Cheap Flights from Cape Town to Cairns

Compare Cape Town 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 Cape Town Airport to Cairns Airport

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

Cairns.R 9,942 per passenger.Departing Wed, 11 Mar.One-way flight with Singapore Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Singapore Airlines, departs from Cape Town on Wed, 11 Mar, arriving in Cairns.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 9,942, select.

Cairns.R 12,803 per passenger.Departing Mon, 31 Aug.One-way flight with South African Airways.Outbound indirect flight with South African Airways, departs from Cape Town on Mon, 31 Aug, arriving in Cairns.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 12,803, select.

Cairns.R 14,313 per passenger.Departing Sat, 19 Sep.One-way flight with Singapore Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Singapore Airlines, departs from Cape Town on Sat, 19 Sep, arriving in Cairns.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 14,313, select.

Cairns.R 16,908 per passenger.Departing Mon, 29 Dec.One-way flight with FlySafair.Outbound indirect flight with FlySafair, departs from Cape Town on Mon, 29 Dec, arriving in Cairns.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 16,908, select.

Cairns.R 21,729 per passenger.Departing Sun, 11 Jan.One-way flight with Singapore Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Singapore Airlines, departs from Cape Town on Sun, 11 Jan, arriving in Cairns.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 21,729, select.

Find the cheapest month to fly from Cape Town to Cairns

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

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Cape Town to Cairns: Alternative routes

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

Cape Town to Cairns: Flight information

The things to know before you go.

Cheapest flight found	R 9,942
Cheapest month to fly	March

Finding cheap flights from Cape Town to Cairns: Frequently asked questions

How much are return flights from Cape Town to Cairns?

The best price we found for a return flight from Cape Town to Cairns is R 17,576. 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.

Which airlines fly direct from Cape Town to Cairns?

Currently, there are no airlines that fly direct from Cape Town to Cairns. But we found flights with one or more stops from R 17,576.

How many flights are there a week from Cape Town to Cairns?

As of November 2025, there are no flights flying from Cape Town to Cairns.

When is the cheapest time to fly from Cape Town to Cairns?

The cheapest month to fly from Cape Town to Cairns is usually March.

Which upcoming date is cheapest to fly from Cape Town Airport to Cairns Airport on?

After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that it's currently cheapest to fly from Cape Town Airport to Cairns Airport on Wednesday, 11 March 2026.

Can I get a direct flight from Cape Town Airport to Cairns Airport?

No airlines currently offer direct flights between Cape Town Airport and Cairns Airport. Most routes have one or more stops.

How can I find the best flight deal to Cairns?

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.

When is the best time to book flights to Cairns?

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.

Which is the cheapest airline to fly from Cape Town Airport to Cairns with?

Currently, Singapore Airlines offers the cheapest flight tickets to Cairns.

Travelling from Cape Town International Airport (CPT) to Cairns Airport (CNS): what you need to know

The timezone in Cairns is UTC+10, which is eight hours ahead of Cape Town.
To ensure you get on your CPT to CNS flight, leave enough time for things like check-in and baggage drop. Arriving two hours ahead of international departures and an hour before domestic flights is the general travel rule.
You'll likely experience bigger queues in popular months such as June. Arriving up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours for domestic departures is a smart move.

How to find the cheapest flights from Cape Town International Airport (CPT) to Cairns Airport (CNS)

At the moment, R 9,942 is the lowest price we've seen for a one-way Cape Town International Airport to Cairns Airport flight. The best price for a return ticket is R 17,576. Bear in mind that fares may change due to demand when booking.
It's often best to book as early as possible if you want to find cheap tickets from CPT to CNS. That's because airlines change prices based on demand, which tends to increase closer to the date of departure.
If you're flexible with your travel plans, use the 'Whole month' tool. It'll find the lowest price across the month when searching for your flight from Cape Town International Airport to Cairns Airport.
Stay on top of deals for cheap flights from CPT to CNS by setting up a Price Alert. You'll receive an email or notification on the app when a lower fare pops up.
Tailor your trip using filters. Pick your arrival and departure times, total journey duration and airlines. You can also sort your results by 'Fastest,' 'Best' or 'Cheapest' flights from Cape Town International Airport to Cairns Airport.

Handy information about Cape Town International Airport (CPT)

Cape Town International Airport has a strong on-time record, so flight disruptions are less likely. Departures from CPT arrive on schedule 81.65% of the time.
To reach Cape Town International Airport from central Cape Town, it takes about 20 minutes if you're travelling by car. This depends on traffic though. It's approximately 19 kilometres from the airport to the city centre.
Get your holiday off to a relaxed start by staying near CPT. Whether you're catching an early flight from Cape Town International Airport to Cairns Airport or just don't want to be rushed, these hotels have you covered:

Arriving at Cairns Airport (CNS)

Book a hotel close to CNS if you're on a late Cape Town International Airport to Cairns Airport flight. Settle into one of these options and avoid the hassle of a long transfer:
Explore without limits with a Cairns Airport rental car. Pick up your wheels from simba car hire, Bargain Car Rentals or East Coast and see more of Cairns and beyond.
Get the best deal by booking your ride from Cairns Airport around two weeks ahead of your departure.

Getting from Cairns Airport (CNS) to central Cairns

From Cairns Airport, Cairns is approximately 6 kilometres away. It takes around 10 minutes to reach the centre driving.
It takes roughly 1 hour 25 minutes to get there using public transport.

When to fly to Cairns Airport (CNS)

July is the busiest month for flights from Cape Town International Airport to Cairns Airport. To skip the crowds, travel to Cairns in February.
Lock in your flight from Cape Town International Airport to Cairns Airport for January if you'd like to explore Cairns during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures of between 23ºC (73ºF) and 31ºC (88ºF).
August has average temperatures of between 16ºC (61ºF) and 25ºC (77ºF). Search for cheap tickets from CPT to CNS sometime around then if you want to travel in cooler conditions.

Explore more of Australia

Townsville is just one of the many places in Australia waiting to be explored once you've taken in the sights of Cairns. Around 290 kilometres away to the south, check out popular attractions including The Strand Beach, Castle Hill and Big Mama Sailing- Magnetic Island & Townsville.
Bowen is another well-known destination in Australia and is around 434 kilometres south-east of Cairns. No journey is complete without dropping by Holbourne Island National Park, The Big Mango and Grays Bay.