Flying from Auckland Airport (AKL) to Cairns Airport (CNS): what you need to know
The average time for a direct flight from Auckland Airport to Cairns Airport is 5 hours 40 minutes.
Cairns is three hours behind Auckland and is in the UTC+10 timezone.
Leave enough time to catch your AKL to CNS flight. As a general rule, arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
Be prepared for bigger queues in popular months like July. Arriving up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours for a domestic departure will help ensure a smooth travel experience.
Travelling to Cairns (and then seeing more of Australia!) is a snap with Air New Zealand. This popular carrier has direct flights from Auckland Airport to Cairns Airport.
The airline that passengers book most often on this route is Air New Zealand.
Think about adding a stopover when booking your ticket from Auckland Airport to Cairns Airport. Simply deselect 'Direct flights only' to break up your journey, or visit a new city along the way. Check out these options between AKL and CNS:
Brisbane Airport
Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport
Melbourne Tullamarine Airport
How to find the cheapest flights from Auckland Airport (AKL) to Cairns Airport (CNS)
The cheapest price we've seen for a one-way Auckland Airport to Cairns Airport flight is Rs43,297. A round-trip fare right now is Rs102,588. Depending on the availability and when you book, these fares may change.
To score cheap tickets from AKL to CNS, book your trip six months ahead of your departure.
Schedule your trip for May. That's the cheapest month for flights from Auckland Airport to Cairns Airport. If you have flexibility with your dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the lowest airfare across each month.
You don't need to check back in every day to see if fares have dropped when you create a Price Alert. We'll notify you as soon as there's a new deal on cheap flights from AKL to CNS.
Secure the perfect flight for you by using the filters. To see the 'Cheapest,' 'Fastest' or 'Best' flights from Auckland Airport to Cairns Airport, use the 'Sort by' function. You can also filter results by airline, arrival and departure times, and number of stops.
Handy information about Auckland Airport (AKL)
When it comes to the on-time performance of Auckland Airport, 69.31% of flights stick to their scheduled arrival time.
Auckland Airport is about 27 kilometres from central Auckland. If you're driving, catching a cab or ride-sharing from the centre, it'll take you 30 minutes or so to get there, depending on the traffic.
Expect a trip time of roughly 1 hour 25 minutes when using public transport.
Looking for a convenient hotel near AKL? If you've booked an early flight from Auckland Airport to Cairns Airport, these stays will put you moments from your check-in counter:
Arriving at Cairns Airport (CNS)
If you're getting in on a late Auckland Airport to Cairns Airport flight, nothing beats the convenience of staying close to the terminal. Collect your bags from the carousel and then be resting not long after at one of these accommodation options near CNS:
Grab a Cairns Airport rental car and discover Cairns and beyond with your own wheels. Simba car hire, Bargain Car Rentals and East Coast are popular providers you can book with here.
Booking your vehicle from Cairns Airport about two weeks in advance can help you secure the lowest rate.
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 by car.
Getting to the centre on public transport takes about 1 hour 25 minutes.
When to fly to Cairns Airport (CNS)
July is the most popular month for flights from Auckland Airport to Cairns Airport. For smaller crowds, travel to Cairns in February.
The warmest month in Cairns is January, with the temperature ranging between 23ºC and 31ºC. Lock in your flights from Auckland Airport to Cairns Airport in this month if you like this kind of weather.
August has average temperatures of between 16ºC and 25ºC. Look for cheap tickets from AKL to CNS sometime around then if you like cooler conditions.
Explore more of Australia
You've seen Cairns, now it's time to explore other corners of Australia. Travel around 290 kilometres south to Townsville to check off its leading attractions. From The Strand Beach to Castle Hill and Big Mama Sailing- Magnetic Island & Townsville, you'll have a packed itinerary ahead.
If you're interested in discovering another corner of Australia, head for Bowen, roughly 434 kilometres south-east of Cairns. Holbourne Island National Park, The Big Mango and Grays Bay are among the biggest draws.
