Qantas Airways
QF-1889
07:05
2026-10-03
Darwin (DRW)
Darwin
Darwin2H :30 M
Non Stop
10:05
2026-10-03
Cairns (CNS)Cairns
Cairns
DRW to CNS
Darwin to Cairns Flights
Compare fares, departure times, stops and baggage details for this route, then open the full search when you are ready to check current availability and complete booking.
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Lowest fareA$496Qantas Airways
Fastest2h 30mgate to gate
Options found25flights on this route
Available Flights & Fares
Compare fares, timings and baggage. Pick the flight that suits your trip.
Prices in AUD
25 flight options
Fares are checked again before payment.
Airnorth Reg
TL-160
08:35
2026-10-03
Darwin (DRW)Darwin
Darwin3H :30 M
Non Stop
12:35
2026-10-03
Cairns (CNS)Cairns
Cairns Qantas Airways
QF-827
01:10
2026-10-03
Darwin (DRW)Darwin
Darwin7H :00 M
1 Stop
BNE
· 0h 45m Brisbane (BNE), Australia
08:40
2026-10-03
Cairns (CNS)Cairns
Cairns Qantas Airways
QF-827
01:10
2026-10-03
Darwin (DRW)Darwin
Darwin17H :50 M
1 Stop
BNE
· 11h 35m Brisbane (BNE), Australia
19:30
2026-10-03
Cairns (CNS)Cairns
Cairns Qantas Airways
QF-827
01:10
2026-10-03
Darwin (DRW)Darwin
Darwin13H :20 M
1 Stop
BNE
· 7h 05m Brisbane (BNE), Australia
15:00
2026-10-03
Cairns (CNS)Cairns
Cairns Qantas Airways
QF-827
01:10
2026-10-03
Darwin (DRW)Darwin
Darwin15H :15 M
1 Stop
BNE
· 9h 00m Brisbane (BNE), Australia
16:55
2026-10-03
Cairns (CNS)Cairns
Cairns Qantas Airways
QF-837
06:10
2026-10-03
Darwin (DRW)Darwin
Darwin28H :55 M
2 Stops
MEL
· 19h 10m Melbourne (MEL), Australia
BNE
· 0h 45m Brisbane (BNE), Australia
10:35
2026-10-04
Cairns (CNS)Cairns
Cairns Qantas Airways
QF-837
06:10
2026-10-03
Darwin (DRW)Darwin
Darwin29H :10 M
1 Stop
MEL
· 21h 35m Melbourne (MEL), Australia
10:50
2026-10-04
Cairns (CNS)Cairns
Cairns Qantas Airways
QF-837
06:10
2026-10-03
Darwin (DRW)Darwin
Darwin12H :50 M
2 Stops
MEL
· 1h 35m Melbourne (MEL), Australia
BNE
· 2h 15m Brisbane (BNE), Australia
19:30
2026-10-03
Cairns (CNS)Cairns
Cairns Qantas Airways
QF-835
13:30
2026-10-03
Darwin (DRW)Darwin
Darwin27H :55 M
2 Stops
MEL
· 13h 50m Melbourne (MEL), Australia
BNE
· 5h 05m Brisbane (BNE), Australia
16:55
2026-10-04
Cairns (CNS)Cairns
Cairns Qantas Airways
QF-837
06:10
2026-10-03
Darwin (DRW)Darwin
Darwin32H :20 M
2 Stops
MEL
· 5h 55m Melbourne (MEL), Australia
BNE
· 17h 25m Brisbane (BNE), Australia
15:00
2026-10-04
Cairns (CNS)Cairns
Cairns Qantas Airways
QF-843
01:35
2026-10-03
Darwin (DRW)Darwin
Darwin17H :25 M
2 Stops
SYD
· 6h 35m Sydney (SYD), Australia
BNE
· 2h 25m Brisbane (BNE), Australia
19:30
2026-10-03
Cairns (CNS)Cairns
Cairns Qantas Airways
QF-825
12:45
2026-10-03
Darwin (DRW)Darwin
Darwin28H :55 M
1 Stop
BNE
· 22h 40m Brisbane (BNE), Australia
18:10
2026-10-04
Cairns (CNS)Cairns
Cairns
Virgin Australia
VA-454
14:35
2026-10-03
Darwin (DRW)Darwin
Darwin17H :35 M
1 Stop
BNE
· 11h 15m Brisbane (BNE), Australia
08:40
2026-10-04
Cairns (CNS)Cairns
Cairns Qantas Airways
QF-827
01:10
2026-10-03
Darwin (DRW)Darwin
Darwin35H :40 M
2 Stops
BNE
· 10h 35m Brisbane (BNE), Australia
TSV
· 18h 10m Townsville (TSV), Australia
13:20
2026-10-04
Cairns (CNS)Cairns
Cairns Qantas Airways
QF-827
01:10
2026-10-03
Darwin (DRW)Darwin
Darwin43H :50 M
2 Stops
BNE
· 23h 35m Brisbane (BNE), Australia
SYD
· 11h 35m Sydney (SYD), Australia
21:30
2026-10-04
Cairns (CNS)Cairns
Cairns Qantas Airways
QF-835
13:30
2026-10-03
Darwin (DRW)Darwin
Darwin29H :10 M
2 Stops
MEL
· 11h 50m Melbourne (MEL), Australia
BNE
· 8h 20m Brisbane (BNE), Australia
18:10
2026-10-04
Cairns (CNS)Cairns
Cairns Qantas Airways
QF-827
01:10
2026-10-03
Darwin (DRW)Darwin
Darwin8H :55 M
1 Stop
BNE
· 2h 40m Brisbane (BNE), Australia
10:35
2026-10-03
Cairns (CNS)Cairns
Cairns Virgin Australia
VA-454
14:35
2026-10-03
Darwin (DRW)Darwin
Darwin23H :00 M
1 Stop
BNE
· 16h 40m Brisbane (BNE), Australia
14:05
2026-10-04
Cairns (CNS)Cairns
Cairns Virgin Australia
VA-454
14:35
2026-10-03
Darwin (DRW)Darwin
Darwin20H :05 M
1 Stop
BNE
· 13h 45m Brisbane (BNE), Australia
11:10
2026-10-04
Cairns (CNS)Cairns
Cairns Virgin Australia
VA-454
14:35
2026-10-03
Darwin (DRW)Darwin
Darwin41H :25 M
2 Stops
BNE
· 12h 00m Brisbane (BNE), Australia
MEL
· 19h 45m Melbourne (MEL), Australia
08:30
2026-10-05
Cairns (CNS)Cairns
Cairns Virgin Australia
VA-454
14:35
2026-10-03
Darwin (DRW)Darwin
Darwin25H :40 M
1 Stop
BNE
· 19h 20m Brisbane (BNE), Australia
16:45
2026-10-04
Cairns (CNS)Cairns
CairnsRecommended hotels in Cairns
Stay options near the arrival city for the same travel date.
Cairns Sunland Leisure Park
49-61 Little Pease Street, 4870
Room availability is checked live
A$76per night+ taxes if applicable
1 Night • 4 Star
Cairns Queens Court
167-173 Sheridan St, 4870
Room availability is checked live
A$102per night+ taxes if applicable
1 Night • 3 Star
Aspect Central
209 Sheridan Street, 4870
Room availability is checked live
A$113per night+ taxes if applicable
1 Night • 3 Star
Bohemia Resort Cairns
231 Mcleod Street, 4870
Room availability is checked live
A$119per night+ taxes if applicable
1 Night • 3 Star
Virgin Australia
VA-454
14:35
2026-10-03
Darwin (DRW)Darwin
Darwin23H :50 M
2 Stops
BNE
· 11h 10m Brisbane (BNE), Australia
SYD
· 4h 00m Sydney (SYD), Australia
14:55
2026-10-04
Cairns (CNS)Cairns
Cairns Qantas Airways
QF-843
01:35
2026-10-03
Darwin (DRW)Darwin
Darwin10H :50 M
1 Stop
SYD
· 3h 20m Sydney (SYD), Australia
12:55
2026-10-03
Cairns (CNS)Cairns
Cairns Qantas Airways
QF-843
01:35
2026-10-03
Darwin (DRW)Darwin
Darwin11H :35 M
1 Stop
SYD
· 4h 05m Sydney (SYD), Australia
13:40
2026-10-03
Cairns (CNS)Cairns
CairnsNo flights match the selected filters. Clear filters or open full search.
Today's Airfare Highlights
Selected flight highlights for 03 Oct 2026.
Lowest fare
A$496
Qantas Airways
07:05
Earliest departure
A$721
Qantas Airways
01:10
Shortest duration
A$496
Qantas Airways
07:05
Route forecast
Weather in Darwin and Cairns
Live forecast for both cities, 18 Sep to 21 Sep.
Darwin
Mon, 21 Sep30°CClear skyLow 25°
- Fri31° / 26°
- Sat30° / 26°
- Sun30° / 25°
Cairns
Mon, 21 Sep25°CPartly cloudyLow 18°
- Fri23° / 19°
- Sat23° / 18°
- Sun24° / 18°
Forecast data from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Smart travel dates
Holidays and peak dates for Cairns
Fares and hotel rates usually run higher around these dates. Booking earlier — or shifting a day or two — often costs less.
- 25SepFriday before AFL Grand FinalFriday · in 12 daysPeak
- 28SepKing's BirthdayMonday · in 15 daysPeak
- 05OctLabour DayMonday · in 22 daysPeak
- 05OctKing's BirthdayMonday · in 22 daysPeak
- 03NovMelbourne CupTuesday · in 51 days
- 25DecChristmas DayFriday · in 103 days
Fixed-date national holidays. Festivals that follow the lunar calendar shift each year and are not listed here — check the exact date for your travel year.
Compare your journey
How to travel Darwin to Cairns
Every option we can actually book for you, compared on price and journey time.
OptionFromJourney timeAvailability
Non-stop flight Fastest₹33,9912h 30m2 flights today
Connecting flight₹49,452Longer — includes a stop23 options
Air distance is about 1,675 km. 3 airlines operate this route.
Road distance and coach duration are approximate estimates from the air distance, not a timetable.
Airlines flying from Darwin to Cairns
Compare fares, stops, baggage and refundability across the airlines flying this route.
Qantas Airways Flights
- Fares from
- A$496
- Non-stop
- 1 in these results
- Departures
- 18 — compare timings in the list above
Virgin Australia Flights
- Fares from
- A$1,128
- Non-stop
- None in these results
- Departures
- 6 — compare timings in the list above
Route Overview & Flight Facts
| Fastest flight duration | 2h 30m · Qantas Airways |
|---|---|
| First departure of the day | 01:10 · Qantas Airways |
| Last departure of the day | 14:35 · Virgin Australia |
| Options in this snapshot | 25 |
| Direct / non-stop options | 2 |
| Airport codes | Darwin–DRW, Cairns–CNS |
Fares and timings are indicative — the exact price is confirmed with the airline when you search.
Flight Schedule, Timings & Airfare Insights
Daily Flight Schedule & Travel Duration
Around 25 flights appear in the dated route snapshot, including 2 non-stop options. Departures run through the day — the first flight leaves around 01:10 and the last around 14:35. The fastest flight takes about 2h 30m.
Morning vs Evening Departure Fares
Lowest fare by departure window: Morning from A$496, Night from A$721, Afternoon from A$1,072. These observations do not predict the cheapest departure window on other dates.
Cheapest Airfare & Best Time to Book
Search your travel dates to compare current fares — prices update continuously with airline inventory.
One-Way vs Round-Trip Fare Comparison
Compare the complete cost and conditions of both options for your dates. A round-trip can have different fare and change rules from two one-way tickets. One booking may contain multiple airline PNRs; confirm baggage transfer and connection protection for separate tickets.
Online Web Check-In & Boarding Pass
Check the operating airline’s opening time and check-in deadline for each sector. Seat charges and availability depend on your fare. Use the airline reference and the links on Web Check-in.
How to Book Cheap Flights on FlyX
- 1Enter your travel details
Choose one-way or round-trip, pick your dates and travellers in the search form above.
- 2Compare search results
Sort or filter the Darwin–Cairns results by price, departure time, stops and airline.
- 3Open the fare choices
Check baggage allowance and refundability for each fare type before continuing.
- 4Review the final price
Review the refreshed supplier fare, coupon saving and selected payment-method fee before you pay.
- 5Pay securely
UPI, cards, net banking and wallets supported; payment and ticket issuance have separate statuses. If issuance is pending, follow the booking status; the confirmed ticket is sent after issuance.
Why Book Your Flight with FlyX?
Compare the available Darwin to Cairns options by total price, stops, baggage and fare conditions. Search your dates for current availability, then review traveller details and the final price before paying.
Payment confirmation and ticket issuance are separate steps. If your booking is awaiting a PNR or ticket, follow its status and contact FlyX support when you need help. Your issued ticket contains the airline reference and itinerary. Change and cancellation charges depend on the purchased fare and any separately disclosed service fee.
Exclusive Flight Offers & Promo Coupons
| Coupon code | Offer | Max saving |
|---|---|---|
| FLYX20 | Up to 20% Off on Flights | ₹1,500 |
Check coupon eligibility and the final discount on the review page before you pay. View full terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it worth booking Darwin to Cairns flights in advance?
There is no guaranteed cheapest booking window. Compare your planned dates early, check nearby dates and consider baggage, connection time and change conditions as well as price. Across the dates currently loaded for Darwin to Cairns, Saturday shows the lowest fare at A$496. That is an observed snapshot for these dates, not a rule that holds every week.
How far is Darwin from Cairns by air?
The direct air distance between Darwin (DRW) and Cairns (CNS) is about 1,675 km. Actual flight time varies with the routing the airline files and with winds on the day.
Are there non-stop flights from DRW to CNS?
Yes. 2 non-stop flights are showing on Darwin to Cairns for the dates currently loaded. Use the Stops filter to see only those.
Which airlines fly Darwin to Cairns?
Qantas Airways and Virgin Australia are showing on this route for the dates currently loaded. Fares, baggage allowance and refund rules differ by airline and by fare type, so compare the fare conditions and not only the headline price.
How long is the flight from Darwin to Cairns?
The quickest non-stop Darwin to Cairns flight currently loaded takes about 2h 30m. Across the non-stop options showing, block time ranges from 2h 30m to 3h 30m. Journeys with a stop take longer, since the total includes the layover.
What is the baggage allowance on Darwin to Cairns flights?
Allowance is set by the airline and the fare you pick, not by the route. Fares showing right now include 1 Pieces and 20 KG. Cabin baggage is counted separately, and the exact allowance for the fare you choose is shown in the fare conditions before payment.
What is the cheapest Darwin to Cairns flight fare?
The lowest fare showing on Darwin to Cairns for the dates currently loaded is A$496. Fares on the same dates run up to A$2,645, depending on airline, timing and fare type. Airline pricing moves continuously, so treat this as a dated observation rather than a fixed price.
What time do Darwin to Cairns flights depart?
For the dates currently loaded the first departure is around 01:10 and the last is around 14:35, local time at Darwin. Use the departure-time filter on the results above to narrow to a morning, afternoon or evening slot.
Why does the price change after clicking Book Now?
Airline seat inventory and fares change continuously. Selecting Book Now runs a live fare verification with the airline so the price you approve is the price you pay - if it has moved, you see the new figure before any payment.
Before you book this route
Check the airport codes DRW–CNS, local departure and arrival dates, and every connecting airport. Connections can have different document and baggage requirements from your final destination.
Where these fares come from
The fares, durations, stops and baggage shown here come from real airline search results for this route. They are examples for the dates on this page, not a full timetable and not a locked price — run a search to see what is available for your own dates.
Last checked .
Check official travel requirements
Confirm passport, visa and transit rules for your nationality and full itinerary with the relevant government and operating airline. IATA travel-document information explains why requirements vary.
For payment, ticket issuance or a change request, see FlyX support. About FlyX.
Australia travel guide for Indian travellers
Planning more than the flight? Our Australia guide covers the visa process for Indian passport holders, best time to go, how long to plan for, and which places are worth the days you have. Sydney, reefs, road trips and wildlife.
What to Expect When Booking Your Flight
The DRW to CNS cards above show selected flight options. Airline prices and seat availability can move quickly, so the final fare is rechecked in the booking flow.
Approx route distance: 1,675.26 km.
Before you book
Compare nearby dates
The date strip opens the complete search result for the route and selected date.
Use filters
Shortlist by price, stops, departure time and refundable fare preference.
Check fare choices
Continue to Booking opens the verified fare choices, including baggage and refundability, before review.
Lowest Darwin to Cairns airfare today, in 30 days and in 90 days
| Cheapest Fare | Fare | Date | Airline | Departure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest Airfare Today | A$496 | 03/10/2026 | Qantas Airways | 07:05 |
| Cheapest Airfare Within 30 Days | A$486 | 13/10/2026 | Qantas Airways | 07:05 |
| Cheapest Airfare Within 90 Days | A$471 | 12/12/2026 | Qantas Airways | 07:05 |
Book Darwin to Cairns Flight Tickets on FlyX
Planning to fly from Darwin to Cairns? FlyX lets you compare flight rates, airline timings, layovers, and baggage allowances all in one simple list. From quick non-stop routes to flexible connecting options, finding and booking cheap air tickets has never been easier.
Darwin to Cairns Flight Distance, Duration and Time
The aerial distance between Darwin and Cairns is approximately 1,675 KM. The flight duration ranges from 2H :30 M up to 43H :50 M depending on whether you book a non-stop flight or a connecting schedule with layovers.
Darwin to Cairns Flight Schedule and Timing
Around 25 flights operate on this route, providing plenty of choices for your travel window. The earliest morning flight departs from Darwin at 01:10, while the last night flight leaves at 14:35. Flights depart from Darwin and land at Cairns.
Flight Route Details & Analysis
| Flight Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Route | Darwin to Cairns |
| Aerial Distance | 1,675 KM |
| Flight Duration | 2H :30 M - 43H :50 M |
| Airport Codes | Darwin - DRW, Cairns - CNS |
| Total Flights Available | 25 flights (2 direct) |
| First Flight Departure | Departs at 01:10 |
| Last Flight Departure | Departs at 14:35 |
| Early Morning Flights (12 AM - 8 AM) | 15 direct/indirect flights |
| Morning Flights (8 AM - 12 PM) | 1 direct/indirect flights |
| Afternoon Flights (12 PM - 4 PM) | 9 direct/indirect flights |
| Evening Flights (4 PM - 8 PM) | 0 direct/indirect flights |
| Night Flights (8 PM - 12 AM) | 0 direct/indirect flights |
Airport Information & Terminals
DRW: Darwin airport. Darwin airport transfer should be matched to the exact hotel, suburb or meeting area. Rail can work well for light luggage, but late arrivals, winter weather and family baggage often make a direct cab or booked transfer easier.
CNS: Cairns airport. Cairns airport transfer should be matched to the exact hotel, suburb or meeting area. Rail can work well for light luggage, but late arrivals, winter weather and family baggage often make a direct cab or booked transfer easier.
CNS: Cairns airport. Cairns airport transfer should be matched to the exact hotel, suburb or meeting area. Rail can work well for light luggage, but late arrivals, winter weather and family baggage often make a direct cab or booked transfer easier.