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 11/9. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
CNS — MEL
20 Sep — 27 Sep1
Return
1 adult
Economy
Return
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags
Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Cairns to Melbourne are usually found in November or January, booked 74 days in advance, depart on a Friday or Wednesday and return on a Wednesday
Cheap flight deals from Cairns to Melbourne
Enter your travel dates to find the best prices.
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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 21 August 2026.
Thu 8/1010:00 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Wed 14/1006:25 -
Nonstop3h 20m
Deal found 19/8$209
Fri 9/1020:35 -
Nonstop3h 20m
Sun 11/1020:05 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Deal found 21/8$211
Thu 8/1010:00 -
Nonstop3h 30m
Sun 18/1020:05 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Deal found 20/8$214
Fri 9/1020:35 -
Nonstop3h 20m
Sat 17/1017:30 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Deal found 21/8$223
Thu 8/1010:00 -
Nonstop3h 30m
Wed 14/1006:05 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Deal found 20/8$240
Fri 9/1020:35 -
Nonstop3h 20m
Mon 12/1006:25 -
Nonstop3h 20m
Deal found 18/8$250
Thu 8/1018:35 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Sat 17/1020:05 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Deal found 18/8$253
Wed 25/1115:45 -
1 stop6h 30m
Sat 28/1106:00 -
1 stop9h 55m
Deal found 18/8$454
Thu 8/1019:25 -
1 stop19h 55m
Wed 14/1016:40 -
1 stop6h 45m
Deal found 17/8$461
Mon 14/919:10 -
1 stop20h 55m
Mon 21/920:55 -
1 stop12h 25m
Deal found 20/8$464
Thu 3/907:30 -
1 stop12h 05m
Sat 5/906:00 -
1 stop16h 25m
Deal found 17/8$471
Sat 5/906:45 -
1 stop16h 05m
Mon 7/906:00 -
1 stop16h 25m
Deal found 19/8$473
Best flights from Cairns to Melbourne
Discover carefully curated flight deals from Cairns to Melbourne that have cost, travel time, and stopovers in mind to ensure you get the best travel experience. Data last updated 21 August 2026.
Thu 12/1119:20 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Sun 29/1106:15 -
Nonstop3h 15m
Deal found 20/8$278
Mon 21/1215:45 -
1 stop6h 20m
Mon 4/118:50 -
1 stop5h 15m
Deal found 16/8$455
Wed 9/913:55 -
1 stop10h 00m
Sun 13/918:55 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Deal found 16/8$472
Sun 25/1019:20 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Sun 1/1119:50 -
Nonstop3h 20m
Deal found 20/8$327
Fri 11/921:40 -
Nonstop3h 20m
Sun 13/918:55 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Deal found 16/8$341
Fri 11/921:40 -
Nonstop3h 20m
Tue 15/918:55 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Deal found 18/8$357
Thu 12/1115:45 -
1 stop6h 20m
Sun 29/1106:00 -
1 stop5h 15m
Deal found 20/8$464
Fri 12/215:45 -
1 stop6h 30m
Mon 15/220:55 -
1 stop12h 25m
Deal found 19/8$476
Thu 8/1015:35 -
1 stop6h 30m
Sun 18/1012:00 -
1 stop6h 25m
Deal found 21/8$465
Wed 25/1118:05 -
1 stop12h 30m
Sun 29/1106:00 -
1 stop9h 55m
Deal found 18/8$509
Wed 2/911:00 -
Nonstop3h 30m
Fri 4/918:55 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Deal found 16/8$441
Mon 14/909:20 -
2 stops13h 30m
Mon 21/920:55 -
1 stop12h 25m
Deal found 20/8$528
Wed 9/919:35 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Sun 13/918:55 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Deal found 16/8$441
Fri 4/911:50 -
2 stops8h 30m
Mon 7/920:55 -
1 stop12h 25m
Deal found 16/8$555
Wed 16/906:45 -
1 stop9h 20m
Mon 21/920:55 -
1 stop12h 25m
Deal found 19/8$475
Wed 2/906:45 -
1 stop7h 25m
Fri 4/906:00 -
1 stop16h 25m
Deal found 16/8$478
Sat 5/906:45 -
1 stop16h 05m
Wed 9/920:55 -
1 stop25h 30m
Deal found 20/8$489
Wed 9/906:45 -
1 stop16h 05m
Sun 13/920:40 -
1 stop11h 50m
Deal found 17/8$513
Wed 9/906:45 -
1 stop16h 05m
Sat 12/920:40 -
1 stop12h 20m
Deal found 16/8$521
Fri 11/915:35 -
1 stop7h 15m
Sun 13/920:40 -
1 stop11h 50m
Deal found 16/8$527
Wed 16/906:45 -
1 stop7h 25m
Wed 23/920:40 -
1 stop11h 50m
Deal found 16/8$534
Direct flights from Cairns to Melbourne
Explore direct flight options from Cairns to Melbourne based on user searches, and compare prices and availability for your desired travel dates. Data last updated 21 August 2026.
Thu 8/1010:00 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Wed 14/1006:25 -
Nonstop3h 20m
Deal found 19/8$209
Fri 9/1020:35 -
Nonstop3h 20m
Sun 11/1020:05 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Deal found 21/8$211
Thu 8/1010:00 -
Nonstop3h 30m
Sun 18/1020:05 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Deal found 20/8$214
Fri 9/1020:35 -
Nonstop3h 20m
Sat 17/1017:30 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Deal found 21/8$223
Thu 8/1010:00 -
Nonstop3h 30m
Wed 14/1006:05 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Deal found 20/8$240
Fri 9/1020:35 -
Nonstop3h 20m
Mon 12/1006:25 -
Nonstop3h 20m
Deal found 18/8$250
Thu 8/1018:35 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Sat 17/1020:05 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Deal found 18/8$253
Last-minute flights from Cairns to Melbourne
Discover last-minute flight deals from Cairns to Melbourne. Data last updated 21 August 2026 and is based on user searches.
Wed 2/906:45 -
1 stop7h 25m
Fri 4/906:00 -
1 stop16h 25m
Deal found 16/8$478
Thu 3/907:30 -
1 stop12h 05m
Sat 5/906:00 -
1 stop16h 25m
Deal found 17/8$471
Fri 4/919:10 -
1 stop14h 35m
Mon 7/920:55 -
1 stop12h 25m
Deal found 16/8$483
Sat 5/906:45 -
1 stop16h 05m
Mon 7/906:00 -
1 stop16h 25m
Deal found 19/8$473
Sat 5/906:45 -
1 stop16h 05m
Wed 9/920:55 -
1 stop25h 30m
Deal found 20/8$489
Fri 11/921:40 -
Nonstop3h 20m
Sun 13/918:55 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Deal found 16/8$341
Fri 11/921:40 -
Nonstop3h 20m
Tue 15/918:55 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Deal found 18/8$357
Fri 11/921:40 -
Nonstop3h 20m
Wed 16/915:00 -
1 stop7h 25m
Deal found 18/8$365
Fri 11/921:40 -
Nonstop3h 20m
Mon 14/918:55 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Deal found 17/8$378
Mon 14/919:10 -
1 stop20h 55m
Mon 21/920:55 -
1 stop12h 25m
Deal found 20/8$464
Wed 16/906:45 -
1 stop9h 20m
Mon 21/920:55 -
1 stop12h 25m
Deal found 19/8$475
Tue 22/921:35 -
Nonstop3h 20m
Wed 30/918:55 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Deal found 17/8$339
One-way flights from Cairns to Melbourne
Search for one-way flight options from Cairns to Melbourne. Find affordable one-way fares based on user searches. Data last updated 21 August 2026.
Fri 11/921:40 -
Nonstop3h 20m
Deal found 17/8$135
Wed 21/1020:40 -
Nonstop3h 20m
Deal found 17/8$140
Wed 16/919:35 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Deal found 16/8$143
Sun 11/1020:35 -
Nonstop3h 20m
Deal found 17/8$146
Wed 20/119:50 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Deal found 18/8$148
Mon 16/1119:50 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Deal found 19/8$152
Sun 18/1020:35 -
Nonstop3h 20m
Deal found 18/8$155
Mon 21/1219:50 -
Nonstop3h 25m
Deal found 18/8$157
Thu 17/921:00 -
Nonstop3h 30m
Deal found 16/8$159
Tue 2/215:45 -
1 stop14h 50m
Deal found 21/8$195
Wed 16/906:45 -
1 stop7h 25m
Deal found 16/8$198
Sun 7/217:35 -
1 stop21h 00m
Deal found 19/8$200
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 21 August 2026.
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 7,457,451 searches. Data last updated 21 August 2026.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Cairns to Melbourne that are best for you.
Fly from
Fly to
Route
Depart
Return
Price
Cheapest return flight
Fastest return journey
CairnsMelbourne
CNS Cairns - MEL Melbourne
CNSMEL
Cairns
Thu 12/11
19:20-23:45
Nonstop3h 25m
Melbourne
Sun 29/11
06:15-08:30
Nonstop3h 15m
$278
CairnsMelbourne
CNS Cairns - MEL Melbourne
CNSMEL
Cairns
Sun 25/10
19:20-23:45
Nonstop3h 25m
Melbourne
Sun 1/11
19:50-22:10
Nonstop3h 20m
$327
CairnsMelbourne
CNS Cairns - MEL Melbourne
CNSMEL
Cairns
Fri 11/9
21:40-01:00
Nonstop3h 20m
Melbourne
Sun 13/9
18:55-22:20
Nonstop3h 25m
$341
CairnsMelbourne
CNS Cairns - MEL Melbourne
CNSMEL
Cairns
Fri 11/9
21:40-01:00
Nonstop3h 20m
Melbourne
Tue 15/9
18:55-22:20
Nonstop3h 25m
$357
CairnsMelbourne
CNS Cairns - MEL Melbourne
CNSMEL
Cairns
Wed 2/9
11:00-14:30
Nonstop3h 30m
Melbourne
Fri 4/9
18:55-22:20
Nonstop3h 25m
$441
CairnsMelbourne
CNS Cairns - MEL Melbourne
CNSMEL
Cairns
Wed 9/9
19:35-23:00
Nonstop3h 25m
Melbourne
Sun 13/9
18:55-22:20
Nonstop3h 25m
$441
CairnsMelbourne
CNS Cairns - MEL Melbourne
CNSMEL
Cairns
Mon 21/12
15:45-23:05
1 stop6h 20m
Melbourne
Mon 4/1
18:50-23:05
1 stop5h 15m
$455
CairnsMelbourne
CNS Cairns - MEL Melbourne
CNSMEL
Cairns
Thu 12/11
15:45-23:05
1 stop6h 20m
Melbourne
Sun 29/11
06:00-10:15
1 stop5h 15m
$464
CairnsMelbourne
CNS Cairns - MEL Melbourne
CNSMEL
Cairns
Thu 8/10
15:35-23:05
1 stop6h 30m
Melbourne
Sun 18/10
12:00-17:25
1 stop6h 25m
$465
CairnsMelbourne
CNS Cairns - MEL Melbourne
CNSMEL
Cairns
Wed 9/9
13:55-23:55
1 stop10h 00m
Melbourne
Sun 13/9
18:55-22:20
Nonstop3h 25m
$472
Flights are sorted by cheapest return flights first.
Deals found on 17/8
Showing 1-10 of 41 resultsSorted by cheapest first
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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.
CNS-ME1
CNS-MEL
CNS-AVV
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
CNS-ME1
CNS-MEL
CNS-AVV
What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Cairns to Melbourne?
Currently, November is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Cairns to Melbourne (average of $275). Flying from Cairns to Melbourne in June is currently the most expensive (average of $414). 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 21 August 2026.
It’s typically best to fly out from Cairns to Melbourne in the evening. Doing so could potentially save you 31% on the flight price compared to flying in the morning, which is usually more expensive.
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 21 August 2026.
The most flights from CNS to ME1 are scheduled on a Thursday (20 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Tuesday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (14 on average).
How much does it cost for a return flight from Cairns to Melbourne?
Airfare is below average for this route at the moment.
Cairns to Melbourne flights typically cost between $248 and $412 in October.The cheapest return price found within the last 5 days was $209 on Jetstar (8 Oct–14 Oct).
How often are flights from Cairns to Melbourne delayed?
About 18% 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 in the evening 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 Tuesday 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 17% of flights being delayed.
How far ahead should I book a flight from Cairns to Melbourne?
Booking 72 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 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 15 August 2026.
Travellers seeking maximum savings on their Cairns to Melbourne flight should consider departing on Wednesday afternoons when fares are most often at their lowest. Monday afternoons flights should be avoided if possible as fares are typically the most expensive at this time.
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 21 August 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.
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 16 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 $126 on this airline. An additional option worth looking into is Virgin Australia, starting at $127. 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?
$107 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 $110 and $197, 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: KLM (93%), Qatar Airways (86%), Virgin Australia (81%).
What are the cheapest flights from Cairns to Melbourne?
On average you can expect to pay $308 for a flight from Cairns to Melbourne. The cheapest flight overall is $122 while the most popular route, (Cairns - Melbourne) is currently priced at $209.
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, November is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Cairns to Melbourne (average of $275). Flying from Cairns to Melbourne in June is currently the most expensive (average of $414). 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.
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 7,457,451 searches. Data last updated 21 August 2026.
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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