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Cheap Flights from Sydney to Cairns

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Reverse direction: CNS to SYD
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JQ Return flights from $186
Dep. Sun 02 AugRet. Mon 03 Aug$186
Dep. Fri 20 NovRet. Tue 24 Nov$188
JQShow more Flights
Dep. Sun 02 AugRet. Sat 08 Aug$188
Dep. Mon 10 AugRet. Fri 21 Aug$198
Dep. Sat 07 NovRet. Thu 03 Dec$198
Dep. Sun 08 NovRet. Thu 26 Nov$198
Dep. Thu 06 AugRet. Fri 07 Aug$198
Dep. Tue 20 OctRet. Sat 31 Oct$198
Dep. Thu 22 OctRet. Thu 05 Nov$198
Dep. Tue 10 NovRet. Sat 14 Nov$198
Dep. Sat 14 NovRet. Sun 06 Dec$198
Dep. Wed 25 NovRet. Thu 26 Nov$198
Dep. Sun 18 OctRet. Thu 12 Nov$198
Dep. Wed 18 NovRet. Sun 29 Nov$198
Dep. Thu 19 NovRet. Sun 22 Nov$198
Dep. Tue 04 AugRet. Wed 19 Aug$198
Dep. Sun 25 OctRet. Mon 09 Nov$198
Dep. Mon 09 NovRet. Sat 21 Nov$198
Dep. Wed 11 NovRet. Wed 02 Dec$198
Dep. Sat 28 NovRet. Mon 30 Nov$198
Dep. Mon 26 OctRet. Wed 04 Nov$198
Dep. Thu 05 NovRet. Sat 28 Nov$198
Dep. Tue 10 NovRet. Mon 07 Dec$198
Dep. Mon 16 NovRet. Wed 18 Nov$198
Dep. Sat 07 NovRet. Tue 10 Nov$198
Dep. Sat 07 NovRet. Mon 16 Nov$198
Dep. Mon 30 NovRet. Sat 05 Dec$198
Dep. Wed 21 OctRet. Tue 10 Nov$198
Dep. Tue 27 OctRet. Wed 28 Oct$198
Dep. Sun 15 NovRet. Tue 01 Dec$198
Dep. Mon 16 NovRet. Tue 24 Nov$198
Dep. Sun 18 OctRet. Tue 20 Oct$198
Dep. Fri 06 NovRet. Mon 23 Nov$198
Dep. Wed 25 NovRet. Wed 02 Dec$198
Dep. Fri 27 NovRet. Mon 07 Dec$198
Dep. Sun 18 OctRet. Fri 06 Nov$198
Dep. Sat 24 OctRet. Fri 30 Oct$198
Dep. Sun 25 OctRet. Tue 03 Nov$198
Dep. Fri 06 NovRet. Tue 08 Dec$198
JQ,VA Return flights from $231
Dep. Fri 20 NovRet. Tue 24 Nov$231
Dep. Tue 13 OctRet. Thu 29 Oct$241
JQ,VAShow more Flights
Dep. Sun 02 AugRet. Mon 03 Aug$274
Dep. Sun 02 AugRet. Sat 08 Aug$277
Dep. Thu 02 JulRet. Tue 07 Jul$457
Dep. Thu 02 JulRet. Wed 08 Jul$539
VA Return flights from $245
Dep. Fri 20 NovRet. Tue 24 Nov$245
Dep. Tue 13 OctRet. Thu 29 Oct$263
VAShow more Flights
Dep. Sun 02 AugRet. Mon 03 Aug$392
Dep. Sun 02 AugRet. Sat 08 Aug$393
Dep. Thu 02 JulRet. Tue 07 Jul$458
Dep. Thu 02 JulRet. Wed 08 Jul$458
JQ,QF Return flights from $331
Dep. Sun 02 AugRet. Sat 08 Aug$331
Dep. Sun 02 AugRet. Mon 03 Aug$331
JQ,QFShow more Flights
Dep. Fri 20 NovRet. Tue 24 Nov$353
Dep. Tue 13 OctRet. Thu 29 Oct$367
Dep. Fri 11 JunRet. Sun 13 Jun$528
Dep. Thu 02 JulRet. Wed 08 Jul$647
Dep. Thu 02 JulRet. Tue 07 Jul$647
QF,VA Return flights from $373
Dep. Fri 20 NovRet. Tue 24 Nov$373
Dep. Tue 13 OctRet. Thu 29 Oct$396
QF,VAShow more Flights
Dep. Sun 02 AugRet. Sat 08 Aug$419
Dep. Sun 02 AugRet. Mon 03 Aug$420
Dep. Thu 02 JulRet. Tue 07 Jul$546
Dep. Thu 02 JulRet. Wed 08 Jul$546
QF Return flights from $449
Dep. Fri 11 JunRet. Sun 13 Jun$449
Dep. Fri 20 NovRet. Tue 24 Nov$458
QFShow more Flights
Dep. Sun 02 AugRet. Sat 08 Aug$478
Dep. Sun 02 AugRet. Mon 03 Aug$479
Dep. Tue 13 OctRet. Thu 29 Oct$485
Dep. Thu 02 JulRet. Wed 08 Jul$937
Dep. Thu 02 JulRet. Tue 07 Jul$937
JQ,QF,VA Return flights from $450
Dep. Tue 13 OctRet. Thu 29 Oct$450
Dep. Fri 20 NovRet. Tue 24 Nov$478
JQ,QF,VAShow more Flights
Dep. Sun 02 AugRet. Mon 03 Aug$571
Dep. Thu 02 JulRet. Tue 07 Jul$725
Dep. Thu 02 JulRet. Wed 08 Jul$725
JQ,ZL Return flights from $879
Dep. Thu 02 JulRet. Tue 07 Jul$879
JQ,VA,ZL Return flights from $962
Dep. Thu 02 JulRet. Tue 07 Jul$962
PX,VA Return flights from $963
Dep. Tue 13 OctRet. Thu 29 Oct$963
Dep. Fri 20 NovRet. Tue 24 Nov$2,795
JQ,QF,ZL Return flights from $1,030
Dep. Thu 02 JulRet. Tue 07 Jul$1,030
JQ,PX,VA Return flights from $1,036
Dep. Tue 13 OctRet. Thu 29 Oct$1,036
JQ,NZ Return flights from $1,048
Dep. Sun 02 AugRet. Mon 03 Aug$1,048
Dep. Tue 13 OctRet. Thu 29 Oct$1,242
JQ,NZShow more Flights
Dep. Thu 02 JulRet. Tue 07 Jul$1,527
Dep. Thu 02 JulRet. Wed 08 Jul$2,865
FJ,QF Return flights from $1,053
Dep. Fri 11 JunRet. Sun 13 Jun$1,053
NZ,VA Return flights from $1,133
Dep. Sun 02 AugRet. Mon 03 Aug$1,133
Dep. Tue 13 OctRet. Thu 29 Oct$1,169
NZ,VAShow more Flights
Dep. Thu 02 JulRet. Tue 07 Jul$1,908
Dep. Thu 02 JulRet. Wed 08 Jul$2,796

Prices are from searches made in the last 24 hours and current prices may differ.

Do you need to catch a flight to Sydney? Check out our domestic flights to Sydney. If Sydney is not your closest airport, then here are all our flights to Cairns from Australia. Maybe a different destination? Here are all the flights from Sydney


Cheapest Time of Year to Fly from Sydney to Cairns

Return fares from Sydney to Cairns by month, based on the cheapest return airfares found for each month.

Jul 2026
$202
Aug 2026
$256
Sep 2026
$224
Oct 2026
$465
Dec 2026
$295
Jan 2027
$310
Feb 2027
$224

The cheapest month to fly to Cairns is July 2026, with return fares from $202 — 57% cheaper than the most expensive month (October 2026, from $465).

When Should You Fly to Cairns?

Based on the fares we've tracked, July is typically the cheapest month to fly to Cairns, with return fares from $202. October is the most expensive month, with the cheapest return fares around $465.

Across the year, return fares to Cairns average around $282. If you can travel in the off-peak months of July, September and February, you'll generally pay up to 28% less than the yearly average.


Cheapest Sydney to Cairns Return Prices

These are the cheapest prices for Sydney to Cairns return airfares.

July 2026
$202
August 2026
$256
September 2026
$224
October 2026
$465
December 2026
$295
January 2027
$310
February 2027
$224

Average Sydney to Cairns Return Prices

These are the average prices for Sydney to Cairns return airfares.

July 2026
$526
August 2026
$412
September 2026
$409
October 2026
$465
November 2026
$400
December 2026
$468
February 2027
$397
March 2027
$395
April 2027
$471

Frequently Asked Questions about flying from Sydney to Cairns

When is the cheapest time to travel from Sydney to Cairns?

The cheapest month to travel is typically July.

How much do return flights from Sydney to Cairns cost?

The best price we found for a return flight from Sydney to Cairns is $187.

What is the cheapest date to fly from Sydney to Cairns?

Currently, the cheapest date for a return flight from Sydney to Cairns is 02 August 2026.

What is the cheapest airline that flys from Sydney to Cairns?

Currently, the cheapest airline that flys from Sydney to Cairns is Jetstar.

Which airlines fly direct from Sydney to Cairns?

Jetstar, Air New Zealand, Qantas and Alliance Air Pty fly direct.

How long does a direct flight from Sydney to Cairns take?

The shortest direct flight usually takes 3 hours and 10 minutes.

What is the IATA airport code for Cairns?

The IATA code for Cairns is CNS. It is located in Australia at coordinates -16.87469, 145.7537.

When should you book flights to Cairns?

From our data, you should book flights to Cairns 30 days out.


How I Want That Flight can help you

What's the benefit of using I Want That Flight for my Sydney to Cairns flight?

Think of us as your personal shortcut to a great deal. Instead of you opening fifty different tabs, we instantly cross-check rates across heaps of airlines and booking sites to score you the sweet spot on pricing. Millions of holidaymakers count on us every year to get them airborne, so you're running with a pretty savvy crowd.

Can you sort me out with direct flights from Sydney to Cairns?

100%. As soon as the page finishes loading your options, hit the "Direct" filter. The layovers will vanish, leaving you with only the non-stop routes.

How does I Want That Flight find me the best Sydney to Cairns flights?

Once you punch your details into our search tool, we unlock all kinds of handy tricks to map out your journey. We’ll map out the most budget-friendly calendar dates and takeoff slots, and let you slice and dice the data until you pinpoint the exact itinerary that works for you.

I'm still in the planning phase. Can you ping me if Sydney to Cairns fares drop?

No worries at all. Just kick off a quick search, drop your email into our price tracker, and we’ll send a heads-up straight to your inbox the moment the price drops.

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