How to find cheap flights to Cairns Airport (CNS)
At the moment, $313 is the cheapest price for a one-way flight to Cairns Airport. Or you can book a return plane ticket to CNS for $603.
Never pay more than you need by setting up a Price Alert for tickets to CNS. We'll stay on top of it for you, sending notifications when fares go down.
Lock in a bargain on tickets to Cairns, where Cairns Airport is located, by booking early. You're more likely to secure a great deal and have a wider selection of flights to choose from.
Widen your search for cheap flights to Cairns by clicking the 'Add nearby airports' box. This will let you compare prices for all the airports closest to your departure and destination points and could help you save money.
Search for plane tickets to Cairns Airport that come with a stop or two. Connecting flights often offer better prices. Once your results appear, select the 'Stops' filter to explore your options.
Best time to go to Cairns
The cheapest month to jump on a flight to Cairns is usually May.
To find the cheapest month for flights to CNS, use the 'Whole month' tool. If you have flexible travel dates, search for the green prices on the calendar — they show you the lowest available fares.
If you'd love to experience Cairns at its busiest, lock in your flights to CNS for July. Going on holiday during peak periods typically means more things to do compared to other times.
Travel in December if you prefer to travel with fewer crowds. This is the quietest period of the year and also when plane tickets to Cairns are typically less expensive.
Check the weather conditions before you travel. January is the warmest time of year in Cairns, averaging between 23ºC (73ºF) and 31ºC (88ºF).
Ranging from 16ºC (61ºF) to 25ºC (77ºF), August has the lowest temperatures.
September often brings more sun than cloud. With one day of rain on average, this is the driest month in Cairns.
January brings the wettest conditions. You can expect around 16 days of rainfall if that's when you'll be there.
Travelling to Cairns Airport (CNS): What you need to know
Skip the layovers and get to Cairns quickly. Take a direct flight to Cairns Airport with one of these leading airlines:
Alliance Airlines is the leading carrier for on-time performance. Up to 100% of its flights into this airport arrive as scheduled, making it a smart choice when booking your CNS plane ticket.
The local timezone at CNS is UTC+10.
Be curled up in bed shortly after your flight to CNS. Choose one of these hotels near Cairns Airport and you'll be fast asleep before you know it:
Cairns Airport has an on-time performance of 74%. This figure reflects how often departing flights from CNS arrive without running late.
Cairns Airport is located in Cairns, Queensland, Australia.
Getting to central Cairns from Cairns Airport (CNS)
Central Cairns is about 6 kilometres from CNS.
You'll reach the centre in around 15 minutes if you're catching a taxi or a ride-share after your flight to CNS.
Expect the journey to take roughly 25 minutes when using public transport.
Cairns is packed with options for a great night's sleep. Here's a lineup of comfortable hotels to explore before you go:
Cairns highlights
Step off your flight to Cairns and head directly for these must-visit attractions:
Great Barrier Reef: Delivering a strong first impression of all the city has to offer, this landmark is around 0.80 kilometres west of the centre.
Great Barrier Reef Liveaboard: This will also make the highlight reel of your holiday. A top landmark, it's around 0.48 kilometres west of the centre of Cairns.
How to get to Mareeba from Cairns Airport (CNS)
Starting your trip in Mareeba? From CNS, it'll take around 55 minutes to drive there. The city is about 56 kilometres from the airport.
Travelling from Cairns Airport (CNS) to Port Douglas
If Port Douglas is your chosen stop, it's about 56 kilometres from Cairns Airport.
It'll take you 1 hour or so to drive to Port Douglas.
Explore more of Australia
There's a whole lot more of Australia ready to be uncovered. About 290 kilometres south of Cairns, set out for Townsville. What not to miss? Start with Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Great Barrier Reef Aquarium and Botanic Gardens. The city's closest major airport is Townsville Airport (TSV).
Mareeba is another place that's too good to skip while you're in Australia. You'll find it roughly 40 kilometres west of Cairns. Mareeba Tropical Savannah and Wetland Reserve, Davies Creek, Dinden National Park and Jaques Coffee Plantation are high on many visitors' lists.
