What is the cheapest airline that flies from Cairns to South Island?

Jetstar and Virgin Australia are the most popular carriers operating from Cairns to South Island

When did momondo last update prices for flights from Cairns Airport to South Island?

Prices for flights from Cairns Airport to South Island are refreshed on a daily basis.

How many operators does momondo search for flights from Cairns Airport to South Island?

As of March 2026, there are 2 operators available to choose from for flights from Cairns Airport to South Island.

How old do you have to be to fly from Cairns Airport to South Island?

The minimum age for a child to fly alone is five, but airlines offering an unaccompanied minor (UNMR) service may have their age restrictions, such as regulations concerning flight duration, timing, and stopovers. It is recommended that you verify with the airline you are booking with for travel from Cairns Airport to South Island.

What documentation or ID do you need to fly to South Island?

The required travel and health documents for your South Island trip may vary depending on your itinerary and personal circumstances. As a general rule, you should carry multiple documents, including a national ID card or driver's licence and a passport valid for six months after your intended arrival at South Island. We recommend that you seek guidance from your airline or a reliable third party such as IATA.

$249 Cheap Flights from Cairns to South Island in 2026

1 adult

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Find the cheapest flights from Cairns to South Island

Round-trip

One-way

Direct

Cheap return flights

Enter your travel dates to find the best prices.

07:00 - 13:55

CNS

CHC

4h 55mdirect

06:55 - 10:40

CHC

CNS

5h 45mdirect

$414Jetstar

Tue, 5 May - Mon, 25 May

07:00 - 13:55

CNS

CHC

4h 55mdirect

06:55 - 10:40

CHC

CNS

5h 45mdirect

$422Jetstar

Tue, 5 May - Mon, 18 May

07:00 - 13:55

CNS

CHC

4h 55mdirect

06:55 - 10:40

CHC

CNS

5h 45mdirect

$431Jetstar

Thu, 23 Apr - Fri, 8 May

07:00 - 13:55

CNS

CHC

4h 55mdirect

06:55 - 10:40

CHC

CNS

5h 45mdirect

$435Jetstar

Thu, 7 May - Mon, 25 May

07:00 - 13:55

CNS

CHC

4h 55mdirect

06:55 - 10:40

CHC

CNS

5h 45mdirect

$466Jetstar

Thu, 23 Apr - Fri, 8 May

07:00 - 13:55

CNS

CHC

4h 55mdirect

06:55 - 10:40

CHC

CNS

5h 45mdirect

$495Jetstar

Tue, 2 Jun - Mon, 15 Jun

07:00 - 13:55

CNS

CHC

4h 55mdirect

08:20 - 22:40

CHC

CNS

16h 20m

1 stop

$553Jetstar

Thu, 23 Apr - Thu, 30 Apr

09:40 - 00:10

CNS

CHC

12h 30m

1 stop

06:55 - 10:40

CHC

CNS

5h 45mdirect

$566Jetstar

Sat, 25 Apr - Fri, 8 May

21:00 - 16:45

CNS

ZQN

17h 45m

1 stop

17:40 - 09:50

ZQN

CNS

18h 10m

1 stop

$680Virgin Australia

Wed, 15 Jul - Wed, 22 Jul

21:00 - 16:45

CNS

ZQN

17h 45m

1 stop

17:40 - 09:50

ZQN

CNS

18h 10m

1 stop

$687Virgin Australia

Wed, 15 Jul - Wed, 22 Jul

Jetstar flights from Cairns to South Island

Our best Jetstar deals on Cairns to South Island flight tickets

Jetstar

5 May

CNS07:00Cairns

4h 55m

CHC13:55Christchurch

25 May

CHC06:55Christchurch

5h 45m

CNS10:40Cairns

$414

Jetstar

5 May

CNS07:00Cairns

4h 55m

CHC13:55Christchurch

18 May

CHC06:55Christchurch

5h 45m

CNS10:40Cairns

$422

Jetstar

23 Apr

CNS07:00Cairns

4h 55m

CHC13:55Christchurch

8 May

CHC06:55Christchurch

5h 45m

CNS10:40Cairns

$431

Virgin Australia flights from Cairns to South Island

Our best Virgin Australia deals on Cairns to South Island flight tickets

Virgin Australia

15 July

CNS21:00Cairns

17h 45m

1 stop

ZQN16:45Queenstown Intl

22 July

ZQN17:40Queenstown Intl

18h 10m

1 stop

CNS09:50Cairns

$680

Virgin Australia

15 July

CNS21:00Cairns

17h 45m

1 stop

ZQN16:45Queenstown Intl

22 July

ZQN17:40Queenstown Intl

18h 10m

1 stop

CNS09:50Cairns

$687

Virgin Australia

24 Apr

CNS16:55Cairns

20h 45m

1 stop

ZQN15:40Queenstown Intl

1 May

ZQN17:40Queenstown Intl

18h 10m

1 stop

CNS09:50Cairns

$719

Fly from

Fly to

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Cheapest return flight

Fastest return journey

CairnsChristchurch

CNS - CHC

CNSCHC

Cairns

Tue 5/5

07:00-13:55

Nonstop4h 55m

Christchurch

Mon 25/5

06:55-10:40

Nonstop5h 45m

$414

CairnsChristchurch

CNS - CHC

CNSCHC

Cairns

Tue 5/5

07:00-13:55

Nonstop4h 55m

Christchurch

Mon 18/5

06:55-10:40

Nonstop5h 45m

$422

CairnsChristchurch

CNS - CHC

CNSCHC

Cairns

Thu 23/4

07:00-13:55

Nonstop4h 55m

Christchurch

Fri 8/5

06:55-10:40

Nonstop5h 45m

$431

CairnsChristchurch

CNS - CHC

CNSCHC

Cairns

Thu 7/5

07:00-13:55

Nonstop4h 55m

Christchurch

Mon 25/5

06:55-10:40

Nonstop5h 45m

$435

CairnsChristchurch

CNS - CHC

CNSCHC

Cairns

Thu 23/4

07:00-13:55

Nonstop4h 55m

Christchurch

Fri 8/5

06:55-10:40

Nonstop5h 45m

$466

CairnsChristchurch

CNS - CHC

CNSCHC

Cairns

Tue 2/6

07:00-13:55

Nonstop4h 55m

Christchurch

Mon 15/6

06:55-10:40

Nonstop5h 45m

$495

CairnsChristchurch

CNS - CHC

CNSCHC

Cairns

Thu 23/4

07:00-13:55

Nonstop4h 55m

Christchurch

Thu 30/4

08:20-22:40

1 stop16h 20m

$553

CairnsChristchurch

CNS - CHC

CNSCHC

Cairns

Sat 25/4

09:40-00:10

1 stop12h 30m

Christchurch

Fri 8/5

06:55-10:40

Nonstop5h 45m

$566

CairnsQueenstown

CNS - ZQN

CNSZQN

Cairns

Wed 15/7

21:00-16:45

1 stop17h 45m

Queenstown Intl

Wed 22/7

17:40-09:50

1 stop18h 10m

$680

CairnsQueenstown

CNS - ZQN

CNSZQN

Cairns

Wed 15/7

21:00-16:45

1 stop17h 45m

Queenstown Intl

Wed 22/7

17:40-09:50

1 stop18h 10m

$687

Flights are sorted by cheapest return flights first.

Showing 1-10 of 20 resultsSorted by cheapest first

How to get the cheapest flight ticket from Cairns to South Island

Look no further. We've gone through all the searches for this route on momondo so you have the important information and insights to find the cheapest flight ticket for your trip

Prices

Airlines

What is the cheapest month to fly to South Island?

The cheapest month to fly to South Island from Cairns is in January. Flight prices, which tend to average around $647, are often lower during this time because this is during the off-season. The month of May is another great option to travel to South Island, with average flight prices from Cairns averaging around $664.

What is the cheapest Cairns to South Island flight route?

Fly from Cairns to Christchurch for the best Cairns - South Island flight prices

What cabin class options are available on Cairns to South Island flights?

There is only 1 cabin class available to choose from on Cairns to South Island flights. Cabin price and availability will vary by airline so perform a search above to find the right deals for you.

Can stopping save me money on Cairns to South Island flights?

No. A direct flight is the cheapest option for a flight between Cairns to South Island.

Cheap Cairns to South Island flight deals and tips

Find info about flight duration, direct flights, and airports for your flight from Cairns to South Island

Fastest flight time	4h 55m
Direct flights	Wed and Fri
Airports in South Island	12 airports

The fastest flight from Cairns to South Island takes 4h 55m

Direct flights go from Cairns to South Island on Wednesday and Friday. There are no airlines offering direct flights..

There are 12 airports in South Island. From Cairns there are direct flights to Christchurch (CHC).

Search flight deals

When did momondo last update prices for flights from Cairns Airport to South Island?
Prices for flights from Cairns Airport to South Island are refreshed on a daily basis.
How many operators does momondo search for flights from Cairns Airport to South Island?
As of March 2026, there are 2 operators available to choose from for flights from Cairns Airport to South Island.
How old do you have to be to fly from Cairns Airport to South Island?
The minimum age for a child to fly alone is five, but airlines offering an unaccompanied minor (UNMR) service may have their age restrictions, such as regulations concerning flight duration, timing, and stopovers. It is recommended that you verify with the airline you are booking with for travel from Cairns Airport to South Island.
What documentation or ID do you need to fly to South Island?
The required travel and health documents for your South Island trip may vary depending on your itinerary and personal circumstances. As a general rule, you should carry multiple documents, including a national ID card or driver's licence and a passport valid for six months after your intended arrival at South Island. We recommend that you seek guidance from your airline or a reliable third party such as IATA.
What is the most popular plane model from Cairns to South Island?
Based on momondo bookings for flights between Cairns and South Island, the leading plane model is Airbus A320-100/200, making up 31.47% of the total bookings. Other popular models include Boeing 737-800 Passenger/BBJ2 (winglets) with 29.32%, Airbus A321neo with 8.11%, and Airbus A321-100/200 with 6.96%.

Best airlines flying from Cairns to South Island

Compare and see reviews for airlines that fly from Cairns to South Island with momondo

Airline	Rating	Free cancellation	Price
Jetstar	PriceFrom $267	Free cancellation	Rating 6.5 530 reviews		Search Jetstar flights
Virgin Australia	PriceFrom $576	Free cancellation	Rating 7.6 446 reviews		Search Virgin Australia flights

Why use momondo?

Why should I use momondo to find a flight deal from Cairns to South Island?

It is quick and easy to find Cairns to South Island flights on momondo. We search and return numerous flight options from various airlines and agents. You can then use our filters to narrow your search until you have found the most convenient flight to South Island that suits you.

Can I find flights from Cairns to South Island with flexible booking policies on momondo?

Yes. momondo allows you to filter the results for Cairns to South Island flights to just show those with flexible booking policies.

How can momondo help me find flights from Cairns to South Island?

Once all potential Cairns to South Island flight options are in front of you, momondo lets you sort and filter flights based on preferences such as airline, price and flight times amongst many other options.

I’m not ready to book a flight from Cairns to South Island right now. Can momondo alert me if prices change?

Yes momondo offers price alerts on flights to South Island from Cairns. After performing a search on this page you should be able to see the price alert set up feature. Simply provide a valid email address and momondo will instantly alert you when prices change.