cheapest time to fly return from Cairns to Melbourne. Price data was last updated on 16 December 2024.

Travellers seeking maximum savings on their Cairns to Melbourne flight should consider departing on Saturday afternoons when fares are most often at their lowest. Monday at midday flights should be avoided if possible as fares are typically the most expensive at this time.

Weekly flight availability from Cairns to Melbourne

Explore weekly flight availability from Cairns to Melbourne. Discover flights operating on different days of the week, giving you the flexibility to choose a travel day that best fits your plans. Compare info to find the most convenient option for your journey. Data last updated 29 May 2025.

The most flights from CNS to ME1 are scheduled on a Monday (19 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Saturday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (14 on average).

Rainfall in Melbourne by month

Plan your trip to Melbourne by taking into account the average rainfall totals by month.

In terms of precipitation, rainfall in Melbourne ranges from 30.0 - 60.0 inches per month. November is typically the wettest month, when rainfall can reach 60.0 mm. March is typically the driest time to visit Melbourne when rainfall is around 30.0 mm.

Temperature in Melbourne by month

Plan your trip to Melbourne by taking into account the average temperature totals by month.

If weather is an important factor for your trip to Melbourne, use this chart to help with planning. For those seeking warmer temperatures, January is the ideal time of year to visit, when temperatures reach an average of 20.0 C. Travellers hoping to avoid the cold should look outside of July, when temperatures are typically at their lowest (around 8.0 C).

Reviews of airlines servicing Melbourne

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to Melbourne. 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 Melbourne. Reviews last updated 29 May 2025.
To help decide which airline to fly from Cairns to Melbourne, see what other customers have to say about Emirates, Air New Zealand and Qantas Airways. Users can see the overall rating for each airline as well as how each is rated in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Emirates
8.0
Very Good
3,250 reviews
Check prices

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

8.2

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.3

Food

7.8

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Efstathia Helen,Sept 2024

EWR - ATH

My earphone set did not work throughout the flight. I tried with two different sets. I believe there was a problem with the system where I was seated.
Emirates
8.0
Very Good
3,250 reviews
Emirates
8.0
Very Good
3,250 reviews
Check prices

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

8.2

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.3

Food

7.8

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Efstathia Helen,Sept 2024

EWR - ATH

My earphone set did not work throughout the flight. I tried with two different sets. I believe there was a problem with the system where I was seated.
Air New Zealand
8.0
Very Good
479 reviews
Emirates
8.0
Very Good
3,250 reviews
Check prices

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

8.2

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.3

Food

7.8

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Efstathia Helen,Sept 2024

EWR - ATH

My earphone set did not work throughout the flight. I tried with two different sets. I believe there was a problem with the system where I was seated.
Qantas Airways
7.5
Good
846 reviews
Emirates
8.0
Very Good
3,250 reviews
Check prices

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

8.2

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.3

Food

7.8

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Efstathia Helen,Sept 2024

EWR - ATH

My earphone set did not work throughout the flight. I tried with two different sets. I believe there was a problem with the system where I was seated.
Virgin Australia
7.5
Good
405 reviews
Emirates
8.0
Very Good
3,250 reviews
Check prices

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

8.2

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.3

Food

7.8

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Efstathia Helen,Sept 2024

EWR - ATH

My earphone set did not work throughout the flight. I tried with two different sets. I believe there was a problem with the system where I was seated.
Jetstar
6.6
Okay
447 reviews
Emirates
8.0
Very Good
3,250 reviews
Check prices

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

8.2

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.3

Food

7.8

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Efstathia Helen,Sept 2024

EWR - ATH

My earphone set did not work throughout the flight. I tried with two different sets. I believe there was a problem with the system where I was seated.

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from Cairns to Melbourne. 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 from for flights from Cairns to Melbourne?

    For a flight from Cairns to Melbourne, you will be flying from Cairns. Cairns (CNS) is just 4.4 km from the centre of the city. Cairns is the only Cairns airport and it handles 17 outbound flights to Melbourne per day. 2 airlines have flights to Melbourne from Cairns on a regular basis.

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

    Our cheapest airline available from Cairns to Melbourne is Jetstar. Our recent data shows that you can find tickets from as low as $229 on this airline. Additional options worth looking into are Virgin Australia and Qantas Airways, starting at $421 and $740 round-trip. Jetstar is priced at 37% lower than the current average price of a flight leaving 3 months from now.

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

    $118 is the cheapest one-way deal found within the past few days, from Jetstar. You may also be able to find cheap deals on Virgin Australia and Qantas Airways, with prices starting from $205 and $370, respectively.

  • What are the most reliable airlines from Cairns to Melbourne?

    Looking for the most reliable airlines to get you to your destination on time? Our data shows these are most likely to get you from Cairns to Melbourne on time: Qatar Airways (98%), Etihad Airways (98%), Virgin Australia (95%).

  • What are the cheapest flights from Cairns to Melbourne?

    On average you can expect to pay $1,925 for a flight from Cairns to Melbourne. The cheapest flight overall is $112 while the most popular route, (Cairns - Melbourne) is currently priced at $221.

  • Where are the most common stopover locations when flying from Cairns to Melbourne?

    Cairns to Melbourne flights have a stopover in Brisbane most of the time.

  • What are some popular things to do or see while on a stopover in Brisbane?

    Most Brisbane visitors opt to spend their time experiencing Roma Street Parkland, Treasury Casino, and Queensland Performing Arts Centre. Roma Street Parkland, Treasury Casino, and Queensland Performing Arts Centre are located about 12.6 km, 13.0 km, and 13.5 km, respectively from Brisbane. Those on a stopover in Brisbane in need of a car hire can book one at Brisbane for about $51.

  • Where are the least popular stopover locations for Cairns to Melbourne flights?

    Cairns to Melbourne flights have a stopover in Sydney least often.

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Currently, May is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Cairns to Melbourne (average of $132). Flying from Cairns to Melbourne in October is currently the most expensive (average of $184). 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 2 airlines flying from Cairns to Melbourne

Discover the top 2 airlines that operate flights from Cairns to Melbourne. 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 29 May 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
Virgin AustraliaCheapest$186Average$456FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time80%
Search Virgin Australia flights
JetstarCheapest$208Average$487FlexibilityNo 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 Cairns to Melbourne?

When you search for this flight from Cairns to Melbourne, Cheapflights searches on 900+ travel sites to save you time finding great flight deals online. Additionally, we offer filter features so you can choose a preferred cabin class or airline, see different price ranges, and much more so you can book the flight for you.

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

It’s simple! Cheapflights, which is free to use for everyone, saves millions of users time and money every year by helping them find the cheapest and most suitable flights from Cairns to Melbourne.

Can Cheapflights find flights from Cairns to Melbourne with no change fees?

Certainly. Search results for flights to Melbourne from Cairns shown to you on Cheapflights can be narrowed down with different useful search filters, which includes flexible booking options.

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

Yes, Cheapflights has a feature called Price Alert, which notifies users when flight prices change. Track prices for your flight to Melbourne from Cairns today and book when prices fit your budget.

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