Cheap flights from Melbourne to Cairns

One-way fares from $139 · MEL → CNS · prices found by travellers in the last 48 hours

Compare all dates Cairns → Melbourne
Cheapest fare
$139

Virgin Australia · Fri, 19 Mar

Cheapest month
March

from $139

Direct flights
Yes

Jetstar, Virgin Australia and Qantas

Flight time
3h 15m

2,320 km

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Cheapest month to fly from Melbourne to Cairns

Lowest one-way fare per person in each month. Choose a month to see every date.

  1. November 2026 $166
  2. December 2026 $154
  3. January 2027 $153
  4. March 2027 Cheapest $139
  5. October 2027 $302

Cheapest dates in March 2027

The lowest fares we've seen for each day, cheapest first.

Virgin Australia
Depart21:25 Fri, 19 MarMEL → CNS 3h 30m · Direct
$139one way, per person
View deal
Jetstar
Depart06:15 Wed, 17 MarMEL → CNS 3h 15m · Direct
$153one way, per person
View deal
Jetstar
Depart19:50 Thu, 11 MarMEL → CNS 3h 20m · Direct
$160one way, per person
View deal
Jetstar
Depart06:15 Mon, 15 MarMEL → CNS 3h 15m · Direct
$160one way, per person
View deal
Jetstar
Depart19:50 Mon, 1 MarMEL → CNS 3h 20m · Direct
$167one way, per person
View deal
Jetstar
Depart19:50 Tue, 9 MarMEL → CNS 3h 20m · Direct
$168one way, per person
View deal
See every date in March 2027 →

Plan the rest of your trip to Cairns

Where to stay, what to do and getting around, from our travel partners.

Where to stay

Hotels in CairnsCompare places to stay on Booking.com Find hotels →

Things to do

Things to do in CairnsTours, attractions and day trips on Klook Explore →

Getting around

Airport transfer in CairnsPre-book a driver to meet you at arrivals, with Kiwitaxi Book a transfer → Car hire in CairnsCompare rental cars from major brands on EconomyBookings Compare cars →

About flights from Melbourne to Cairns

Melbourne (MEL) and Cairns (CNS) are about 2,320 km apart. Direct flights take around 3h 15m, and recent direct fares were with Jetstar, Virgin Australia and Qantas. Over the next few months, one-way fares start from $139, and March 2027 is currently the cheapest month to fly.

These prices come from searches travellers made in the last 48 hours, so they move quickly. If you see a good fare, it's worth booking soon. FlightsExp is free to use: you book directly with our travel partner.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a flight from Melbourne to Cairns?

The cheapest one-way fare we've seen recently is $139 with Virgin Australia, departing Friday 19 March 2027. Over the coming months, the lowest fare in each month ranges from $139 to $302.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Melbourne to Cairns?

March 2027 currently has the lowest fares, from $139 one way.

Are there direct flights from Melbourne to Cairns?

Yes. Recent direct fares were with Jetstar, Virgin Australia and Qantas.

How long is the flight from Melbourne to Cairns?

A direct flight takes about 3h 15m. Melbourne and Cairns are around 2,320 km apart.

Which airlines fly from Melbourne to Cairns?

Recent fares on this route were with Jetstar, Virgin Australia and Qantas.

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