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Cheap flights from Cairns to South Island from $230

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 23/10. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
CNS — CHC
14 Nov — 21 Nov1
1 adult
1 adult, Economy

Cheap 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 15 October 2025.

Round-trip from

$483

One-way from

$230

Popular in

November

Cheapest in

August

Average price

$474
Jetstar
  • Jetstar
  • 22/1-2/2
  • Nonstop
  • 10h 30m total
  • Cairns to South Island
Search Deals
Jetstar
  • Jetstar
  • 23/10
  • Nonstop
  • 4h 55m total
  • Cairns to South Island
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 17% potential increase in price ($199 potential increase over avg. return price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 7% potential price decrease ($65 potential savings vs. average return price).
Search Deals
Average for round-trip flights in October 2025
Search Deals

Find 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 15 October 2025.

Thu 13/1122:55CNS - CHC
Nonstop4h 55mJetstar
Mon 17/1108:20CHC - CNS
Nonstop5h 35mJetstar
Deal found 12/10$384
Sun 19/1022:55CNS - CHC
Nonstop4h 55mJetstar
Mon 27/1008:05CHC - CNS
Nonstop5h 35mJetstar
Deal found 13/10$412
Thu 4/1207:15CNS - CHC
Nonstop4h 55mJetstar
Thu 11/1220:35CHC - CNS
2 stops24h 25mJetstar
Deal found 14/10$574
Thu 23/1022:55CNS - CHC
Nonstop4h 55mJetstar
Tue 28/1009:15CHC - CNS
1 stop15h 50mJetstar
Deal found 14/10$589
Tue 11/1122:55CNS - CHC
Nonstop4h 55mMultiple Airlines
Tue 18/1109:10CHC - CNS
2 stops26h 55mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 14/10$628
Tue 21/1022:55CNS - CHC
Nonstop4h 55mJetstar
Sun 26/1009:15CHC - CNS
1 stop15h 50mJetstar
Deal found 12/10$631
Tue 30/1207:15CNS - CHC
Nonstop4h 55mJetstar
Wed 28/108:20CHC - CNS
Nonstop5h 35mJetstar
Deal found 14/10$645
Fri 28/1106:00CNS - CHC
2 stops23h 25mJetstar
Fri 5/1208:20CHC - CNS
Nonstop5h 35mJetstar
Deal found 13/10$664
Thu 27/1106:00CNS - ZQN
1 stop7h 40mVirgin Australia
Thu 4/1215:05ZQN - CNS
1 stop22h 10mVirgin Australia
Deal found 13/10$736
Fri 28/1117:20CNS - ZQN
1 stop22h 15mVirgin Australia
Fri 5/1215:05ZQN - CNS
1 stop22h 10mVirgin Australia
Deal found 14/10$751
Thu 27/1115:50CNS - ZQN
2 stops37h 05mMultiple Airlines
Thu 4/1220:50ZQN - CNS
1 stop14h 30mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 13/10$816

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 15 October 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Cairns to South Island that are best for you.

Fly from

Cairns

Fly to

South Island

Route

Depart

Return

Price

CairnsChristchurch

CNS - CHC

CNSCHC

Cairns

Thu 22/1

07:15-15:10

Nonstop4h 55m

Christchurch

Mon 2/2

08:20-10:55

Nonstop5h 35m

$483

CairnsChristchurch

CNS - CHC

CNSCHC

Cairns

Thu 4/12

07:15-15:10

Nonstop4h 55m

Christchurch

Thu 11/12

20:35-18:00

2 stops24h 25m

$574

CairnsChristchurch

CNS - CHC

CNSCHC

Cairns

Sun 26/10

22:55-06:50

Nonstop4h 55m

Christchurch

Thu 30/10

18:15-09:05

2 stops41h 50m

$685

CairnsChristchurch

CNS - CHC

CNSCHC

Cairns

Sun 4/1

07:15-15:10

Nonstop4h 55m

Christchurch

Sun 1/2

09:15-08:30

1 stop26h 15m

$721

CairnsQueenstown

CNS - ZQN

CNSZQN

Cairns

Thu 27/11

06:00-16:40

1 stop7h 40m

Queenstown Intl

Thu 4/12

15:05-10:15

1 stop22h 10m

$736

CairnsQueenstown

CNS - ZQN

CNSZQN

Cairns

Fri 28/11

17:20-18:35

1 stop22h 15m

Queenstown Intl

Fri 5/12

15:05-10:15

1 stop22h 10m

$751

CairnsChristchurch

CNS - CHC

CNSCHC

Cairns

Sun 26/10

22:55-06:50

Nonstop4h 55m

Christchurch

Thu 30/10

15:55-23:05

1 stop10h 10m

$764

CairnsChristchurch

CNS - CHC

CNSCHC

Cairns

Tue 30/12

07:15-15:10

Nonstop4h 55m

Christchurch

Sat 31/1

06:00-15:10

1 stop12h 10m

$813

CairnsQueenstown

CNS - ZQN

CNSZQN

Cairns

Thu 27/11

15:50-07:55

2 stops37h 05m

Queenstown Intl

Thu 4/12

20:50-08:20

1 stop14h 30m

$816

CairnsQueenstown

CNS - ZQN

CNSZQN

Cairns

Wed 4/2

11:45-13:10

1 stop22h 25m

Queenstown Intl

Sun 15/2

15:05-10:15

1 stop22h 10m

$850

Flights are sorted by cheapest return flights first.

Deals found on 13/10

Showing 1-10 of 30 results
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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, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Cairns to South Island (average of $256). Flying from Cairns to South Island in August is currently the most expensive (average of $426). 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 EDG?

Find hourly flight availability from Cairns to South Island. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated 15 October 2025.

When flying from Cairns to South Island, the time of day you fly usually plays a role in the price. Save by searching for a flight in the afternoon, which can drop the price by up to 23% versus a flight in the morning.

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 15 October 2025.
See what other customers who have flown with Virgin Australia, Qantas Airways, andJetstar 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
421 reviews
Check prices

Boarding

7.7

Comfort

7.5

Overall

7.6

Crew

8.2

Entertainment

6.4

Food

6.4

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Andrew,June 2025

MEL - CNS

We didn’t eat or drink, but feel like a sardine. No room at all.
Virgin Australia
7.6
Good
421 reviews
Virgin Australia
7.6
Good
421 reviews
Check prices

Boarding

7.7

Comfort

7.5

Overall

7.6

Crew

8.2

Entertainment

6.4

Food

6.4

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Andrew,June 2025

MEL - CNS

We didn’t eat or drink, but feel like a sardine. No room at all.
Qantas Airways
7.5
Good
916 reviews
Virgin Australia
7.6
Good
421 reviews
Check prices

Boarding

7.7

Comfort

7.5

Overall

7.6

Crew

8.2

Entertainment

6.4

Food

6.4

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Andrew,June 2025

MEL - CNS

We didn’t eat or drink, but feel like a sardine. No room at all.
Jetstar
6.5
Okay
475 reviews
Virgin Australia
7.6
Good
421 reviews
Check prices

Boarding

7.7

Comfort

7.5

Overall

7.6

Crew

8.2

Entertainment

6.4

Food

6.4

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Andrew,June 2025

MEL - CNS

We didn’t eat or drink, but feel like a sardine. No room at all.

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 135 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 4h 55m. Your travel time can differ by up to 2h 45m. 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 flights from Cairns to South Island?

    On average you can expect to pay $452 for a flight from Cairns to South Island. The cheapest flight overall is $233 while the most popular route, (Cairns - Christchurch) is currently priced at $384.

  • 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, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Cairns to South Island (average of $256). Flying from Cairns to South Island in August is currently the most expensive (average of $426). 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

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Top 3 airlines flying from Cairns to South Island

Discover the top 3 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 15 October 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
JetstarCheapest$359Average$561FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time74%
Search Jetstar flights
Qantas AirwaysCheapest$611Average$1,079FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time74%
Search Qantas Airways flights
Virgin AustraliaCheapest$625Average$798FlexibilityNo 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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