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FlightsFrom Cairns

To Sydney

Cheap Flights from Cairns to Sydney

Browse current best options from Cairns. Become a member to unlock all deals and get alerts when new deals appear.

Deals from

Cairns

RatePunk searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to Sydney

Prices updated 24 days ago

486,190 searches this week

171 airlines compared

80%+ AI score for best value

Fares are subject to change and may not be available for all dates. (Data last updated May 29, 2026.)

Today’s best flight deals from Cairns to Sydney

Explore current cheapest deals departing from Cairns to Sydney

July 1 - July 28

Cheapest
Earliest

CNS - Sydney

$187

$159

Round trip

July 2 - July 28

Cheapest

CNS - Sydney

$187

$159

Round trip

July 1 - July 25

Cheapest
Earliest

CNS - Sydney

$187

$159

Round trip

July 2 - July 18

Cheapest
Best

CNS - Sydney

$189

$159

Round trip

July 1 - July 21

Cheapest
Earliest

CNS - Sydney

$187

$159

Round trip

July 2 - July 21

Cheapest

CNS - Sydney

$188

$159

Round trip

July 2 - July 25

Cheapest

CNS - Sydney

$187

$159

Round trip

July 2 - July 15

Cheapest
Best

CNS - Sydney

$192

$159

Round trip

July 1 - July 18

Cheapest
Best
Earliest

CNS - Sydney

$189

$159

Round trip

July 2 - July 22

Cheapest

CNS - Sydney

$187

$159

Round trip

Unlock all 500+ flight deals to Sydney and get alerts when great deals appear

Route Intelligence — 486,190 Searches this Week

Insights for flights from Cairns to Sydney

A meaningful share of recent fares for direct flights from Cairns to Sydney are non-stop, at 66%, while the remaining itineraries typically include 1 connection. This indicates a balanced offering for travelers, with both direct and connecting options readily available. Right now, new deals appear almost daily for this route, providing frequent opportunities to find suitable flights.
For travelers seeking cheap flights from Cairns to Sydney, the journey typically takes 3h 0m, including any connections. This median travel time reflects the overall duration you can expect when flying between these two cities. The route itself covers a distance of 1974 km, classifying it as a medium-haul flight.
When is the cheapest time to fly from Cairns to Sydney? The data indicates that August is the most affordable month, with a median fare of $126. Following closely are October, with a median fare of $138, and September, where the median fare is $144. Planning your trip during these months could lead to more economical travel.
Fares from Cairns to Sydney are typically $134–$195, with a median of $158. Right now, current fares are near the typical level. Approximately 47% of recent fares were classified as a good price, suggesting that favorable deals are often available for this route.

How much is a round trip from Cairns to Sydney

Regular price: $168 - $326

Prices are currently below the regular range for flights from Cairns to Sydney.

The regular price range for flights from Cairns to Sydney is between $168 and $326. The current lowest deal is $159 with Jetstar, for travel from July 1 to July 28, 2026.

now $159

Low $168

High $326

The cheapest time to fly from Cairns to Sydney

The cheapest month to fly from Cairns to Sydney is August, with a median price of $126. The most expensive month is November, with a median price of $181. Prices are generally lower from January to October.

August

Cheapest

Flights from $126

November

Most Expensive

Flights from $181

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Direct flights from Cairns to Sydney

Airline logo

Jetstar

Last-minute flights going from Cairns to Sydney

Wed, Jul 1

⌛ Last-Minute

CNS - Sydney

Jetstar

Cairns (CNS) - Sydney (SYD)

Jetstar

$187

$159

One-way

Wed, Jul 1

⌛ Last-Minute

CNS - Sydney

Jetstar

Cairns (CNS) - Sydney (SYD)

Jetstar

$187

$159

One-way

Wed, Jul 1

⌛ Last-Minute

CNS - Sydney

Jetstar

Cairns (CNS) - Sydney (SYD)

Jetstar

$187

$159

One-way

Wed, Jul 1

⌛ Last-Minute

CNS - Sydney

Jetstar

Cairns (CNS) - Sydney (SYD)

Jetstar

$189

$159

One-way

Wed, Jul 1

⌛ Last-Minute

CNS - Sydney

Jetstar

Cairns (CNS) - Sydney (SYD)

Jetstar

$193

$159

One-way

Wed, Jul 1

⌛ Last-Minute

CNS - Sydney

Jetstar

Cairns (CNS) - Sydney (SYD)

Jetstar

$187

$159

One-way

Biggest price drops on these dates for flights from Cairns to Sydney

1 night

Dec 15 - Dec 16

$395  →  $262

34%

8 nights

Dec 15 - Dec 23

$395  →  $262

34%

7 nights

Dec 15 - Dec 22

$394  →  $262

33%

6 nights

Dec 15 - Dec 21

$394  →  $262

33%

Popular Airports to fly from Cairns to Sydney

Cairns - Sydney route insights

💸 Price insights

Recent fares near the typical level

Recent fares from Cairns to Sydney are near the typical level of $158.

📅 Best time to fly

August is historically cheapest

Historically, August is the cheapest month to fly, with a median price of $126.

⏱️ Flight duration

Typically 3h 0m direct

Direct flights from Cairns to Sydney typically take 3 hours 0 minutes.

✈️ Airlines & availability

Frequent deals on direct flights

Direct flights are available for 66% of deals, with frequent deals appearing daily.

🏆 Airline highlight

Jetstar offers direct flights

Jetstar is one airline that offers direct flights for this route.

🎯 Booking tip

Good prices are common

Historically, 47% of deals for this route were considered good prices.

Cairns main airports to depart from

Cairns (CNS)

Cheapest

Cairns Airport is a convenient choice for flights to Sydney, offering direct access from the city.

📍 ~5 km from city center (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$159

Sydney main airports to arrive at

Sydney (SYD)

Cheapest

Sydney Airport is a convenient arrival choice for flights from Cairns to Sydney.

📍 ~10 km from city center (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$158

Airports nearby Sydney used as alternative

Canberra (CBR)

Canberra Airport is a major hub with high reliability and excellent road and rail connectivity to Sydney.

📍 ~240 km from Sydney (reachable by car or train, approximately 3 hours ground travel).

💸 Flights from ~$268

Newcastle (NTL)

Cheapest

Newcastle Airport is a significant regional option with frequent services and easy access from Northern Sydney.

📍 ~135 km from Sydney (reachable by car).

💸 Flights from ~$250

Coffs Harbour (CFS)

Coffs Harbour Airport is a well-established regional airport, but it is a significant distance from Sydney.

📍 ~440 km from Sydney (reachable by car).

💸 Flights from ~$456

Port Macquarie (PQQ)

Port Macquarie Airport offers reliable regional connectivity, though it is a long travel distance from Sydney.

📍 ~320 km from Sydney (reachable by car).

💸 Flights from ~$338

Business & First Class Flight Deals to Sydney

Discover luxury on the budget with premium cabin class on flights from Cairns to Sydney.

Elite

Best Elite deals to Sydney

Exclusive daily First Class, Business Class, and Premium Economy flight deals, refreshed every 24 hours.

From CNS

Elite

Oct 11

Sydney, Australia

74% AI deal score

$917

$690

Save $227

From CNS

Elite

Oct 02

Sydney, Australia

74% AI deal score

$893

$690

Save $203

From CNS

Elite

Oct 12

Sydney, Australia

74% AI deal score

$931

$690

Save $241

From CNS

Elite

Oct 11

Sydney, Australia

74% AI deal score

$906

$690

Save $216

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Sydney

Historically, the optimal booking window for flights from Cairns to Sydney is typically 7-13 days before departure. During this period, the average price observed was $158. Booking within 0-6 days of departure historically saw a significantly higher average price of $366. For those planning further ahead, prices for bookings made 60+ days out averaged $179, indicating that waiting until closer to departure, within the optimal window, can offer better value.

A good price for a flight from Cairns to Sydney is considered to be $134 or less. This threshold represents the lowest 25% of prices observed across the trailing quarter. The median price for this route during the same period was $158, while 75% of prices were found to be at or below $195. Travelers aiming for a budget-friendly fare should target prices around the $134 mark.

Historically, August has been the cheapest month to fly from Cairns to Sydney, with a median price of $126. October also offered competitive fares, showing a median price of $138. The overall annual median price for this route was $158, indicating that certain months offer significant savings compared to the yearly average. Travelers looking for the best value should consider flying in August or October.

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