view from a helicopter

Things to do

Scenic Flights

Fly high above the Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef offers amazing underwater experiences but what many people don’t realise is that the view from above is equally sensational. Add a scenic flight to your itinerary and you’ll get a whole new appreciation for the scale of this incredible ecosystem, the only living organism visible from outer space.

You can choose between a flight on a helicopter or a fixed-wing aircraft with departure points in Cairns and Port Douglas. With heli pads located at numerous sites on the Great Barrier Reef, combining your snorkelling tour with a scenic heli flight just got a whole bunch easier. Opt for a full-day adventure packed with highlights. Explore one of the reef’s remote islands in the morning, then touch down on a pontoon in the afternoon to enjoy some snorkelling action. If you’re in the mood for romance, choose a flight that includes breakfast for two on a secluded coral cay. Looking to make the most of the experience?

You can even add a touch of rainforest to the experience. Some tours will take you high above the mainland, giving you a bird’s-eye view of the dense forest that spreads across rugged mountains and verdant valleys. Ask your pilot to point out the area’s highlights, such as waterfalls that cascade over sheer cliff edges.

Or explore Queensland’s northernmost point, Cape York, on a scenic flight from Cairns that not only features all the landmarks of the final frontier but also over Lizard Island, the Daintree River, Cooktown and Lakefield National Park.

A private sand cay experience

Snorkel and swim on the fringing reef of Vlassof Cay near Cairns

Picnic with friends at Turtle Beach near Cairns

Snap the best photos of the Great Barrier Reef during a scenic flight

The view from up here

Take to the air to see the Great Barrier Reef in a whole new light.

Great Barrier Reef Scenic Flight
Uncategorised
Top Scenic Flights

From scenic flights over the Great Barrier Reef and the tropical rainforest to flying to an ancient aboriginal rock art site or undertaking an epic helicopter pub crawl, take to the sky on your Tropical North Queensland adventure.

Read more
Vlasoff Cay Nautilus Aviation
Great Barrier Reef
Vlasoff Cay: the most incredible place to picnic

Feel grounded the moment you arrive at a private sand cay on the Great Barrier Reef.

Read more
Sailaway Mackay Cay
Great Barrier Reef
Dreamy sand cays you must visit on the Great Barrier Reef

We’ve all seen those gorgeous wisps of whiteness poking out from an azure sea on Great Barrier Reef. But what are they? More importantly, where are they? And how can we get a piece of sand cay action? We’re here to reveal all.

Read more
scuba diver nautilus shell
Great Barrier Reef
25 Fun facts about the Great Barrier Reef

As you’d expect from one of the seven Natural Wonders of the World, the Great Barrier Reef is home to some weird, wonderful and just plain loveable creatures. Here’s 25 fun Great Barrier Reef facts about a marine world larger than Italy.

Read more
Gareth Phillips snorkelling on the reef
Great Barrier Reef
Reef Talk – A chat with marine biologist Gareth Phillips

The Great Barrier Reef is a thriving, living marine environment. It inspires all who visit, even those who see it every day, like marine biologist and owner of Marine Discoveries, Gareth Phillips.

Read more
snorkelling with maori wrasse turtle and fish
Great Barrier Reef
12 Famous residents of the Great Barrier Reef

Only 12 residents? There’s probably a gazillion of them, but let’s start things slowly shall we. It’s not easy to keep track of every single one of the Great Barrier Reef’s inhabitants but here are some of the most famous ones in Tropical North Queensland.

Read more

Explore Scenic Flights

 

Book now and save $100 on tours

Are you visiting Tropical North Queensland soon? Take advantage of our Tropical Dollars and get $100 off tours and experiences* when you book through Experience Oz! Use code TNQ100

*Min spend $200. T&C’s apply. Travel by 21 June 2024.