Cheap Flights from Queenstown to Cairns from $847

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Flight deals from Queenstown to Cairns

Looking for a cheap last-minute deal or the best return flight from Queenstown Airport to Cairns Airport? If you want to travel next month, return fares start from $1,129. Find the lowest prices on one-way and return tickets right here.

Cairns.$847 per passenger.Departing Thu, 15 Oct, returning Tue, 20 Oct.Return flight with Virgin Australia.Outbound indirect flight with Virgin Australia, departs from Queenstown on Thu, 15 Oct, arriving in Cairns.Inbound indirect flight with Virgin Australia, departs from Cairns on Tue, 20 Oct, arriving in Queenstown.Price includes taxes and charges.From $847, select.

Cairns.$878 per passenger.Departing Tue, 15 Sep, returning Sun, 27 Sep.Return flight with Air New Zealand and Jetstar.Outbound indirect flight with Air New Zealand, departs from Queenstown on Tue, 15 Sep, arriving in Cairns.Inbound indirect flight with Jetstar, departs from Cairns on Sun, 27 Sep, arriving in Queenstown.Price includes taxes and charges.From $878, select.

Cairns.$880 per passenger.Departing Wed, 27 Jan, returning Sat, 30 Jan.Return flight with Virgin Australia.Outbound indirect flight with Virgin Australia, departs from Queenstown on Wed, 27 Jan, arriving in Cairns.Inbound indirect flight with Virgin Australia, departs from Cairns on Sat, 30 Jan, arriving in Queenstown.Price includes taxes and charges.From $880, select.

Cairns.$882 per passenger.Departing Thu, 4 Feb, returning Tue, 16 Feb.Return flight with Virgin Australia.Outbound indirect flight with Virgin Australia, departs from Queenstown on Thu, 4 Feb, arriving in Cairns.Inbound indirect flight with Virgin Australia, departs from Cairns on Tue, 16 Feb, arriving in Queenstown.Price includes taxes and charges.From $882, select.

Cairns.$1,004 per passenger.Departing Sat, 29 Aug, returning Wed, 9 Sep.Return flight with Jetstar.Outbound indirect flight with Jetstar, departs from Queenstown on Sat, 29 Aug, arriving in Cairns.Inbound indirect flight with Jetstar, departs from Cairns on Wed, 9 Sep, arriving in Queenstown.Price includes taxes and charges.From $1,004, select.

Cairns.$1,017 per passenger.Departing Thu, 17 Dec, returning Thu, 31 Dec.Return flight with Virgin Australia.Outbound indirect flight with Virgin Australia, departs from Queenstown on Thu, 17 Dec, arriving in Cairns.Inbound indirect flight with Virgin Australia, departs from Cairns on Thu, 31 Dec, arriving in Queenstown.Price includes taxes and charges.From $1,017, select.

Cairns.$1,065 per passenger.Departing Sat, 26 Sep, returning Sun, 4 Oct.Return flight with Virgin Australia.Outbound indirect flight with Virgin Australia, departs from Queenstown on Sat, 26 Sep, arriving in Cairns.Inbound indirect flight with Virgin Australia, departs from Cairns on Sun, 4 Oct, arriving in Queenstown.Price includes taxes and charges.From $1,065, select.

Cairns.$1,065 per passenger.Departing Tue, 10 Nov, returning Wed, 18 Nov.Return flight with Jetstar.Outbound indirect flight with Jetstar, departs from Queenstown on Tue, 10 Nov, arriving in Cairns.Inbound indirect flight with Jetstar, departs from Cairns on Wed, 18 Nov, arriving in Queenstown.Price includes taxes and charges.From $1,065, select.

Cairns.$1,070 per passenger.Departing Wed, 23 Dec, returning Sat, 9 Jan.Return flight with Virgin Australia.Outbound indirect flight with Virgin Australia, departs from Queenstown on Wed, 23 Dec, arriving in Cairns.Inbound indirect flight with Virgin Australia, departs from Cairns on Sat, 9 Jan, arriving in Queenstown.Price includes taxes and charges.From $1,070, select.

Cairns.$1,129 per passenger.Departing Tue, 18 Aug, returning Mon, 24 Aug.Return flight with Jetstar.Outbound indirect flight with Jetstar, departs from Queenstown on Tue, 18 Aug, arriving in Cairns.Inbound indirect flight with Jetstar, departs from Cairns on Mon, 24 Aug, arriving in Queenstown.Price includes taxes and charges.From $1,129, select.

Cairns.$1,131 per passenger.Departing Tue, 23 Mar, returning Tue, 30 Mar.Return flight with Virgin Australia.Outbound indirect flight with Virgin Australia, departs from Queenstown on Tue, 23 Mar, arriving in Cairns.Inbound indirect flight with Virgin Australia, departs from Cairns on Tue, 30 Mar, arriving in Queenstown.Price includes taxes and charges.From $1,131, select.

Find the cheapest month to fly from Queenstown to Cairns

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

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Queenstown to Cairns: Alternative routes

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

Cairns

4km from central Cairns

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from $847

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Queenstown to Cairns: Flight information

The things to know before you go.

Cheapest flight found	$847
Cheapest month to fly	October

Finding cheap flights from Queenstown to Cairns: Frequently asked questions

How much are return flights from Queenstown to Cairns?

The best price we found for a return flight from Queenstown to Cairns is $847. 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.

Which airlines fly direct from Queenstown to Cairns?

Currently, there are no airlines that fly direct from Queenstown to Cairns. But we found flights with one or more stops from $847.

How many flights are there a week from Queenstown to Cairns?

As of July 2026, there are no flights flying from Queenstown to Cairns.

When is the cheapest time to fly from Queenstown to Cairns?

The cheapest month to fly from Queenstown to Cairns is usually October.

Which upcoming date is cheapest to fly from Queenstown Airport to Cairns Airport on?

After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that it's currently cheapest to fly from Queenstown Airport to Cairns Airport on Thursday, 15 October 2026.

Can I get a direct flight from Queenstown Airport to Cairns Airport?

No airlines currently offer direct flights between Queenstown Airport and Cairns Airport. Most routes have one or more stops.

How can I find the best flight deal to Cairns?

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.

When is the best time to book flights to Cairns?

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.

Which is the cheapest airline to fly from Queenstown Airport to Cairns with?

Currently, Virgin Australia offers the cheapest flight tickets to Cairns.

Flying from Queenstown Airport (ZQN) to Cairns Airport (CNS): what you need to know

Cairns's timezone is UTC+10, which makes Cairns three hours behind Queenstown.
To ensure you catch your ZQN to CNS flight, leave plenty of time to navigate the airport and find your gate. Turning up two hours before international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the standard rule.
During popular months such as July, it's best to get to the airport earlier than usual. Plan to arrive two hours before domestic departures and four hours ahead of international flights whenever you're flying during peak periods in general.

How to find the cheapest flights from Queenstown Airport (ZQN) to Cairns Airport (CNS)

$380 is currently the lowest price for a one-way Queenstown Airport to Cairns Airport flight. A return flight starts from $847. These fares can change depending on availability and demand.
To find cheap tickets from ZQN to CNS, book early. Airlines typically offer lower prices when flights are first made available.
Getting cheap flights from Queenstown Airport to Cairns Airport is easier if you can be flexible with your trip dates. Use the 'Whole month' function to see the best prices across the month and score a great deal.
You won't have to check back in every day to see if fares have gone down when you set up a Price Alert. We'll let you know as soon as there's a change in price on cheap flights from ZQN to CNS.
Pick your ideal departure and arrival times, number of stops and airlines with the filters. Or sort your results by 'Cheapest' to see the best deals on flights from Queenstown Airport to Cairns Airport.

Handy information about Queenstown Airport (ZQN)

ZQN is located at P.O. Box 64.
73% of flights departing from Queenstown Airport touch down at their destination on schedule.
Central Queenstown to Queenstown Airport is approximately 8 kilometres. Depending on traffic, it'll take about 15 minutes to get there if you're catching a taxi, ride-sharing or driving.
Planning to catch public transport? Expect a trip time of around 25 minutes.
Need a convenient hotel near ZQN? If you've booked an early flight from Queenstown Airport to Cairns Airport, these accommodation options will have you sleeping moments from check-in:

Arriving at Cairns Airport (CNS)

The last thing you need is a long trip to your hotel if you're arriving on a late Queenstown Airport to Cairns Airport flight. Stay at one of these accommodation options near CNS instead:
Hit the road running by picking up a Cairns Airport rental car. Grab your wheels from simba car rental, Bargain Car Rentals or East Coast and experience the lesser-explored corners of Cairns and beyond.
Reserving your ride from Cairns Airport about two weeks in advance gives you the best shot at securing a great deal.

Getting from Cairns Airport (CNS) to central Cairns

From Cairns Airport, Cairns is approximately 6 kilometres away. It takes around 15 minutes to reach the centre by car.
Travelling by public transport takes roughly 25 minutes.

When to fly to Cairns Airport (CNS)

It's time to plan your travel dates for your flight from Queenstown Airport to Cairns Airport. July is the busiest month to visit Cairns. If you want a quieter vibe, go in March.
Book your flight from Queenstown Airport to Cairns Airport for January if you'd like to explore Cairns during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures of between 23ºC and 31ºC.
If you like cooler conditions, look for a cheap ticket from ZQN to CNS in August. Temperatures average between 16ºC and 25ºC then.

Explore more of Australia

Cairns has loads to offer, but there are so many other corners of Australia waiting to be discovered. Around 290 kilometres south of Cairns, a trip to Townsville will keep your itinerary packed. Start with leading attractions like Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Great Barrier Reef Aquarium and Botanic Gardens.
Around 434 kilometres south-east of Cairns, Bowen is another favourite stop in Australia. Start your sightseeing at Horseshoe Bay Beach, Sunset Point and Kings Beach.