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
A private sand cay experience
Snorkel and swim on the fringing reef of Vlassof Cay near Cairns
Snorkel and swim on the fringing reef of Vlassof Cay near Cairns
Picnic with friends at Turtle Beach near Cairns
Picnic with friends at Turtle Beach near Cairns
Snap the best photos of the Great Barrier Reef during a scenic flight
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.
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.
Vlasoff Cay: the most incredible place to picnic
Feel grounded the moment you arrive at a private sand cay on the 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.
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.
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.
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.
Explore Scenic Flights
-
![Pontoon Great Barrier Reef]()
accessibleReef Magic Cruises
View product -
![Snorkellers great barrier reef]()
accessibleGreat Adventures Reef and Green Island Cruises
View product -
![above watoer view of guided snorkel tour]()
accessibleQuicksilver Cruises
View product -
![Cooktown streetscape]()
cairns northern beachesAdventure North Australia
View product -
![Moore Reef pontoon]()
accessibleSunlover Reef Cruises
View product -
![Reef Scenic Primary Shot]()
cairns northern beachesNautilus Aviation
View product -
![Down Under Cruise and Dive]()
cairns northern beachesDown Under Cruise and Dive
View product -
![Cooktown Aboriginal Tour Normanby Station Tourguide]()
cairns northern beachesCulture Connect
View product -
![Dash 8 100 Series]()
cairns northern beachesSkytrans Airlines
View product -
![GSL Aviation - Cairns]()
cairns northern beachesGSL Aviation – Cairns
View product -
![Islands and Cays of the Great Barrier Reef]()
cairns northern beachesZoom Helicopters
View product
