Cheap Flights from Cairns to Sydney

Compare Cairns to Sydney flight deals

Find the cheapest month or even day of the year to fly to Sydney

Book the best Sydney fare with no extra fees

Flight deals from Cairns to Sydney

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

Find the cheapest month to fly from Cairns to Sydney

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

Direct flights from Cairns to Sydney

Cairns to Sydney: Alternative routes

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

Cairns to Sydney: Flight information

The things to know before you go.
Cheapest flight foundRs19,750
Cheapest month to flySeptember
Average flight time2 hrs, 56 mins
Most popular airlineIndiGo
Average flights per week193

Finding cheap flights from Cairns to Sydney: Frequently asked questions

The best price we found for a return flight from Cairns to Sydney is Rs39,837. 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.
2 hours and 56 minutes is the average flight time from Cairns to Sydney.
IndiGo, Qantas and Virgin Australia fly direct from Cairns to Sydney.
As of September 2025, there are 193 flights per week flying from Cairns to Sydney.
The cheapest month to fly from Cairns to Sydney is usually October.
After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that it's currently cheapest to fly from Cairns Airport to Sydney Airport on Wednesday, 1 October 2025.
Yes – the average flight time is 2 hours and 56 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 Sydney 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 Sydney is around 40 days in advance, so don’t leave your flight to the last minute.
Currently, Jetstar offers the cheapest flight tickets to Sydney.

Flying from Cairns Airport (CNS) to Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport (SYD): what you need to know

  • Around 3 hours is how long you can expect to be in the air on a direct flight from Cairns Airport to Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport.

  • The timezone in Sydney is UTC+11, which is one hour ahead of Cairns.

  • Flights from CNS to SYD start at 06:35 — the first with Jetstar. The last departure is at 19:20 with Qantas. In total, there are 162 weekly Cairns Airport to Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport flights.

  • Arriving two hours before an international flight and one hour ahead of a domestic departure are golden rules for hassle-free flying. Be at the airport with enough time to board your CNS to SYD flight.

  • Travelling during a peak time such as July? Public holidays and other popular periods can lead to longer queues at security. Play it safe and arrive up to four hours before an international flight and two hours before domestic departures.

  • A range of airlines operate direct flights from Cairns Airport to Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport, so jetting to Sydney (and then visiting more of Australia!) is easy. Leading carriers that fly nonstop include:

  • The airline most travellers fly with on this route is Jetstar.

  • Virgin Australia Regional ranks as the leading on-time carrier for CNS to SYD flights, with 81.01% of its services reaching their destination on schedule.

  • We make it a cinch to book a flight with a stopover. To see all your options for tickets from Cairns Airport to Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport, deselect 'Direct flights only.' Then, choose a flight with a stop long enough to explore the city of your choice. Stopovers between CNS and SYD include:

    • Brisbane Airport

    • Townsville Airport

    • Gold Coast Airport

How to find the cheapest flights from Cairns Airport (CNS) to Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport (SYD)

  • The lowest price we've found for a one-way Cairns Airport to Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport flight is Rs19,750. A return plane ticket is currently Rs39,837. Depending on the availability and when you book, these fares can change.

  • To score cheap tickets from CNS to SYD, book your trip six months ahead of your departure.

  • The cheapest month for flights from Cairns Airport to Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport is May. Use the 'Whole month' tool to see the lowest airfares if you have a flexible travel schedule.

  • Snapping up cheap flights from CNS to SYD couldn't be easier with Price Alerts. Simply create one of these automatic alerts and we'll get in touch as soon as a lower fare pops up.

  • Pick your preferred 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 Cairns Airport to Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport.

Handy information about Cairns Airport (CNS)

  • Of the departures from Cairns Airport, 71.55% land on schedule at their destination.

  • To reach Cairns Airport from central Cairns, it'll take around 10 minutes by car. This depends on traffic, however. It's approximately 6 kilometres from the airport to the city centre.

  • Taking public transport? Expect a trip time of around 1 hour 25 minutes.

  • Need a handy hotel near CNS? If you've booked an early flight from Cairns Airport to Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport, these stays will have you moments from check-in:

Arriving at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport (SYD)

Getting from Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport (SYD) to central Sydney

  • From Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport, Sydney is approximately 18 kilometres away. It takes around 20 minutes to reach the centre by car.

  • Travelling to the centre on public transport will take you roughly 25 minutes.

When to fly to Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport (SYD)

  • April is the busiest month for flights from Cairns Airport to Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport. To skip the crowds, go to Sydney in April.

  • When reserving your flight from Cairns Airport to Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport, consider the type of weather you enjoy. January is the warmest month in Sydney, with temperatures ranging from 17ºC to 32ºC.

  • If you want cooler conditions, look for a cheap ticket from CNS to SYD in July. Average temperatures are between 5ºC and 19ºC then.

Explore more of Australia

  • You've done Sydney, now it's time to explore more of Australia. Journey around 241 kilometres south-west to Canberra to check off its popular sights. From Australian War Memorial to National Gallery of Australia and Parliament House, you've got a jam-packed schedule ahead.

  • Newcastle is another essential stop in Australia and is around 121 kilometres north-east of Sydney. No journey is complete without dropping by Newcastle Beach, Nobbys Beach and Merewether Beach.

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