$85 Cheap Flights from Cairns (CNS) to Melbourne (MEL)

View $85 flight on Wed, Mar 11, 2026Opens 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 $85 for one-way flights and $169 for round trip, for the period specified. Prices and availability are subject to change. Additional terms apply.

Jetstar
Mon, Dec 8 - Sun, Dec 14
CNS
Cairns
MEL
Melbourne
$169 Roundtrip, found 3 days ago
$169
Roundtrip
found 3 days ago
Select Jetstar flight, departing Mon, Dec 8 from Cairns to Melbourne, returning Sun, Dec 14, priced at $169 found 3 days ago
Jetstar
Mon, Dec 8 - Sun, Dec 14
CNS
Cairns
MEL
Melbourne
$174 Roundtrip, found 3 days ago
$174
Roundtrip
found 3 days ago
Select Jetstar flight, departing Mon, Dec 8 from Cairns to Melbourne, returning Sun, Dec 14, priced at $174 found 3 days ago
Jetstar
Thu, Feb 19 - Fri, Feb 20
CNS
Cairns
MEL
Melbourne
$195 Roundtrip, found 1 day ago
$195
Roundtrip
found 1 day ago
Select Jetstar flight, departing Thu, Feb 19 from Cairns to Melbourne, returning Fri, Feb 20, priced at $195 found 1 day ago
Jetstar
Fri, Aug 22 - Sat, Aug 23
CNS
Cairns
MEL
Melbourne
$201 Roundtrip, found 6 days ago
$201
Roundtrip
found 6 days ago
Select Jetstar flight, departing Fri, Aug 22 from Cairns to Melbourne, returning Sat, Aug 23, priced at $201 found 6 days ago
Jetstar
Thu, Feb 19 - Fri, Feb 20
CNS
Cairns
MEL
Melbourne
$209 Roundtrip, found 1 day ago
$209
Roundtrip
found 1 day ago
Select Jetstar flight, departing Thu, Feb 19 from Cairns to Melbourne, returning Fri, Feb 20, priced at $209 found 1 day ago
Jetstar
Mon, Dec 8 - Sun, Dec 14
CNS
Cairns
MEL
Melbourne
$215 Roundtrip, found 3 days ago
$215
Roundtrip
found 3 days ago
Select Jetstar flight, departing Mon, Dec 8 from Cairns to Melbourne, returning Sun, Dec 14, priced at $215 found 3 days ago
Jetstar
Mon, Dec 8 - Sun, Dec 14
CNS
Cairns
MEL
Melbourne
$216 Roundtrip, found 3 days ago
$216
Roundtrip
found 3 days ago
Select Jetstar flight, departing Mon, Dec 8 from Cairns to Melbourne, returning Sun, Dec 14, priced at $216 found 3 days ago
Jetstar
Tue, Oct 28 - Wed, Oct 29
CNS
Cairns
MEL
Melbourne
$222 Roundtrip, found 5 hours ago
$222
Roundtrip
found 5 hours ago
Select Jetstar flight, departing Tue, Oct 28 from Cairns to Melbourne, returning Wed, Oct 29, priced at $222 found 5 hours ago
Virgin Australia
Fri, Mar 20 - Sat, Mar 21
CNS
Cairns
MEL
Melbourne
$262 Roundtrip, found 2 days ago
$262
Roundtrip
found 2 days ago
Select Virgin Australia flight, departing Fri, Mar 20 from Cairns to Melbourne, returning Sat, Mar 21, priced at $262 found 2 days ago
Qantas Airways
Mon, Dec 8 - Sun, Dec 14
CNS
Cairns
MEL
Melbourne
$385 Roundtrip, found 3 days ago
$385
Roundtrip
found 3 days ago
Select Qantas Airways flight, departing Mon, Dec 8 from Cairns to Melbourne, returning Sun, Dec 14, priced at $385 found 3 days ago

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

June is typically the cheapest month to fly

From $151 - $276 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
Jetstar, Qantas Airways, Virgin Australia
Roundtrip price
$168
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 December. 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 $85 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?
Grab cheap return tickets starting at $201 from Cairns Intl. Airport (CNS) to Tullamarine Airport (MEL). This information is based on the cheapest price found on Expedia for this return journey departing within the next three months. This airfare is for a Jetstar flight leaving CNS on August 5 2025 and touching down at MEL. The price was last updated on July 11 2025 and has not changed since.
What is the cheapest month to fly from CNS to MEL?
The cheapest flights from CNS to MEL are usually during off-peak season, when demand is lower. To save money, avoid flying during public holidays, school breaks and major local events.
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 CNS to MEL?
At the moment, the cheapest carrier offering one-way flights from CNS to MEL is Jetstar. You can take off on this route from $85. This fare is based on the lowest price found on Expedia departing within the next three months. The flight takes off from CNS on September 6 2025. Prices were last updated on July 11 2025 and have not changed since.
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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