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CNS - MEL

Find cheap flights from Cairns to Melbourne

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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
In the last 7 days, travellers have searched 43,740,974 times on KAYAK, and here's why:

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Flights from Cairns to Melbourne - Travel Insights & Trends

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 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 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 October, where tickets cost £190 on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are June and December, where the average cost of tickets is £287 and £279 respectively.

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

To calculate daily average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each day before departure over the last year for 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 month.
To get a below average price on the flight from Cairns to Melbourne Airport, you should book around 1 week before departure. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 87 days before departure.

Which airlines fly most frequently between Cairns and Melbourne?

Jetstar connects Cairns to Melbourne with up to 2 flights per day. Virgin Australia also offers 2 flights per day, while Qantas Airways follows with 1 flight per day.

How many flights are there between Cairns and Melbourne Airport per day?

Each day, there are between 5 and 6 nonstop flights that take off from Cairns and land in Melbourne Airport, with an average flight time of 3h 27m. The most common departure time is 13:00 and most flights take off in the morning. Each week, there are 41 flights. The most frequent day of departure is Monday, when 15% of all weekly flights depart. The fewest flights depart on a Saturday.

Which cabin class options are there for flights between Cairns and Melbourne Airport?

The average price of flights for each cabin class for the route found by users searching on KAYAK over the last 2 weeks.
There are 2 cabin class options for the route. These are Business and Economy. Perform a search on KAYAK to find the latest prices and availability for all cabin fares, which differ across airlines.

What’s the earliest departure time from Cairns to Melbourne?

Early birds can take the earliest flight from Cairns at 07:00 and will be landing in Melbourne Airport at 10:30.

What’s the latest departure time from Cairns to Melbourne?

If you prefer to fly at night, the latest flight from Cairns to Melbourne Airport jets off at 13:45 and lands at 17:15.

Good to know - Cheap tickets from Cairns to Melbourne

Low season

May

High season

December
Best time to beat the crowds (5% less expensive on average)
Most popular time to fly (17% more expensive on average)

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 return price
KAYAK looks at all historical flight data for each date to provide a predicted price for one-way trips or returns 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.

  • 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?

    SkyTeam, Star Alliance, and oneworld 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 direct 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 travellers 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 return ticket. You could then fly to Melbourne with an airline and back to Cairns with another airline.

  • 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.

See more FAQs

Top tips for finding a cheap flight from Cairns to Melbourne

  • Looking for a cheap flight from Melbourne to Cairns? 25% of our users found flights on this route for £98 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.
See more tips

Prefer to fly direct from Cairns to Melbourne?

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

Direct departures

Cairns to Melbourne

Monday

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

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +8 more

Tuesday

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

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +8 more

Wednesday

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

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +8 more

Thursday

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

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +8 more

Friday

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

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +8 more

Saturday

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

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +8 more

Sunday

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

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +8 more

See more direct flights

Direct returns

Melbourne to Cairns

Monday

Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, China Eastern, +9 more

Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, +10 more

Tuesday

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, China Southern, +8 more

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +9 more

Wednesday

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, China Southern, +8 more

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +9 more

Thursday

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, China Southern, +8 more

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +9 more

Friday

Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, China Eastern, +9 more

Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, +10 more

Saturday

Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, China Eastern, +9 more

Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, +10 more

Sunday

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, China Southern, +8 more

Air New Zealand, China Eastern, +9 more

See more direct flights
See more direct flights

Book cheap flights from Cairns to Melbourne

One-way flight deals

directQatar Airways
3h 25mCNS-MEL
directEtihad Airways
3h 25mCNS-MEL
directQantas Airways
3h 30mCNS-MEL
directEmirates
3h 30mCNS-MEL
directChina Southern
3h 30mCNS-MEL
directJetstar
3h 30mCNS-MEL
directChina Eastern
3h 30mCNS-MEL
directVirgin Australia
3h 25mCNS-MEL
directAir New Zealand
3h 30mCNS-MEL
directSingapore Airlines
3h 25mCNS-MEL

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Cairns - Melbourne Flights

Departure:

Cairns (CNS)Australia

Destination:

Melbourne (MEL)Australia

Return flight deals:

Melbourne - Cairns

Cabin classes:

£1,216

Browse origins:

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  • Cairns

Browse destinations:

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  • Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine)