Flights from Melbourne to Cairns

The Best Time to Visit On Melbourne to Cairns Return Flights

The best time to visit Cairns is in the winter. From June to August, the weather is comfortable and travellers buying flights Melbourne to Cairns can enjoy low humidity and hardly any rain. It's the perfect period to explore the national parks, nearby islands and the Great Barrier Reef.

Buy your tickets to Cairns from Melbourne in June, and you'll be in time for the annual whale migration! If you want to avoid the summer crowds without sacrificing the good weather, book your Melbourne to Cairns flights for travel between September and November. The water temperatures start to heat up, and it's an excellent time for Great Barrier Reef activities.

December to February is the wet season in Cairns. Travellers buying Melbourne to Cairns flights can expect high temperatures, humidity and frequent rainstorms. The upside to this is that you may be able to snap up cheap flights to Cairns from Melbourne as other tourists stay away.

Autumn (March to May) is another low season in Cairns. Strong winds along the coast are common at this time, so you may want to take that into account when planning your itinerary. Try to avoid the busy Easter Weekend in April if you can, as this popular travel period.

How Much Time to Spend in Cairns

With a flight time of 3 hours 25 minutes, Cairns is the perfect weekend getaway destination from Melbourne. Even if you only have 2 or 3 days to explore, you can see some of the city's top sights.

Travellers booking flights Melbourne to Cairns can sign up for guided tours or plan an independent itinerary. Day tours are ideal if you have limited time and want to see as much as possible. But if you prefer more laidback travel, it's best to explore the city at your own pace. You can decide how much you want to do in a day and you'll have ample time to relax.

If you're planning to buy cheap flights Melbourne to Cairns for the end of year holidays, give yourself at least a week. You'll have more than enough time to explore Cairn's beach and rainforest attractions.

Top Things to Do and See in Cairns

Go to the Cairns Art Gallery

Cairns Art Gallery houses artworks from national and international artists. Travellers buying Melbourne to Cairns flights can wander around 30 exhibits that feature paintings, sculptures, photography, installations, and indigenous art. It’s a 10-minute drive from Cairns Airport (CNS), making it easy to fit into your itinerary before you fly back home.

Plan a trip to Cairns Zoom and Wildlife Dome

Are you buying flights Melbourne to Cairns for the whole family? Go on an outing to the Cairns Zoom and Wildlife Dome! Here you can watch crocodile shows, attend talks on koalas and see bird feedings. There's also a zipline that soars over the crocodile Goliath. If that isn't a big enough adrenaline rush, you can brave a 13-metre free fall!

Ride the Kuranda Scenic Railway

The Kuranda Scenic Railway is one of the best things to do in Cairns. Even if you're only buying cheap flights to Cairns from Melbourne for the weekend, it deserves a spot on your itinerary. The ride lasts 2 hours and winds past scenic waterfalls, 800 species of trees, 1,200 different flowering plants, mountains, and deep ravines.

Go diving or snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef

Visiting the Great Barrier Reef is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. As the largest coral system in the world, you can explore an area rich in marine biodiversity. One of the best ways for travellers booking tickets to Cairns from Melbourne to explore the reef is with a snorkelling or diving tour. Experienced divers can sign up for advanced trips, or if you're a beginner, you can even get your diving license in Cairns. Keep in mind that you need to give yourself 24 hours before returning to Cairns Airport (CNS) to board your flight back home.

Go on a day trip to Green Island

Green Island is an amazing day trip for travellers heading to Queensland on cheap flights Melbourne to Cairns. The island is blessed with white-sand beaches, lush rainforests and an abundance of marine life. Catch one of the daily cruises and spend a day relaxing on the beach, hiking through the national park or going on a scenic helicopter flight over the island!

Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park

Are you interested in learning about Australia's cultural heritage? Make sure you visit the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park while you're in Cairns. A visit will help you understand more about Indigenous Australian culture through art exhibits, interactive experiences and Dreamtime stories. It's a wonderful experience that's perfect for families buying flights Melbourne to Cairns.