Cheap air tickets from Sydney to Cairns

Compare Sydney to Cairns flight deals

Find the cheapest month or even day of the year to fly to Cairns

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Flight deals from Sydney to Cairns

Looking for a cheap last-minute deal or the best return flight from Sydney to Cairns? Find the lowest prices on one-way and return tickets right here.

Find the cheapest month to fly from Sydney to Cairns

We’re always keeping an eye on fares, so you can find the best one in seconds. It looks like Sydney to Cairns flights are currently cheapest in January.

Direct flights from Sydney to Cairns

Sydney to Cairns: Alternative routes

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

Sydney to Cairns: Flight information

The things to know before you go.
Cheapest flight found$81
Cheapest month to flyFebruary
Average flight time3 hrs, 8 mins
Most popular airlineQantas
Average flights per week244

Finding cheap flights from Sydney to Cairns: Frequently asked questions

The best price we found for a return flight from Sydney to Cairns is $155. 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.
3 hours and 8 minutes is the average flight time from Sydney to Cairns.
Qantas, Etihad Airways and Hawaiian Airlines fly direct from Sydney to Cairns.
As of December 2024, there are 244 flights per week flying from Sydney to Cairns.
The cheapest month to fly from Sydney to Cairns is usually December 2024.
After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that it's currently cheapest to fly from Sydney Airport to Cairns Airport on Thursday, 9 October 2025.
Yes – the average flight time is 3 hours and 8 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 Cairns 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 Cairns is around 40 days in advance, so don’t leave your flight to the last minute.
Currently, Jetstar offers the cheapest flight tickets to Cairns.

Flying from Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport (SYD) to Cairns Airport (CNS): what you need to know

  • 3 hours 7 minutes is the average time for a direct flight from Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport to Cairns Airport. Cairns is 1 hour behind Sydney and operates on the UTC+10 timezone.

  • Flights from Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport to Cairns Airport start at 06:00 — the first with Jetstar. The last flight of the day is the 20:45 service with Jetstar. In total, you can take your pick of 163 services every week from SYD to CNS.

  • During popular months such as July, you'll want to get to the airport well in advance. Arrive two hours before a domestic departure and four hours ahead of international flights whenever you're travelling during peak periods in general.

  • You'll find a variety of airlines providing direct flights from Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport to Cairns Airport. When you're ready to start your Cairns adventure and discover this part of Australia, these leading carriers fly the SYD to CNS route:

  • If you want to break up your flight from Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport to Cairns Airport, consider adding a stopover. Just deselect 'Direct flights only' and find a destination that appeals to you. The most popular stopovers on the SYD - CNS route are:

    • Canberra Airport

    • Townsville Airport

    • Brisbane Airport

  • When flying domestically within Australia, you don't need a visa or even a passport. However, you'll have to show some kind of identification, such as an ID card or driver's license. Once you've found your cheap ticket from SYD to CNS, check your ID is up to date before you travel.

Arriving at Cairns Airport (CNS)

  • If you're coming in on a late flight from Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport to Cairns Airport, few things top the convenience of staying close to the terminal. Grab your suitcases from the carousel and then be showered and sleeping soon after at one of these hotels near CNS:

Handy information about Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport (SYD)

  • Travelling from central Sydney to Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport takes approximately 27 minutes by public transport. If you ride-share, drive or take a cab, you'll cover the 18 kilometres in 21 minutes or so, depending on traffic.

  • After a convenient hotel close to SYD? If you're boarding an early flight from Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport to Cairns Airport, these accommodation options will have you moments from check-in:

More about Cairns

  • When it comes to looking for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the top stays in Cairns right here. Explore these options after locking in your flight from SYD to CNS:

  • All great holidays should include a little sightseeing. Kuranda Scenic Railway Freshwater Station, Cairns Esplanade Western High Water Pier and Cairns Botanic Gardens are attractions you won't want to skip in Cairns.

Getting from Cairns Airport (CNS) to central Cairns

  • Cairns Airport to the centre of Cairns is around 10 minutes by car. It's approximately 6 kilometres away. Find out what options are available, such as cabs, car rentals or ride-sharing services.

  • When travelling on public transport, expect a journey time of about 1 hour and 26 minutes.

Complete your Cairns trip with hotels and a car rental

  • After you've secured your cheap ticket to Cairns Airport, browse the lowest prices and exclusive offers on hotels. You can also compare a range of car rental companies in one place to find the best car rental price for your Cairns holiday.

How to find the cheapest flights from Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport (SYD) to Cairns Airport (CNS)

  • The best price we've found for a one-way ticket from Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport to Cairns Airport is $81. The cheapest price for a return flight is $155. Bear in mind that fares may change due to availability at the time of booking.

  • Book 9 months before you travel. After crunching the numbers on our calendar, this is how far you should book ahead to find cheap tickets from SYD to CNS.

  • The cheapest month for tickets from Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport to Cairns Airport is May. Use the 'Whole month' tool to find the lowest airfares if you have a flexible schedule.

  • Snapping up a cheap ticket from SYD to CNS is straightforward with Price Alerts. Simply set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll get in touch when the price has dropped.

  • Use filters to tailor your flights from Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport to Cairns Airport. Pick your preferred departure and arrival times, airlines and number of stops. Or sort your results by 'Cheapest' to see the best deals.

When to fly to Cairns Airport (CNS)

  • The quietest month for a flight from Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport to Cairns Airport is February, while July is the busiest. Pick the best time to visit Cairns based on whether you prefer a laid-back vibe or a more bustling atmosphere.

  • The warmest month in Cairns is January, with temperatures ranging between 23ºC and 31ºC. Book your flights from Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport to Cairns Airport in this month if this is the type of weather you enjoy.

  • Search for cheap tickets from SYD to CNS in August if you like cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest around then, ranging between 16ºC and 25ºC on average.

Prices shown on this page are estimated lowest prices only. Found in the last 45 days.