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MEL - CNS

$65 Find cheap flights from Melbourne to Cairns

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from Melbourne to Cairns departing on 10/21. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
1 adult
0 bags
Mon 6/3
Mon 6/10

Search hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to Cairns

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Melbourne to Cairns, as well as popular online travel agencies
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Melbourne to Cairns, as well as popular online travel agencies
In the last 7 days travelers have searched 43,693,958 times on KAYAK, and here is why:

Save 22% or moreCompare multiple travel sites with one search.

Track pricesNot ready to book? Create a price alert for when prices drop.

Filter your dealsChoose cabin class, free Wi-Fi and more.

Bundle and saveSave money when you bundle your flight + hotel.

Cheap flight deals from Melbourne to Cairns (MEL-CNS)

Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for round-trip flights from Melbourne to Cairns that are departing in the next months. While these flights were available on KAYAK in the last 72 hours, prices and availability are subject to change and deals may expire.
Discover the best prices and deals for you by selecting your travel dates.
Choose your dates
6:35 pm - 9:55 pmMEL-CNS
3h 20mnonstop
10:10 am - 1:35 pmCNS-MEL
3h 25mnonstop
$130Jetstar
Find Deal
Tue, Jul 30 - Mon, Aug 5
6:35 pm - 9:55 pmMEL-CNS
3h 20mnonstop
7:00 am - 10:30 amCNS-MEL
3h 30mnonstop
$131Jetstar
Find Deal
Wed, Jul 17 - Tue, Jul 30
2:55 pm - 6:15 pmMEL-CNS
3h 20mnonstop
9:20 am - 4:20 pmCNS-MEL
7h 00m1 stop
Thu, Jul 18 - Sun, Jul 21
6:25 am - 9:50 amMEL-CNS
3h 25mnonstop
9:20 am - 4:20 pmCNS-MEL
7h 00m1 stop
$246Virgin Australia
Find Deal
Mon, Sep 9 - Sun, Sep 15
6:25 am - 9:50 amMEL-CNS
3h 25mnonstop
6:00 am - 1:20 pmCNS-MEL
7h 20m1 stop
$247Virgin Australia
Find Deal
Tue, Jun 18 - Sat, Jun 22
3:25 pm - 10:50 pmMEL-CNS
7h 25m1 stop
6:00 am - 11:50 pmCNS-MEL
17h 50m1 stop
Wed, May 22 - Sun, May 26
6:00 am - 7:50 pmMEL-CNS
13h 50m1 stop
9:10 am - 10:10 pmCNS-MEL
13h 00m1 stop
$502Qantas Airways
Find Deal
Fri, Jun 28 - Sun, Jun 30
10:30 am - 6:30 pmMEL-CNS
8h 00m1 stop
9:10 am - 10:10 pmCNS-MEL
13h 00m1 stop
$503Qantas Airways
Find Deal
Thu, Jun 27 - Sun, Jun 30
7:00 am - 3:00 pmMEL-CNS
8h 00m2 stops
9:40 pm - 6:20 pmCNS-MEL
20h 40m2 stops
$511Rex
Find Deal
Wed, Aug 28 - Mon, Sep 2
7:00 am - 3:00 pmMEL-CNS
8h 00m2 stops
9:40 pm - 6:20 pmCNS-MEL
20h 40m2 stops
$515Rex
Find Deal
Wed, Aug 28 - Mon, Sep 2

Flights from Melbourne to Cairns - Travel Insights & Trends

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from Melbourne to Cairns to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more.

What’s the cheapest day of the week to fly from Melbourne to Cairns?

The average price of all flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns clicked on KAYAK for each day over the last 12 months.
If your flying dates are flexible, you should consider flying to Cairns on a Monday, as we generally find the cheapest rates on that day for this route. On the other hand, Thursday is the most expensive day to fly from Melbourne to Cairns. For your return ticket, we recommend flying on a Tuesday and avoiding Wednesdays for the best deals.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Melbourne Airport to Cairns?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the median of all values for each month.
The cheapest month for flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns is October, where tickets cost $201 on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are December and June, where the average cost of tickets is $388 and $377 respectively.

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

To calculate daily average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each day before departure over the last year for flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the average of all the values for each month.
To get a below average price on the flight from Melbourne Airport to Cairns, you should book around 6 weeks before departure. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 86 days before departure.

Which airlines provide the cheapest flights from Melbourne to Cairns?

The cheapest price for the route for each airline clicked by KAYAK users in the last 72 hours.
The best deals for a one-way ticket found by KAYAK users over the last 3 days were on Jetstar ($65) and Virgin Australia ($103). The cheapest round-trip tickets were found on Jetstar ($130) and Virgin Australia ($246).

Which airlines fly most frequently between Melbourne and Cairns?

Jetstar connects Melbourne to Cairns with up to 2 flights per day. Virgin Australia also offers 2 flights per day, while Qantas Airways follows with 1 flight per day.

Which airlines fly non-stop between Melbourne Airport and Cairns?

Airline and price data is aggregated from results in KAYAK’s search results from the last 2 weeks for flights from Melbourne Airport to Cairns.
There are 3 airlines that fly nonstop from Melbourne Airport to Cairns. They are: Jetstar, Qantas Airways and Virgin Australia. The cheapest price of all airlines flying this route was found with Jetstar at $146 for a one-way flight. On average, the best prices for this route can be found at Jetstar.

How many flights are there between Melbourne Airport and Cairns per day?

Each day, there are between 5 and 6 nonstop flights that take off from Melbourne Airport and land in Cairns, with an average flight time of 3h 21m. The most common departure time is 6:00 am and most flights take off in the morning. Each week, there are 36 flights. The most frequent day of departure is Saturday, when 17% of all weekly flights depart. The fewest flights depart on a Tuesday.

Which cabin class options are there for flights between Melbourne Airport and Cairns?

The average price of flights for each cabin class for the route found by users searching on KAYAK over the last 2 weeks.
There are 2 cabin class options for the route. These are Business and Economy. Perform a search on KAYAK to find the latest prices and availability for all cabin fares, which differ across airlines.

How long does a flight from Melbourne to Cairns take?

Direct flights take on average 3h 20m to travel the 1,436 miles between Melbourne and Cairns.

What’s the earliest departure time from Melbourne to Cairns?

Early birds can take the earliest flight from Melbourne Airport at 6:00 am and will be landing in Cairns at 9:20 am.

What’s the latest departure time from Melbourne to Cairns?

If you prefer to fly at night, the latest flight from Melbourne Airport to Cairns jets off at 4:20 pm and lands at 7:45 pm.

Good to know

Low season

February

High season

June

Cheapest flight

$65
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 11% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 28% increase in price.
Flight from Melbourne to Cairns

When to book flights from Melbourne to Cairns

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Melbourne to Cairns based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated round-trip price
KAYAK looks at all historical flight data for each date to provide a predicted price for one-way trips or round-trips with a duration up to 40 days. While we try to provide actual minimum prices for each date, some prices are predictions and actual prices may differ.

FAQs for booking Melbourne to Cairns flights

  • Is there a hotel near the airport in Cairns?

    Yes – if you are considering booking a hotel close to the airport, check out The Lakes Cairns Resort & Spa or the Comfort Inn Discovery Cairns. Both of them are located a few minutes’ drive from the airport and provide transfers for an additional fee. For those who are travelling on a budget, Calypso Inn Backpackers Resort near the terminal building might be a better option.

  • Can I hire a car at Cairns Airport?

    Yes, you can choose from six car rental companies with counters in the Arrivals Hall at Cairns Airport. It is possible to check the full list of companies on the airport website and contact them to make all the necessary arrangements before your flight from Melbourne to Cairns.

  • Are there any shops at the airport in Cairns?

    Yes, there are a number of shops operating at the airport in Cairns, which between them sell a wide range of products. You will easily find snacks, travel accessories, cosmetics, reading material, souvenirs, electronics and some items of clothing.

  • What are the transportation options available at the Cairns Airport?

    The most convenient option for getting to your final destination from the airport is to book a hotel that offers airport transfers, but if this is not possible you can use the Sun Palm shuttle, which will drop you off in front of your hotel. To book the shuttle, simply look for the Sun Palm welcome desks at the airport. Passengers who prefer public transportation can catch the Airport Connect bus (a ticket costs $6) and then connect to a Translink bus costing around $2.

  • What is the cheapest flight from Melbourne Airport to Cairns?

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from Melbourne Airport to Cairns was $65 for a one-way ticket and $130 for a round-trip.

  • Do I need a passport to fly between Melbourne and Cairns?

    Even though you are not required to have a passport, keep in mind that an official ID is needed to board the airplane.

  • Which aircraft models fly most regularly from Melbourne to Cairns?

    The Boeing 737-800 Passenger/BBJ2 (winglets) is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the Melbourne to Cairns flight route.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from Melbourne to Cairns?

    oneworld, SkyTeam, and Star Alliance are the airline alliances operating flights between Melbourne and Cairns, with oneworld being the most commonly used for this route.

  • On which days can I fly direct from Melbourne to Cairns?

    There are nonstop flights from Melbourne to Cairns on a daily basis.

  • Which is the best airline for flights from Melbourne to Cairns, Virgin Australia or Qantas Airways?

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from Melbourne to Cairns are Virgin Australia and Qantas Airways. With an average price for the route of $363 and an overall rating of 7.7, Virgin Australia is the most popular choice. Qantas Airways is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $478 and an overall rating of 7.6.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from Melbourne to Cairns?

    KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from Melbourne to Cairns.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from Melbourne to Cairns?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Cairns from Melbourne is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from Melbourne to Cairns?

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional round-trip ticket. You could then fly to Cairns with an airline and back to Melbourne with another airline. Booking your flights between Melbourne and CNS can sometimes prove cheaper using this method.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from Melbourne to Cairns?

    Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying to Cairns from Melbourne up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

See more FAQs

Top tips for finding a cheap flight from MEL to Cairns

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found flights on this route for $123 or less one-way and $267 or less round-trip.
  • Travellers who book their flights from Melbourne to Cairns with Jetstar can purchase some extras to make their flights more comfortable and the travel procedure much smoother. It is possible to, for example, add a larger luggage allowance, pick a seat, pre-order food or choose your entertainment options. Travellers who prefer as many conveniences as possible can, of course, opt for Business Class.
  • To make the time pass faster until your flight from Melbourne to Cairns, connect to the Internet at the airport in Melbourne and enjoy surfing the web, chatting with friends or scrolling through social media. Melbourne Airport offers unlimited Wi-Fi free of charge.
  • Passengers who are travelling with kids can take them to the children’s play area at the airport in Melbourne so that they are not too bored while waiting for the flight. For parents with infants, the airport features many baby changing facilities located throughout both terminal buildings.
  • If after landing at Cairns Airport you realize that you are short on cash, you don’t need to worry. There are a number of cash machines at your disposal, which you will find in the Arrivals Hall.
  • Starving after your flight from Melbourne to Cairns? There are a few restaurants to choose from at Cairns Airport depending on what you’re in the mood for. The options include Hero Sushi, Hungry Jack’s and the Great Northern Bar & Eatery.
  • If you need some help in relation to the city or the airport itself, you can ask one of the roaming Airport Ambassadors for help. To find them, simply look out for smiley people in blue shirts.
See more tips

Prefer to fly non-stop from Melbourne to Cairns?

Find which airlines fly direct from Melbourne to Cairns, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Nonstop departures

Melbourne to Cairns

Monday

Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, China Eastern, +9 more

Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, +10 more

Tuesday

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, China Southern, +8 more

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +9 more

Wednesday

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, China Southern, +8 more

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +9 more

Thursday

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, China Southern, +8 more

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +9 more

Friday

Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, China Eastern, +9 more

Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, +10 more

Saturday

Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, China Eastern, +9 more

Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, +10 more

Sunday

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, China Southern, +8 more

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +9 more

See more direct flights

Nonstop returns

Cairns to Melbourne

Monday

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, China Southern, +7 more

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +8 more

Tuesday

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, China Southern, +7 more

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +8 more

Wednesday

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, China Southern, +7 more

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +8 more

Thursday

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, China Southern, +7 more

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +8 more

Friday

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, China Southern, +7 more

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +8 more

Saturday

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, China Southern, +7 more

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +8 more

Sunday

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, China Southern, +7 more

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +8 more

See more direct flights
See more direct flights

Top 3 airlines serving from Melbourne to Cairns

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from Melbourne to Cairns. Airline scores are aggregated from all reviews left by passengers on KAYAK after flying with an airline. KAYAK doesn’t show reviews that are older than 5 years. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from Melbourne to Cairns? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
7.7
Virgin AustraliaOverall score based on 667 reviews
7.6Comfort
8.4Crew
7.9Boarding
6.8Entertainment
6.8Food
Airline reviews

This time is good . Don’t cancel flight with out early notice .

10.0 ExcellentAnonymous, Mar 2024BNE - MEL
Read more about Virgin Australia reviews

This time is good . Don’t cancel flight with out early notice .

Very good experience, considering the short flight the meals were served promptly after takeoff.

X class seats in row 3 with the new configuration are very poor in fact I feel 3B and 3E should no longer be considered as X class seat as there is no forward seat pocket available to these seats and greatly reduced leg room due the intrusion of the business class armrests/table module

It was pretty good. Everyone friendly. Like all airlines, the draconian limitations on baggage and weight and not giving even a free soda kind of drags down the experience a bit.

Last 10 minutes boarding they canceled the flight and didn’t organise anything

Estheticly the plane looks great, although the seats are way too upright. If the seats were just slightly more reclined then the comfort level would increase tenfold. I had the stiffest neck after just a short flight due to this. A nap was almost out of the question.

Cabin crew were very professional and welcoming. They certainly appeared to have lifted their game. Congratulations

I know not directly a Virgin "thing" but I hold Virgin responsible for their subcontractors. Had to wait 45 minutes waiting for baggage at PER before the belt conveyor even started. This is unacceptable and hopefully Virgin engages with whoever to pull their fingers out. I realise PER staff are generally slow at the best of times but this was ridiculous. Maybe more seating for those waiting, a cafe in the baggage area for a light meal while we wait or at the very least a troop of dancing girls to entertain the punters while they stare at the conveyor belt start light almost willing it to fire up.

Very poor. Flight was cancelled due to captain exceeding hours. Told to fend for ourselves for 12 hours until a new flight could be done. This meant overnight accommodation in Hobart. Next plane was delayed and no food onboard. No apologies from Virgin. Extremely disappointing.

Flight was cancelled due to a mechanical fault - Virgin rebooked me on a flight 6 hours later so I cancelled and flew with another carrier

Initial flight was cancelled so moved to an alternative flight. As a result, stuck in a middle seat. Flight then place in holding pattern prior to landing resulting in a very late trip home.

There was nothing I didn’t like, prices a little lower would help

Following a marathon flight riddled by delays and changes from Santiago, Chile, my flight to Melbourne from Sydney was on schedule but I was transferred to the next flight. The reason by ticketing and the floor manager was I missed the entry to flight by one minute! That's right, the emphasised that if I was 1 minute earlier I would be on the flight. I asked what was the point them emphasising 1minute overdue and how that helped me or the situation. They didn't care at all. Replying that if it was one minute earlier they would've done something and smirking delivering the information. Australian's do call Australia home, Qantas calls Australian's suckers.

1) crackly headphone jack 2) one of the emergency seats recline. Usually second row does. But in this case neither did 3) food was scrambled eggs or fruit. 4) fruit should not be the option to eggs 5)miserable unpleasant crew not a smile. Thought that was a virgin thing

The staff we fantastic and seemed to work very well with each other

Business lounge in Melbourne mediocre. Look at Emirates or Qatar, Qantas! Great friendly crew. Food was good but Emirates is a level above. Business seat good. But can’t compare to Qatar. Main reason for booking Qantas is loyalty and terrific connection via Perth to LHR.

I was pleasantly surprised with my flight to LA with Qantas. Although seats were not the roomies, service was excellent.

Wonderful crew, good food. Absolutely loved the wine spritz and wish I could buy it!

It's only a short trip from Sydney to Melbourne, which i have done many times. The trip met my expectations

I really appreciated the fact that when I checked my bags at the Quantas counter after arriving from an international flight an hour early, the agent noticed I had a very long layover. He then found an earlier flight that allowed me to get to Cairns several hours earlier than I planned. That was amazing because I had already traveled over 20 hours and wasn’t looking forward to such a long layover. It allowed me to see my daughter and grandchildren much earlier (it had been two years since I visited last).

a constant reminder that you need to work harder so you can avoid this airline

Note that food has to be purchased in flight. No free food. And no entertainment in flight. So I’ve treated these two items as okay which, in this case, means neutral/not applicable.

My Dad needed assistance to board the plane. The Jetstar staff were excellent with him and made the experience a lot easier😁

No food taken so can't rate also no entertainment so can't rate.

Would be better if can provide small free snacks on a long flight

Boarding was easy and unstressful, though the early "final call" was a bit off-putting. The crew were pleasant, and the seats were comfortable. The prices for food and drink were reasonable, apart from tea and coffee, where simple percolated coffee was charged at espresso prices. Deboarding was OK, though some Jetstar passengers appear to have a bad habit of pushing forward from their assigned rows, making it more difficult to get out for passengers that have paid a premium to sit up-front. Jetstar might want to look to address this to stop it from spreading.

I was allocated an exit row seat and was told to move so it could be given away to someone who had purchased two extra legroom seats and one regular seat but wanted the three to sit together. I was also charged for entertainment after booking but before checking in, and the ground crew couldn't do anything about refunding it. When the whole plane was given access to the entertainment as an apology for the flight being four hours late, I was told they couldn't do anything about that either, so I was charged for something I didn't want even though it would have been free anyway

I got to the airport earlier than I expected, and they let me change to an earlier flight with no trouble.

It was a super crowded time to travel out of Melbourne, but the flight was OK

Worst flying experience of my life. FIVE HOURS delayed! Rude and unhelpful staff and poor communication from the grounds team. Never flying Jetstar again

Book cheap flights from Melbourne to Cairns

Recent one-way flight deals

 
Only flying one-way? Below are some of the best one-way flight deals from Melbourne to Cairns found on KAYAK in the last 72 hours.
10/21Mon
nonstopJetstar
3h 20mMEL-CNS
$65
9/7Sat
nonstopJetstar
3h 20mMEL-CNS
$66
6/18Tue
nonstopVirgin Australia
3h 25mMEL-CNS
$103
6/21Fri
nonstopVirgin Australia
3h 25mMEL-CNS
$115
5/14Tue
1 stopRex
22h 55mMEL-CNS
$224
6/4Tue
2 stopsRex
23h 00mMEL-CNS
$256
5/18Sat
nonstopQantas Airways
3h 20mMEL-CNS
$320
5/14Tue
nonstopQantas Airways
3h 20mMEL-CNS
$392
9/5Thu
3 stops
13h 15mMEL-CNS
$573
5/25Sat
3 stops
26h 25mMEL-CNS
$637

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Last minute flights from Melbourne to Cairns

Last minute flight, train and bus deals

 
These last-minute flight deals are the cheapest flights found on KAYAK in the last 72 hours for flights from Melbourne to Cairns that are departing in the next 10 days.
5/7Tue
multi-stopVirgin Australia
6h 45mMEL-CNS
5/11Sat
multi-stopVirgin Australia
5h 20mCNS-MEL
$325
5/5Sun
nonstopVirgin Australia
3h 25mMEL-CNS
5/9Thu
nonstopVirgin Australia
3h 25mCNS-MEL
$438
5/9Thu
nonstopVirgin Australia
3h 25mMEL-CNS
5/13Mon
nonstopVirgin Australia
3h 25mCNS-MEL
$449
5/5Sun
multi-stopRex
33h 55mMEL-CNS
5/9Thu
multi-stopRex
43h 20mCNS-MEL
$647

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Melbourne - Cairns Flights

Departure:

Melbourne (MEL)Australia

Destination:

Cairns (CNS)Australia

Return flight deals:

Cairns - Melbourne

Cabin classes:

$1,710
$222

Browse origins:

  • Flights » 
  • Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine)

Browse destinations:

  • Flights » 
  • Worldwide » 
  • Cairns