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Cheap flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns from £58

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 15/12. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
MEL — CNS
12 Oct — 19 Oct1
1 adult
1 adult, Economy

Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Melbourne to Cairns are usually found in March or February, booked 69 days in advance, depart on a Tuesday or Saturday and return on a Tuesday

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 12 September 2025.

Round-trip from

£116

One-way from

£58

Popular in

July

Cheapest in

March

Average price

£214

Good round-trip deal

£222 or less

Good one-way deal

£88 or less
Jetstar
  • Jetstar
  • 8/10-12/10
  • Nonstop
  • 6h 45m total
  • Melbourne to Cairns
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Jetstar
  • Jetstar
  • 5/2
  • Nonstop
  • 3h 15m total
  • Melbourne to Cairns
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Highest demand for flights based on searches. 6% potential increase in price (£8 potential increase over avg. return price).
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Cheapest flight prices on average. 3% potential price decrease (£4 potential savings vs. average return price).
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Average for round-trip flights in September 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 12 September 2025.

Wed 8/1020:45MEL - CNS
Nonstop3h 20mJetstar
Sun 12/1020:30CNS - MEL
Nonstop3h 25mJetstar
Deal found 9/9£116
Wed 12/1119:45MEL - CNS
Nonstop3h 20mJetstar
Sun 16/1119:30CNS - MEL
Nonstop3h 25mJetstar
Deal found 10/9£117
Thu 9/1020:45MEL - CNS
Nonstop3h 20mJetstar
Thu 16/1020:30CNS - MEL
Nonstop3h 25mJetstar
Deal found 11/9£121
Thu 11/1219:45MEL - CNS
Nonstop3h 20mJetstar
Fri 19/1209:45CNS - MEL
Nonstop3h 25mJetstar
Deal found 12/9£122
Fri 10/1020:45MEL - CNS
Nonstop3h 20mJetstar
Mon 13/1010:00CNS - MEL
Nonstop3h 30mJetstar
Deal found 10/9£129
Wed 12/1119:45MEL - CNS
Nonstop3h 20mJetstar
Sat 15/1118:30CNS - MEL
Nonstop3h 25mJetstar
Deal found 9/9£135
Sat 13/919:45MEL - CNS
Nonstop3h 20mJetstar
Wed 17/921:30CNS - MEL
Nonstop3h 25mJetstar
Deal found 11/9£136
Wed 22/1020:45MEL - CNS
Nonstop3h 20mMultiple Airlines
Sun 26/1023:55CNS - MEL
Nonstop3h 25mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 11/9£137
Sat 13/919:45MEL - CNS
Nonstop3h 20mJetstar
Sat 20/921:30CNS - MEL
Nonstop3h 25mJetstar
Deal found 12/9£141
Thu 11/917:20MEL - CNS
Nonstop3h 20mJetstar
Mon 15/921:30CNS - MEL
Nonstop3h 25mJetstar
Deal found 10/9£145
Wed 26/1106:15MEL - CNS
Nonstop3h 15mJetstar
Sat 29/1109:45CNS - MEL
Nonstop3h 25mJetstar
Deal found 12/9£146
Wed 15/1006:25MEL - CNS
Nonstop3h 20mJetstar
Wed 15/1020:30CNS - MEL
Nonstop3h 25mJetstar
Deal found 11/9£148

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customise 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 858,174 searches. Data last updated 12 September 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

Wed 7/1

19:45-22:05

Nonstop3h 20m

Cairns

Wed 14/1

07:45-12:10

Nonstop3h 25m

£117

MelbourneCairns

MEL - CNS

MELCNS

Melbourne

Tue 20/1

19:45-22:05

Nonstop3h 20m

Cairns

Sun 25/1

19:30-23:55

Nonstop3h 25m

£117

MelbourneCairns

MEL - CNS

MELCNS

Melbourne

Wed 12/11

19:45-22:05

Nonstop3h 20m

Cairns

Sun 16/11

19:30-23:55

Nonstop3h 25m

£117

MelbourneCairns

MEL - CNS

MELCNS

Melbourne

Wed 15/10

20:45-23:05

Nonstop3h 20m

Cairns

Sun 19/10

07:00-11:30

Nonstop3h 30m

£117

MelbourneCairns

MEL - CNS

MELCNS

Melbourne

Thu 9/10

06:25-08:45

Nonstop3h 20m

Cairns

Thu 9/10

20:30-00:55

Nonstop3h 25m

£121

MelbourneCairns

MEL - CNS

MELCNS

Melbourne

Thu 11/12

19:45-22:05

Nonstop3h 20m

Cairns

Fri 19/12

09:45-14:10

Nonstop3h 25m

£122

MelbourneCairns

MEL - CNS

MELCNS

Melbourne

Wed 26/11

06:15-08:30

Nonstop3h 15m

Cairns

Sun 30/11

19:30-23:55

Nonstop3h 25m

£136

MelbourneCairns

MEL - CNS

MELCNS

Melbourne

Wed 5/11

21:25-23:55

Nonstop3h 30m

Cairns

Sun 9/11

19:50-00:15

Nonstop3h 25m

£155

MelbourneCairns

MEL - CNS

MELCNS

Melbourne

Wed 26/11

21:25-23:55

Nonstop3h 30m

Cairns

Fri 28/11

23:55-04:20

Nonstop3h 25m

£156

MelbourneCairns

MEL - CNS

MELCNS

Melbourne

Mon 23/2

06:15-08:30

Nonstop3h 15m

Cairns

Mon 23/2

09:45-14:10

Nonstop3h 25m

£165

Flights are sorted by cheapest return flights first.

Deals found on 10/9

Showing 1-10 of 21 results
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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 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 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 return flight from Melbourne to Cairns. Price data was last updated on 29 August 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, March is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Melbourne Airport to Cairns (average of £1,372). Flying from Melbourne Airport to Cairns in July is currently the most expensive (average of £2,027). 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 12 September 2025.

Unlike in the morning, when flights are generally more expensive, you can save up to 36% on flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns by exploring options for tickets in the afternoon.

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 12 September 2025.
Get a feel of what it's like to fly with Virgin Australia and Jetstar from Melbourne Airport to Cairns by reading reviews from past customers. Users have also rated airlines in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Virgin Australia
7.6
Good
416 reviews
Check prices

Entertainment

6.4

Food

6.4

Boarding

7.7

Comfort

7.5

Overall

7.6

Crew

8.2

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
7.6
Good
416 reviews
Virgin Australia
7.6
Good
416 reviews
Check prices

Entertainment

6.4

Food

6.4

Boarding

7.7

Comfort

7.5

Overall

7.6

Crew

8.2

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
474 reviews
Virgin Australia
7.6
Good
416 reviews
Check prices

Entertainment

6.4

Food

6.4

Boarding

7.7

Comfort

7.5

Overall

7.6

Crew

8.2

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), located 2.8 mi from the city center, is the airport you fly into when you book flights from Melbourne to Cairns. 2 airlines have flights to Cairns from Melbourne on a regular basis. Booking flights from Melbourne to Cairns should not be difficult; the airport handles an average of 22 inbound flights from Melbourne per day.

  • How long is the flight from Melbourne Airport to Cairns?

    Departing from Melbourne Airport to Cairns will take you 3h 20m. The distance between Melbourne Airport and Cairns is about 1436 mi. Most flights are nonstop.

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

    Flying on Virgin Australia is currently your cheapest option to Cairns, with prices starting at £78. Another option worth looking into is Jetstar, starting at £100 return. Virgin Australia is priced at 52% 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?

    Consider Air India (93%), Emirates (93%) or Air New Zealand (93%) when booking your flight. These represent the most reliable airlines when flying from Melbourne Airport to Cairns.

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

    The cheapest flight price from Melbourne Airport to Cairns is £73. On average you can expect to pay £181. The most popular route, (Melbourne - Cairns), can usually be booked for £126.

  • 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 holiday 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, March is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Melbourne Airport to Cairns (average of £1,372). Flying from Melbourne Airport to Cairns in July is currently the most expensive (average of £2,027). 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 Maroochydore flights
Melbourne to Brisbane flights

Top 2 airlines flying from Melbourne to Cairns

Discover the top 2 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 858,174 searches. Data last updated 12 September 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
Virgin AustraliaCheapest£78Average£249FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time80%
Search Virgin Australia flights
JetstarCheapest£100Average£142FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time74%
Search Jetstar flights

Fly with Cheapflights

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How does Cheapflights help users find flights from Melbourne to Cairns?

When you search for this flight from Melbourne to Cairns, Cheapflights searches on 900+ travel sites to save you time finding great flight deals online. Additionally, we offer filter features so you can choose a preferred cabin class or airline, see different price ranges, and much more so you can book the flight for you.

Why should you use Cheapflights to find cheap flight tickets from Melbourne to Cairns?

Cheapflights helps you find that perfect flight to Cairns from Melbourne by searching from hundreds of airlines and agencies you know and love. We are also free to use, in case you were wondering!

Can Cheapflights find flights from Melbourne to Cairns with no change fees?

Users can book flights with no change fees policies with our dedicated filters. Book flights from Melbourne to Cairns flexibly with Cheapflights today.

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