DRW - CNS

$203 Find Cheap Flights from Darwin to Cairns - Compare and Save

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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$497
Typical prices: $490-$608
Qantas Airways
Fri 11/2Fri 11/9
DRW - CNS • Non-stop
Cheapest one-way
$203
Typical prices: $254-$336
Airnorth
Mon 10/22
DRW - CNS • 1 stop
Nonstop flights
Every day
You can fly direct with Qantas Airways. Average duration is 2h 33m
Direct flights
+1
Direct flights
+1
When to travel
January
Cheapest • 15% price drop
September
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
Top layover airports
Nhulunbuy Gove (GOV)
Cheapest • Avg $467 (round-trip)
Brisbane (BNE)
Shortest trip • 9h 49m (one-way)
Insights
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We hope you love your trip to Cairns!
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Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Darwin to Cairns (DRW-CNS)

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

Recent round-trip flight deals from Darwin to Cairns

Mon, Nov 2 - Mon, Nov 9
Qantas Airways Logo
7:00 am - 10:05 amDRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
2h 35mnonstop
Qantas Airways Logo
10:45 am - 12:50 pmCNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
2h 35mnonstop
$497Qantas Airways
Fri, Oct 30 - Sun, Nov 1
Qantas Airways Logo
7:00 am - 10:05 amDRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
2h 35mnonstop
Qantas Airways Logo
10:45 am - 12:50 pmCNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
2h 35mnonstop
$498Qantas Airways
Fri, Oct 30 - Mon, Nov 2
Qantas Airways Logo
7:00 am - 10:05 amDRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
2h 35mnonstop
Qantas Airways Logo
10:45 am - 12:50 pmCNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
2h 35mnonstop
$500Qantas Airways
Mon, Nov 2 - Mon, Nov 9
Multiple Airlines Logo
7:05 pm - 11:20 amDRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
15h 45m1 stop Brisbane
Multiple Airlines Logo
10:45 am - 12:50 pmCNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
2h 35mnonstop
$510Multiple Airlines
Fri, Feb 26 - Sun, Feb 28
Qantas Airways Logo
7:00 am - 10:05 amDRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
2h 35mnonstop
Qantas Airways Logo
10:45 am - 12:50 pmCNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
2h 35mnonstop
$536Qantas Airways
Mon, Nov 2 - Mon, Nov 9
Multiple Airlines Logo
7:05 pm - 11:20 amDRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
15h 45m1 stop Brisbane
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:00 am - 1:35 pmCNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
8h 05m1 stop Brisbane
$539Multiple Airlines
Thu, Oct 22 - Thu, Oct 29
Qantas Airways Logo
7:05 am - 10:05 amDRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
2h 30mnonstop
Qantas Airways Logo
10:45 am - 12:50 pmCNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
2h 35mnonstop
$541Qantas Airways
Tue, Nov 3 - Tue, Nov 10
Qantas Airways Logo
7:00 am - 10:05 amDRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
2h 35mnonstop
Qantas Airways Logo
10:45 am - 12:50 pmCNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
2h 35mnonstop
$567Qantas Airways
Fri, Feb 26 - Sun, Feb 28
Virgin Australia Logo
2:20 pm - 11:05 pmDRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
8h 15m1 stop Brisbane
Virgin Australia Logo
6:00 am - 1:35 pmCNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
8h 05m1 stop Brisbane
$569Virgin Australia
Fri, Feb 26 - Sun, Feb 28
Virgin Australia Logo
2:20 pm - 11:05 pmDRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
8h 15m1 stop Brisbane
Virgin Australia Logo
6:00 am - 1:35 pmCNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
8h 05m1 stop Brisbane
$588Virgin Australia
Booking Insights

Price, demand and travel trends for Darwin to Cairns flights

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

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

Round-trip flights from Darwin to Cairns start at $497. Prices are typical for this route right now, with typical round-trip fares ranging from $490 to $608. The lowest price found in the past 5 days was $497 on Qantas Airways.

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

Thursday is the cheapest day of the week to fly from Darwin to Cairns, it is 5% cheaper than the average day. Tuesday is the most expensive day with flight prices 26% higher than average. Based on deals found by KAYAK users in the last 12 months.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Darwin to Cairns?

•January is the cheapest month to fly from Darwin to Cairns at $454 round-trip.
•June ($699) and May ($633) are the most expensive months.
•The price difference between flying in the cheapest and most expensive months is 53% on average.
This is based on KAYAK aggregated and averaged internal data over the past 12 months.

Find deals

Key details for Darwin to Cairns flights

Low season

April

Cheapest flight

$203
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 14% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 10% increase in price.
Flight from Darwin to Cairns

When to book flights from Darwin to Cairns

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

Your Darwin to Cairns flight questions, answered

Find helpful route details based on KAYAK data, including flight times, airports, airlines and booking questions.

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

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

    • Earliest: departs at 7:00 am and lands at 9:33 am
    • Latest: departs at 5:35 pm and lands at 8:08 pm.

    The flight takes about 2h 33m.

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

    Two cabin classes are available on flights from Darwin to Cairns:

    • Economy Class
    • Business Class

  • How long is a flight from Darwin to Cairns?

    A nonstop flight from Darwin to Cairns takes 2h 33m, covering 1,040 miles.

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

    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 Darwin to Cairns flight?

    Round-trip flights from Darwin to Cairns range from $490 to $608, with an average of $534 over the past 12 months. Anything below $490 counts as a good deal.

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

    On this route, layover flights are cheaper than nonstop options on average. Layover fares average $467 round-trip via Nhulunbuy Gove (GOV), compared to $566 for nonstop.

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

    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 Darwin to Cairns spread across the day?

    Morning is the busiest departure period on Darwin to Cairns 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 Darwin to Cairns 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 $497 to $1,781. That means the highest observed fare was about 4x higher than the lowest one.

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

    One-way fares from Darwin to Cairns are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about $264, which is 9% below the typical average for this route.

  • What car rental options are available at Cairns Airport (CNS)?

    Cairns Airport (CNS) hosts 5 major car rental companies, with daily rates starting from around $13 for economy cars. Top options include:
    • Bargain Car Rentals
    • East Coast Car Rentals
    • Simba Car Hire
    • Ace Rental Cars
    • Budget

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

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

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

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

    • Nhulunbuy Gove (GOV) - 71% of one-stop connections
    • Brisbane (BNE) - 28% of one-stop connections
    • Melbourne (MEL) - 2% of one-stop connections

    Nhulunbuy Gove (GOV) handles the largest share of one-stop connections on this route.

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

    Yes. Being flexible with your travel dates can save you up to 25% on the Darwin to Cairns route. Thursday is the cheapest departure day at $511 round-trip on average, while Tuesday is the most expensive at $678, a difference of $167. 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 are available from Darwin to Cairns?

    Only Qantas Airways operates flights between Darwin and Cairns.

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

    Flying via Nhulunbuy Gove (GOV) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time at 3h 31m, compared with 9h 49m via Brisbane (BNE) and 11h 17m via Melbourne (MEL).

  • What popular places can I visit in Cairns?

    Some of the most popular sights in Cairns are Cairns Convention Centre and Reef Hotel Casino. These are among the most viewed places in Cairns on KAYAK.

  • Which airlines include bags at no extra cost on Darwin to Cairns 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 travelers should check the fare details before booking.

Your guide to booking Darwin to Cairns flights

Get tips on when to book, when to fly and what to know before your trip.
  • If your dates can be flexible, aim for a Thursday departure instead of Tuesday. On this route, Thursday flights average $511 - about $167 less than Tuesday (25% savings) based on the last 12 months.
  • If you can choose when to travel, plan your Darwin to Cairns trip for January. Fares historically average $454 round-trip in that month - typically $245 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 Nhulunbuy Gove Airport (GOV) can be cheaper than flying direct. The cheapest layover option averages $467 round-trip on this route - about $99 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 Cairns Airport.
    - Cairns Colonial Club Resort
    - Cairns Sheridan Hotel
    - Floriana Boutique Hotel

Prefer to fly direct from Darwin to Cairns?

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

Direct departures

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

Direct returns

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

More options for your flight from Darwin to Cairns

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

Car rentals in Cairns
Hotels in Cairns
Vacations in Cairns