CNS - DRW

$248 Find Cheap Flights from Cairns to Darwin - Compare and Save

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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$509
Typical prices: $523-$678
Qantas Airways, Jetstar
Wed 11/7Wed 11/14
CNS - DRW • Non-stop
Cheapest non-stop
$529
Typical prices: $522-$676
Qantas Airways
Thu 3/1Mon 3/5
CNS - DRW • Non-stop
Nonstop flights
Every day
You can fly direct with Qantas Airways. Average duration is 2h 38m
Direct flights
+1
Direct flights
+1
When to travel
February
Cheapest • 13% price drop
July
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
Top layover airports
Brisbane (BNE)
Cheapest • Avg $468 (round-trip)
Nhulunbuy Gove (GOV)
Shortest trip • 3h 31m (one-way)
Insights
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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

Sat, Nov 7 - Sat, Nov 14
Multiple Airlines Logo
10:45 am - 12:50 pmCNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
2h 35mnonstop
Multiple Airlines Logo
7:05 pm - 9:00 amDRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
13h 25m1 stop Brisbane
$509Multiple Airlines
Sun, Nov 22 - Sun, Nov 22
Jetstar Logo
9:40 am - 6:05 pmCNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
8h 55m1 stop Brisbane
Jetstar Logo
7:05 pm - 11:20 amDRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
15h 45m1 stop Brisbane
$526Jetstar
Mon, Mar 1 - Fri, Mar 5
Qantas Airways Logo
10:45 am - 12:50 pmCNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
2h 35mnonstop
Qantas Airways Logo
7:00 am - 10:05 amDRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
2h 35mnonstop
$529Qantas Airways
Mon, Mar 1 - Fri, Mar 5
Qantas Airways Logo
10:45 am - 12:50 pmCNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
2h 35mnonstop
Qantas Airways Logo
7:00 am - 10:05 amDRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
2h 35mnonstop
$532Qantas Airways
Mon, Mar 1 - Fri, Mar 5
Qantas Airways Logo
10:45 am - 12:50 pmCNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
2h 35mnonstop
Qantas Airways Logo
7:00 am - 10:05 amDRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
2h 35mnonstop
$535Qantas Airways
Mon, Mar 1 - Fri, Mar 5
Qantas Airways Logo
10:45 am - 12:50 pmCNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
2h 35mnonstop
Qantas Airways Logo
7:00 am - 10:05 amDRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
2h 35mnonstop
$536Qantas Airways
Sat, Nov 7 - Sat, Nov 14
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:00 am - 1:35 pmCNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
8h 05m1 stop Brisbane
Multiple Airlines Logo
7:05 pm - 9:00 amDRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
13h 25m1 stop Brisbane
$538Multiple Airlines
Wed, Oct 14 - Fri, Oct 23
Qantas Airways Logo
10:45 am - 12:55 pmCNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
2h 40mnonstop
Qantas Airways Logo
5:35 pm - 8:35 pmDRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
2h 30mnonstop
$541Qantas Airways
Sun, Nov 22 - Wed, Nov 25
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
$542Virgin Australia
Sat, Nov 21 - Tue, Nov 24
Multiple Airlines Logo
9:40 am - 6:05 pmCNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
8h 55m1 stop Brisbane
Multiple Airlines Logo
2:20 pm - 11:20 amDRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
20h 30m1 stop Brisbane
$545Multiple Airlines
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.

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 10% cheaper than the average day, while Sunday is the most expensive, with prices 17% 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 ($793) and September ($722) are the most expensive months.
•The price difference between flying in the cheapest and most expensive months is 57% 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

$248
Beat the crowds with an average 69% drop in travelers.
The most popular month to fly with an average 7% 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 10:45 am and lands at 1:23 pm
    • Latest: departs at 2:40 pm and lands at 5:18 pm.

    The flight takes about 2h 38m.

  • 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 38m, 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 $523 to $678, with an average of $583 over the past 12 months. Anything below $523 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 $468 round-trip via Brisbane (BNE), compared to $564 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 Embraer 170 / 175 / 190 / 195 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 $509 to $2,724. That means the highest observed fare was about 5x 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 in line with typical prices for this route. Average one-way fares are about $302.

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

    Darwin Airport (DRW) hosts 5 major car rental companies, with daily rates starting from around $14 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?

    Connecting flights from Cairns to Darwin most commonly pass through:

    • Nhulunbuy Gove (GOV) - 76% of one-stop connections
    • Brisbane (BNE) - 24% 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 $530 round-trip on average, while Sunday is the most expensive at $686, 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 51m via Brisbane (BNE).

  • 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 $530, 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 $288 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 $468 round-trip on this route - about $96 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
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