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Cheap flights from Cairns to Melbourne from $123

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 19/4. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
CNS — MEL
25 Mar — 1 Apr1
1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags
Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Cairns to Melbourne are usually found in February or May, booked 69 days in advance, depart on a Friday or Wednesday and return on a Tuesday

Cheap 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 23 February 2026.

Sun 5/421:40
CNS
-
MEL
Nonstop3h 20m
Jetstar
Thu 9/419:15
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 25m
Jetstar
Deal found 19/2$244
Tue 31/320:40
CNS
-
MEL
Nonstop3h 20m
Jetstar
Mon 6/406:25
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 20m
Jetstar
Deal found 19/2$248
Sat 28/318:40
CNS
-
MEL
Nonstop3h 25m
Jetstar
Sun 5/419:15
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 25m
Jetstar
Deal found 20/2$251
Mon 23/319:30
CNS
-
MEL
Nonstop3h 25m
Jetstar
Tue 24/306:15
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 15m
Jetstar
Deal found 19/2$260
Wed 8/421:40
CNS
-
MEL
Nonstop3h 20m
Jetstar
Wed 15/415:55
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 20m
Jetstar
Deal found 22/2$262
Fri 27/319:30
CNS
-
MEL
Nonstop3h 25m
Jetstar
Sun 29/320:15
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 25m
Jetstar
Deal found 21/2$264
Thu 9/421:00
CNS
-
MEL
Nonstop3h 30m
Multiple Airlines
Sun 12/417:25
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 25m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 20/2$269
Tue 7/421:00
CNS
-
MEL
Nonstop3h 30m
Multiple Airlines
Thu 16/419:15
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 25m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 19/2$271
Tue 7/421:00
CNS
-
MEL
Nonstop3h 30m
Multiple Airlines
Tue 14/415:55
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 20m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 21/2$274
Sun 22/319:30
CNS
-
MEL
Nonstop3h 25m
Jetstar
Tue 24/306:15
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 15m
Jetstar
Deal found 19/2$279
Sun 26/421:40
CNS
-
MEL
Nonstop3h 20m
Jetstar
Thu 30/419:15
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 25m
Jetstar
Deal found 19/2$282
Thu 16/721:00
CNS
-
MEL
Nonstop3h 30m
Virgin Australia
Sun 19/721:25
MEL
-
CNS
Nonstop3h 25m
Virgin Australia
Deal found 21/2$285

Find 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 23 February 2026.

Round-trip from

$244

One-way from

$123

Popular in

July

Cheapest in

February

Average price

$234
Jetstar
  • Jetstar
  • 5/4-9/4
  • Nonstop
  • 6h 45m total
  • Cairns to Melbourne
Search Deals
Jetstar
  • Jetstar
  • 19/4
  • Nonstop
  • 3h 20m total
  • Cairns to Melbourne
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 7% potential increase in price ($32 potential increase over avg. return price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 3% potential price decrease ($13 potential savings vs. average return price).
Search Deals
Average for round-trip flights in February 2026
Search Deals

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 23 February 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

Tue 31/3

19:10-23:35

Nonstop3h 25m

Melbourne

Mon 6/4

06:25-09:45

Nonstop3h 20m

$248

CairnsMelbourne

CNS - MEL

CNSMEL

Cairns

Sun 5/4

21:40-01:00

Nonstop3h 20m

Melbourne

Sun 12/4

06:25-09:45

Nonstop3h 20m

$248

CairnsMelbourne

CNS - MEL

CNSMEL

Cairns

Tue 7/4

21:00-00:30

Nonstop3h 30m

Melbourne

Tue 14/4

15:55-19:15

Nonstop3h 20m

$274

CairnsMelbourne

CNS - MEL

CNSMEL

Cairns

Sun 26/4

21:40-01:00

Nonstop3h 20m

Melbourne

Thu 30/4

19:15-22:40

Nonstop3h 25m

$282

CairnsMelbourne

CNS - MEL

CNSMEL

Cairns

Sat 14/3

18:40-23:05

Nonstop3h 25m

Melbourne

Mon 16/3

06:15-08:30

Nonstop3h 15m

$313

CairnsMelbourne

CNS - MEL

CNSMEL

Cairns

Thu 26/3

19:30-23:55

Nonstop3h 25m

Melbourne

Mon 30/3

06:25-08:45

Nonstop3h 20m

$315

CairnsMelbourne

CNS - MEL

CNSMEL

Cairns

Fri 20/3

19:30-23:55

Nonstop3h 25m

Melbourne

Fri 27/3

19:45-22:05

Nonstop3h 20m

$317

CairnsMelbourne

CNS - MEL

CNSMEL

Cairns

Thu 12/3

19:30-23:55

Nonstop3h 25m

Melbourne

Sat 14/3

06:15-08:30

Nonstop3h 15m

$323

CairnsMelbourne

CNS - MEL

CNSMEL

Cairns

Wed 25/3

16:00-20:20

Nonstop3h 20m

Melbourne

Fri 27/3

19:45-22:05

Nonstop3h 20m

$339

CairnsMelbourne

CNS - MEL

CNSMEL

Cairns

Fri 29/5

21:40-01:00

Nonstop3h 20m

Melbourne

Wed 3/6

06:25-09:45

Nonstop3h 20m

$351

Flights are sorted by cheapest return flights first.

Deals found on 20/2

Showing 1-10 of 41 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 20 February 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, July is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Cairns to Melbourne (average of $107). Flying from Cairns to Melbourne in March is currently the most expensive (average of $193). 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 23 February 2026.

It’s typically best to fly out from Cairns to Melbourne in the evening. Doing so could potentially save you 49% 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 17 February 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 23 February 2026.

The most flights from CNS to ME1 are scheduled on a Sunday (18 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Wednesday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (12 on average).

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

How often are flights from Cairns to Melbourne delayed?

About 15% of weekly flights between Cairns and Melbourne have experienced delays in the past year, with the average delay time being 106 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?

Saturday 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, Qantas Airways have had the lowest number of delays on this route, with just 15% 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 23 February 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
443 reviews
Check prices

Comfort

7.5

Crew

8.2

Entertainment

6.4

Food

6.4

Boarding

7.7

Overall

7.6

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Elio,Jan 2026

MEL - ADL

Starting to be as efficient as qantas… bar the food offerings Virgin is up there now
Virgin Australia
7.6
Good
443 reviews
Virgin Australia
7.6
Good
443 reviews
Check prices

Comfort

7.5

Crew

8.2

Entertainment

6.4

Food

6.4

Boarding

7.7

Overall

7.6

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Elio,Jan 2026

MEL - ADL

Starting to be as efficient as qantas… bar the food offerings Virgin is up there now
Jetstar
6.5
Okay
525 reviews
Virgin Australia
7.6
Good
443 reviews
Check prices

Comfort

7.5

Crew

8.2

Entertainment

6.4

Food

6.4

Boarding

7.7

Overall

7.6

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Elio,Jan 2026

MEL - ADL

Starting to be as efficient as qantas… bar the food offerings Virgin is up there now

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 14 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 $111 on this airline. An additional option worth looking into is Virgin Australia, starting at $140. Jetstar is priced at 60% 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?

    $99 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 $111 and $160, 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 (91%), Air New Zealand (91%).

  • What are the cheapest flights from Cairns to Melbourne?

    On average you can expect to pay $368 for a flight from Cairns to Melbourne. The cheapest flight overall is $114 while the most popular route, (Cairns - Melbourne) is currently priced at $244.

  • 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, July is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Cairns to Melbourne (average of $107). Flying from Cairns to Melbourne in March is currently the most expensive (average of $193). 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 23 February 2026.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
JetstarCheapest$111Average$270FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time74%
Search Jetstar flights
Virgin AustraliaCheapest$140Average$340FlexibilityNo 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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