Cheap flight tickets from Adelaide to Cairns

Compare Adelaide 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 Adelaide to Cairns

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

Find the cheapest month to fly from Adelaide to Cairns

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

Direct flights from Adelaide to Cairns

Adelaide to Cairns: Alternative routes

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

Adelaide to Cairns: Flight information

The things to know before you go.
Cheapest flight foundRM963
Cheapest month to flyFebruary
Average flight time3 hrs, 4 mins
Most popular airlineJetstar
Average flights per week31

Finding cheap flights from Adelaide to Cairns: Frequently asked questions

The best price we found for a return flight from Adelaide to Cairns is RM964. 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 4 minutes is the average flight time from Adelaide to Cairns.
Jetstar, IndiGo and Qantas fly direct from Adelaide to Cairns.
As of September 2025, there are 31 flights per week flying from Adelaide to Cairns.
The cheapest month to fly from Adelaide to Cairns is usually February.
After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that it's currently cheapest to fly from Adelaide Airport to Cairns Airport on Tuesday, 3 February 2026.
Yes – the average flight time is 3 hours and 4 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 Adelaide Airport (ADL) to Cairns Airport (CNS): what you need to know

  • Around 3 hours 5 minutes is how long you'll be travelling on a direct flight from Adelaide Airport to Cairns Airport.

  • The timezone in Cairns is UTC+10, which is 30 minutes behind Adelaide.

  • Every week, there are 16 Adelaide Airport to Cairns Airport flights. If you'd like to get going early, opt for the 06:00 Jetstar flight. If you're eager to make the most of your day before flying, the last departure is at 13:20 with Qantas.

  • Arriving two hours before an international flight and one hour ahead of a domestic departure are travel rules to live by. Show up at the airport on time to catch your ADL to CNS flight.

  • Travelling during a peak time such as January? School holidays and other popular periods can result in longer queues and delays at airport checkpoints. Be extra cautious and get there up to four hours before an international flight and two hours before a domestic departure.

  • You can travel nonstop to Cairns, Australia. Prepare for takeoff with one of these carriers that operate direct flights from Adelaide Airport to Cairns Airport:

  • Most passengers choose to travel with Jetstar on this route.

  • Jetstar ranks as the leading on-time carrier for ADL to CNS flights, with 86.3% of services arriving on schedule.

  • Think about adding a stopover when booking your ticket from Adelaide Airport to Cairns Airport. Simply uncheck 'Direct flights only' to break up your journey, or perhaps see a new city along the way. Here are some options between ADL and CNS:

    • Melbourne Tullamarine Airport

    • Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport

    • Brisbane Airport

How to find the cheapest flights from Adelaide Airport (ADL) to Cairns Airport (CNS)

  • Right now, RM481 is the cheapest price we've found for a one-way Adelaide Airport to Cairns Airport flight. The best price for a return ticket is RM964. Bear in mind that fares could change due to demand when booking.

  • Don't wait until the last moment. You're more likely to find cheap tickets from ADL to CNS if you book ahead. Airlines often have some fantastic early bird rates.

  • Schedule your trip for November. That's the cheapest month for flights from Adelaide Airport to Cairns Airport. If you're flexible with your travel dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the cheapest airfare across each month.

  • Snapping up cheap flights from ADL to CNS is a cinch with Price Alerts. Simply create one of these automatic alerts and we'll let you know as soon as there's a better deal.

  • Pick your ideal arrival and departure times, number of stops and airlines with the filters. Alternatively, sort your results by 'Cheapest' to find the best deals on flights from Adelaide Airport to Cairns Airport.

Handy information about Adelaide Airport (ADL)

  • Of all flights leaving Adelaide Airport, 75.6% arrive as scheduled at their destination.

  • Central Adelaide to Adelaide Airport is approximately 8 kilometres. Depending on traffic, it'll take about 15 minutes to get there if you're catching a cab, ride-sharing or driving.

  • Taking public transport? Expect a trip time of around 50 minutes.

  • Looking for a handy hotel near ADL? If you're boarding an early flight from Adelaide Airport to Cairns Airport, these accommodation options will put you moments from your check-in counter:

Arriving at Cairns Airport (CNS)

  • Book a hotel near CNS if you're on a late Adelaide Airport to Cairns Airport flight. Settle into one of these accommodation options and avoid the hassle of a long transfer:

  • Pick up a Cairns Airport rental car and explore Cairns and beyond with your own wheels. Simba car hire, Bargain Car Rentals and East Coast are popular providers to choose from here.

  • To get the lowest price, book your vehicle from Cairns Airport about two weeks before you travel.

Getting from Cairns Airport (CNS) to central Cairns

  • From Cairns Airport, Cairns is approximately 6 kilometres away. It takes around 10 minutes to drive to the centre.

  • It takes around 1 hour 25 minutes to get there using public transport.

When to fly to Cairns Airport (CNS)

  • The quietest month for a flight from Adelaide Airport to Cairns Airport is February, while July is the most popular. Choose the ideal time to go to Cairns based on whether you prefer a faster pace or a more relaxed vibe.

  • The warmest month in Cairns is January, with temperatures ranging between 23ºC (73ºF) and 31ºC (88ºF). Book your flights from Adelaide Airport to Cairns Airport in this month if you enjoy this type of weather.

  • Look for cheap tickets from ADL to CNS in August if you want to travel in cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 16ºC (61ºF) and 25ºC (77ºF) on average.

Explore more of Australia

  • Townsville is just one of the many places in Australia waiting to be discovered once you've taken in 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 favourite destination in Australia and is around 434 kilometres south-east of Cairns. No trip is complete without visiting 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.