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Cheap flights from Cairns to Melbourne from $121

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 3/2. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
CNS — MEL
8 Feb — 15 Feb1
1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags
Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Cairns to Melbourne are usually found in March or February, booked 69 days in advance, depart on a Friday or Wednesday 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 9 January 2026.

Round-trip from

$240

One-way from

$121

Popular in

July

Cheapest in

March

Average price

$291
Jetstar
  • Jetstar
  • 29/1-4/2
  • Nonstop
  • 6h 40m total
  • Cairns to Melbourne
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Jetstar
  • Jetstar
  • 3/2
  • Nonstop
  • 3h 25m total
  • Cairns to Melbourne
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 8% potential increase in price ($40 potential increase over avg. return price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 3% potential price decrease ($14 potential savings vs. average return price).
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Average for round-trip flights in January 2026
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Find flight deals from Cairns to Melbourne

Enter your travel dates to find the best prices.

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 9 January 2026.

Thu 29/119:30CNS - MEL
Nonstop3h 25mJetstar
Wed 4/206:15MEL - CNS
Nonstop3h 15mJetstar
Deal found 7/1$240
Fri 27/218:45CNS - MEL
Nonstop3h 25mJetstar
Mon 2/306:15MEL - CNS
Nonstop3h 15mJetstar
Deal found 8/1$243
Fri 30/114:35CNS - MEL
Nonstop3h 30mJetstar
Mon 2/219:45MEL - CNS
Nonstop3h 20mJetstar
Deal found 7/1$249
Sun 8/207:45CNS - MEL
Nonstop3h 25mJetstar
Tue 10/206:15MEL - CNS
Nonstop3h 15mJetstar
Deal found 8/1$251
Thu 22/119:30CNS - MEL
Nonstop3h 25mJetstar
Mon 26/106:15MEL - CNS
Nonstop3h 15mJetstar
Deal found 7/1$272
Wed 14/107:45CNS - MEL
Nonstop3h 25mJetstar
Wed 21/119:45MEL - CNS
Nonstop3h 20mJetstar
Deal found 7/1$273
Fri 16/119:50CNS - MEL
Nonstop3h 25mMultiple Airlines
Tue 20/106:15MEL - CNS
Nonstop3h 15mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 8/1$275
Wed 25/216:00CNS - MEL
Nonstop3h 20mJetstar
Tue 3/312:50MEL - CNS
Nonstop3h 20mJetstar
Deal found 8/1$278
Sun 22/214:35CNS - MEL
Nonstop3h 30mJetstar
Sun 1/319:45MEL - CNS
Nonstop3h 20mJetstar
Deal found 8/1$279
Mon 2/218:05CNS - AVV
1 stop12h 30mJetstar
Mon 9/220:55AVV - CNS
1 stop12h 25mJetstar
Deal found 7/1$381
Wed 28/106:00CNS - AVV
1 stop8h 50mJetstar
Wed 4/208:10AVV - CNS
1 stop6h 40mJetstar
Deal found 6/1$388
Wed 28/106:00CNS - AVV
1 stop8h 50mJetstar
Fri 30/106:00AVV - CNS
1 stop8h 50mJetstar
Deal found 6/1$412

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 9 January 2026.
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

Thu 29/1

19:30-23:55

Nonstop3h 25m

Melbourne

Mon 2/2

06:15-08:30

Nonstop3h 15m

$240

CairnsMelbourne

CNS - MEL

CNSMEL

Cairns

Thu 29/1

19:30-23:55

Nonstop3h 25m

Melbourne

Wed 4/2

06:15-08:30

Nonstop3h 15m

$240

CairnsMelbourne

CNS - MEL

CNSMEL

Cairns

Mon 2/2

19:30-23:55

Nonstop3h 25m

Melbourne

Mon 9/2

19:45-22:05

Nonstop3h 20m

$240

CairnsMelbourne

CNS - MEL

CNSMEL

Cairns

Thu 5/2

09:45-14:10

Nonstop3h 25m

Melbourne

Sat 7/2

06:15-08:30

Nonstop3h 15m

$242

CairnsMelbourne

CNS - MEL

CNSMEL

Cairns

Tue 3/2

09:45-14:10

Nonstop3h 25m

Melbourne

Thu 5/2

06:15-08:30

Nonstop3h 15m

$242

CairnsMelbourne

CNS - MEL

CNSMEL

Cairns

Sun 8/2

19:30-23:55

Nonstop3h 25m

Melbourne

Sun 15/2

16:25-18:45

Nonstop3h 20m

$242

CairnsMelbourne

CNS - MEL

CNSMEL

Cairns

Thu 26/2

18:45-23:10

Nonstop3h 25m

Melbourne

Tue 3/3

19:45-22:05

Nonstop3h 20m

$242

CairnsMelbourne

CNS - MEL

CNSMEL

Cairns

Fri 30/1

14:35-19:05

Nonstop3h 30m

Melbourne

Mon 2/2

19:45-22:05

Nonstop3h 20m

$249

CairnsMelbourne

CNS - MEL

CNSMEL

Cairns

Fri 30/1

14:35-19:05

Nonstop3h 30m

Melbourne

Tue 3/2

19:45-22:05

Nonstop3h 20m

$249

CairnsMelbourne

CNS - MEL

CNSMEL

Cairns

Sun 8/2

07:45-12:10

Nonstop3h 25m

Melbourne

Tue 10/2

06:15-08:30

Nonstop3h 15m

$251

Flights are sorted by cheapest return flights first.

Deals found on 7/1

Showing 1-10 of 42 results
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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 2 January 2026.

Booking 69 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, April is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Cairns to Melbourne (average of $113). Flying from Cairns to Melbourne in February is currently the most expensive (average of $204). 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 9 January 2026.

It’s typically best to fly out from Cairns to Melbourne in the evening. Doing so could potentially save you 53% 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 3 January 2026.

Travellers seeking maximum savings on their Cairns to Melbourne flight should consider departing on Sunday at midday when fares are most often at their lowest. Sunday afternoons 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 9 January 2026.

The most flights from CNS to ME1 are scheduled on a Thursday (25 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Monday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (13 on average).

How often are flights from Cairns to Melbourne delayed?

About 14% of weekly flights between Cairns and Melbourne have experienced delays in the past year, with the average delay time being 104 minutes.

What is the most punctual flight time for Cairns to Melbourne flights?

Historically, flights departing in the morning are less likely to be delayed, whereas flights leaving at night tend to experience delays more often.

What day of the week experiences the fewest flight delays on this route?

Sunday tends to have the lowest number of delays on this route, whereas Thursday has historically faced a higher average of delays compared to other days of the week.

Which airline has the best punctuality record on Cairns to Melbourne flights?

Over the past year, Virgin Australia have had the lowest number of delays on this route, with just 13% of flights being delayed.

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 9 January 2026.
See what other customers who have flown with Virgin Australia and Jetstar from Cairns to Melbourne have to say. You can also see how each airline compares in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Virgin Australia
7.6
Good
430 reviews
Check prices

Overall

7.6

Boarding

7.7

Entertainment

6.4

Crew

8.2

Food

6.4

Comfort

7.5

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

Overall

7.6

Boarding

7.7

Entertainment

6.4

Crew

8.2

Food

6.4

Comfort

7.5

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Leanne,Dec 2025

MEL - LST

The crew were very welcoming and the landing was excellent
Jetstar
6.5
Okay
500 reviews
Virgin Australia
7.6
Good
430 reviews
Check prices

Overall

7.6

Boarding

7.7

Entertainment

6.4

Crew

8.2

Food

6.4

Comfort

7.5

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 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.

  • How long is the flight from Cairns to Melbourne?

    Departing from Cairns to Melbourne will take you 3h 25m. Airlines will cover a distance of 2311 km. Generally, flights for this route are direct.

  • 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 $118 on this airline. An additional option worth looking into is Virgin Australia, starting at $148. Jetstar is priced at 59% 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?

    $100 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 $118 and $193, 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: China Southern (100%), Emirates (85%), Air New Zealand (85%).

  • What are the cheapest flights from Cairns to Melbourne?

    On average you can expect to pay $300 for a flight from Cairns to Melbourne. The cheapest flight overall is $116 while the most popular route, (Cairns - Melbourne) is currently priced at $240.

  • 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, April is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Cairns to Melbourne (average of $113). Flying from Cairns to Melbourne in February is currently the most expensive (average of $204). 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 9 January 2026.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
JetstarCheapest$179Average$284FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time74%
Search Jetstar flights
Virgin AustraliaCheapest$189Average$363FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time80%
Search Virgin Australia 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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