£263 Cheap Flights from Darwin (DRW) to Cairns (CNS)

Q: How much are return flights from Darwin to Cairns?

The best price we found for a return flight from Darwin to Cairns is £263. This is an estimate based on information collected from different airlines and travel providers over the last 4 days and is subject to change and availability.

Q: How long does it take to fly from Darwin to Cairns?

2 hours and 28 minutes is the average flight time from Darwin to Cairns.

Q: Which airlines fly direct from Darwin to Cairns?

Qantas and Alliance Airlines fly direct from Darwin to Cairns.

Q: How many flights are there a week from Darwin to Cairns?

As of May 2025, there are 18 flights per week flying from Darwin to Cairns.

Q: When is the cheapest time to fly from Darwin to Cairns?

The cheapest month to fly from Darwin to Cairns is usually May 2025.

Q: Which upcoming date is cheapest to fly from Darwin Airport to Cairns Airport on?

After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that it's currently cheapest to fly from Darwin Airport to Cairns Airport on Tuesday, 3 June 2025 .

Q: Can I get a direct flight from Darwin Airport to Cairns Airport?

Yes – the average flight time is 2 hours and 28 minutes.

Q: How can I find the best flight deal to Cairns?

We show every price from over 1,200 airlines and travel agents, comparing them all so you don’t have to. If you know you want to fly to Cairns but you’re not ready to book, set up a Price Alert. We’ll track prices for you, and let you know when they rise or fall.

Q: When is the best time to book flights to Cairns?

We crunched all the numbers in our flight calendar and it looks like the cheapest time to book a flight to Cairns is around 40 days in advance, so don’t leave your flight to the last minute.

Q: Which is the cheapest airline to fly from Darwin Airport to Cairns with?

Currently, Jetstar and Qantas offer the cheapest flight tickets to Cairns.

Compare Darwin to Cairns flight deals

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Flight deals from Darwin to Cairns

Looking for a cheap last-minute deal or the best return flight from Darwin to Cairns? Find the lowest prices on one-way and return tickets right here.

Cairns.£263 per passenger.Departing Tue, 3 Jun, returning Sat, 7 Jun.Return flight with Jetstar.Outbound indirect flight with Jetstar, departs from Darwin on Tue, 3 Jun, arriving in Cairns.Inbound indirect flight with Jetstar, departs from Cairns on Sat, 7 Jun, arriving in Darwin.Price includes taxes and charges.From £263, select.

Cairns.£280 per passenger.Departing Sat, 31 May, returning Sat, 7 Jun.Return flight with Jetstar.Outbound indirect flight with Jetstar, departs from Darwin on Sat, 31 May, arriving in Cairns.Inbound indirect flight with Jetstar, departs from Cairns on Sat, 7 Jun, arriving in Darwin.Price includes taxes and charges.From £280, select.

Cairns.£280 per passenger.Departing Tue, 4 Nov, returning Sat, 8 Nov.Return flight with Virgin Australia.Outbound indirect flight with Virgin Australia, departs from Darwin on Tue, 4 Nov, arriving in Cairns.Inbound indirect flight with Virgin Australia, departs from Cairns on Sat, 8 Nov, arriving in Darwin.Price includes taxes and charges.From £280, select.

Cairns.£294 per passenger.Departing Mon, 1 Sep, returning Sat, 6 Sep.Return flight with Airnorth and Virgin Australia.Outbound indirect flight with Airnorth , departs from Darwin on Mon, 1 Sep, arriving in Cairns.Inbound indirect flight with Virgin Australia, departs from Cairns on Sat, 6 Sep, arriving in Darwin.Price includes taxes and charges.From £294, select.

Cairns.£306 per passenger.Departing Sat, 30 Aug, returning Sat, 6 Sep.Return flight with Jetstar.Outbound indirect flight with Jetstar, departs from Darwin on Sat, 30 Aug, arriving in Cairns.Inbound indirect flight with Jetstar, departs from Cairns on Sat, 6 Sep, arriving in Darwin.Price includes taxes and charges.From £306, select.

Cairns.£310 per passenger.Departing Mon, 25 Aug, returning Sat, 30 Aug.Return flight with Jetstar.Outbound indirect flight with Jetstar, departs from Darwin on Mon, 25 Aug, arriving in Cairns.Inbound indirect flight with Jetstar, departs from Cairns on Sat, 30 Aug, arriving in Darwin.Price includes taxes and charges.From £310, select.

Cairns.£315 per passenger.Departing Tue, 22 Jul, returning Sat, 26 Jul.Return flight with Airnorth and Jetstar.Outbound indirect flight with Airnorth , departs from Darwin on Tue, 22 Jul, arriving in Cairns.Inbound indirect flight with Jetstar, departs from Cairns on Sat, 26 Jul, arriving in Darwin.Price includes taxes and charges.From £315, select.

Cairns.£317 per passenger.Departing Thu, 24 Jul, returning Tue, 19 Aug.Return flight with Jetstar.Outbound indirect flight with Jetstar, departs from Darwin on Thu, 24 Jul, arriving in Cairns.Inbound indirect flight with Jetstar, departs from Cairns on Tue, 19 Aug, arriving in Darwin.Price includes taxes and charges.From £317, select.

Find the cheapest month to fly from Darwin to Cairns

We’re always keeping an eye on fares, so you can find the best one in seconds. It looks like Darwin to Cairns flights are currently cheapest in June.

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Direct flights from Darwin to Cairns

Darwin to Cairns: Alternative routes

Compare routes from Darwin to Cairns below. You may find an airport to fly into that's cheaper, faster, or easier than Cairns.

Darwin to Cairns: Flight information

The things to know before you go.

Cheapest flight found	£263
Cheapest month to fly	June
Average flight time	2 hrs, 28 mins
Most popular airline	Qantas
Average flights per week	18

Finding cheap flights from Darwin to Cairns: Frequently asked questions

How much are return flights from Darwin to Cairns?

How long does it take to fly from Darwin to Cairns?

Which airlines fly direct from Darwin to Cairns?

How many flights are there a week from Darwin to Cairns?

When is the cheapest time to fly from Darwin to Cairns?

Which upcoming date is cheapest to fly from Darwin Airport to Cairns Airport on?

Can I get a direct flight from Darwin Airport to Cairns Airport?

How can I find the best flight deal to Cairns?

When is the best time to book flights to Cairns?

Which is the cheapest airline to fly from Darwin Airport to Cairns with?

Travelling from Darwin International Airport (DRW) to Cairns Airport (CNS): what you need to know

Around 2 hours 30 minutes is how long you'll be travelling on a direct flight from Darwin International Airport to Cairns Airport.
The timezone in Cairns is UTC+10, which is 30 minutes ahead of Darwin.
Each week, there are 13 Darwin International Airport to Cairns Airport flights. To be on board early, opt for the 07:30 Qantas flight. If you'd rather make the most of your day before flying, the latest flight is at 19:20 with Qantas.
Arrive at the airport on time so you don't miss your DRW to CNS flight. Be there at least two hours ahead for international flights and an hour early for domestic departures to avoid sprinting to your gate.
Travelling during a peak time like July? School holidays and other high seasons can mean longer lines at check-in and security. Be extra cautious and get there up to four hours before an international flight and two hours before a domestic departure.
A number of airlines operate direct flights from Darwin International Airport to Cairns Airport, so jetting to Cairns (and then exploring more of Australia!) is easy. Leading carriers that fly nonstop include:
Most passengers choose to travel with Jetstar on this route.
Qantas is the most punctual carrier that offers DRW to CNS flights. An exceptional 80.33% of its departures on this route arrive as planned.
If you'd like to include a stop along the way, just deselect 'Direct flights only' when searching for your ticket from Darwin International Airport to Cairns Airport. These are the most popular stopovers between DRW and CNS:
- Brisbane Airport
- Melbourne Tullamarine Airport
- Ngurah Rai International Airport

How to find the cheapest flights from Darwin International Airport (DRW) to Cairns Airport (CNS)

£118 is currently the lowest price for a one-way Darwin International Airport to Cairns Airport flight. A return flight starts at £263. These fares can change based on availability and demand.
To pick up cheap tickets from DRW to CNS, reserve your journey three months before your departure date.
The cheapest month for flights from Darwin International Airport to Cairns Airport is February. Use the 'Whole month' tool to see the lowest prices if you have flexible dates.
You don't need to check back in every day to find out if fares have dropped when you create a Price Alert. We'll send you an update as soon as a special offer becomes available on cheap flights from DRW to CNS.
Find the ideal flight for you with the help of the filters. To see the 'Fastest,' 'Cheapest' or 'Best' flights from Darwin International Airport to Cairns Airport, use the 'Sort by' function. You can also filter by airline, arrival and departure times, and number of stops.

Handy information about Darwin International Airport (DRW)

Of all flights departing from Darwin International Airport, 73.13% touch down on time at their destination.
Central Darwin to Darwin International Airport is approximately 8 miles. Depending on traffic, it'll take about 15 minutes to get there if you're catching a cab, ride-sharing or driving.
Catching public transport? Expect a journey time of around 1 hour 10 minutes.
Catching an early flight from Darwin International Airport to Cairns Airport? Avoid the last-minute rush to the airport (and catch some extra z's) by choosing one of these hotels near DRW:

Arriving at Cairns Airport (CNS)

The last thing you need is a long journey to your hotel if you're arriving on a late Darwin International Airport to Cairns Airport flight. Reserve one of these accommodation options near CNS instead:
Begin your adventure by picking up a Cairns Airport rental car. Grab your wheels from simba car hire, Bargain Car Rentals or East Coast and experience the lesser-explored corners of Cairns and beyond.
For the best deal, book your ride from Cairns Airport about two weeks before you set off.

Getting from Cairns Airport (CNS) to central Cairns

Cairns Airport to the centre of Cairns has a drive time of around 10 minutes. It's approximately 4 miles away.
Travelling by public transport takes around 1 hour 25 minutes.

When to fly to Cairns Airport (CNS)

The quietest month for a flight from Darwin International Airport to Cairns Airport is February, while July is the most popular. Choose the best time to visit Cairns based on whether you prefer a laid-back vibe or a more bustling atmosphere.
Lock in your flight from Darwin International Airport to Cairns Airport for January if you'd like to go to Cairns during its warmest month. Expect temperatures of between 23ºC (73ºF) and 31ºC (88ºF).
August sees average temperatures of between 16ºC (61ºF) and 25ºC (77ºF). Look for cheap tickets from DRW to CNS around that time if you like travelling in cooler conditions.

Explore more of Australia

Cairns has plenty going for it, but there are so many other corners of Australia waiting to be explored. About 180 miles south of Cairns, a trip to Townsville will keep your itinerary packed. Start with popular sights like The Strand Beach, Castle Hill and Big Mama Sailing- Magnetic Island & Townsville.
If there's time to check out another well-known destination in Australia, consider Bowen, roughly 270 miles south-east of Cairns. Holbourne Island National Park, The Big Mango and Grays Bay are key highlights.