CNS - DRW

$227 Find Cheap Flights from Cairns to Darwin - Compare and Save

1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

Save 26% or more on flights. Compare deals from all over the web.

Never overpay with our price tracking tools.

Filter searches by price, airline and more to find your best flights.

Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$436
Typical prices: $526-$675
Airnorth
Wed 2/21Tue 3/6
CNS - DRW • 1 stop
Cheapest non-stop
$518
Typical prices: $517-$665
Qantas Airways
Fri 2/23Mon 3/5
CNS - DRW • Non-stop
Nonstop flights
Every day
You can fly direct with Qantas Airways. Average duration is 2h 35m
Direct flights
+1
Direct flights
+1
When to travel
February
Cheapest • 14% price drop
July
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
Top layover airports
Brisbane (BNE)
Cheapest • Avg $467 (round-trip)
Nhulunbuy Gove (GOV)
Shortest trip • 3h 31m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
Start a new search
KAYAK searches 100s of sites at once to find you the best travel deals.
We hope you love your trip to Darwin!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Cairns to Darwin (CNS-DRW)

 
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent round-trip flight deals from Cairns to Darwin

Sun, Feb 21 - Sat, Mar 6
Airnorth Logo
12:20 pm - 3:20 pmCNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
3h 30m1 stop Nhulunbuy Gove
Airnorth Logo
8:15 am - 12:35 pmDRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
3h 50m1 stop Nhulunbuy Gove
$436Airnorth
Tue, Feb 23 - Mon, Mar 8
Qantas Airways Logo
10:50 am - 12:55 pmCNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
2h 35mnonstop
Qantas Airways Logo
7:05 am - 10:10 amDRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
2h 35mnonstop
$518Qantas Airways
Thu, Nov 26 - Mon, Nov 30
Virgin Australia Logo
6:00 am - 1:35 pmCNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
8h 05m1 stop Brisbane
Virgin Australia Logo
2:20 pm - 11:05 pmDRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
8h 15m1 stop Brisbane
$544Virgin Australia
Wed, Feb 24 - Sun, Feb 28
Virgin Australia Logo
6:00 am - 1:35 pmCNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
8h 05m1 stop Brisbane
Virgin Australia Logo
2:20 pm - 11:05 pmDRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
8h 15m1 stop Brisbane
$574Virgin Australia
Fri, Dec 4 - Sun, Dec 6
Virgin Australia Logo
6:00 am - 1:35 pmCNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
8h 05m1 stop Brisbane
Virgin Australia Logo
2:20 pm - 11:05 pmDRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
8h 15m1 stop Brisbane
$579Virgin Australia
Wed, Feb 24 - Sun, Feb 28
Virgin Australia Logo
6:00 am - 1:35 pmCNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
8h 05m1 stop Brisbane
Virgin Australia Logo
2:20 pm - 11:05 pmDRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
8h 15m1 stop Brisbane
$587Virgin Australia
Wed, Feb 24 - Sun, Feb 28
Virgin Australia Logo
6:00 am - 1:35 pmCNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
8h 05m1 stop Brisbane
Virgin Australia Logo
2:20 pm - 11:05 pmDRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
8h 15m1 stop Brisbane
$590Virgin Australia
Thu, Feb 18 - Sat, Mar 6
Airnorth Logo
1:35 pm - 4:35 pmCNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
3h 30m1 stop Nhulunbuy Gove
Airnorth Logo
8:15 am - 12:35 pmDRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
3h 50m1 stop Nhulunbuy Gove
$598Airnorth
Sun, Feb 21 - Wed, Mar 3
Airnorth Logo
12:20 pm - 3:20 pmCNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
3h 30m1 stop Nhulunbuy Gove
Airnorth Logo
8:00 am - 12:00 pmDRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
3h 30m1 stop Nhulunbuy Gove
$650Airnorth
Thu, Feb 18 - Mon, Mar 8
Qantas Airways Logo
12:35 pm - 12:10 amCNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
12h 05m1 stop Sydney Kingsford Smith
Qantas Airways Logo
7:05 am - 10:10 amDRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
2h 35mnonstop
$659Qantas Airways
Booking Insights

Price, demand and travel trends for Cairns to Darwin flights

Use KAYAK data on prices, travel dates, airlines and seasonal trends to compare options and book flights with more confidence.

How much is a round-trip flight from Cairns to Darwin?

Round-trip flights from Cairns to Darwin typically range from $526 to $675. The lowest price found in the past 5 days was $436, on Airnorth.

What's the cheapest day of the week to fly from Cairns to Darwin?

Based on deals KAYAK users found in the last 12 months, Wednesday is the cheapest day of the week to fly from Cairns to Darwin. It’s 11% cheaper than the average day, while Sunday is the most expensive, with prices 15% higher.

What’s the cheapest month to fly from Cairns to Darwin?

•February is the cheapest month to fly from Cairns to Darwin at $505 round-trip.
•June ($807) and September ($690) are the most expensive months.
•The price difference between flying in the cheapest and most expensive months is 59% on average.
This is based on KAYAK aggregated and averaged internal data over the past 12 months.

Find deals

Key details for Cairns to Darwin flights

Low season

February

Cheapest flight

$227
Beat the crowds with an average 43% drop in travelers.
The most popular month to fly with an average 48% increase in travelers.
One-way flight from Cairns to Darwin

When to book flights from Cairns to Darwin

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Cairns to Darwin based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated round-trip price

Your Cairns to Darwin flight questions, answered

Find helpful answers about this route, including flight times, airports, airlines and booking tips.

  • What are the earliest and latest flights from Cairns to Darwin?

    These are the earliest and latest flight times available from Cairns to Darwin:

    • Earliest: departs at 10:50 am and lands at 1:25 pm
    • Latest: departs at 10:50 am and lands at 1:25 pm.

    The flight takes about 2h 35m.

  • What cabin classes can I book on flights from Cairns to Darwin?

    Only Economy Class is available on flights from Cairns to Darwin.

  • How long is a flight from Cairns to Darwin?

    A nonstop flight from Cairns to Darwin takes 2h 35m, covering 1,040 miles.

  • Do I need a passport to fly from Cairns to Darwin?

    No, a passport is not required for this domestic route, but you will need a real ID-compliant driver's license, a state ID or another TSA-accepted form of identification.

  • How much should I expect to pay for a Cairns to Darwin flight?

    Round-trip flights from Cairns to Darwin range from $526 to $675, with an average of $590 over the past 12 months. Anything below $526 counts as a good deal.

  • How much can I save by taking a layover when flying from Cairns to Darwin?

    On this route, layover flights are cheaper than nonstop options on average. Layover fares average $467 round-trip via Brisbane (BNE), compared to $580 for nonstop.

  • Which aircraft model is used most often on flights from Cairns to Darwin?

    The Embraer 190 family is used most often on this route, operated mainly by Qantas Airways and Airnorth. Other aircraft seen on the route include Airbus A350-900 variants.

  • How are flight departures from Cairns to Darwin spread across the day?

    Morning is the busiest departure period on Cairns to Darwin flights, with 100% of flights leaving in that window. Afternoon departures account for 0%, evening flights for 0%, and night flights for 0%.

  • Have flight prices from Cairns to Darwin changed much recently?

    Yes. Based on fares seen in the past 5 days, round-trip prices on this route showed a wide range, from about $436 to $1,342. That means the highest observed fare was about 3x higher than the lowest one.

  • How are flight prices from Cairns to Darwin looking right now?

    One-way fares from Cairns to Darwin are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about $243, which is 19% below the typical average for this route.

  • What car rental options are available at Darwin Airport (DRW)?

    Darwin Airport (DRW) hosts 5 major car rental companies, with daily rates averaging $66 for economy cars. Top options include:

    • Bargain Car Rentals
    • East Coast Car Rentals
    • Thrifty
    • Budget
    • Dollar

  • Which airports can I use when flying from Cairns to Darwin?

    Flights from Cairns to Darwin usually depart from Cairns (CNS) and arrive at Darwin (DRW).

  • Which airports do connecting flights from Cairns to Darwin pass through?

    One-stop flights from Cairns to Darwin most commonly connect through:

    • Nhulunbuy Gove (GOV) - 73% of one-stop connections
    • Brisbane (BNE) - 23% of one-stop connections
    • Adelaide (ADL) - 3% of one-stop connections

  • Can I save money by using flexible dates for flights from Cairns to Darwin?

    Yes. Flexible dates can save you up to 23% on flights from Cairns to Darwin. Wednesday is the cheapest departure day at $528 round-trip on average, while Sunday is the most expensive at $684, a difference of $156.

    KAYAK's flexible dates feature shows options up to 3 days before and after your selected dates, making it easier to compare nearby fares.

  • What airlines fly from Cairns to Darwin?

    Only Qantas Airways operates flights between Cairns and Darwin.

  • How much time can I save by choosing a different layover airport from Cairns to Darwin?

    Flying via Nhulunbuy Gove (GOV) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time at 3h 31m, compared with 9h 27m via Brisbane (BNE) and 12h 37m via Adelaide (ADL).

  • What popular places can I visit in Darwin?

    Bicentennial Park is one of the most viewed places in Darwin on KAYAK.

  • Which airlines offer extra legroom and free seat selection on Cairns to Darwin flights?

    Among airlines operating Cairns to Darwin flights:

    • Qantas Airways: offers extra legroom

    Extra legroom and free seat selection availability depends on fare class and route.

  • Which airlines include bags at no extra cost on Cairns to Darwin flights?

    Here are some options for this route, based on selected ticket types and cabin classes:

    • Qantas Airways: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy Class
    • Airnorth: a checked bag in Economy Class class

    Bag allowance can vary by ticket type, cabin class, route and airline, so always check the fare details before booking.

Your guide to booking Cairns to Darwin flights

Get tips on when to book, when to fly and what to know before your trip.
  • If your dates are flexible, aim for a Wednesday departure and avoid flying on Sunday. On this route, Wednesday flights average $528, about $156 less than Sunday fares (23% savings) based on the last 12 months.
  • If you can choose when to travel, plan your Cairns to Darwin trip for February. Fares historically average $505 round-trip in that month - typically $302 less than the most expensive month, which is June (based on the last 12 months).
  • If you have the time, taking a 1-stop flight through Brisbane Airport (BNE) can be cheaper than flying direct. The cheapest layover option averages $467 round-trip on this route - about $113 less than direct flights (based on the last 12 months).
  • If you're arriving late at night and need somewhere to stay, check out these hotels close to Darwin Airport.

    • Novotel Darwin Airport

Prefer to fly direct from Cairns to Darwin?

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

Direct departures

Cairns to Darwin

Monday

Qantas Airways

Qantas Airways

Tuesday

Qantas Airways

Qantas Airways

Wednesday

Qantas Airways

Qantas Airways

Thursday

Qantas Airways

Qantas Airways

Friday

Qantas Airways

Qantas Airways

Saturday

Qantas Airways

Qantas Airways

Sunday

Qantas Airways

Qantas Airways

See more direct flights

Direct returns

Darwin to Cairns

Monday

Qantas Airways

Qantas Airways

Tuesday

Qantas Airways

Qantas Airways

Wednesday

Qantas Airways

Qantas Airways

Thursday

Qantas Airways

Qantas Airways

Friday

Qantas Airways

Qantas Airways

Saturday

Qantas Airways

Qantas Airways

Sunday

Qantas Airways

Qantas Airways

See more direct flights

More options for your flight from Cairns to Darwin

Complete your trip to Darwin with a hotel stay or car rental

Car rentals in Darwin
Hotels in Darwin