To Cairns

Cheap Flights from Sydney to Cairns

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Deals from

Sydney

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

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 Sydney to Cairns

Explore current cheapest deals departing from Sydney to Cairns

Round trip

Sort by: Cheapest

July 21 - July 29

Cheapest

SYD - Cairns

$245

$146

Round trip

July 20 - July 30

SYD - Cairns

$235

$147

Round trip

July 25 - July 30

Best

SYD - Cairns

$255

$148

Round trip

July 22 - July 29

SYD - Cairns

$249

$149

Round trip

July 27 - July 30

Best

SYD - Cairns

$262

$151

Round trip

July 18 - July 23

Earliest

SYD - Cairns

$261

$164

Round trip

September 2 - September 8

SYD - Cairns

$252

$166

Round trip

July 25 - July 31

SYD - Cairns

$250

$169

Round trip

July 25 - July 29

SYD - Cairns

$259

$171

Round trip

July 22 - July 25

SYD - Cairns

$259

$172

Round trip

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

Route Intelligence — 486,190 Searches this Week

Insights for flights from Sydney to Cairns

A meaningful share of recent fares for flights from Sydney to Cairns are non-stop, with 53.8% of itineraries being direct. The remaining itineraries typically include one stopover. This balance means you have options for both direct travel and routes with connections, which can sometimes offer different price points or schedules.

For travelers seeking cheap flights from Sydney to Cairns, the typical journey time, including connections, is around 6 hours and 10 minutes. This duration accounts for both direct flights and those with stopovers, providing a realistic expectation for your total travel time between these two cities.

The cheapest time to fly from Sydney to Cairns is typically in December, with a median fare of $143. Other affordable months include April, where the median fare is $148, and November, with a median fare of $152. Planning your trip during these months could result in more budget-friendly travel.

Fares for flights from Sydney to Cairns typically range from $148–$424, with a median fare of $265. Right now, current fares are above the typical level. Approximately 7% of recent fares were classified as a good price, indicating that finding a deal is possible. New deals appear almost daily, suggesting frequent opportunities to find competitive prices.

How much is a round trip from Sydney to Cairns

Regular price: $198 - $520

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

The regular price range for this route is between 198 USD and 520 USD. The current lowest deal is 146 USD with Jetstar. This price is for travel from Jul 21 to Jul 29.

now $146

Low $198

High $520

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 $143. The most expensive month is June, with a median price of $360. Prices are generally lower from January to December.

December

Cheapest

Flights from $143

June

Most Expensive

Flights from $360

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, Jun 18

⌛ Last-Minute

SYD - Cairns

Sydney (SYD) - Cairns (CNS)

Virgin Australia Regional Airlines

$478

$241

One-way

Fri, Jun 19

⌛ Last-Minute

SYD - Cairns

Sydney (SYD) - Cairns (CNS)

Virgin Australia Regional Airlines

$478

$257

One-way

Fri, Jun 19

⌛ Last-Minute

SYD - Cairns

Sydney (SYD) - Cairns (CNS)

Virgin Australia Regional Airlines

$543

$297

One-way

Sun, Jun 21

⌛ Last-Minute

SYD - Cairns

Sydney (SYD) - Cairns (CNS)

Virgin Australia Regional Airlines

$516

$254

One-way

Mon, Jun 22

⌛ Last-Minute

SYD - Cairns

Sydney (SYD) - Cairns (CNS)

Virgin Australia Regional Airlines

$457

$253

One-way

Mon, Jun 22

⌛ Last-Minute

SYD - Cairns

Sydney (SYD) - Cairns (CNS)

Virgin Australia Regional Airlines

$448

$260

One-way

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

4 nights

Jun 21 - Jun 25

$516 → $254

51%

2 nights

Jun 19 - Jun 21

$543 → $297

45%

2 nights

Jun 23 - Jun 25

$487 → $245

50%

7 nights

Jun 18 - Jun 25

$478 → $241

50%

Popular Airports to fly from Sydney to Cairns

Sydney - Cairns route insights

💸 Price insights

Recent fares are below the typical level

Recent fares from Sydney to Cairns are below the typical level, with 7% good prices.

📅 Best time to fly

December is historically cheapest at $143

Historically, December offers the lowest median prices for flights from Sydney to Cairns.

⏱️ Flight duration

Median flight time is 6h 10m

The median flight time for this medium-haul route is 6 hours and 10 minutes.

✈️ Airlines & availability

Frequent deals, mixed direct flight availability

Deals are frequent, and 53.8% of recent deals are for direct flights.

🏆 Airline highlight

Jetstar offers direct flights

Jetstar is an airline that has offered direct flights on the Sydney to Cairns route.

🎯 Booking tip

Consider booking in December or April

Historically, December ($143) and April ($148) have offered the lowest median prices.

Sydney main airports to depart from

Sydney (SYD)

Cheapest

Sydney Airport is a major hub for flights to Cairns, offering competitive prices for your trip.

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

💸 Flights from ~$146

Cairns main airports to arrive at

Cairns (CNS)

Cheapest

Cairns Airport is ideal for direct flights from Sydney to Cairns.

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

💸 Flights from ~$146

Airports nearby Cairns used as alternative

Townsville (TSV)

Townsville Airport can be a useful alternative, offering a balance of proximity and flight frequency.

📍 ~350 km from Cairns (reachable by car or rail).

💸 Flights from ~$170

Whitsunday Coast (PPP)

Cheapest

Whitsunday Coast Airport is a major gateway to the Whitsunday region with reliable jet services.

📍 ~460 km from Cairns (reachable by car).

💸 Flights from ~$157

Mackay (MKY)

Mackay Airport is an established regional hub with multiple daily flights and premium cabin options.

📍 ~600 km from Cairns (reachable by car).

💸 Flights from ~$259

Great Barrier Reef (HTI)

Great Barrier Reef Airport is an alternative for travelers visiting the reef region, with direct connections.

📍 ~500 km from Cairns (requires ferry transfer from mainland).

💸 Flights from ~$197

Mount Isa (ISA)

Mount Isa Airport serves as a primary connection point for Western Queensland with scheduled services.

📍 ~900 km from Cairns (reachable by car).

💸 Flights from ~$491

Business & First Class Flight Deals to Cairns

49% AI deal score

$737

$687

Save $50

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Cairns

Historically, the best time to book flights from Sydney to Cairns is 60+ days before departure. Across the trailing quarter, flights booked in this window had an average price of $258. Booking within 0-6 days of departure typically resulted in a higher average price of $506. For optimal savings, travelers should aim to book at least two months in advance.

Based on data from the trailing 90 days, a good price for a flight from Sydney to Cairns is $148 or less. The median price for this route was $265. Prices tend to increase significantly, with 75% of observed prices being $424 or less. Securing a fare at or below $148 represents a favorable deal.

Historically, the cheapest months to fly from Sydney to Cairns are December, April, and November. In December, the median price was $143, while April saw a median of $148. November also offered competitive pricing with a median of $152. These months typically offer prices well below the annual median of $265.

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