What percentage of Sydney to Cairns flights are direct?

Across the trailing 90 days, 47.1% of flights from Sydney to Cairns were direct. For travelers who prefer a non-stop journey, nearly half of the available options historically fit this preference. When a connection is necessary, flights typically involve one stopover. This indicates a strong presence of direct routes for this particular journey.

How long is the flight from Sydney to Cairns?

The typical direct flight from Sydney to Cairns has a duration of approximately 3 hours and 10 minutes. This route covers a distance of 1974 kilometers. For flights that include one stop, the median travel time extends to about 5 hours and 40 minutes. Travelers should account for these differences in duration when planning their journey.

How often do cheap flights from Sydney to Cairns come up?

Historically, cheap flights from Sydney to Cairns come up frequently. This route is classified as one with frequent deals, based on observations over the trailing 30 days. Travelers can typically expect to find affordable options with regularity for this destination. This consistent availability makes it easier to find good value for your trip.

Flights From Sydney

To Cairns

Cheap Flights from Sydney to Cairns

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

Deals from

Sydney

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

Prices updated 3 days ago

402 airlines compared

80%+ AI score for best value

Fares are subject to change and may not be available for all dates. (Data last updated Jul 12, 2026.)

Today’s best flight deals from Sydney to Cairns

Explore current cheapest deals departing from Sydney to Cairns

Round trip

Sort by: Cheapest

July 22 - July 29

Cheapest

SYD - Cairns

A$425

A$226

Round trip

July 24 - July 29

Cheapest

SYD - Cairns

A$429

A$226

Round trip

July 25 - July 29

Cheapest

Best

SYD - Cairns

A$449

A$226

Round trip

July 17 - July 29

Cheapest

Earliest

SYD - Cairns

A$424

A$226

Round trip

August 4 - August 5

Cheapest

SYD - Cairns

A$347

A$226

Round trip

August 6 - August 7

Cheapest

SYD - Cairns

A$346

A$226

Round trip

August 5 - August 7

Cheapest

SYD - Cairns

A$342

A$226

Round trip

August 4 - August 6

Cheapest

SYD - Cairns

A$346

A$226

Round trip

August 4 - August 7

Cheapest

SYD - Cairns

A$345

A$226

Round trip

August 3 - August 6

Cheapest

SYD - Cairns

A$347

A$226

Round trip

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

Sydney to Cairns: Overview

Insights for flights from Sydney to Cairns

A meaningful share of recent fares for flights from Sydney to Cairns are non-stop, with the remaining itineraries typically including 1 stopover. This means you have options for both direct travel and connecting flights when planning your trip.

For travelers seeking cheap flights from Sydney to Cairns, the typical journey time is 3h 10m, including connections. This duration accounts for both direct routes and those with stopovers, providing a realistic expectation for your travel time.

When is the cheapest time to fly from Sydney to Cairns? The data indicates that December is often the most affordable month, with a median fare of $143. April also offers competitive prices, with a median fare of $148, followed by November at a median of $152. These months present the best opportunities for finding lower prices.

Fares for flights from Sydney to Cairns typically range from $187–$476, with a median price of $318. Right now, current fares are significantly above the typical level. Approximately 18% of recent fares were classified as a good price, suggesting that finding a deal can require some flexibility. New deals appear almost daily, so consistent monitoring can be beneficial.

The distance between Sydney and Cairns is 1974 km, classifying this as a medium-haul route. This distance typically translates to a flight duration that balances convenience with the opportunity for competitive pricing.

How much is a round trip from Sydney to Cairns

Regular price: A$223 - A$589

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

The regular price range for flights from Sydney to Cairns is AUD 223 to AUD 589. The current lowest deal is AUD 224 with Jetstar, for travel from Aug 25-Sep 22.

now A$224

Low A$223

High A$589

The cheapest time to fly from Sydney to Cairns

The cheapest month to fly from Sydney to Cairns is December, with a median price of $126. The most expensive month is January, with a median price of $413. Prices are generally lower from February to December.

December

Cheapest

Flights from A$126

January

Most Expensive

Flights from A$413

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct flights from Sydney to Cairns

Jetstar

Last-minute flights going from Sydney to Cairns

Thu, Jul 16

⌛ Last-Minute

SYD - Cairns

Sydney (SYD) - Cairns (CNS)

Jetstar

A$685

A$380

One-way

Fri, Jul 17

⌛ Last-Minute

SYD - Cairns

Sydney (SYD) - Cairns (CNS)

Jetstar

A$398

A$227

One-way

Fri, Jul 17

⌛ Last-Minute

SYD - Cairns

Sydney (SYD) - Cairns (CNS)

Jetstar

A$413

A$227

One-way

Fri, Jul 17

⌛ Last-Minute

SYD - Cairns

Sydney (SYD) - Cairns (CNS)

Jetstar

A$398

A$227

One-way

Fri, Jul 17

⌛ Last-Minute

SYD - Cairns

Sydney (SYD) - Cairns (CNS)

Jetstar

A$398

A$233

One-way

Fri, Jul 17

⌛ Last-Minute

SYD - Cairns

Sydney (SYD) - Cairns (CNS)

Jetstar

A$445

A$243

One-way

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

4 nights

Jul 17 - Jul 21

A$625 → A$324

48%

3 nights

Sep 5 - Sep 8

A$568 → A$300

47%

1 night

Jul 20 - Jul 21

A$582 → A$323

45%

4 nights

Jan 9 - Jan 13

A$575 → A$324

44%

Popular Airports to fly from Sydney to Cairns

Sydney - Cairns route insights

💸 Price insights

Recent fares are above the typical level.

Recent fares from Sydney to Cairns are above the typical level, with a median price of $318.

📅 Best time to fly

December is historically the cheapest month to fly.

Historically, December is the cheapest month to fly from Sydney to Cairns, with a median price of $126.

⏱️ Flight duration

Direct flights take 3h 10m.

The typical direct flight from Sydney to Cairns takes 3h 10m, while connecting flights average 5h 40m.

✈️ Airlines & availability

47.1% of recent flights are direct.

About 47.1% of recent flights from Sydney to Cairns are direct, with frequent deals available.

🏆 Airline highlight

Jetstar offers direct flights.

Jetstar is an airline that offers direct flights from Sydney to Cairns.

🎯 Booking tip

Good prices are available 18% of the time.

Good prices for flights from Sydney to Cairns are available 18% of the time.

Sydney main airports to depart from

Sydney (SYD)

Cheapest

Sydney Airport (SYD) is a key departure point for flights from Sydney to Cairns.

📍 ~9 km from city center (reachable by car or train)

💸 Flights from ~A$224

Western Sydney International Airport (WSI)

Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) offers an alternative departure option for your trip to Cairns.

📍 ~46 km from city center (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~A$410

Cairns main airports to arrive at

Cairns (CNS)

Cheapest

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

📍 ~5 km from Cairns (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~A$224

Airports nearby Cairns used as alternative

Townsville (TSV)

Townsville Airport is a useful alternative with frequent jet services to major Australian hubs.

📍 ~350 km from Cairns (approximately 4-5 hours drive)

💸 Flights from ~A$240

Whitsunday Coast (PPP)

Cheapest

Whitsunday Coast Airport offers reliable commercial jet services to major capital cities.

📍 ~600 km from Cairns (significant driving distance)

💸 Flights from ~A$230

Great Barrier Reef (HTI)

Great Barrier Reef Airport provides direct jet connections to major cities, but requires island transfers.

📍 ~650 km from Cairns (located on an island)

💸 Flights from ~A$279

Mackay (MKY)

Mackay Airport is a major regional hub with consistent commercial capacity and good Brisbane connectivity.

📍 ~700 km from Cairns (approximately 9 hours drive)

💸 Flights from ~A$381

Mount Isa (ISA)

Mount Isa Airport is the primary aviation hub for Western Queensland, offering business-class and jet services.

📍 ~900 km from Cairns (extremely far inland)

💸 Flights from ~A$907

Business & First Class Flight Deals to Cairns

65% AI deal score

$745

$672

Save $73

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Cairns

Historically, the optimal time to book flights from Sydney to Cairns is typically 60+ days in advance. Across the trailing quarter, prices for flights booked within this window averaged around $258. Booking closer to the departure date, such as 0-6 days out, saw average prices rise to approximately $506. Planning ahead by at least 28-59 days could result in an average price of $296, offering a significant saving compared to last-minute bookings.

Based on historical data from the trailing 90 days, a good price for a flight from Sydney to Cairns is considered to be $187 or less. The median price for this route during the same period was $318. Prices tend to increase significantly, with 75% of observed prices being $476 or higher. Aiming for a price at or below $187 would put your fare in the lowest 25% of prices seen historically.

Historically, the cheapest months to fly from Sydney to Cairns include December, with a median price of $143, and April, with a median price of $148. November also tends to be a more affordable option, with a median price of $152. These prices are notably lower than the annual median price for this route, which stands at $318. Travelers looking for the most budget-friendly options should consider these months.

Related routes

Consider alternative routes from Sydney

Flights from Sydney to Abu Dhabi Flights from Sydney to Accra Flights from Sydney to Adelaide Flights from Sydney to Ahmedabad Flights from Sydney to Aitutaki Flights from Sydney to Albury Flights from Sydney to Alice Springs Flights from Sydney to Amritsar Flights from Sydney to Amsterdam Flights from Sydney to Apia Flights from Sydney to Armidale Flights from Sydney to Athens