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CNS - MEL

$65 Find cheap flights from Cairns to Melbourne

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from Cairns to Melbourne departing on 8/23. 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 Melbourne

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Cairns to Melbourne, 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 Cairns to Melbourne, as well as popular online travel agencies
In the last 7 days travelers have searched 43,369,418 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.

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

Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for round-trip flights from Cairns to Melbourne 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
6:00 am - 2:10 pmCNS-MEL
8h 10m1 stop
2:55 pm - 6:15 pmMEL-CNS
3h 20mnonstop
$183Jetstar
Find Deal
Thu, Aug 22 - Wed, Aug 28
7:00 pm - 11:25 pmCNS-MEL
3h 25mnonstop
3:55 pm - 6:20 pmMEL-CNS
3h 25mnonstop
$196Virgin Australia
Find Deal
Mon, Oct 14 - Mon, Oct 21
7:05 pm - 10:30 pmCNS-MEL
3h 25mnonstop
6:35 pm - 9:55 pmMEL-CNS
3h 20mnonstop
$197Jetstar
Find Deal
Thu, Jul 4 - Thu, Jul 11
8:25 pm - 11:50 pmCNS-MEL
3h 25mnonstop
4:20 pm - 7:45 pmMEL-CNS
3h 25mnonstop
$206Virgin Australia
Find Deal
Thu, Jun 13 - Fri, Jun 21
12:10 pm - 5:35 pmCNS-MEL
5h 25m1 stop
9:25 am - 6:15 pmMEL-CNS
8h 50m1 stop
$257
Find Deal
Thu, May 23 - Wed, May 29
1:50 pm - 9:30 pmCNS-MEL
7h 40m2 stops
3:25 pm - 10:50 pmMEL-CNS
7h 25m1 stop
$331
Find Deal
Thu, May 23 - Wed, May 29
1:45 pm - 5:15 pmCNS-MEL
3h 30mnonstop
2:25 pm - 7:50 pmMEL-CNS
5h 25m1 stop
$442Qantas Airways
Find Deal
Sat, Sep 21 - Tue, Sep 24
1:15 pm - 9:35 pmCNS-MEL
8h 20m2 stops
7:00 am - 3:00 pmMEL-CNS
8h 00m2 stops
$522Rex
Find Deal
Thu, May 23 - Wed, May 29
12:45 pm - 7:40 pmCNS-MEL
6h 55m1 stop
1:15 pm - 6:30 pmMEL-CNS
5h 15m1 stop
$548Qantas Airways
Find Deal
Thu, Jun 13 - Fri, Jun 21
9:40 pm - 12:35 pmCNS-MEL
37h 55m2 stops
8:00 pm - 3:00 pmMEL-CNS
44h 00m2 stops
$559Rex
Find Deal
Mon, Oct 14 - Mon, Oct 21

Flights from Cairns to Melbourne - Travel Insights & Trends

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from Cairns to Melbourne 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 Cairns to Melbourne?

The average price of all flights from Cairns to Melbourne Airport clicked on KAYAK for each day over the last 12 months.
When flying from Cairns to Melbourne, you should consider leaving on a Tuesday and avoid Wednesdays if you are looking for the best rates. For your return to Cairns, you’ll find the best rates on Mondays and the most expensive ones on Thursdays.

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

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for flights from Cairns to Melbourne Airport, 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 Cairns to Melbourne Airport is October, where tickets cost $237 on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are June and December, where the average cost of tickets is $358 and $348 respectively.

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

To calculate daily average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each day before departure over the last year for flights from Cairns to Melbourne Airport, 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 Cairns to Melbourne Airport, you should book around 1 week before departure. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 87 days before departure.

Which airlines provide the cheapest flights from Cairns to Melbourne?

The cheapest price for the route for each airline clicked by KAYAK users in the last 72 hours.
In the last 3 days, Jetstar offered the best one-way deal for that route, at $65. KAYAK users also found Cairns to Melbourne round-trip flights on Jetstar from $183 and on Virgin Australia from $196.

Which airlines fly most frequently between Cairns and Melbourne?

Jetstar connects Cairns to Melbourne 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 Cairns and Melbourne Airport?

Airline and price data is aggregated from results in KAYAK’s search results from the last 2 weeks for flights from Cairns to Melbourne Airport.
There are 3 airlines that fly nonstop from Cairns to Melbourne Airport. They are: Jetstar, Qantas Airways and Virgin Australia. The cheapest price of all airlines flying this route was found with Jetstar at $109 for a one-way flight. On average, the best prices for this route can be found at Jetstar.

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

Each day, there are between 5 and 6 nonstop flights that take off from Cairns and land in Melbourne Airport, with an average flight time of 3h 27m. The most common departure time is 1:00 pm and most flights take off in the morning. Each week, there are 41 flights. The most frequent day of departure is Tuesday, when 15% of all weekly flights depart. The fewest flights depart on a Saturday.

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

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 3 cabin class options for the route. These are Business, Economy and Prem 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 Cairns to Melbourne take?

Direct flights cover the 1,436 miles separating Cairns to Melbourne in about 3h 25m.

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

Early birds can take the earliest flight from Cairns at 7:00 am and will be landing in Melbourne Airport at 10:30 am.

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

If you prefer to fly at night, the latest flight from Cairns to Melbourne Airport jets off at 8:25 pm and lands at 11:50 pm.

Good to know

Low season

November

High season

December

Cheapest flight

$65
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 11% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 10% lower on average.
Flight from Cairns to Melbourne

When to book flights from Cairns to Melbourne

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Cairns to Melbourne 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 Cairns to Melbourne flights

  • What is the easiest way to get from Melbourne Airport to the city centre?

    SkyBus offers express bus services between Melbourne Airport and the city centre that take 40min and cost around A$ 15 for a one-way trip. Taxi ranks can be found at all terminals. A trip to the city centre will take 30min and cost around A$ 40, with an additional fee for airport pickups. Rideshare services also have dedicated pickup points. If you prefer to hire a car, a number of leading car rental companies are conveniently located opposite Terminal 2.

  • Can I park my car at Cairns Airport?

    If you are driving to Cairns Airport, you can leave your vehicle safely at the airport for the duration of your trip. Whether you’re visiting Melbourne for a weekend getaway, a week-long trip or planning an extended stay, travellers can get great savings on short and long-term parking if you pre-book online. Parking rates start from about A$ 77 per week.

  • Are there any direct flights from Cairns to Melbourne (MEL)?

    Yes, there are direct flights to Melbourne from Cairns. A number of airlines, including Jetstar, Qantas and Virgin Australia offer direct flights along the route from tropical Northern Queensland to Melbourne. Some flights also have a layover in Sydney or Brisbane.

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

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from Cairns to Melbourne Airport was $65 for a one-way ticket and $183 for a round-trip.

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

    No

  • Which airports will I be using when flying from Cairns to Melbourne?

    Cairns and Melbourne are both served by 1 main airport. You will leave Cairns from Cairns and will be arriving at Melbourne.

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

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

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from Cairns to Melbourne?

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

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

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

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

    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 Cairns to Melbourne.

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

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Melbourne from Cairns 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 Cairns to Melbourne?

    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 Melbourne with an airline and back to Cairns with another airline. Booking your flights between Cairns and MEL 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 Cairns to Melbourne?

    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 Melbourne from Cairns 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 CNS to Melbourne

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found flights on this route for $166 or less one-way.
  • If you need a transfer to Cairns Airport (CNS), you can book a shuttle bus service, ride share or take a taxi. Taxis cost about A$ 23 and will take around 10min from the city centre, depending on where you're departing from.
  • Business travellers and Qantas Club members can enjoy a comfortable pre-flight experience at the Lounge on Level 1 of the Domestic Terminal at Cairns Airport, which offers complimentary refreshments, business facilities, and Wi-Fi.
  • Cairns Airport offers infrastructure and facilities for passengers with disabilities, including accessible drop-off areas and parking, lowered check-in counters for people in wheelchairs, and accessible bathrooms throughout the airport.
See more tips

Prefer to fly non-stop from Cairns to Melbourne?

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

Nonstop departures

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

Nonstop returns

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
See more direct flights

Top airline flying from Cairns to Melbourne

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from Cairns to Melbourne. 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 Cairns to Melbourne? 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.
6.7
JetstarOverall score based on 655 reviews
7.4Crew
5.3Entertainment
7.0Boarding
5.9Food
6.5Comfort
Airline reviews

For some reason the cabin was kept very cold. Unlike my flight over which i would say was excellent this was a long, cold flight home.

6.0 GoodDarren, Mar 2024DPS - MEL
Read more about Jetstar reviews

For some reason the cabin was kept very cold. Unlike my flight over which i would say was excellent this was a long, cold flight home.

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.

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

Flight was delayed by 1 hour, we board then had to sit on the tarmac for another hour before take off. The flight was fine but again another delay with the baggage which took another hour to appear on the carousel.

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

Worst experience ever flying Melbourne to Phuket. 5 hours delayed! Didn’t land till 1am in the morning. Staff were rude and unhelpful

Check in was awful. Crowded and staff was lazy. Service for food was slow, could have turned off the lights much earlier which could make the red eye flight much more convenient

Book cheap flights from Cairns to Melbourne

Recent one-way flight deals

 
Only flying one-way? Below are some of the best one-way flight deals from Cairns to Melbourne found on KAYAK in the last 72 hours.
8/23Fri
nonstopJetstar
3h 25mCNS-MEL
$65
10/24Thu
nonstopJetstar
3h 30mCNS-MEL
$66
10/25Fri
nonstopJetstar
3h 30mCNS-MEL
$70
9/4Wed
1 stopJetstar
7h 35mCNS-MEL
$97
9/20Fri
nonstopVirgin Australia
3h 25mCNS-MEL
$105
10/21Mon
1 stop
6h 25mCNS-MEL
$141
9/20Fri
1 stopVirgin Australia
5h 15mCNS-MEL
$145
10/31Thu
1 stopQantas Airways
5h 40mCNS-MEL
$246
6/3Mon
2 stopsRex
38h 55mCNS-MEL
$313
10/11Fri
2 stopsQantas Airways
8h 00mCNS-MEL
$369

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Cairns - Melbourne Flights

Departure:

Cairns (CNS)Australia

Destination:

Melbourne (MEL)Australia

Return flight deals:

Melbourne - Cairns

Cabin classes:

$166

Browse origins:

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  • Cairns

Browse destinations:

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