Traveling from Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY) to Cairns Airport (CNS): what you need to know
Flying over a peak time such as July? Public holidays and other high seasons can mean longer lines and delays at checkpoints. Play it safe and arrive up to four hours before an international flight and two hours before domestic departures.
If you want to break up your flight from Sunshine Coast Airport to Cairns Airport, consider adding a stopover. Simply deselect 'Direct flights only' and find a destination that catches your eye. The top stopovers on the MCY - CNS route include:
Adelaide Airport
Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport
Melbourne Tullamarine Airport
You don't need your passport or a visa to fly within Australia. You will need a valid identity document however, like a driver's license or an ID card. Put them on your packing list once you've got your cheap ticket from MCY to CNS.
How to find the cheapest flights from Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY) to Cairns Airport (CNS)
The lowest price we've seen for a one-way ticket from Sunshine Coast Airport to Cairns Airport is C$74. For a return flight on this route, the best price is C$147. Depending on the availability and when you book, these fares can change.
Don't wait until the last minute. You're more likely to find cheap flight tickets from MCY to CNS if you book in advance. Airlines often have some fantastic early bird discounts.
If you can be flexible with your travel dates, use the 'Whole month' search function. It'll show you the cheapest price across the month when searching for a ticket from Sunshine Coast Airport to Cairns Airport.
Create a Price Alert for cheap flight tickets from MCY to CNS. You don't need to check every day to see whether airfares have dropped. We'll notify you when the price changes.
Tailor your flights with filters. Select your departure and arrival times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort the results by 'Cheapest,' 'Best' or 'Fastest' flights from Sunshine Coast Airport to Cairns Airport.
Handy information about Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY)
Sunshine Coast Airport is about 10 kilometres from central Sunshine Coast. If you're ride-sharing, driving or catching a cab from the center, it'll take 11 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic conditions. If you're using public transport, expect the journey time to be approximately 32 minutes.
Have an early flight from Sunshine Coast Airport to Cairns Airport? Avoid the hassle of rushing to the terminal (and get some extra shut-eye) by choosing one of these stays close to MCY:
Arriving at Cairns Airport (CNS)
Consider booking a hotel close to CNS if you have a late flight from Sunshine Coast Airport to Cairns Airport. Pick one of these options and avoid the hassle of a long transfer:
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 center driving.
Getting there on public transport takes around 1 hour and 26 minutes.
When to fly to Cairns Airport (CNS)
July is the busiest month for flights from Sunshine Coast Airport to Cairns Airport. To avoid the crowds, visit Cairns in February.
When booking your flight from Sunshine Coast Airport to Cairns Airport, think about the type of weather you like. January is the warmest month in Cairns, with temperatures ranging from 23ºC to 31ºC.
August sees average temperatures of between 16ºC and 25ºC. Look for cheap flight tickets from MCY to CNS sometime then if you like traveling in cooler conditions.
More about Cairns
If you're looking for somewhere to rest your head, you can find the most popular stays in Cairns right here. Check out these hotels once you've booked your flight from MCY to CNS:
There are so many things to do and see in this city it can be tricky to work out where to start. Kuranda Scenic Railway Freshwater Station, Cairns Esplanade Western High Water Pier and Cairns Botanic Gardens are top attractions which should be on every Cairns itinerary.
Complete your Cairns trip with hotels and a car rental
You've booked a cheap ticket to Cairns Airport — now it's time to find a great stay, and maybe even a set of wheels. We've compared prices across hundreds of companies to bring you the best hotels and car rental deals in Cairns.
