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Cheap flights from Cairns to South Island from $242

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 26/5. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
CNS — CHC
21 Apr — 28 Apr1
1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

Cheap flight deals from Cairns to South Island

Enter your travel dates to find the best prices.

Cheapest flights from Cairns to South Island
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Cairns to South Island. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on 22 March 2026.

Sun 26/407:00
CNS
-
CHC
Nonstop4h 55m
Jetstar
Mon 4/506:55
CHC
-
CNS
Nonstop5h 45m
Jetstar
Deal found 19/3$443
Mon 4/521:40
CNS
-
CHC
1 stop16h 45m
Jetstar
Mon 11/506:55
CHC
-
CNS
Nonstop5h 45m
Jetstar
Deal found 20/3$572
Sun 26/407:00
CNS
-
CHC
Nonstop4h 55m
Multiple Airlines
Mon 4/521:05
CHC
-
CNS
1 stop15h 40m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 19/3$658
Wed 6/513:55
CNS
-
CHC
1 stop8h 45m
Multiple Airlines
Wed 13/506:55
CHC
-
CNS
Nonstop5h 45m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 22/3$690
Wed 6/519:10
CNS
-
CHC
2 stops27h 00m
Jetstar
Wed 13/506:55
CHC
-
CNS
Nonstop5h 45m
Jetstar
Deal found 22/3$702
Sun 3/507:00
CNS
-
CHC
Nonstop4h 55m
Multiple Airlines
Sun 10/520:40
CHC
-
CNS
2 stops40h 05m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 18/3$703
Mon 4/521:40
CNS
-
CHC
2 stops16h 50m
Multiple Airlines
Mon 11/506:55
CHC
-
CNS
Nonstop5h 45m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 20/3$730
Fri 1/521:40
CNS
-
CHC
1 stop16h 45m
Jetstar
Fri 8/506:55
CHC
-
CNS
Nonstop5h 45m
Jetstar
Deal found 17/3$732
Sat 12/1219:50
CNS
-
ZQN
1 stop14h 20m
Virgin Australia
Wed 16/1217:30
ZQN
-
CNS
1 stop8h 35m
Virgin Australia
Deal found 20/3$736
Sat 12/1211:45
CNS
-
ZQN
1 stop22h 25m
Virgin Australia
Tue 22/1214:00
ZQN
-
CNS
1 stop24h 05m
Virgin Australia
Deal found 22/3$747
Mon 13/410:30
CNS
-
ZQN
1 stop28h 15m
Virgin Australia
Sat 18/417:40
ZQN
-
CNS
1 stop18h 10m
Virgin Australia
Deal found 17/3$749
Fri 1/521:40
CNS
-
CHC
2 stops16h 10m
Multiple Airlines
Fri 8/506:55
CHC
-
CNS
Nonstop5h 45m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 17/3$759

Find flight deals from Cairns to South Island

Keep the following information in mind while searching for Cairns to South Island flight deals. Data was last updated 22 March 2026.

Round-trip from

$443

One-way from

$242

Popular in

December

Cheapest in

August

Average price

$528
Jetstar
  • Jetstar
  • 26/4-4/5
  • Nonstop
  • 10h 40m total
  • Cairns to South Island
Search Deals
Jetstar
  • Jetstar
  • 26/5
  • Nonstop
  • 4h 55m total
  • Cairns to South Island
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 6% potential increase in price ($43 potential increase over avg. return price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 3% potential price decrease ($21 potential savings vs. average return price).
Search Deals
Average for round-trip flights in March 2026
Search Deals

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customise your flight search to find flights from Cairns to South Island 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 22 March 2026.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Cairns to South Island that are best for you.

Fly from

Fly to

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Cheapest return flight

CairnsChristchurch

CNS - CHC

CNSCHC

Cairns

Mon 4/5

21:40-16:25

1 stop16h 45m

Christchurch

Mon 11/5

06:55-10:40

Nonstop5h 45m

$572

CairnsChristchurch

CNS - CHC

CNSCHC

Cairns

Wed 6/5

19:10-00:10

2 stops27h 00m

Christchurch

Wed 13/5

06:55-10:40

Nonstop5h 45m

$702

CairnsChristchurch

CNS - CHC

CNSCHC

Cairns

Fri 1/5

21:40-16:25

1 stop16h 45m

Christchurch

Fri 8/5

06:55-10:40

Nonstop5h 45m

$732

CairnsQueenstown

CNS - ZQN

CNSZQN

Cairns

Mon 13/4

10:30-16:45

1 stop28h 15m

Queenstown Intl

Sat 18/4

17:40-09:50

1 stop18h 10m

$749

CairnsChristchurch

CNS - CHC

CNSCHC

Cairns

Fri 1/5

21:40-15:50

2 stops16h 10m

Christchurch

Fri 8/5

06:55-10:40

Nonstop5h 45m

$759
Fastest return journey

CairnsQueenstown

CNS - ZQN

CNSZQN

Cairns

Mon 4/5

06:00-15:40

1 stop7h 40m

Queenstown Intl

Mon 11/5

16:35-23:20

1 stop8h 45m

$773

CairnsQueenstown

CNS - ZQN

CNSZQN

Cairns

Fri 1/5

19:15-16:45

1 stop19h 30m

Queenstown Intl

Fri 8/5

12:10-20:50

1 stop10h 40m

$823

CairnsQueenstown

CNS - ZQN

CNSZQN

Cairns

Sat 2/5

19:10-11:10

1 stop14h 00m

Queenstown Intl

Sat 9/5

17:30-17:00

2 stops25h 30m

$833

CairnsQueenstown

CNS - ZQN

CNSZQN

Cairns

Thu 6/8

13:40-16:45

1 stop25h 05m

Queenstown Intl

Sun 16/8

17:40-09:50

1 stop18h 10m

$847

CairnsQueenstown

CNS - ZQN

CNSZQN

Cairns

Mon 4/5

21:40-10:10

2 stops34h 30m

Queenstown Intl

Mon 11/5

16:35-23:20

1 stop8h 45m

$870

Flights are sorted by cheapest return flights first.

Deals found on 18/3

Showing 1-10 of 34 resultsSorted by cheapest first
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Best time to book a flight from Cairns to South Island

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

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

Currently, June is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Cairns to South Island (average of $222). Flying from Cairns to South Island in August is currently the most expensive (average of $377). 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.

Reviews of airlines servicing South Island

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to South Island. 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 South Island. Reviews last updated 22 March 2026.
See what other customers who have flown with Virgin Australia and Jetstar from Cairns to South Island have to say. Users have also rated airlines in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Virgin Australia
7.6
Good
449 reviews
Check prices

Boarding

7.7

Crew

8.2

Food

6.4

Comfort

7.5

Entertainment

6.4

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
449 reviews
Virgin Australia
7.6
Good
449 reviews
Check prices

Boarding

7.7

Crew

8.2

Food

6.4

Comfort

7.5

Entertainment

6.4

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
533 reviews
Virgin Australia
7.6
Good
449 reviews
Check prices

Boarding

7.7

Crew

8.2

Food

6.4

Comfort

7.5

Entertainment

6.4

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 South Island. 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 South Island?

    Most people fly from Cairns (CNS) if they book a flight from Cairns to South Island. Cairns is conveniently located just 4.4 km from Cairns’s city centre.

  • How popular is this Cairns to South Island flight route?

    Flights from Cairns to South Island have been viewed 161 times in the past calendar month.

  • How long is the flight from Cairns to South Island?

    Jetstar and Virgin Australia can get you from Cairns to South Island in just under 16h 45m. Your travel time can differ by up to 11h 30m. The distance from Cairns to South Island is about 3883 km. When browsing for deals, the options you’ll see will be for both direct flights and flights with stops.

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

    To fly one-way, consider booking your trip with Jetstar, which is currently one of the cheapest options available, starting at $208. Virgin Australia flights start at $334 while deals on Qantas Airways start at $454 one-way.

  • What are the cheapest flights from Cairns to South Island?

    On average you can expect to pay $482 for a flight from Cairns to South Island. The cheapest flight overall is $335 while the most popular route, (Cairns - Christchurch) is currently priced at $443.

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

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

  • How can I find direct flights from Cairns to South Island?

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

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

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from Cairns to South Island 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 South Island?

    Currently, June is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Cairns to South Island (average of $222). Flying from Cairns to South Island in August is currently the most expensive (average of $377). 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

Toggle through the tabs below to find thousands of options on Cheapflights for your next trip.

Top 2 airlines flying from Cairns to South Island

Discover the top 2 airlines that operate flights from Cairns to South Island. 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 22 March 2026.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
JetstarCheapest$267Average$442FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time74%
Search Jetstar flights
Virgin AustraliaCheapest$577Average$731FlexibilityNo 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 South Island?

Cheapflights goes through 900+ travel sites to look for the best flight deals for flights from Cairns to South Island. Too many options? Cheapflights also provides filters for things like airlines, price ranges, and number of stops to help you make a decision easily.

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

Cheapflights simply makes it quick and affordable to book flights from Cairns to South Island by bringing together all flight options from hundreds of airlines and agencies online — and put it in one place for you to choose from. Plus, Cheapflights is 100% free to use for all.

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

Yes, we can. To see specific flights from Cairns to South Island with no change fees, users can toggle flexible booking options after using the search form above to find flights.

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

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

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