Find flights
When to book
Airlines
FAQs

Cheap flights from Cairns to South Island from $274

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 1/5. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
CNS — CHC
29 Jan — 5 Feb1
1 adult

Cheap flight deals from Cairns to South Island

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from Cairns (CNS) to South Island (zzEDG). 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 24 January 2025.

Round-trip from

$644

One-way from

$274
Jetstar
  • Jetstar
  • 15/3-22/3
  • 2 total stops
  • 31h 15m total
  • Cairns to South Island
Jetstar
  • Jetstar
  • 1/5
  • Nonstop
  • 4h 55m total
  • Cairns to South Island

Find flight deals from Cairns to South Island

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 24 January 2025.

Sat 15/309:45CNS - CHC
1 stop11h 20mJetstar
Sat 22/316:10CHC - CNS
1 stop19h 55mJetstar
Deal found 24/1$644
Tue 4/312:00CNS - ZQN
2 stops21h 10mJetstar
Mon 10/313:35ZQN - CNS
1 stop22h 30mJetstar
Deal found 23/1$760
Tue 4/315:45CNS - ZQN
1 stop24h 50mMultiple Airlines
Mon 10/313:35ZQN - CNS
1 stop22h 30mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 23/1$774
Sun 23/211:40CNS - ZQN
1 stop26h 00mVirgin Australia
Sat 1/317:30ZQN - CNS
1 stop20h 30mVirgin Australia
Deal found 23/1$843
Sun 9/309:45CNS - CHC
1 stop11h 35mMultiple Airlines
Sun 16/306:00CHC - CNS
1 stop29h 35mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 23/1$878
Sun 9/306:00CNS - CHC
1 stop15h 40mAir New Zealand
Sun 16/321:00CHC - CNS
2 stops18h 05mAir New Zealand
Deal found 23/1$902
Tue 4/312:45CNS - ZQN
3 stops20h 30mAir New Zealand
Mon 10/312:45ZQN - CNS
3 stops28h 05mAir New Zealand
Deal found 23/1$1,487
Sat 15/312:35CNS - CHC
3 stops24h 50mQantas Airways
Sat 22/310:30CHC - CNS
2 stops15h 15mQantas Airways
Deal found 24/1$1,643

Find flights from Cairns to South Island within your budget

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 24 January 2025.

Fly from

Any airport

Fly to

Any airport

Route

Depart

Return

Price

CairnsChristchurch

CNS - CHC

CNSCHC

Cairns

Sat 15/3

09:45-00:05

1 stop11h 20m

Christchurch

Sat 22/3

16:10-09:05

1 stop19h 55m

$644

CairnsQueenstown

CNS - ZQN

CNSZQN

Cairns

Tue 4/3

12:00-12:10

2 stops21h 10m

Queenstown Intl

Mon 10/3

13:35-09:05

1 stop22h 30m

$760

CairnsQueenstown

CNS - ZQN

CNSZQN

Cairns

Tue 4/3

15:45-19:35

1 stop24h 50m

Queenstown Intl

Mon 10/3

13:35-09:05

1 stop22h 30m

$774

CairnsQueenstown

CNS - ZQN

CNSZQN

Cairns

Sun 23/2

11:40-16:40

1 stop26h 00m

Queenstown Intl

Sat 1/3

17:30-11:00

1 stop20h 30m

$843

CairnsChristchurch

CNS - CHC

CNSCHC

Cairns

Sun 9/3

09:45-00:20

1 stop11h 35m

Christchurch

Sun 16/3

06:00-08:35

1 stop29h 35m

$878

CairnsChristchurch

CNS - CHC

CNSCHC

Cairns

Sun 9/3

06:00-00:40

1 stop15h 40m

Christchurch

Sun 16/3

21:00-12:05

2 stops18h 05m

$902

CairnsQueenstown

CNS - ZQN

CNSZQN

Cairns

Tue 4/3

12:45-12:15

3 stops20h 30m

Queenstown Intl

Mon 10/3

12:45-13:50

3 stops28h 05m

$1,487

CairnsChristchurch

CNS - CHC

CNSCHC

Cairns

Sat 15/3

12:35-16:25

3 stops24h 50m

Christchurch

Sat 22/3

10:30-22:45

2 stops15h 15m

$1,643

CairnsChristchurch

CNS - CHC

CNSCHC

Cairns

Thu 1/5

22:55-05:50

Nonstop4h 55m

$274

CairnsQueenstown

CNS - ZQN

CNSZQN

Cairns

Fri 18/4

19:15-12:20

1 stop15h 05m

$409

Flights are sorted by cheapest return flights first.

Deals found on 22/1

Showing 1-10 of 15 results
1
2

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.

Travel insights for flights from Cairns to South Island

Get recent, data-driven insights about flights from Cairns to South Island including ideal travel times, pricing trends, and more.

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

Currently, May is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Cairns to South Island (average of $346). Flying from Cairns to South Island in December is currently the most expensive (average of $480). 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 24 January 2025.

When flying from Cairns to South Island, the time of day you decide to fly out makes little to no difference towards the overall price you’ll pay on tickets.

Rainfall in South Island by month

Plan your trip to South Island by taking into account the average rainfall totals by month.

In terms of precipitation, rainfall in South Island ranges from 40.0 - 60.0 inches per month. May is typically the wettest month, when rainfall can reach 60.0 mm. February is typically the driest time to visit South Island when rainfall is around 40.0 mm.

Temperature in South Island by month

Plan your trip to South Island by taking into account the average temperature totals by month.

If weather is an important factor for your trip to South Island, use this chart to help with planning. For those seeking warmer temperatures, January is the ideal time of year to visit, when temperatures reach an average of 17.0 C. Travellers hoping to avoid the cold should look outside of June, when temperatures are typically at their lowest (around 6.0 C).

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 24 January 2025.
See what other customers who have flown with Jetstar and Air New Zealand 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.
7.9
Good
482 reviews

Comfort

7.9

Entertainment

7.4

Food

7.2

Overall

7.9

Boarding

8.2

Crew

8.5

Reviews

1 / 10

Connection Booked by United was one hour and 20 minutes to come from international Auckland to San Francisco, deplane, clear customs and immigration, collect baggage, transfer baggage, go through TSA, walk/run across terminals 20 minutes and barely make connection When united informed pre-vacation of the tightness of the connection,would not switch to a flight two hours later, despite open seats, the flight that the baggage actually took Passengers made connection; baggage did not Food: nonexistent for a cross country six hour flight Arrived early, but of course gate unavailable and then plane door to get off stuck for 20 minutes

7.9
Good
482 reviews
7.9
Good
482 reviews

Comfort

7.9

Entertainment

7.4

Food

7.2

Overall

7.9

Boarding

8.2

Crew

8.5

Reviews

1 / 10

Connection Booked by United was one hour and 20 minutes to come from international Auckland to San Francisco, deplane, clear customs and immigration, collect baggage, transfer baggage, go through TSA, walk/run across terminals 20 minutes and barely make connection When united informed pre-vacation of the tightness of the connection,would not switch to a flight two hours later, despite open seats, the flight that the baggage actually took Passengers made connection; baggage did not Food: nonexistent for a cross country six hour flight Arrived early, but of course gate unavailable and then plane door to get off stuck for 20 minutes

7.5
Good
824 reviews
7.9
Good
482 reviews

Comfort

7.9

Entertainment

7.4

Food

7.2

Overall

7.9

Boarding

8.2

Crew

8.5

Reviews

1 / 10

Connection Booked by United was one hour and 20 minutes to come from international Auckland to San Francisco, deplane, clear customs and immigration, collect baggage, transfer baggage, go through TSA, walk/run across terminals 20 minutes and barely make connection When united informed pre-vacation of the tightness of the connection,would not switch to a flight two hours later, despite open seats, the flight that the baggage actually took Passengers made connection; baggage did not Food: nonexistent for a cross country six hour flight Arrived early, but of course gate unavailable and then plane door to get off stuck for 20 minutes

7.5
Good
434 reviews
7.9
Good
482 reviews

Comfort

7.9

Entertainment

7.4

Food

7.2

Overall

7.9

Boarding

8.2

Crew

8.5

Reviews

1 / 10

Connection Booked by United was one hour and 20 minutes to come from international Auckland to San Francisco, deplane, clear customs and immigration, collect baggage, transfer baggage, go through TSA, walk/run across terminals 20 minutes and barely make connection When united informed pre-vacation of the tightness of the connection,would not switch to a flight two hours later, despite open seats, the flight that the baggage actually took Passengers made connection; baggage did not Food: nonexistent for a cross country six hour flight Arrived early, but of course gate unavailable and then plane door to get off stuck for 20 minutes

6.6
Okay
468 reviews
7.9
Good
482 reviews

Comfort

7.9

Entertainment

7.4

Food

7.2

Overall

7.9

Boarding

8.2

Crew

8.5

Reviews

1 / 10

Connection Booked by United was one hour and 20 minutes to come from international Auckland to San Francisco, deplane, clear customs and immigration, collect baggage, transfer baggage, go through TSA, walk/run across terminals 20 minutes and barely make connection When united informed pre-vacation of the tightness of the connection,would not switch to a flight two hours later, despite open seats, the flight that the baggage actually took Passengers made connection; baggage did not Food: nonexistent for a cross country six hour flight Arrived early, but of course gate unavailable and then plane door to get off stuck for 20 minutes

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?

  • 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 $274. Virgin Australia flights start at $409 while deals on Qantas Airways start at $580 one-way.

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

    On average you can expect to pay $373 for a flight from Cairns to South Island. The cheapest flight overall is $332 while the most popular route, (Cairns - Queenstown Intl) is currently priced at $766.

  • 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, May is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Cairns to South Island (average of $346). Flying from Cairns to South Island in December is currently the most expensive (average of $480). 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 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 24 January 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
JetstarCheapest$502Average$710FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time74%
Search Jetstar flights
Virgin AustraliaCheapest$672Average$886FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time80%
Search Virgin Australia flights
Qantas AirwaysCheapest$1,000Average$1,114FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time74%
Search Qantas Airways 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.

100% Free
Cheapflights is completely free to use, so you can start saving the moment you arrive.
Book with Flexibility
Our users can plan ahead with confidence and find flights with no change fees
Travel Smart
Millions of people come to us for their flight needs every year. We help make travel planning easy by providing useful insights and data-driven graphs that can inform your decisions.