If you want to see Australia’s most amazing natural wonder from above, take an exciting Scenic Flight Great Barrier Reef. For tourists who love exploring, taking pictures, and the pure rush of flight, this 60-minute trip was made just for them. As soon as the chopper takes off, it flies over the Whitsunday coast and then shows you the Great Barrier Reef, a vast area with coral reefs, shimmering sandbanks, and blue channels that stretch on forever. As you fly over this huge coral reef system, you’ll be able to see the beautiful marine life that lives below the surface. You’ll see fish of many colours moving between hard corals and soft corals that are glowing in the tropical light.
- 7:00am – 8:00am
- 8:30am – 9:30am
- 10:00am – 11:00am
- 11:30am – 12:30pm
- 1:00pm – 2:00pm
- 2.30pm – 3.30pm
- Adult: $335 (15 years and over)
- Child: $335 (2-14 years, Infants 0-23 months old free of charge)
- Family: $N/A
SCUBA Diving
Seawalker Helmet Diving
Fitzroy Island
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Adult: $335 (15 years and over) $1,410
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Child: $335 (2-14 years, Infants 0-23 months old free of charge) $1,895
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Family: $N/A $2,379
Introduction
This 60-minute Scenic Flight Great Barrier Reef trip takes you on an incredible airborne view of one of the most beautiful ecosystems on Earth. Every day, a boat leaves Airlie Beach, and every passenger is given a window seat. This way, everyone can see the reef’s beautiful coral patterns and marine blues. You will fly over the Whitsunday Islands, Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet, and the iconic Heart Reef. Each of these places is a highlight of the reef’s amazing size. Along the journey, you’ll see snorkelling trips below, tiny boats investigating coral reefs, and boats that let people see coral from the surface as they explore this underwater paradise.
Your pilot gives you live commentary full of useful information and local expertise, turning the trip into a guided tour. With courtesy bus transfers, your trip will be easy from start to end. This trip provides a front-row ticket to nature’s finest show, with Australia’s famous marine life and the living splendour of the Great Barrier Reef. It’s perfect for anyone who loves adventure and untamed beau
Tour Details
- Tour Number: WR-60
- Daily Operations
- Time: 60 minutes
- Departure Times: 7:00 am, 8:30 am, 10:00 am, 11:30 am, 1:00 pm, 2:30 pm
- Leaves From: Airlie Beach – Whitsunday Airport
- Cost: $335 per adult | $335 per child (under 2 years free)
- Not Included: meals
- Transfers: Complimentary hotel shuttle included
- Maximum Weight: 125 kg per seat
Highlights
- Fly above the Great Barrier Reef’s dazzling coral formations and tropical islands.
- Witness the striking contrasts of Whitehaven Beach and the swirling sands of Hill Inlet.
- See the iconic Heart Reef — a coral formation shaped naturally like a heart.
- Enjoy guaranteed window seating for the best possible photography.
- Hear expert narration from experienced adventure pilots.
- Relax with free hotel transfers from Airlie Beach.
- Travel in modern, high-performance Scenic Helicopters.
Your adventure begins at Whitsunday Airport, just minutes from Airlie Beach. After a safety briefing, board your helicopter and feel the adrenaline build as the rotors start to spin.
As the aircraft ascends, you’ll glide across the emerald peaks of the Whitsunday Islands before heading seaward over the Great Barrier Reef — the largest living structure on Earth. From above, the reef reveals a living mosaic of colour: coral gardens, marine lagoons, and shifting sand cays.
Highlights include Whitehaven Beach, famous for its pure silica sand, and Hill Inlet, where the tides carve swirling shapes that change daily. Continuing farther offshore, the legendary Heart Reef comes into view — a naturally heart-shaped coral formation visible only from the air.
Throughout the flight, your pilot shares stories about the reef’s ecosystem, its formation, and the wildlife below. As you loop back toward the mainland, savour a final sweep across the islands before a smooth landing back at Whitsunday Airport.
- 60-minute scenic helicopter flight over the Great Barrier Reef
- Guaranteed window seat
- Pilot’s live commentary
- Complimentary Airlie Beach transfers
- Optional aerial photo packages
- Breakfast and refreshments at Whitsunday Airport’s Hangar Café & Bar
- Camera or GoPro for reef photography
- Sunglasses and reef-safe sunscreen
- Light jacket for cooler air
- Provide full names and accurate weights at booking.
- Maximum weight limit: 125 kg per seat.
- Flights subject to pilot discretion, weather, and air traffic control.
- Tour not available for guests on island resorts (Hamilton, Daydream, Long, Hayman).
- Reconfirm 48 hours before departure.
Rates include Marine Park fees and GST. Fuel levy may apply if fuel prices exceed $1.50 per litre. Operations depend on weather and tides. Reconfirm your booking 48 hours before travel.
Ocean Rafting may use images of participants for promotion unless advised otherwise. Adventure travel involves risk; guests participate at their own discretion. Those with back, neck, or hip injuries or in the third trimester of pregnancy cannot fly. Minimum age: 6 months. All guests sign a waiver. Travel insurance recommended.
No experience required — just good health and a sense of adventure.
A 5 % non-refundable fee applies to all bookings. Cancellations or changes are accepted until 12 noon the day before departure. After that, no refund applies. If weather forces cancellation, guests may reschedule or receive a refund minus 5 %.
A 1.6 % processing fee applies to credit-card payments.
Valid until 31 March 2026. Future bookings show updated rates automatically.
Cruise-ship passengers should book via their cruise tour desk; Scenic Flight Great Barrier Reef times do not align with cruise schedules.
Public-holiday surcharges apply to Northern Exposure, Southern Lights, Fly Raft, and Rafting Squad packages but not to scenic flights.
Key holidays:
APR 25 – MAR 26
05 May 25 – Labour Day
20 June 25 – Show Whitsundays
06 October 25 – King’s Birthday
25 December 25 – Christmas Day (CLOSED)
26 December 25 – Boxing Day
01 January 26 – New Year’s Day
26 January 26 – Australia Day
APR 26 – MAR 27
03 April 26 – Good Friday
04 April 26 – Easter Saturday
05 April 26 – Easter Sunday
06 April 26 – Easter Monday
25 April 26 – Anzac Day
04 May 26 – Labour Day
*Still to be announced* – Show Whitsundays
05 October 26 – King’s Birthday
25 December 26 – Christmas Day (CLOSED)
26 December 26 – Boxing Day
28 December 26 – Boxing Day public holiday
Private charters available via bank deposit or credit card (1.6 % fee).
Cancel 5 days before = refund minus 5 %. Less than 5 days = 100 % fee.
Public-holiday charters add $200 surcharge.
Bookings within 24 hours require phone confirmation (07 4946 6848). All guests are weighed before flight; inaccurate weights or exceeding 125 kg per seat void boarding with no refund. Flights depart from the mainland only.
Operators: Whitsunday Tiger Moth Adventures (WAVEAir Pty Ltd AOC# CASA.AOC.0067) and Whitsunday Air Services Pty Ltd (AOC# 1-KPVQ0-06), both CASA-licensed carriers.
We acknowledge the Gia, Giru, and Ngaro People, Traditional Custodians of the Whitsunday region, and pay our respects to Elders past, present, and emerging.
Enhance your experience with Vacationit Audio Guides, accessible with screen readers and available in audio and text formats for all travellers.
How long does the Scenic Flight Great Barrier Reef last?
The journey runs for 60 minutes, covering the Whitsunday Islands, Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet, and Heart Reef.
What makes this flight ideal for adventure seekers?
It’s designed for travellers who crave aerial exploration and want to see the Great Barrier Reef’s scale and colour in one thrilling experience.
Are window seats guaranteed?
Yes — each traveller enjoys a window seat for clear, uninterrupted views.
Is transport included to Whitsunday Airport?
Yes. Complimentary shuttle transfers from Airlie Beach accommodation are included.