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Cheap flights from Cairns to South Island from $223

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a Cheapflights user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight departing on 1/6. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
CNS — CHC
20 Apr — 27 Apr1
1 adult

Cheap flight deals from Cairns to South Island

Keep the following information in mind while searching for Cairns to South Island flight deals. Data was last updated 15 April 2025.

Round-trip from

$388

One-way from

$238

Popular in

December

Cheapest in

July

Average price

$638
Jetstar
  • Jetstar
  • 1/5-5/5
  • Nonstop
  • 10h 30m total
  • Cairns to South Island
Jetstar
  • Jetstar
  • 22/4
  • Nonstop
  • 4h 55m total
  • Cairns to South Island
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 17% potential increase in price ($300 potential increase over avg. return price).
Cheapest flight prices on average. 3% potential price decrease ($53 potential savings vs. average return price).
Average for round-trip flights in April 2025

Find flight deals from Cairns to South Island

Cheapest flights from Cairns to South Island
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Cairns to South Island. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on 15 April 2025.

Thu 1/522:55CNS - CHC
Nonstop4h 55mJetstar
Mon 5/507:05CHC - CNS
Nonstop5h 35mJetstar
Deal found 14/4$388
Sat 10/519:00CNS - ZQN
1 stop14h 10mJetstar
Fri 16/520:40ZQN - CNS
1 stop14h 35mJetstar
Deal found 14/4$665
Tue 20/506:00CNS - ZQN
2 stops26h 20mMultiple Airlines
Tue 27/513:05ZQN - CNS
1 stop23h 35mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 14/4$682
Sat 10/506:00CNS - ZQN
1 stop7h 40mVirgin Australia
Fri 16/514:25ZQN - CNS
2 stops11h 10mVirgin Australia
Deal found 14/4$717
Wed 22/1011:50CNS - CHC
1 stop9h 55mMultiple Airlines
Tue 28/1006:10CHC - CNS
1 stop20h 05mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 14/4$880
Tue 21/1011:45CNS - CHC
1 stop10h 35mQantas Airways
Tue 28/1009:40CHC - CNS
2 stops16h 05mQantas Airways
Deal found 14/4$1,023
Tue 20/515:35CNS - ZQN
2 stops18h 40mAir New Zealand
Tue 27/511:25ZQN - CNS
3 stops13h 25mAir New Zealand
Deal found 14/4$1,286

Cheapflights Fare Finder

Customise your flight search to find flights from Cairns to South Island that fit within your specific budget. Explore options based on user searches and filter the results based on your desired price range. Find flights that match your budget for a cost-effective journey. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 647,157 searches. Data last updated 15 April 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Cairns to South Island that are best for you.

Fly from

Cairns

Fly to

South Island

Route

Depart

Return

Price

CairnsChristchurch

CNS - CHC

CNSCHC

Cairns

Thu 1/5

22:55-05:50

Nonstop4h 55m

Christchurch

Mon 5/5

07:05-10:40

Nonstop5h 35m

$388

CairnsQueenstown

CNS - ZQN

CNSZQN

Cairns

Sat 10/5

19:00-11:10

1 stop14h 10m

Queenstown Intl

Fri 16/5

20:40-09:15

1 stop14h 35m

$665

CairnsQueenstown

CNS - ZQN

CNSZQN

Cairns

Tue 20/5

06:00-10:20

2 stops26h 20m

Queenstown Intl

Tue 27/5

13:05-10:40

1 stop23h 35m

$682

CairnsQueenstown

CNS - ZQN

CNSZQN

Cairns

Sat 10/5

06:00-15:40

1 stop7h 40m

Queenstown Intl

Fri 16/5

14:25-23:35

2 stops11h 10m

$717

CairnsChristchurch

CNS - CHC

CNSCHC

Cairns

Thu 26/6

22:55-05:50

Nonstop4h 55m

Christchurch

Wed 2/7

13:50-23:35

2 stops11h 45m

$779

CairnsChristchurch

CNS - CHC

CNSCHC

Cairns

Fri 27/6

19:00-17:35

2 stops20h 35m

Christchurch

Thu 3/7

09:40-23:05

2 stops15h 25m

$1,260

CairnsQueenstown

CNS - ZQN

CNSZQN

Cairns

Tue 20/5

15:35-12:15

2 stops18h 40m

Queenstown Intl

Tue 27/5

11:25-22:50

3 stops13h 25m

$1,286

CairnsChristchurch

CNS - CHC

CNSCHC

Cairns

Sun 1/6

22:55-05:50

Nonstop4h 55m

$223

CairnsQueenstown

CNS - ZQN

CNSZQN

Cairns

Wed 3/9

07:00-20:00

1 stop11h 00m

$391

CairnsQueenstown

CNS - ZQN

CNSZQN

Cairns

Wed 3/9

13:50-16:45

2 stops24h 55m

$423

Flights are sorted by cheapest return flights first.

Deals found on 15/4

Showing 1-10 of 16 results
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Best time to book a flight from Cairns to South Island

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to South Island from Cairns with our price prediction graph.
Estimated return price
Rates are based on past data. Find the cheapest month and day to book your flight based on your travel requirements, then search for cheap deals.

Cheapflights Insights

Everything you need to know about your flight from Cairns to South Island

What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Cairns to South Island?

Currently, May is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Cairns to South Island (average of $346). Flying from Cairns to South Island in December is currently the most expensive (average of $480). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly from CNS to EDG?

Find hourly flight availability from Cairns to South Island. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated 15 April 2025.

When flying from Cairns to South Island, the time of day you decide to fly out makes little to no difference towards the overall price you’ll pay on tickets.

Rainfall in South Island by month

Plan your trip to South Island by taking into account the average rainfall totals by month.

In terms of precipitation, rainfall in South Island ranges from 40.0 - 60.0 inches per month. May is typically the wettest month, when rainfall can reach 60.0 mm. February is typically the driest time to visit South Island when rainfall is around 40.0 mm.

Temperature in South Island by month

Plan your trip to South Island by taking into account the average temperature totals by month.

If weather is an important factor for your trip to South Island, use this chart to help with planning. For those seeking warmer temperatures, January is the ideal time of year to visit, when temperatures reach an average of 17.0 C. Travellers hoping to avoid the cold should look outside of June, when temperatures are typically at their lowest (around 6.0 C).

Reviews of airlines servicing South Island

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to South Island. Read reviews, discover amenities, and learn about the overall travel experience offered by airlines. Use this information to make informed decisions when choosing an airline for your flight to South Island. Reviews last updated 15 April 2025.

Crew

8.3

Entertainment

8.2

Comfort

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.8

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Hoss,Mar 2025

TPE - DXB

One of Emirate claim to fame use to be excellent crew. But I think that has faded just a bit. While the first leg of my journey was impeccable, the second was good but not amazing. A few of the crew could have use a bit of smiley face, plus the sandwich served after take off was not good at all. I would have not served it at all.

Crew

8.3

Entertainment

8.2

Comfort

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.8

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Hoss,Mar 2025

TPE - DXB

One of Emirate claim to fame use to be excellent crew. But I think that has faded just a bit. While the first leg of my journey was impeccable, the second was good but not amazing. A few of the crew could have use a bit of smiley face, plus the sandwich served after take off was not good at all. I would have not served it at all.

Crew

8.3

Entertainment

8.2

Comfort

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.8

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Hoss,Mar 2025

TPE - DXB

One of Emirate claim to fame use to be excellent crew. But I think that has faded just a bit. While the first leg of my journey was impeccable, the second was good but not amazing. A few of the crew could have use a bit of smiley face, plus the sandwich served after take off was not good at all. I would have not served it at all.

Crew

8.3

Entertainment

8.2

Comfort

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.8

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Hoss,Mar 2025

TPE - DXB

One of Emirate claim to fame use to be excellent crew. But I think that has faded just a bit. While the first leg of my journey was impeccable, the second was good but not amazing. A few of the crew could have use a bit of smiley face, plus the sandwich served after take off was not good at all. I would have not served it at all.

Crew

8.3

Entertainment

8.2

Comfort

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.8

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Hoss,Mar 2025

TPE - DXB

One of Emirate claim to fame use to be excellent crew. But I think that has faded just a bit. While the first leg of my journey was impeccable, the second was good but not amazing. A few of the crew could have use a bit of smiley face, plus the sandwich served after take off was not good at all. I would have not served it at all.

Crew

8.3

Entertainment

8.2

Comfort

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.8

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Hoss,Mar 2025

TPE - DXB

One of Emirate claim to fame use to be excellent crew. But I think that has faded just a bit. While the first leg of my journey was impeccable, the second was good but not amazing. A few of the crew could have use a bit of smiley face, plus the sandwich served after take off was not good at all. I would have not served it at all.

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from Cairns to South Island. Access travel guides, tips, and recommendations to enhance your travel experience. Get information about local attractions, weather, transportation options, and more.
  • What airport do you fly from for flights from Cairns to South Island?

    Most people fly from Cairns (CNS) if they book a flight from Cairns to South Island. Cairns is conveniently located just 4.4 km from Cairns’s city centre.

  • How popular is this Cairns to South Island flight route?

  • What are the cheapest airlines to fly from Cairns to South Island one-way?

    To fly one-way, consider booking your trip with Jetstar, which is currently one of the cheapest options available, starting at $238. Virgin Australia flights start at $428 while deals on Qantas Airways start at $602 one-way.

  • What are the cheapest flights from Cairns to South Island?

    On average you can expect to pay $344 for a flight from Cairns to South Island. The cheapest flight overall is $237 while the most popular route, (Cairns - Christchurch) is currently priced at $388.

  • Can I find deals for flights from Cairns to South Island that include hotel bookings?

    Yes. In addition to deals on Cairns to South Island flights, Cheapflights offers holiday packages that include both flights and hotel.

  • How can I find direct flights from Cairns to South Island?

    After entering your origin and destination, apply the non-stop filter on the search result page to find direct flights from Cairns to South Island.

  • Can I find deals for business class flights from Cairns to South Island?

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from Cairns to South Island by cabin class. In addition to browsing deals, you can also filter by cabin class on the search results page after making a search.

  • What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Cairns to South Island?

    Currently, May is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Cairns to South Island (average of $346). Flying from Cairns to South Island in December is currently the most expensive (average of $480). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

See more FAQs

Browse thousands of different options on Cheapflights for your next trip

Toggle through the tabs below to find thousands of options on Cheapflights for your next trip.

Top 3 airlines flying from Cairns to South Island

Discover the top 3 airlines that operate flights from Cairns to South Island. Compare their services, reliability, and customer satisfaction ratings to choose the airline that best suits your travel preferences and needs. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 647,157 searches. Data last updated 15 April 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
JetstarCheapest$387Average$701FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time74%
Search Jetstar flights
Virgin AustraliaCheapest$666Average$914FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time80%
Search Virgin Australia flights
Qantas AirwaysCheapest$998Average$1,113FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time74%
Search Qantas Airways flights

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Can Cheapflights notify me if prices for flights from Cairns to South Island become cheaper?

Yes, Cheapflights has a feature called Price Alert, which notifies users when flight prices change. Track prices for your flight to South Island from Cairns today and book when prices fit your budget.

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