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Cheap Flights from Cairns to Darwin

Compare Cairns to Darwin flight deals

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Flight deals from Cairns to Darwin

Looking for a cheap last-minute deal or the best return flight from Cairns Airport to Darwin Airport? If you want to travel next month, return fares start from ر.ق.‏ 1,394. Find the lowest prices on one-way and return tickets right here.
Darwin.ر.ق.‏ 654 per passenger.Departing Sun, 8 Nov.One-way flight with Qantas.Outbound direct flight with Qantas departs from Cairns on Sun, 8 Nov, arriving in Darwin.Price includes taxes and charges.From ر.ق.‏ 654, select.
Darwin.ر.ق.‏ 655 per passenger.Departing Sat, 3 Apr.One-way flight with Qantas.Outbound direct flight with Qantas departs from Cairns on Sat, 3 Apr, arriving in Darwin.Price includes taxes and charges.From ر.ق.‏ 655, select.
Darwin.ر.ق.‏ 655 per passenger.Departing Sat, 24 Oct.One-way flight with Qantas.Outbound direct flight with Qantas departs from Cairns on Sat, 24 Oct, arriving in Darwin.Price includes taxes and charges.From ر.ق.‏ 655, select.
Darwin.ر.ق.‏ 656 per passenger.Departing Mon, 7 Dec.One-way flight with Qantas.Outbound direct flight with Qantas departs from Cairns on Mon, 7 Dec, arriving in Darwin.Price includes taxes and charges.From ر.ق.‏ 656, select.
Darwin.ر.ق.‏ 656 per passenger.Departing Wed, 12 May.One-way flight with Qantas.Outbound direct flight with Qantas departs from Cairns on Wed, 12 May, arriving in Darwin.Price includes taxes and charges.From ر.ق.‏ 656, select.
Darwin.ر.ق.‏ 656 per passenger.Departing Sat, 20 Feb.One-way flight with Qantas.Outbound direct flight with Qantas departs from Cairns on Sat, 20 Feb, arriving in Darwin.Price includes taxes and charges.From ر.ق.‏ 656, select.
Darwin.ر.ق.‏ 658 per passenger.Departing Fri, 19 Mar.One-way flight with Qantas.Outbound direct flight with Qantas departs from Cairns on Fri, 19 Mar, arriving in Darwin.Price includes taxes and charges.From ر.ق.‏ 658, select.
Darwin.ر.ق.‏ 660 per passenger.Departing Thu, 21 Jan.One-way flight with Qantas.Outbound direct flight with Qantas departs from Cairns on Thu, 21 Jan, arriving in Darwin.Price includes taxes and charges.From ر.ق.‏ 660, select.
Darwin.ر.ق.‏ 688 per passenger.Departing Mon, 24 Aug.One-way flight with Qantas.Outbound direct flight with Qantas departs from Cairns on Mon, 24 Aug, arriving in Darwin.Price includes taxes and charges.From ر.ق.‏ 688, select.
Darwin.ر.ق.‏ 705 per passenger.Departing Thu, 3 Sep.One-way flight with Qantas.Outbound direct flight with Qantas departs from Cairns on Thu, 3 Sep, arriving in Darwin.Price includes taxes and charges.From ر.ق.‏ 705, select.
Darwin.ر.ق.‏ 739 per passenger.Departing Sun, 26 Jul.One-way flight with Qantas.Outbound direct flight with Qantas departs from Cairns on Sun, 26 Jul, arriving in Darwin.Price includes taxes and charges.From ر.ق.‏ 739, select.
Darwin.ر.ق.‏ 1,270 per passenger.Departing Wed, 24 Jun.One-way flight with Airnorth .Outbound indirect flight with Airnorth , departs from Cairns on Wed, 24 Jun, arriving in Darwin.Price includes taxes and charges.From ر.ق.‏ 1,270, select.
Darwin.ر.ق.‏ 1,653 per passenger.Departing Tue, 23 Jun.One-way flight with Qantas.Outbound direct flight with Qantas departs from Cairns on Tue, 23 Jun, arriving in Darwin.Price includes taxes and charges.From ر.ق.‏ 1,653, select.

Find the cheapest month to fly from Cairns to Darwin

We’re always keeping an eye on fares, so you can find the best one in seconds. It looks like Cairns to Darwin flights are currently cheapest in November.
Jun
from ر.ق.‏ 1,270
Jul
from ر.ق.‏ 739
Aug
from ر.ق.‏ 688
Sep
from ر.ق.‏ 705
Oct
from ر.ق.‏ 655
Nov
from ر.ق.‏ 654
Dec
from ر.ق.‏ 656
Jan
from ر.ق.‏ 660
Feb
from ر.ق.‏ 656
Mar
from ر.ق.‏ 658
Apr
from ر.ق.‏ 655
May
from ر.ق.‏ 656

Direct flights from Cairns to Darwin

Cairns to Darwin: Alternative routes

Compare routes from Cairns to Darwin below. You may find an airport to fly into that's cheaper, faster, or easier than Darwin.

Darwin

6km from central Darwin
ClosestCheapest
from ر.ق.‏ 654
Search flights

Bathurst Island

81km from central Darwin
Search flights

Cairns to Darwin: Flight information

The things to know before you go.
Cheapest flight foundر.ق.‏ 654
Cheapest month to flyNovember
Average flight time2 hrs, 39 mins
Most popular airlineQantas
Average flights per week26

Finding cheap flights from Cairns to Darwin: Frequently asked questions

The best price we found for a return flight from Cairns to Darwin is ر.ق.‏ 1,311. This is an estimate based on information collected from different airlines and travel providers over the last 4 days and is subject to change and availability.
2 hours and 39 minutes is the average flight time from Cairns to Darwin.
Qantas and Alliance Airlines fly direct from Cairns to Darwin.
As of June 2026, there are 26 flights per week flying from Cairns to Darwin.
The cheapest month to fly from Cairns to Darwin is usually November.
After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that it's currently cheapest to fly from Cairns Airport to Darwin Airport on Sunday, 15 November 2026.
Yes – the average flight time is 2 hours and 39 minutes.
We show every price from over 1,200 airlines and travel agents, comparing them all so you don’t have to. If you know you want to fly to Darwin but you’re not ready to book, set up a Price Alert. We’ll track prices for you, and let you know when they rise or fall.
We crunched all the numbers in our flight calendar and it looks like the cheapest time to book a flight to Darwin is around 40 days in advance, so don’t leave your flight to the last minute.
Currently, Qantas offers the cheapest flight tickets to Darwin.

Travelling from Cairns Airport (CNS) to Darwin Airport (DRW): what you need to know

  • Around 2 hours 40 minutes is how long you can expect to be in the air on a direct flight from Cairns Airport to Darwin Airport.

  • The timezone in Darwin is UTC+9:30, which is 30 minutes behind Cairns.

  • Choose from eight weekly Cairns Airport to Darwin Airport flights. The 09:55 departure with Qantas is the earliest flight available. Qantas operates the last service of the day at 17:45.

  • Leave enough time to catch your CNS to DRW flight. Generally, it's best to arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.

  • During popular months like July, it's best to get to the airport even earlier. Plan to arrive two hours before a domestic departure and four hours ahead for international flights whenever you're flying during peak periods in general.

  • Qantas offers direct flights from Cairns Airport to Darwin Airport. Book with this popular carrier, then get ready to see the sights in Darwin — and maybe even more of Australia if time allows.

  • The majority of travellers choose to fly with Qantas on this route.

  • Qantas ranks as the top on-time carrier for CNS to DRW flights, with 85.71% of its services landing as scheduled.

  • Think about adding a stopover when booking your ticket from Cairns Airport to Darwin Airport. Just uncheck 'Direct flights only' to break up your trip, or perhaps see a new city along the way. Here's where you can stop between CNS and DRW:

    • Sydney Airport

    • Brisbane Airport

    • Adelaide Airport

How to find the cheapest flights from Cairns Airport (CNS) to Darwin Airport (DRW)

  • The lowest price we've seen for a one-way Cairns Airport to Darwin Airport flight is ر.ق.‏ 654. A return fare is currently ر.ق.‏ 1,311. Depending on the availability when you book, these fares may change.

  • Book three months before flying. After crunching the numbers on our calendar, this is how far you'll want to book ahead to find cheap tickets from CNS to DRW.

  • The cheapest month for flights from Cairns Airport to Darwin Airport is August. Use the 'Whole month' tool to find the lowest prices if you have flexible dates.

  • There's no need to check every day to find out if fares have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll send you an update the moment there's a new deal on cheap flights from CNS to DRW.

  • Tailor your trip using filters. Choose your arrival and departure times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort results by 'Cheapest,' 'Best' or 'Fastest' flights from Cairns Airport to Darwin Airport.

Handy information about Cairns Airport (CNS)

  • Of all flights leaving Cairns Airport, 74% land on schedule at their destination.

  • To reach Cairns Airport from central Cairns, it'll take about 15 minutes if you're planning to drive. Of course, this depends on traffic conditions. It's approximately 6 kilometres from the airport to the city centre.

  • Expect a journey time of around 25 minutes on public transport.

  • Get your travels off to a stress-free start by staying near CNS. Whether you're catching an early flight from Cairns Airport to Darwin Airport or want to avoid feeling rushed, these hotels are ideal:

Arriving at Darwin Airport (DRW)

  • If you're getting in on a late Cairns Airport to Darwin Airport flight, few things beat the convenience of staying near the terminal. Pick up your bags from the carousel and then be showered and relaxing not long after at one of these accommodation options near DRW:

  • Explore without limits with a Darwin Airport rental car. Book your wheels from Bargain Car Rentals, Thrifty or East Coast and venture far and wide through Darwin and beyond.

  • Lock in the best rate by booking your ride from Darwin Airport about four weeks ahead of your trip.

When to fly to Darwin Airport (DRW)

  • It's time to choose your trip dates for your flight from Cairns Airport to Darwin Airport. July is the busiest month to head to Darwin. If you prefer a more low-key vibe, go in March.

  • Lock in your flight from Cairns Airport to Darwin Airport for October if you want to explore Darwin during its warmest month. Expect temperatures of between 24ºC and 34ºC.

  • For cooler conditions, search for a cheap ticket from CNS to DRW in July. Average temperatures are between 18ºC and 31ºC then.

Plan the rest of your trip from Cairns to Darwin

Prices shown on this page are estimated lowest prices only. Found in the last 12 days.