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 2 days ago

405 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 26, 2026.)

Today’s best flight deals from Sydney to Cairns

Explore current cheapest deals departing from Sydney to Cairns

2027-01-13 – 2027-01-17
SYD - Cairns
81% AI deal score
A$396
A$212
Round trip
2026-09-12 – 2026-09-23
SYD - Cairns
77% AI deal score
A$319
A$220
Round trip
2026-09-08 – 2026-09-18
SYD - Cairns
77% AI deal score
A$322
A$220
Round trip
2026-09-05 – 2026-09-18
SYD - Cairns
76% AI deal score
A$310
A$220
Round trip
2026-09-12 – 2026-09-18
SYD - Cairns
79% AI deal score
A$353
A$220
Round trip
2026-09-15 – 2026-09-23
SYD - Cairns
78% AI deal score
A$335
A$220
Round trip
2026-09-08 – 2026-09-21
SYD - Cairns
76% AI deal score
A$310
A$220
Round trip
2026-09-05 – 2026-09-21
SYD - Cairns
76% AI deal score
A$305
A$220
Round trip
2026-09-06 – 2026-09-23
SYD - Cairns
76% AI deal score
A$303
A$220
Round trip
2026-09-07 – 2026-09-23
SYD - Cairns
76% AI deal score
A$305
A$220
Round trip

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$322 - A$583

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

The regular price range for this route is AUD 322-583. The current lowest deal is AUD 212 with Virgin Australia Regional Airlines, for travel from Jan 13-Jan 17.

now A$212

Low A$322

High A$583

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

Sun, Jul 26

⌛ Last-Minute

SYD - Cairns

Sydney (SYD) - Cairns (CNS)

Jetstar

A$749

A$425

One-way

Mon, Jul 27

⌛ Last-Minute

SYD - Cairns

Sydney (SYD) - Cairns (CNS)

Jetstar

A$749

A$379

One-way

Mon, Jul 27

⌛ Last-Minute

SYD - Cairns

Sydney (SYD) - Cairns (CNS)

Jetstar

A$751

A$379

One-way

Tue, Jul 28

⌛ Last-Minute

SYD - Cairns

Sydney (SYD) - Cairns (CNS)

Jetstar

A$543

A$312

One-way

Tue, Jul 28

⌛ Last-Minute

SYD - Cairns

Sydney (SYD) - Cairns (CNS)

Jetstar

A$543

A$318

One-way

Sat, Aug 1

⌛ Last-Minute

SYD - Cairns

Sydney (SYD) - Cairns (CNS)

Virgin Australia Regional Airlines

A$708

A$362

One-way

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

4 nights

Aug 1 - Aug 5

A$782 → A$395

50%

1 night

Jul 27 - Jul 28

A$751 → A$379

50%

2 nights

Jul 27 - Jul 29

A$749 → A$379

49%

3 nights

Aug 1 - Aug 4

A$787 → A$419

47%

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.

Direct flights from Sydney to Cairns typically take 3h 10m, while connecting flights average 5h 40m.

✈️ Airlines & availability

47.1% of recent deals are for direct flights.

Within the last 90 days, 47.1% of deals for this route were for direct flights.

🏆 Airline highlight

Jetstar offers direct flights.

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

🎯 Booking tip

Deals appear frequently for this route.

Deals for flights from Sydney to Cairns appear frequently, typically within a 30-day window.

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

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

Business & First Class Flight Deals to Cairns

76% AI deal score

$865

$591

Save $274

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.

Sydney to Cairns: Overview

Insights for flights from Sydney to Cairns

How much is a round trip from Sydney to Cairns

Regular price: A$322 - A$583

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

The regular price range for this route is AUD 322-583. The current lowest deal is AUD 212 with Virgin Australia Regional Airlines, for travel from Jan 13-Jan 17.

now A$212

Low A$322

High A$583

The cheapest time to fly from Sydney to Cairns

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