DRW - CNS

$241 Find Cheap Flights from Darwin to Cairns - Compare and Save

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1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$448
Typical prices: $488-$614
Jetstar
Thu 1/25Sun 2/4
DRW - CNS • 1 stop
Cheapest non-stop
$519
Typical prices: $501-$642
Qantas Airways
Thu 2/1Mon 2/5
DRW - CNS • 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
January
Cheapest • 15% price drop
August
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
Top layover airports
Nhulunbuy Gove (GOV)
Cheapest • Avg $492 (round-trip)
Brisbane (BNE)
Shortest trip • 9h 40m (one-way)
Insights
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, Jan 25 - Thu, Feb 4
Jetstar Logo
1:05 am - 11:20 amDRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
9h 45m1 stop Brisbane
Jetstar Logo
6:00 am - 6:05 pmCNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
12h 35m1 stop Brisbane
$448Jetstar
Mon, Feb 1 - Fri, Feb 5
Qantas Airways Logo
7:05 am - 10:10 amDRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
2h 35mnonstop
Qantas Airways Logo
10:50 am - 12:55 pmCNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
2h 35mnonstop
$519Qantas Airways
Mon, Feb 1 - Fri, Feb 5
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
$576Virgin Australia
Sun, Jan 31 - Thu, Feb 4
Virgin Australia Logo
2:20 pm - 4:40 pmDRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
25h 50m1 stop Brisbane
Virgin Australia Logo
2:40 pm - 1:35 pmCNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
23h 25m1 stop Brisbane
$584Virgin Australia
Sun, Jan 31 - Thu, Feb 4
Virgin Australia Logo
2:20 pm - 4:40 pmDRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
25h 50m1 stop Brisbane
Virgin Australia Logo
2:40 pm - 1:35 pmCNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
23h 25m1 stop Brisbane
$586Virgin Australia
Tue, Nov 24 - Sat, Nov 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
$590Virgin Australia
Mon, Feb 1 - Fri, Feb 5
Virgin Australia Logo
2:20 pm - 11:05 pmDRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
8h 15m1 stop Brisbane
Virgin Australia Logo
10:55 am - 1:35 pmCNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
27h 10m2 stops Sydney Kingsford Smith Brisbane
$634Virgin Australia
Sun, Jan 31 - Thu, Feb 4
Virgin Australia Logo
2:20 pm - 2:00 pmDRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
23h 10m1 stop Brisbane
Virgin Australia Logo
9:15 am - 11:50 pmCNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
39h 05m2 stops Brisbane Melbourne
$667Virgin Australia
Sun, Jan 31 - Thu, Feb 4
Virgin Australia Logo
2:20 pm - 2:00 pmDRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
23h 10m1 stop Brisbane
Virgin Australia Logo
9:15 am - 11:50 pmCNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
39h 05m2 stops Brisbane Melbourne
$668Virgin Australia
Mon, Dec 21 - Mon, Dec 28
Qantas Airways Logo
7:05 am - 10:10 amDRW  Darwin-CNS Cairns
2h 35mnonstop
Qantas Airways Logo
10:50 am - 12:55 pmCNS  Cairns-DRW Darwin
2h 35mnonstop
$671Qantas Airways
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 with more confidence.

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

Round-trip flights from Darwin to Cairns typically range from $488 to $614. The lowest price found in the past 5 days was $448, on Jetstar.

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

Based on deals KAYAK users found in the last 12 months, Monday is the cheapest day of the week to fly from Darwin to Cairns. It’s 6% cheaper than the average day, while Tuesday is the most expensive, with prices 27% higher.

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

•January is the cheapest month to fly from Darwin to Cairns at $454 round-trip.
•March ($878) and June ($699) are the most expensive months.
•The price difference between flying in the cheapest and most expensive months is 93% 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

$241
Beat the crowds with an average 59% drop in travelers.
The most popular month to fly with an average 64% increase in travelers.
One-way 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 answers about this route, including flight times, airports, airlines and booking tips.

  • 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 7:05 am and lands at 9:40 am
    • Latest: departs at 7:05 am and lands at 9:40 am.

    The flight takes about 2h 35m.

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

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

  • How long is a flight from Darwin to Cairns?

    A nonstop flight from Darwin to Cairns takes 2h 35m, 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 $488 to $614, with an average of $532 over the past 12 months. Anything below $488 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 $492 round-trip via Nhulunbuy Gove (GOV), compared to $544 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 $448 to $1,367. That means the highest observed fare was about 3x 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 higher than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about $310, which is 7% above 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 averaging $49 for economy cars. Top options include:

    • Bargain Car Rentals
    • East Coast Car Rentals
    • Simba Car Hire
    • Europcar
    • Ace Rental Cars

  • 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) - 76% of one-stop connections
    • Brisbane (BNE) - 22% of one-stop connections
    • Melbourne (MEL) - 2% of one-stop connections

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

    Yes. Flexible dates can save you up to 27% on flights from Darwin to Cairns. Monday is the cheapest departure day at $501 round-trip on average, while Tuesday is the most expensive at $678, a difference of $177.

    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 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 40m 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 always 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 are flexible, aim for a Monday departure and avoid flying on Tuesday. On this route, Monday flights average $501, about $177 less than Tuesday fares (26% 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 $424 less than the most expensive month, which is March (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 $492 round-trip on this route - about $52 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 Sheridan Hotel
    • Floriana Boutique Hotel
    • Kookas Bed & Breakfast

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