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Cheap flights to Cairns

WAS — CNS
2 Apr — 9 Apr1
1 adult
Tue 2/4
Tue 9/4

Flights to Cairns in 2024

Find the latest flights to Cairns in 2024, with up-to-date prices and availability. In the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made a total of 953,168 searches and data was last updated on 28 March 2024.

Popular in

July

Cheapest in

October

Average price

£1,393

Return from

£962

One-way from

£455
High demand for flights, 7% potential price rise
Best time to find cheap flights, 2% potential price drop
Average for return flights in March 2024
From London to Cairns
One-way flight from London to Cairns (CNS)

Average price of flights to Cairns by month

Plan your trip to Cairns by taking into account the cheapest months to travel. The average price of a one-way flight to Cairns is currently £0 while a return flight costs £0. Price data was last updated on 24 March 2024.

Currently, September is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight to Cairns (average of £1,322). Flying to Cairns in July will prove the most costly (average of £2,090). There are multiple factors that influence the price of a flight so comparing airlines, departure airports and times can help keep costs down.

January

£1,376

February

£1,252

March

£1,282

April

£1,313

May

£1,115

June

£1,246

July

£1,655

August

£1,282

September

£1,047

October

£1,242

November

£1,274

December

£1,494

Peak Season: 

July to October is high season. Flight to Cairns are not at their cheapest but crowds still fly in from all over Australia to attend ‘the Cairns Show’, a three day event of fun-packed entertainment which has grown to almost 80,000 visitors a year, making it the biggest community event in Cairns. Originating from themes such as agricultural, pastoral and mining, the show now features a variety of other entertainment such as extreme sports, fireworks, wood chopping and the Queensland pole climbing competition. More than 200 local industries travel to promote their products and services attracting large international and national business to the show.

Off Season: 

The “wet season” is low season. It runs from November to April when there are torrential rains and humidity levels are high. If you’re willing to brave the rains it’s a good time to book cheap flights to Cairns and take up the discounts offered by tour operators, hotels and apartments. Divers will experience the best underwater visibility during the “wet” months, more than 50 metres sometimes. Stinger (Box jellyfish) Season is November-May and bathers should ensure that they follow the lifeguards’ advice about swimming within enclosures and between lifeguard flags. 

Shoulder Season: 

May through to June are the shoulder months throughout Cairns, however there are still events occurring to be enjoyed by all.  Cairns festival made its grand entrance into the regions event calendar through the opening on a brand new jetty on Green Island in 1961. Attendees can soak up a three-week long packed itinerary full of enjoyable entertainment for all such as food and wine exhibitions, live music, quest performances and multicultural and community celebrations that displays the region’s diverse talent. Although the festival takes place during the shoulder season, flights to Cairns and hotel rates may be subject to increase.

Temperature and rainfall in Cairns by month

Plan your trip to Cairns by taking into account the average temperature and rainfall totals by month.

CNS

Temperature

21 - 27 °C

If weather is an important factor for your trip to Cairns, 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 27.0 C. Travellers hoping to avoid the cold should look outside of June, when temperatures are typically at their lowest (around 21.0 C).

When is the best time to book a flight to Cairns?

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a return flight to Cairns. Price data was last updated on 28 January 2024.
Booking 33 days in advance of your planned departure date is, on average, the best time to get cheap flights to Cairns. The general trend is that the closer you book to the departure date, the more expensive your flight will be.
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When is the cheapest time to fly to Cairns?

Use this chart to determine the cheapest time to fly return to Cairns. Price data was last updated on 24 March 2024.
Morning
Midday
Afternoon
Evening
All times are departure.
Users looking for the lowest fares to Cairns should consider flying on Wednesday afternoons, when prices are typically cheapest. Budget-minded travellers will want to avoid Friday at midday, when prices are usually at their highest.
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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 28 March 2024.
Read reviews from past customers who have flown Singapore Airlines, Etihad Airways and Lufthansa to Cairns. In addition to providing an overall rating, users have also rated airlines in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
8.5
Very Good
985 reviews

Food

7.8

Comfort

8.3

Entertainment

8.1

Overall

8.5

Crew

8.8

Boarding

8.6

Reviews

1 / 10

They’re so kind and professional on ANA, I ordered a special meal and they were lovely throughout. Always kind and efficient, felt cared for in the sky

8.5
Very Good
985 reviews
8.5
Very Good
985 reviews

Food

7.8

Comfort

8.3

Entertainment

8.1

Overall

8.5

Crew

8.8

Boarding

8.6

Reviews

1 / 10

They’re so kind and professional on ANA, I ordered a special meal and they were lovely throughout. Always kind and efficient, felt cared for in the sky

8.3
Very Good
1,464 reviews
8.5
Very Good
985 reviews

Food

7.8

Comfort

8.3

Entertainment

8.1

Overall

8.5

Crew

8.8

Boarding

8.6

Reviews

1 / 10

They’re so kind and professional on ANA, I ordered a special meal and they were lovely throughout. Always kind and efficient, felt cared for in the sky

8.3
Very Good
1,512 reviews
8.5
Very Good
985 reviews

Food

7.8

Comfort

8.3

Entertainment

8.1

Overall

8.5

Crew

8.8

Boarding

8.6

Reviews

1 / 10

They’re so kind and professional on ANA, I ordered a special meal and they were lovely throughout. Always kind and efficient, felt cared for in the sky

8.1
Very Good
4,156 reviews
8.5
Very Good
985 reviews

Food

7.8

Comfort

8.3

Entertainment

8.1

Overall

8.5

Crew

8.8

Boarding

8.6

Reviews

1 / 10

They’re so kind and professional on ANA, I ordered a special meal and they were lovely throughout. Always kind and efficient, felt cared for in the sky

7.9
Good
1,192 reviews
8.5
Very Good
985 reviews

Food

7.8

Comfort

8.3

Entertainment

8.1

Overall

8.5

Crew

8.8

Boarding

8.6

Reviews

1 / 10

They’re so kind and professional on ANA, I ordered a special meal and they were lovely throughout. Always kind and efficient, felt cared for in the sky

Cairns overview

Cairns is perhaps Australia’s most unabashed tourist-friendly city. Every year, more than two million tourists take flights to Cairns for its near-perfect climate and its proximity to the jaw-droppingly awesome attractions of the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest. Cairns is the only place in the world where two World Heritage Areas meet.

Cairns city is a great base and has plenty to occupy tourists while they’re between reef or rainforest trips. There’s a wonderful Esplanade that’s comprises a swimming lagoon that’s open between 6am and 10pm daily, an amphitheatre, picnic and barbecue spots, walking trails, a children’s playground called Muddy’s and shops, restaurants and markets both day and night. Just 2 miles (4km) from the centre of the city are the Cairns Botanic Gardens. Lush and very, very green, these 24 miles (38km) of gardens are made up of the Flecker Gardens and Centenary Lakes, where a boardwalk will wind you through mangroves and tropical rainforest. Behind the gardens, Mt Whitfield Conservation Park is more than 741 acres of forested mountain range.

Cairns climate

There are two seasons – a wet season that runs from November to May (summer) and a dry season that starts about June and stretches to October (winter). January, February and March are the wettest months and there is the greatest chance of cyclones between December and April. Temperatures are pretty stable throughout the year. Daytime temps range between 14 and 26 degrees Celsius in the dry season while visitors can expect temperatures of between about 24 to 33 degrees during the wet season. 

Getting around Cairns

Cairns’s city centre is small enough to walk around, but if you are planning on getting out to the

Daintree National Park (a three-hour drive north of Cairns) or Kuranda Village (a 40-minute drive), renting a car is best. There are car-rental desks at Cairns Airport. Alternatively, you could take a four-wheel drive (4WD) tour. Several companies offer 4WD tours to the most popular destinations including Daintree National Park, Cape Tribulation, Cape York, Undara National Park and Chillagoe. If you’re visiting the region during the wet season (November-April) a four-wheel drive is the best way of getting around. Sunbus is the bus service around Cairns. There are eight routes, serving destinations such as the Botanic Gardens, Clifton Beach, Kewarra Beach and Yorkeys Knob.

Getting from the Airport to the City

Travellers who take flights to Cairns may wish to rent a car at the airport for maximum independence. Alternatively, there is a taxi rank located beside both the International and Domestic terminals at Cairns Airport (CNS). A taxi fare to the CBD runs between $15 and $20. Airport shuttle bus services are operated by Australia Coach/Sun Palm Express. They connect the airport with hotels, the city centre, Northern Beaches, Palm Cove, Port Douglas and Cape Tribulation. Finally, several accommodation providers will operate courtesy coach services to and from the airport.

What is good to know if travelling to Cairns?

  • Walsh’s Pyramid is located about 12 miles (20km) south of Cairns. It’s the highest freestanding natural pyramid in the world. At 922 metres high, it is a popular, if strenuous, hike. 
  • Crystal Cascades is a little-known freshwater swimming hole in a tropical rainforest. To get there, drive to Redlynch, and then follow the signs to Crystal Cascades. When you see the Red Beret Pub, you’ll be just 6 miles (10km) from the swimming hole. 
  • Josephine Falls are considered to be one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Tropical North Queensland. Take the Bruce Highway, then drive towards Mount Bartle Frere, Queensland’s highest mountain. You’ll see signs to the falls. 
  • If you’re in Cairns between May and October, grab a picnic and catch a film at the Starry Night Cinema in the Flecker Botanic Gardens. The local film club screens non-mainstream films. 
  • Fitzroy Island is just 45 minutes from Cairns. Just 839 acres, of which 801 is designated Fitzroy Island National Park. It’s a castaway island where you can snorkel, hike, or kayak.

Cairns airport overview

Cairns is the most convenient gateway to the natural attractions of northern Queensland, which include the world-famous Great Barrier Reef and the 110 million-year-old Daintree Rainforest. Because of this, the relatively small airport is among the busiest in Australia, handling more than 3.5 million passengers per year from destinations all over Asia and the Pacific.

The airport has recently expanded the Domestic Terminal, although unfortunately queues are still long and areas like lounges and security are perpetually understaffed. This isn’t an ideal airport to be stuck in for hours at a time as food and shopping opportunities are limited and there never seems to be enough seating.

You won’t find direct flights to Cairns from Europe and the Americas, but regular flights from Sydney and Brisbane mean there are plenty of options to reach the sunny beach resorts and world-class natural attractions of this popular holiday town.

  • What does CNS mean?

    CNS is a unique code, commonly called an IATA code, used in the aviation industry to identify airports. This code, along with many others, are defined by IATA (International Air Transport Association). A CNS flight refers to a flight to Cairns Airport.

  • What airport do you fly into for flights to Cairns?

    Most people fly into Cairns (CNS) if they book a flight to Cairns. Cairns is conveniently located just 2.8 mi from Cairns’s city center.

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