Cheap Flights from Wellington to Cairns

Your route at a glance

Cheapest deal$926
Cheapest monthJuly
Most popular airlineQantas

Compare Wellington 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 Wellington to Cairns

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

Find the cheapest month to fly from Wellington to Cairns

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

Wellington to Cairns: Alternative routes

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

Finding cheap flights from Wellington to Cairns: Frequently asked questions

The best price we found for a return flight from Wellington to Cairns is $926. 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.
Currently, there are no airlines that fly direct from Wellington to Cairns. But we found flights with one or more stops from $926.
As of December 2025, there are no flights flying from Wellington to Cairns.
The cheapest month to fly from Wellington to Cairns is usually July.
After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that it's currently cheapest to fly from Wellington Airport to Cairns Airport on Tuesday, 28 July 2026.
No airlines currently offer direct flights between Wellington Airport and Cairns Airport. Most routes have one or more stops.
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, Air New Zealand offers the cheapest flight tickets to Cairns.

Flying from Wellington International Airport (WLG) to Cairns Airport (CNS): what you need to know

  • Cairns is three hours behind Wellington and observes the UTC+10 timezone.

  • To ensure you get on your WLG to CNS flight, leave plenty of time to navigate the airport and find your gate. Arriving two hours before international departures and an hour before domestic flights is the general travel rule.

  • During popular months like July, it's best to get to the airport earlier than usual. Plan to arrive two hours before domestic departures and four hours ahead for an international flight whenever you're travelling during peak periods in general.

How to find the cheapest flights from Wellington International Airport (WLG) to Cairns Airport (CNS)

  • $257 is currently the best price for a one-way Wellington International Airport to Cairns Airport flight. Return flights start from $926. These prices may change depending on availability and demand.

  • To score cheap tickets from WLG to CNS, book in advance. Airlines typically offer lower fares when flights are first made available.

  • Getting cheap flights from Wellington International Airport to Cairns Airport is more likely if you can be flexible with your dates. Use the 'Whole month' tool to see the lowest fares across the month and snap up a great deal.

  • Picking up cheap flights from WLG to CNS is a piece of cake with Price Alerts. Simply set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll let you know as soon as there's a better deal.

  • Secure the ideal flight for you with the help of the filters. To see the 'Fastest,' 'Best' or 'Cheapest' flights from Wellington International Airport to Cairns Airport, use the 'Sort by' tool. You can also filter results by departure and arrival times, airline, and journey duration.

Handy information about Wellington International Airport (WLG)

  • 72.62% of flights taking off from Wellington International Airport make it to their destination on time.

  • Wellington International Airport is about 13 kilometres from central Wellington. If you're driving, ride-sharing or catching a cab from the centre, it'll take 25 minutes or so to arrive, depending on the traffic.

  • Expect a journey time of about 1 hour 20 minutes when using public transport.

  • Get your travels off to a relaxed start by staying near WLG. Whether you're boarding an early flight from Wellington International Airport to Cairns Airport or just don't like being rushed, these stays have you covered:

Arriving at Cairns Airport (CNS)

  • The last thing you want is a lengthy journey to your hotel if you're getting in late on a Wellington International Airport to Cairns Airport flight. Book one of these accommodation options near CNS instead:

  • Get on the fast track to adventure by picking up a Cairns Airport rental car. Grab your wheels from simba car hire, Bargain Car Rentals or East Coast and experience the lesser-explored corners of Cairns and beyond.

  • Reserving your vehicle from Cairns Airport around two weeks ahead can help you secure the lowest rate.

Getting from Cairns Airport (CNS) to central Cairns

  • Cairns Airport is roughly 6 kilometres from the centre of Cairns. The drive time takes around 10 minutes.

  • Getting to the centre by public transport takes around 1 hour 25 minutes.

When to fly to Cairns Airport (CNS)

  • July is the busiest month for flights from Wellington International Airport to Cairns Airport. To steer clear of the crowds, visit Cairns in February.

  • When reserving your flight from Wellington International Airport to Cairns Airport, consider the kind of weather you like. January is the warmest month in Cairns, with the temperature ranging from 23ºC to 31ºC.

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

Explore more of Australia

  • Townsville is just one of the many places in Australia waiting to be explored once you've seen the sights of Cairns. Around 290 kilometres away to the south, popular attractions include The Strand Beach, Castle Hill and Big Mama Sailing- Magnetic Island & Townsville.

  • Bowen is another sought-after destination in Australia and is around 434 kilometres south-east of Cairns. No trip is complete without experiencing Holbourne Island National Park, The Big Mango and Grays Bay.

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