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$80+ Cheap flights from Melbourne (MEL) to Cairns (CNS)

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 8/6. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
MEL — CNS
Jul 8 — Jul 151
Tue 7/8
Tue 7/15
1 adult, Economy
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Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Melbourne to Cairns are usually found in March or February, booked 69 days in advance, depart on a Wednesday or Monday and return on a Saturday

Cheap flight deals from Melbourne to Cairns

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from Melbourne (MEL) to Cairns (CNS). 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 July 3, 2025.

Round-trip from

$158
(Kiwi.com)

One-way from

$80
(Jetstar)

Popular in

July

Cheapest in

March

Average price

$308

Good round-trip deal

$218 or less

Good one-way deal

$123 or less
From Melbourne to Cairns
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One-way flight from Melbourne to Cairns
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Highest demand for flights based on searches. 11% potential increase in price ($29 potential increase over avg. RT price).
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Cheapest flight prices on average. 3% potential price decrease ($7 potential savings vs. average RT price).
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Average for round-trip flights in July 2025
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Price to beat on a round-trip flight from Melbourne to Cairns.
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Price to beat on a one-way flight from Melbourne to Cairns.
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Find flight deals from Melbourne to Cairns

Cheapest flights from Melbourne to Cairns
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Melbourne to Cairns. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on July 3, 2025.

This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/1. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 7/297:45 pmMEL - CNS
Nonstop3h 20mJetstar
Tue 8/59:30 pmCNS - MEL
Nonstop3h 25mJetstar
Deal found 7/1$158
This Virgin Australia deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/2. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Virgin Australia is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 12/269:25 pmMEL - CNS
Nonstop3h 30mVirgin Australia
Mon 12/2911:55 pmCNS - MEL
Nonstop3h 25mVirgin Australia
Deal found 7/2$210
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/1. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 7/217:45 pmMEL - CNS
Nonstop3h 20mMultiple Airlines
Tue 9/3010:20 amCNS - MEL
Nonstop3h 30mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 7/1$247

Cheapflights Fare Finder

Customize your flight search to find flights from Melbourne to Cairns 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 2,558,603 searches. Data last updated July 3, 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns that are best for you.

Fly from

Melbourne

Fly to

Cairns

Route

Depart

Return

Price

MelbourneCairns

MEL - CNS

MELCNS

Melbourne

Tue 7/29

7:45 pm-11:05 pm

Nonstop3h 20m

Cairns

Tue 8/5

9:30 pm-12:55 am

Nonstop3h 25m

$158

MelbourneCairns

MEL - CNS

MELCNS

Melbourne

Fri 12/26

9:25 pm-11:55 pm

Nonstop3h 30m

Cairns

Mon 12/29

11:55 pm-4:20 am

Nonstop3h 25m

$210

MelbourneCairns

MEL - CNS

MELCNS

Melbourne

Mon 7/21

7:45 pm-11:05 pm

Nonstop3h 20m

Cairns

Tue 9/30

10:20 am-1:50 pm

Nonstop3h 30m

$247

MelbourneCairns

MEL - CNS

MELCNS

Melbourne

Wed 8/6

7:45 pm-11:05 pm

Nonstop3h 20m

$80

MelbourneCairns

MEL - CNS

MELCNS

Melbourne

Sun 10/19

6:05 am-8:30 am

Nonstop3h 25m

$105

MelbourneCairns

MEL - CNS

MELCNS

Melbourne

Mon 12/15

8:25 am-10:45 am

Nonstop3h 20m

$176

MelbourneCairns

MEL - CNS

MELCNS

Melbourne

Sat 11/1

11:00 am-5:15 pm

2 stops7h 15m

$242

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 7/3

Best time to book a flight from Melbourne to Cairns

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to Cairns from Melbourne with our price prediction graph.
Estimated round-trip 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 Melbourne Airport to Cairns

How far ahead should I book a flight from Melbourne Airport to Cairns?

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a round-trip flight from Melbourne to Cairns. Price data was last updated on June 27, 2025.

The price you pay for your flight from Melbourne Airport to Cairns may vary depending on when you book. For the best chance of a lower fare, look to book 69 days in advance of your trip. Fares are likely to increase a fortnight or so before your departure date.

What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Melbourne Airport to Cairns?

Currently, February is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Melbourne Airport to Cairns (average of $1,136). Flying from Melbourne Airport to Cairns in December is currently the most expensive (average of $1,939). 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 MEL to CNS?

Find hourly flight availability from Melbourne to Cairns. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated July 3, 2025.

It’s typically best to fly out from Melbourne Airport to Cairns in the evening. Doing so could potentially save you 49% on the flight price compared to flying in the morning, which is usually more expensive.

Weekly flight availability from Melbourne Airport to Cairns

Explore weekly flight availability from Melbourne to Cairns. 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 July 3, 2025.

The most flights from MEL to CNS are scheduled on a Tuesday (25 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Monday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (20 on average).

How much does it cost to fly round-trip from Melbourne Airport to Cairns?

Reviews of airlines servicing Cairns

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to Cairns. 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 Cairns. Reviews last updated July 3, 2025.
Peruse reviews from past customers who have flown with Virgin Australia and Jetstar from Melbourne Airport to Cairns to help guide your decision. You can also see how each airline stacks up in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Virgin Australia
7.5
Good
409 reviews

Entertainment

6.4

Crew

8.2

Food

6.4

Comfort

7.5

Boarding

7.7

Overall

7.5

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Andrew,Jun 2025

MEL - CNS

We didn’t eat or drink, but feel like a sardine. No room at all.
Virgin Australia
7.5
Good
409 reviews
Virgin Australia
7.5
Good
409 reviews

Entertainment

6.4

Crew

8.2

Food

6.4

Comfort

7.5

Boarding

7.7

Overall

7.5

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Andrew,Jun 2025

MEL - CNS

We didn’t eat or drink, but feel like a sardine. No room at all.
Jetstar
6.5
Okay
455 reviews
Virgin Australia
7.5
Good
409 reviews

Entertainment

6.4

Crew

8.2

Food

6.4

Comfort

7.5

Boarding

7.7

Overall

7.5

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Andrew,Jun 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 Melbourne to Cairns. 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 into for flights to Cairns from Melbourne?

    Cairns (CNS) is the airport you will fly into if you book a flight from Melbourne to Cairns. You should not have trouble finding flights to Cairns from Melbourne; the airport handles an average of 22 inbound flights from Melbourne per day. You should also have plenty of airline options to choose from since 3 airlines have flights to the Cairns airport from Melbourne. It is only a 2.8 mi journey from Cairns (CNS) to Cairns’s city center.

  • What are the cheapest airlines flying from Melbourne Airport to Cairns round-trip?

    Cheapflights users have booked flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns round-trip from $158. Another airline that can offer you cheap pricing is Virgin Australia. Jetstar is priced at 31% lower than the current average price of a flight leaving 3 months from now.

  • What are the most reliable airlines from Melbourne Airport to Cairns?

    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 Melbourne Airport to Cairns on time: Air India (93%), Etihad Airways (91%), Cathay Pacific (90%).

  • What are the cheapest flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns?

    Looking at all options, your cheapest flight can be booked for $72. While the most popular route (Melbourne - Cairns) can be booked for $171 on average our data indicates $477 when flying from Melbourne Airport to Cairns.

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

    Yes. In addition to deals on Melbourne to Cairns flights, Cheapflights offers vacation packages that include both flights and hotel.

  • How can I find direct flights from Melbourne to Cairns?

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

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

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from Melbourne to Cairns 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 Melbourne Airport to Cairns?

    Currently, February is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Melbourne Airport to Cairns (average of $1,136). Flying from Melbourne Airport to Cairns in December is currently the most expensive (average of $1,939). 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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Alternative routes for Melbourne to Cairns

See prices for flight routes from nearby airports that may be better suited for you.
Melbourne to Coolangatta flights
Melbourne to Brisbane flights

Top 3 airlines flying from Melbourne to Cairns

Discover the top 3 airlines that operate flights from Melbourne to Cairns. 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 2,558,603 searches. Data last updated July 3, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
JetstarCheapest$147Average$247FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time74%
Virgin AustraliaCheapest$159Average$320FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time80%
Qantas AirwaysCheapest$182Average$390FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time74%

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