Can I fly direct from Townsville to Cairns?

Yes, direct flights from Townsville to Cairns are commonly available. Historically, approximately 50.1% of flights on this route have been direct. For flights that include stopovers, travelers typically experience one stop before reaching their destination. This data is based on observations over the trailing 90 days.

How long is the flight from Townsville to Cairns?

A direct flight from Townsville to Cairns typically takes around 1 hour and 0 minutes. This route covers an approximate distance of 285 kilometers. For flights involving one stop, the median duration is considerably longer, averaging about 11 hours and 35 minutes. Travelers should consider these durations when planning their journey.

Are there frequently good prices on flights from Townsville to Cairns?

Historically, good prices on flights from Townsville to Cairns are considered frequent. This assessment is based on pricing trends observed across the trailing 30 days. Travelers can typically expect to find competitive deals for this route.

Flights From Townsville

To Cairns

Cheap Flights from Townsville to Cairns

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

Deals from

Townsville

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

Prices updated today

476 airlines compared

80%+ AI score for best value

Fares are subject to change and may not be available for all dates. (Data last updated Oct 9, 2026.)

Today’s best flight deals from Townsville to Cairns

Explore current cheapest deals departing from Townsville to Cairns

2026-11-12 – 2026-11-19
TSV - Cairns
36% AI deal score
A$240
A$353
Round trip
2026-11-14 – 2026-11-15
TSV - Cairns
35% AI deal score
A$252
A$400
Round trip
2026-10-11 – 2026-10-15
TSV - Cairns
44% AI deal score
A$501
A$409
Round trip
2026-11-03 – 2026-11-05
TSV - Cairns
35% AI deal score
A$255
A$409
Round trip
2026-10-27 – 2026-11-24
TSV - Cairns
38% AI deal score
A$371
A$409
Round trip
2026-10-20 – 2026-11-05
TSV - Cairns
38% AI deal score
A$382
A$409
Round trip
2027-02-06 – 2027-02-07
TSV - Cairns
34% AI deal score
A$230
A$409
Round trip
2026-12-19 – 2026-12-20
TSV - Cairns
35% AI deal score
A$292
A$409
Round trip
2026-12-05 – 2026-12-06
TSV - Cairns
35% AI deal score
A$288
A$409
Round trip
2026-10-20 – 2026-11-01
TSV - Cairns
38% AI deal score
A$387
A$409
Round trip

Townsville to Cairns: Overview

Insights for flights from Townsville to Cairns

A typical journey from Townsville to Cairns takes about 1h 0m, including itineraries with connections. This short-haul route covers a distance of 285 km. Given that a meaningful share are non-stop, the rest connect once, you might find varying total travel times depending on your chosen itinerary. The median connecting journey on this route is significantly longer, at 11h 35m, while direct flights from Townsville to Cairns typically take 1h 0m.

When looking for cheap flights from Townsville to Cairns, right now, fares are above the typical level, with prices typically ranging from $183–$510, and a median of $295. Currently, 0% of recent fares are classified as a good price. New deals appear almost daily for this route, so checking frequently can help you find better options.

The cheapest time to fly from Townsville to Cairns is typically in January, with a median fare of $154. Other affordable months include February, where the median fare is $179, and July, with a median of $180. Planning your trip during these months could lead to more budget-friendly travel.

How much is a round trip from Townsville to Cairns

Regular price: A$200 - A$470

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

The regular price range for flights from Townsville to Cairns is 200 AUD to 470 AUD. The current lowest deal is 353 AUD with Regional Express, for travel from Nov 12 to Nov 19.

now A$353

Low A$200

High A$470

The cheapest time to fly from Townsville to Cairns

The cheapest month to fly from TSV to CNS is March, with a median price of $122. The most expensive month is December, with a median price of $539. Prices are generally lower from January to July.

March

Cheapest

Flights from A$122

December

Most Expensive

Flights from A$539

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct flights from Townsville to Cairns

Regional Express

Last-minute flights going from Townsville to Cairns

Wed, Oct 7

⌛ Last-Minute

TSV - Cairns

Townsville (TSV) - Cairns (CNS)

QantasLink

A$681

A$509

One-way

Fri, Oct 9

⌛ Last-Minute

TSV - Cairns

Townsville (TSV) - Cairns (CNS)

QantasLink

A$552

A$509

One-way

Fri, Oct 9

⌛ Last-Minute

TSV - Cairns

Townsville (TSV) - Cairns (CNS)

QantasLink

A$552

A$509

One-way

Fri, Oct 9

⌛ Last-Minute

TSV - Cairns

Townsville (TSV) - Cairns (CNS)

QantasLink

A$486

A$509

One-way

Sat, Oct 10

⌛ Last-Minute

TSV - Cairns

Townsville (TSV) - Cairns (CNS)

QantasLink

A$601

A$509

One-way

Sat, Oct 10

⌛ Last-Minute

TSV - Cairns

Townsville (TSV) - Cairns (CNS)

QantasLink

A$667

A$509

One-way

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

2 nights

Oct 13 - Oct 15

A$617 → A$418

32%

2 nights

Oct 9 - Oct 11

A$690 → A$523

24%

1 night

Oct 12 - Oct 13

A$669 → A$513

23%

3 nights

Oct 12 - Oct 15

A$665 → A$510

23%

Popular Airports to fly from Townsville to Cairns

Townsville - Cairns route insights

💸 Price insights

Recent fares are above the typical level

Recent fares from Townsville to Cairns are above the typical level, with a median of $295.

📅 Best time to fly

Fly in January for the lowest prices

Historically, January, February, and July offer the lowest median prices for this route.

⏱️ Flight duration

Direct flights average 1h 0m

Direct flights typically take 1h 0m, while connecting flights average 11h 35m.

✈️ Airlines & availability

Direct flights are frequently available

Approximately 50.1% of flights on this route are direct, with frequent deals available.

🏆 Airline highlight

Regional Express offers direct flights

Regional Express is one airline providing direct service from Townsville to Cairns.

🎯 Booking tip

Deals appear frequently on this route

Historically, deals for flights from Townsville to Cairns appear frequently.

Townsville main airports to depart from

Townsville (TSV)

Cheapest

Townsville Airport is a convenient departure point for flights to Cairns.

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

💸 Flights from ~A$378

Cairns main airports to arrive at

Cairns (CNS)

Cheapest

Cairns Airport is a convenient arrival point for travelers heading to Cairns and surrounding areas.

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

💸 Flights from ~A$377

Airports nearby Cairns used as alternative

Townsville (TSV)

Townsville Airport is a useful alternative for its balance of proximity and flight frequency to major hubs.

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

Business & First Class Flight Deals to Cairns

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

Elite

Best Elite deals to Cairns

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

From TSV

Elite

Dec 30

Cairns, Australia

40% AI deal score

$1,368

$1,229

Save $139

Virgin Australia Regional Airlines

Business Class

From TSV

Elite

Dec 20

Cairns, Australia

39% AI deal score

$1,395

$1,296

Save $99

Virgin Australia Regional Airlines

Business Class

From TSV

Elite

Dec 19

Cairns, Australia

39% AI deal score

$1,384

$1,296

Save $88

Virgin Australia Regional Airlines

Business Class

From TSV

Elite

Dec 31

Cairns, Australia

38% AI deal score

$1,266

$1,229

Save $37

Virgin Australia Regional Airlines

Business Class

From TSV

Elite

Dec 29

Cairns, Australia

38% AI deal score

$1,263

$1,229

Save $34

Virgin Australia Regional Airlines

Business Class

From TSV

Elite

Dec 17

Cairns, Australia

38% AI deal score

$1,326

$1,296

Save $30

Virgin Australia Regional Airlines

Business Class

From TSV

Elite

Feb 23

Cairns, Australia

30% AI deal score

$1,229

Virgin Australia Regional Airlines

Business Class

From TSV

Elite

Mar 21

Cairns, Australia

30% AI deal score

$1,229

Virgin Australia Regional Airlines

Business Class

From TSV

Elite

Feb 21

Cairns, Australia

30% AI deal score

$1,229

Virgin Australia Regional Airlines

Business Class

From TSV

Elite

Feb 20

Cairns, Australia

30% AI deal score

$1,229

Virgin Australia Regional Airlines

Business Class

From TSV

Elite

Dec 08

Cairns, Australia

30% AI deal score

$1,296

Virgin Australia Regional Airlines

Business Class

From TSV

Elite

Feb 22

Cairns, Australia

29% AI deal score

$1,229

Virgin Australia Regional Airlines

Business Class

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Cairns

Historically, the optimal booking window for flights from Townsville to Cairns is typically between 28 and 59 days prior to departure. During this period, the average price observed was around $180. Booking within 0-6 days of departure typically sees average prices rise to approximately $275. Conversely, booking more than 60 days out tends to result in higher average prices, reaching about $422.

Across the trailing quarter, a good price for a flight from Townsville to Cairns is considered to be $183 or less. The median price for this route historically stands at $295. Prices can go higher, with 75% of observed prices being $510 or less over the trailing 90 days.

Historically, the cheapest months to fly from Townsville to Cairns include January, with a median price of $154, and February, with a median price of $179. July also shows a competitive median price of $180. The annual median price for this route is $295, indicating that these months offer notable savings compared to the overall average.

Related routes

More routes from Townsville

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Flights to Cairns from other cities

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Townsville to Cairns: Overview

Insights for flights from Townsville to Cairns

How much is a round trip from Townsville to Cairns

Regular price: A$200 - A$470

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

The regular price range for flights from Townsville to Cairns is 200 AUD to 470 AUD. The current lowest deal is 353 AUD with Regional Express, for travel from Nov 12 to Nov 19.

now A$353

Low A$200

High A$470

The cheapest time to fly from Townsville to Cairns

The cheapest month to fly from TSV to CNS is March, with a median price of $122. The most expensive month is December, with a median price of $539. Prices are generally lower from January to July.

March

Cheapest

Flights from A$122

December

Most Expensive

Flights from A$539

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct flights from Townsville to Cairns

Regional Express

Last-minute flights going from Townsville to Cairns

Wed, Oct 7

⌛ Last-Minute

TSV - Cairns

Townsville (TSV) - Cairns (CNS)

QantasLink

A$681

A$509

One-way

Fri, Oct 9

⌛ Last-Minute

TSV - Cairns

Townsville (TSV) - Cairns (CNS)

QantasLink

A$552

A$509

One-way

Fri, Oct 9

⌛ Last-Minute

TSV - Cairns

Townsville (TSV) - Cairns (CNS)

QantasLink

A$552

A$509

One-way

Fri, Oct 9

⌛ Last-Minute

TSV - Cairns

Townsville (TSV) - Cairns (CNS)

QantasLink

A$486

A$509

One-way

Sat, Oct 10

⌛ Last-Minute

TSV - Cairns

Townsville (TSV) - Cairns (CNS)

QantasLink

A$601

A$509

One-way

Sat, Oct 10

⌛ Last-Minute

TSV - Cairns

Townsville (TSV) - Cairns (CNS)

QantasLink

A$667

A$509

One-way

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

2 nights

Oct 13 - Oct 15

A$617 → A$418

32%

2 nights

Oct 9 - Oct 11

A$690 → A$523

24%

1 night

Oct 12 - Oct 13

A$669 → A$513

23%

3 nights

Oct 12 - Oct 15

A$665 → A$510

23%

Popular Airports to fly from Townsville to Cairns

Townsville - Cairns route insights

💸 Price insights

Recent fares are above the typical level

Recent fares from Townsville to Cairns are above the typical level, with a median of $295.

📅 Best time to fly

Fly in January for the lowest prices

Historically, January, February, and July offer the lowest median prices for this route.

⏱️ Flight duration

Direct flights average 1h 0m

Direct flights typically take 1h 0m, while connecting flights average 11h 35m.

✈️ Airlines & availability

Direct flights are frequently available

Approximately 50.1% of flights on this route are direct, with frequent deals available.

🏆 Airline highlight

Regional Express offers direct flights

Regional Express is one airline providing direct service from Townsville to Cairns.

🎯 Booking tip

Deals appear frequently on this route

Historically, deals for flights from Townsville to Cairns appear frequently.

Townsville main airports to depart from

Townsville (TSV)

Cheapest

Townsville Airport is a convenient departure point for flights to Cairns.

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

💸 Flights from ~A$378

Cairns main airports to arrive at

Cairns (CNS)

Cheapest

Cairns Airport is a convenient arrival point for travelers heading to Cairns and surrounding areas.

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

💸 Flights from ~A$377

Airports nearby Cairns used as alternative

Townsville (TSV)

Cairns, Australia

30% AI deal score

$1,229

Virgin Australia Regional Airlines

Business Class

From TSV

Elite

Mar 21

Cairns, Australia

30% AI deal score

$1,229

Virgin Australia Regional Airlines

Business Class

From TSV

Elite

Feb 21

Cairns, Australia

30% AI deal score

$1,229

Virgin Australia Regional Airlines

Business Class

From TSV

Elite

Feb 20

Cairns, Australia

30% AI deal score

$1,229

Virgin Australia Regional Airlines

Business Class

From TSV

Elite

Dec 08

Cairns, Australia

30% AI deal score

$1,296

Virgin Australia Regional Airlines

Business Class

From TSV

Elite

Feb 22

Cairns, Australia

29% AI deal score

$1,229

Virgin Australia Regional Airlines

Business Class

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Cairns

Cheap Flights from Townsville to Cairns

Today’s best flight deals from Townsville to Cairns

Townsville to Cairns: Overview

Insights for flights from Townsville to Cairns

How much is a round trip from Townsville to Cairns

The cheapest time to fly from Townsville to Cairns

Direct flights from Townsville to Cairns

Last-minute flights going from Townsville to Cairns

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

Popular Airports to fly from Townsville to Cairns

Townsville - Cairns route insights

Recent fares are above the typical level

Fly in January for the lowest prices

Direct flights average 1h 0m

Direct flights are frequently available

Regional Express offers direct flights

Deals appear frequently on this route

Townsville main airports to depart from

Cairns main airports to arrive at

Airports nearby Cairns used as alternative

Business & First Class Flight Deals to Cairns

Best Elite deals to Cairns

Dec 30

Dec 20

Dec 19

Dec 31

Dec 29

Dec 17

Feb 23

Mar 21

Feb 21

Feb 20

Dec 08

Feb 22

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Cairns

How far in advance should I book a flight from Townsville to Cairns?

What is a good price for a flight from Townsville to Cairns?

When is the cheapest time of year to fly from Townsville to Cairns?

Can I fly direct from Townsville to Cairns?

How long is the flight from Townsville to Cairns?

Are there frequently good prices on flights from Townsville to Cairns?

Related routes

More routes from Townsville

Flights to Cairns from other cities

Townsville to Cairns: Overview

Insights for flights from Townsville to Cairns

How much is a round trip from Townsville to Cairns

The cheapest time to fly from Townsville to Cairns

Direct flights from Townsville to Cairns

Last-minute flights going from Townsville to Cairns

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

Popular Airports to fly from Townsville to Cairns

Townsville - Cairns route insights

Recent fares are above the typical level

Fly in January for the lowest prices

Direct flights average 1h 0m

Direct flights are frequently available

Regional Express offers direct flights

Deals appear frequently on this route

Townsville main airports to depart from

Cairns main airports to arrive at

Airports nearby Cairns used as alternative

Business & First Class Flight Deals to Cairns

Best Elite deals to Cairns

Dec 30

Dec 20

Dec 19

Dec 31

Dec 29

Dec 17

Feb 23

Mar 21

Feb 21

Feb 20

Dec 08

Feb 22

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Cairns

How far in advance should I book a flight from Townsville to Cairns?

What is a good price for a flight from Townsville to Cairns?

When is the cheapest time of year to fly from Townsville to Cairns?