$86 Cheap Flights from Cairns (CNS) to Melbourne (MEL)

View $86 flight on Sat, Dec 6, 2025Opens in a new window

Popular airlines from Cairns Intl. Airport (CNS) to Melbourne Airport (MEL)

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Cheap Flights from Cairns to Melbourne (CNS-MEL)

Prices were available within the past 7 days and start at $86 for one-way flights and $171 for round trip, for the period specified. Prices and availability are subject to change. Additional terms apply.

Jetstar
Tue, Nov 18 - Wed, Nov 19
CNS
Cairns
MEL
Melbourne
$171 Roundtrip, found 6 hours ago
$171
Roundtrip
found 6 hours ago
Select Jetstar flight, departing Tue, Nov 18 from Cairns to Melbourne, returning Wed, Nov 19, priced at $171 found 6 hours ago
Jetstar
Tue, Nov 18 - Wed, Nov 19
CNS
Cairns
MEL
Melbourne
$177 Roundtrip, found 6 hours ago
$177
Roundtrip
found 6 hours ago
Select Jetstar flight, departing Tue, Nov 18 from Cairns to Melbourne, returning Wed, Nov 19, priced at $177 found 6 hours ago
Jetstar
Tue, Nov 18 - Wed, Nov 19
CNS
Cairns
MEL
Melbourne
$198 Roundtrip, found 6 hours ago
$198
Roundtrip
found 6 hours ago
Select Jetstar flight, departing Tue, Nov 18 from Cairns to Melbourne, returning Wed, Nov 19, priced at $198 found 6 hours ago
Jetstar
Fri, Mar 6 - Tue, Mar 10
CNS
Cairns
MEL
Melbourne
$203 Roundtrip, found 1 day ago
$203
Roundtrip
found 1 day ago
Select Jetstar flight, departing Fri, Mar 6 from Cairns to Melbourne, returning Tue, Mar 10, priced at $203 found 1 day ago
Jetstar
Sat, Feb 7 - Tue, Feb 10
CNS
Cairns
MEL
Melbourne
$211 Roundtrip, found 1 day ago
$211
Roundtrip
found 1 day ago
Select Jetstar flight, departing Sat, Feb 7 from Cairns to Melbourne, returning Tue, Feb 10, priced at $211 found 1 day ago
Virgin Australia
Fri, Mar 6 - Tue, Mar 10
CNS
Cairns
MEL
Melbourne
$215 Roundtrip, found 1 day ago
$215
Roundtrip
found 1 day ago
Select Virgin Australia flight, departing Fri, Mar 6 from Cairns to Melbourne, returning Tue, Mar 10, priced at $215 found 1 day ago
Jetstar
Fri, Mar 6 - Tue, Mar 10
CNS
Cairns
MEL
Melbourne
$217 Roundtrip, found 1 day ago
$217
Roundtrip
found 1 day ago
Select Jetstar flight, departing Fri, Mar 6 from Cairns to Melbourne, returning Tue, Mar 10, priced at $217 found 1 day ago
Jetstar
Tue, Nov 18 - Wed, Nov 19
CNS
Cairns
MEL
Melbourne
$220 Roundtrip, found 6 hours ago
$220
Roundtrip
found 6 hours ago
Select Jetstar flight, departing Tue, Nov 18 from Cairns to Melbourne, returning Wed, Nov 19, priced at $220 found 6 hours ago
Jetstar
Tue, Sep 2 - Fri, Sep 5
CNS
Cairns
MEL
Melbourne
$224 Roundtrip, found 3 days ago
$224
Roundtrip
found 3 days ago
Select Jetstar flight, departing Tue, Sep 2 from Cairns to Melbourne, returning Fri, Sep 5, priced at $224 found 3 days ago
Qantas Airways
Sun, Oct 12 - Sun, Oct 19
CNS
Cairns
MEL
Melbourne
$319 Roundtrip, found 22 hours ago
$319
Roundtrip
found 22 hours ago
Select Qantas Airways flight, departing Sun, Oct 12 from Cairns to Melbourne, returning Sun, Oct 19, priced at $319 found 22 hours ago

Find the cheapest month to fly from Cairns (CNS) to Melbourne (MEL)

June is typically the cheapest month to fly

From $151 - $282 per traveler.

Graph displaying average flight prices per month

Flights from Cairns (CNS) to Melbourne (MEL)
Origin airport
Cairns Intl.
Destination airport
Tullamarine
Airlines serving
Qantas Airways, Virgin Australia
Roundtrip price
$170
Distance
1437 mi
Average flight time
3 hours 28 mins

Cairns to Melbourne Flights

The cheapest times to fly from Cairns to Melbourne

On average, Thursday can be the cheapest time to fly, according to data from the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC), one of the world's biggest databases for global airline sales. The data reveals that you could save up to 16% by flying on a Thursday—the cheapest day to travel on average—instead of a Sunday—the most expensive. Some of the most affordable flights from Cairns to Melbourne are during the month of November. You can find some of the cheapest flights from Cairns to Melbourne with Expedia's search tool and vast selection of airlines.

 

The best time to book a flight from Cairns to Melbourne

Sunday is one of the best days to book for cheap flights from Cairns to Melbourne: Tickets reserved on a Sunday cost between 6% and 13% less than those reserved on a Friday, according to ARC data. The data also suggests booking early can also lead to cheaper airfares. You could save 24% by buying your tickets for domestic flights at least a month in advance and 10% by booking international flights 2 months in advance.

 

How to find cheap round-trip tickets from Cairns to Melbourne

Being flexible with your dates and using Expedia's Price Drop Protection and Price Tracking features are some of the best ways of finding a cheap ticket from Cairns to Melbourne in 2025. You can also book with separate airlines for your outbound and return journeys, from $86 one-way. Expedia also offers Price Drop Protection, so if the cost of your airfare goes down after booking, you'll receive a credit for the difference*. This is available for a small fee, and is free to One Key Gold and Platinum tier members.

 

Expedia's Price Tracking feature means you can stay on top of airfares without manually checking every day. It sends you automated price alerts for cheap Cairns to Melbourne flights and uses historical data to indicate when the best time to book is. Download Expedia's free app to activate this handy tool in a few easy taps.

 

You could also save big by booking one of Expedia's vacation packages. Bundling together your Cairns to Melbourne airfare with your accommodations and car rental is often cheaper than booking everything separately. There’s also One Key, Expedia's generous rewards program. Join for free and you could earn One Key cash on most bookings to save on future adventures.

 

*Terms apply.

 

Disclaimer: ARC The statistics are based on average round-trip ticket prices between January and August 2023. The percentages you see are averages.

 

Frequently asked questions

How much does a flight from Cairns Intl. Airport (CNS) to Tullamarine Airport (MEL) cost?
Get a cheap one-way flight from $86 or cheap return flight from $171 from Cairns Intl. Airport (CNS) to Tullamarine Airport (MEL) with Expedia. Enter your travel dates and sort by "Price (lowest to highest)" to find our cheapest flight offers on this route.
What is the cheapest month to fly from Cairns Intl. Airport (CNS) to Tullamarine Airport (MEL)?
The cheapest month to fly from CNS to MEL is November, when demand is low. Off-peak season is often when you'll find cheap fares for travel between these airports.
Which airlines fly direct from Cairns Intl. Airport (CNS) to Tullamarine Airport (MEL)?
Avoid the layovers and travel nonstop from Cairns Intl. Airport (CNS) to Tullamarine Airport (MEL) with 3 airlines, including:

  • Jetstar
  • Virgin Australia
  • Qantas

What is the cheapest airline that flies from Cairns Intl. Airport (CNS) to Tullamarine Airport (MEL)?
Cheap flight tickets between Cairns Intl. Airport (CNS) and Tullamarine Airport (MEL) are often available with low-cost carriers like Jetstar and China Southern Airlines. Don't forget that prices can vary depending on departure dates, demand and how early you book. With Expedia's search tool, you can easily filter your results to find a CNS to MEL flight that's within your budget.
How many flights per day from Cairns Intl. Airport (CNS) to Tullamarine Airport (MEL)?
With, on average, 5 direct flights departing from Cairns Intl. Airport (CNS) to Tullamarine Airport (MEL) daily, you'll be taking off on vacation soon enough.
What are the most popular departure times for flights from Cairns Intl. Airport (CNS) to Tullamarine Airport (MEL)?
Flights between CNS and MEL tend to be busiest at 9 AM. If you'd like a quieter experience and possibly cheaper tickets, look for a time outside the usual busy windows.
What day of the week has the most flights from CNS to MEL?
If you travel on a Friday, you'll get the widest range of choices for flights from Cairns Intl. Airport (CNS) to Tullamarine Airport (MEL).
What is the earliest flight from Cairns Intl. Airport (CNS) to Tullamarine Airport (MEL)?
The earliest flight out of Cairns Intl. Airport (CNS) is at around 7:35AM UTC+10. Board this plane and you'll land at Tullamarine Airport (MEL) at approximately 12:00PM UTC+11. The overall travel time is 3h 25m.
How long does it take to fly from Cairns Intl. Airport (CNS) to Tullamarine Airport (MEL)?
Flights from CNS to MEL have an average travel time of 3 hours and 26 minutes. The total distance between the two airports is 1,450 mi.
What airline has the least delays from CNS to MEL?
China Eastern Airlines has the strongest track record for on-time direct flights from Cairns Intl. Airport (CNS) to Tullamarine Airport (MEL), with an on-time score of 92%. Use the Expedia App to check your flight status before you leave and get notified of any changes.
What is the best time to fly from Cairns Intl. Airport (CNS) to Tullamarine Airport (MEL)?
To avoid possible delays on the Cairns Intl. Airport (CNS) to Tullamarine Airport (MEL) route, fly before 3 PM. Flights after this time have a 22% higher chance of being canceled.**Most reliable time of the day and month to travel recommendation is based on January through August 2024 flight status data sourced from OAG's global flight data platform.
What airports do you fly into for Melbourne from Cairns Intl. Airport (CNS)?
Tullamarine Airport (MEL) is the only airport in Melbourne with direct flights from Cairns Intl. Airport (CNS). Browse the available options and find cheap fares on Expedia.
Is it cheaper to buy a plane ticket from Cairns Intl. Airport (CNS) to Tullamarine Airport (MEL) last-minute?
Last-minute fares from CNS to MEL are usually more expensive. For the cheapest rates, start searching for flights well in advance. That being said, if you're flexible with your travel plans, you may score a cheap fare right before you leave.
Is it cheaper to book a CNS to MEL flight and hotel package?
Booking a CNS to MEL flight and hotel package is generally cheaper than booking separately. With Expedia, you can enjoy the ease of organizing your trip in one place. Pick from our wide range of hotels and then add flights, car rentals and activities to your booking. Bundle it all together, and you could save hundreds of dollars.
Can I cancel or change the date of my flight from Cairns Intl. Airport (CNS) to Tullamarine Airport (MEL)?
It's generally possible to reschedule or cancel your CNS to MEL flight. However, if it's been more than 24 hours since booking, additional charges may apply. Refer to your airline's policies in your itinerary to see what changes are possible and if any costs are involved. You'll also find more information on our Customer Service portal.

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