Cheap Flights from Melbourne to Cairns

This information is correct as of April 2016

Airlines that fly from Melbourne to Cairns

Jetstar Airways, Virgin Australia, Tigerair Australia and Qantas all fly direct from Melbourne to Cairns.

Terminal Information – Departing

This is only a guideline. Always check your boarding pass for up-to-date terminal information.

Virgin Australia flights depart from terminal 3, while Tigerair and Jetstar leave from terminal 4. Qantas fly from terminal 1, which is dedicated to the airline's domestic routes. Free Wi-Fi is available in every terminal, provided by a hotspot in terminals 3 and 4 and by Qantas in terminal 1. Terminal 3 and terminal 4 are both equipped with plenty of fast food places. Hungry Jacks, Krispy Kreme, Nandos and McDonalds are a few of the international names you can expect to see in the departure hall. There are high-street shops like Ripcurl and Desigual to browse, and you can pick up last-minute holiday essentials at the likes of Eye Love (sunglasses) and WH Smith (novels, magazines and snacks).

Terminal Information – Arriving

Flights from Melbourne land at the domestic terminal of Cairns Airport, which is about four miles away from the city centre. It's possible to walk into the city, but we don't recommend it: traffic is busy and there's no pavement. There are hourly shuttle buses, which charge AUS $15-17* (about £7.80-8.80) for a one-way ticket and AUD $25-30* (about £13-15.60) for a return. There's a taxi rank outside the arrivals area. Cabs are metered, but expect to pay about $25-35* (£13-just over £18) for a journey to the city centre. Car hire at Cairns Airport is available: we recommend booking your vehicle in advance to avoid disappointment.

Practical Information

You don't need a passport to fly domestic routes within Australia. You may be asked to show some photographic identification when you check in or when you reach the boarding gate. We recommend keeping your passport on you for these situations, as it's an internationally recognised form of ID. Aim to arrive at the airport about 90 minutes before departure, and no later than one hour before.

What to expect in Cairns

There's no time difference between Melbourne and Cairns. Cairns has a much warmer climate than Melbourne, so pack plenty of extra sunscreen. The average temperature during winter is 22°C, which is 1°C warmer than Melbourne's average summer temperature. Summers in Cairns can be extremely hot, with temperatures soaring above 30°C during December and January. Prices in Cairns are usually higher than their equivalent in Melbourne. Expect to pay around 20% more for dinner for two, and about the same for a ticket on public transport. The exception to the rule is beer, which is 25-50% cheaper in Cairns.

*Prices subject to change