CNS - MEL

$77 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 8/31. 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
1 adult, Economy

KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to Melbourne Airport

 
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
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Flights Deals

Cheap Flights 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 for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent round-trip flight deals from Cairns to Melbourne

Fri, Jul 4 - Sun, Jul 20
Jetstar Logo
9:30 pm - 12:55 amCNS-MEL
3h 25mnonstop
Jetstar Logo
7:45 pm - 11:05 pmMEL-CNS
3h 20mnonstop
$154Jetstar
Find Deal
Tue, Jul 8 - Tue, Jul 15
Jetstar Logo
9:30 pm - 12:55 amCNS-MEL
3h 25mnonstop
Jetstar Logo
7:45 pm - 11:05 pmMEL-CNS
3h 20mnonstop
$159Jetstar
Find Deal
Fri, Oct 10 - Sun, Oct 12
Jetstar Logo
8:30 pm - 12:55 amCNS-MEL
3h 25mnonstop
Jetstar Logo
3:55 pm - 6:15 pmMEL-CNS
3h 20mnonstop
$160Jetstar
Find Deal
Tue, Jul 22 - Tue, Jul 22
Logo
6:00 am - 1:20 pmCNS-MEL
7h 20m1 stop
Logo
7:45 pm - 11:05 pmMEL-CNS
3h 20mnonstop
$246
Find Deal
Thu, Jul 10 - Thu, Jul 17
Logo
7:25 pm - 9:35 amCNS-MEL
14h 10m2 stops
Logo
7:45 pm - 11:05 pmMEL-CNS
3h 20mnonstop
$250
Find Deal
Sun, Nov 2 - Sat, Nov 8
Virgin Australia Logo
7:50 pm - 12:15 amCNS-MEL
3h 25mnonstop
Virgin Australia Logo
6:00 am - 10:15 amMEL-CNS
5h 15m1 stop
$281Virgin Australia
Find Deal
Fri, Oct 10 - Sun, Oct 12
Virgin Australia Logo
2:55 pm - 9:05 pmCNS-MEL
5h 10m1 stop
Virgin Australia Logo
9:00 am - 2:15 pmMEL-CNS
6h 15m1 stop
$299Virgin Australia
Find Deal
Wed, Sep 3 - Wed, Sep 3
Qantas Airways Logo
6:00 am - 11:30 amCNS-MEL
5h 30m1 stop
Qantas Airways Logo
6:30 pm - 4:40 pmMEL-CNS
22h 10m2 stops
$796Qantas Airways
Find Deal
Tue, Jul 22 - Sat, Aug 16
British Airways Logo
1:40 pm - 8:50 amCNS-MEL
43h 10m2 stops
British Airways Logo
12:05 pm - 12:55 pmMEL-CNS
24h 50m2 stops
$2,998British Airways
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Tue, Jul 22 - Wed, Aug 13
British Airways Logo
1:40 pm - 8:50 amCNS-MEL
43h 10m2 stops
British Airways Logo
3:55 pm - 12:55 pmMEL-CNS
45h 00m2 stops
$3,055British Airways
Find Deal
Useful Info

KAYAK's insights & trends for Cairns to Melbourne flights

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 round-trip flights from Cairns to Melbourne Airport clicked on KAYAK for each day over the last 12 months.

Your flight ticket price will generally be cheaper if you fly to Melbourne on a Saturday and more expensive on a Sunday. On your return trip to Cairns, you should consider flying back on a Wednesday, and avoid Saturdays for better deals.

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 round-trip 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 March, where tickets cost $159 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are July and September, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $294 and $277 respectively.

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

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip 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 week.

To get a below average price on the flight from Cairns to Melbourne Airport, you should book around 8 weeks before departure. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 21 weeks before departure.

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Good to know

Low seasonApril
High seasonDecember
Cheapest flight$77
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 19% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 7% increase in price.
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 $77 for a one-way ticket and $154 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?

    Star Alliance, oneworld, and SkyTeam 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.

KAYAK’s top tips for finding a cheap flight from Cairns to Melbourne Airport

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found flights on this route for $115 or less one-way.
  • If you need a transfer to Cairns Airport (CNS), you can book a shuttle bus service, ride share or take a taxi. Taxis cost about A$ 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.

Prefer to fly direct from Cairns to Melbourne?

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

Direct departures

Cairns to Melbourne

Monday

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

Air India, Air New Zealand, +8 more

Tuesday

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

Air India, Air New Zealand, +8 more

Wednesday

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

Air India, Air New Zealand, +8 more

Thursday

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

Air India, Air New Zealand, +8 more

Friday

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

Air India, Air New Zealand, +8 more

Saturday

Air India, Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, +8 more

Air India, Air New Zealand, +9 more

Sunday

Air India, Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, +8 more

Air India, Air New Zealand, +9 more

See more direct flights

Direct returns

Melbourne to Cairns

Monday

Air India, Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, +10 more

Air India, Air New Zealand, +11 more

Tuesday

Air India, Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, +10 more

Air India, Air New Zealand, +11 more

Wednesday

Air India, Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +9 more

Air India, Air New Zealand, +10 more

Thursday

Air India, Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +9 more

Air India, Air New Zealand, +10 more

Friday

Air India, Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, +10 more

Air India, Air New Zealand, +11 more

Saturday

Air India, Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, +10 more

Air India, Air New Zealand, +11 more

Sunday

Air India, Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, +10 more

Air India, Air New Zealand, +11 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.
6.6
JetstarOverall score based on 449 reviews
5.7Food
6.8Boarding
7.3Crew
5.1Entertainment
6.4Comfort
Airline reviews

stuck in the aircraft for over three hours due to engineering work, significantly delayed and made a lot of passengers missed the connecting transport, no mention any compensation

2.0 MediocreRichard, May 2025BNE - KIX
Read more Jetstar reviews

stuck in the aircraft for over three hours due to engineering work, significantly delayed and made a lot of passengers missed the connecting transport, no mention any compensation

Very quiet plane!! One of the quietest planes we have been on.

Jetsatar refused to take my foldable stroller in the plane, despite following all the rules on dimensions and packaging. Similar thing happened on our previous fight. However, at that instance, they offered to check in the stroller. At this fight, the staff was rude, trying to rush us to board the flight. They made excuses that the stroller was not allowed and even offer to leave it behind and ship it back at our own cost. Fortunately, we had someone else attending. Since the flight was about to take off, they left it behind and send it back to us on the next available flight.

Overall, it was good. The only concern was that I couldn't charge my phone because the USB port didn't work after we took off. One of the crew members tried to restart it but never came back to me with an update.

Comfortable seats, boarding was easy and staff were very nice.

Flight was fine but a domestic flight was called by Jetstar international. This meant going through immigration and custom scanning twice. Long queues were experienced which were frustrating. We were using a wheelchair and exit at Perth needed a scissor lift as no air bridge provided. No fast lane at Perth for wheelchair. The staff were helpful but this system is poor.

The crew were great. The seat was older than an old Holden with a big metal bar sticking right into my back. The passenger next to me complained that hers was the same. The pre purchase system for food was disappointing as the pie/quiche took 20 mins to warm up, arrived too hot and with no utensils. It was one of the most uncomfortable flights I've ever been on.

Not very good, no food and not drink ( caffe or tea). Never ever fly with jet star.

Fabulous I have no issues with JetStar great service always use them to fly

Flight was as expected - we got what we paid for which was a base fare

Everything you need to know for your flight from Cairns to Melbourne

Information on your arrival and departure airports

Cairns (CNS)
Melbourne (MEL)

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