Nothing prepares you for the reef’s scale until you see it from the air, which is exactly what every flight on this list is for. Most loop over Green Island, Arlington Reef and a sand cay or two in 30 to 60 minutes. Morning flights tend to get glassier water and truer colour.
Experience stunning aerial views of the Great Barrier Reef on a 40-minute scenic flight from Cairns, with expert commentary and potential whale sightings.
Most Popular★ 4.9“Everything was amazing, the staff were super friendly, the food was delicious, it was an excellent experience.”
★★★★★★★★★★
2,912 reviews40 minFrom $169by Air Tours Australia
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Experience the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef like never before with a thrilling cruise and scenic helicopter flight in Cairns. Don't miss out, click now!
★ 4.7“Brilliant day, well organised and excellent staff.”
★★★★★★★★★★
1,003 reviews8.5 hoursFrom $279by Down Under Cruise and Dive
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Experience the ultimate adventure in 2023 with a full-day cruise, scuba diving, and helicopter ride to the Great Barrier Reef. Explore Cairns & the Tropical North like never before!
★ 4.5“everything is good. it's a fantastic tour. thanks for the wonderful services. I'll tell my friends to choose this tour in future”
★★★★★★★★★★
340 reviewsFrom $283.31by Down Under Cruise and Dive
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Experience the breathtaking beauty of the Great Barrier Reef from above. Join us on a 40-minute scenic flight and see this natural wonder like never before.
★ 4.5“We expected a narration. Some explanation, description . Flight was good with clear view of reef....”
★★★★★★★★★★
207 reviewsFrom $185.77by GSL Aviation
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Experience the breathtaking beauty of the Great Barrier Reef from above with our Outer Reef Odyssey scenic flight. Book now for an unforgettable adventure!
★ 5.0“Niels was a great pilot and explained the whole process well and answered any questions we had in detail. Seeing the Great Barrier Reef from the air was a great and unique experience that we are very happy that we decided to do.”
★★★★★★★★★★
73 reviewsFrom $376.55by Zoom Helicopters
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Experience the breathtaking beauty of Port Douglas from above with our scenic flights. Discover stunning views and create memories that will last a lifetime. Book now!
★ 5.0“We had the best time at this experience - the staff were lovely. It’s a must-do if you’re in Port Douglas or nearby!!”
★★★★★★★★★★
63 reviewsFrom $326.35by Nautilus Aviation
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Experience the breathtaking beauty of the Great Barrier Reef and Rainforest from a whole new perspective. Join our 45-minute helicopter tour today and soar above paradise!
★ 5.0“Snorkeling/scuba at the Great Barrier Reef gets you up close and personal, but it's not until you see it from above that you can really appreciate the sheer grandeur of this World Heritage Site. Our pilot was wonderful, providing both a smooth ride and interesting…”
★★★★★★★★★★
59 reviewsFrom $451.29by Nautilus Aviation
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Experience the breathtaking beauty of the Barrier Reef from a whole new perspective. Join us for an unforgettable private helicopter flight over Cairns & the Tropical North.
★ 5.0“Great experience. Went up in the small helicopter, just the two of us and pilot, johnno. Was able to touch down on a small island”
★★★★★★★★★★
52 reviewsFrom $297.66by Zoom Helicopters
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Experience the breathtaking beauty of the Great Barrier Reef from above with our 30-minute scenic helicopter tour. Book now for an unforgettable adventure!
★ 4.5“Unfortunately rain into some weather problems but the staff was very accommodating and was able to get me on another heli at a later date before leaving the Carins area. Even though I was unable to fly over the reef, I was still given a…”
★★★★★★★★★★
36 reviewsFrom $328.54by Nautilus Aviation
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Experience the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns with a scenic helicopter flight, snorkeling, semi-submarine tour, and a buffet lunch—all in one unforgettable day.
★ 4.6“The price point for this activity was great! We enjoyed the boat ride out to pontoon on the Great Barrier Reef. We booked the 10 Min Helicopter ride and highly recommend it! Our pilot, John, was exceptional. He was friendly and fun - the sights…”
★★★★★★★★★★
25 reviews7 hoursFrom $332by Great Adventures Reef & Island Cruises
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Experience the ultimate luxury with a private helicopter tour, snorkel in stunning Reef Island waters, and indulge in a gourmet picnic lunch. Unforgettable adventure awaits!
★ 4.5“It's really worth the money. The entire small island was completely for us only! How great was it! Everyone we met was friendly and very knowledgable. I definitely will recommond this tour to my friends.”
★★★★★★★★★★
22 reviewsFrom $833.98by Nautilus Aviation
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Experience Cairns' highlights from above with a 45-minute scenic flight over the Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics Rainforest, offering unforgettable views.
★ 4.8“The tour was amazing, the views were incredible and the driver was very good at telling us history and what places were! However I would’ve expected the flight to be less crowded for what we paid. Just think it’s pretty expensive and we were jammed…”
★★★★★★★★★★
22 reviews45 minFrom $442by Nautilus Aviation Pty Ltd
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Experience the Great Barrier Reef with a full-day cruise on a stylish catamaran, snorkel, and enjoy a scenic 10-minute helicopter flight—perfect for adventure seekers and nature lovers.
★ 4.7“We didn’t see anything particularly different while snorkelling but thoroughly enjoyed the experience. We thought it was very well organised and put together. Lunch was poor.”
★★★★★★★★★★
18 reviews7 hoursFrom $348by Quicksilver Cruises
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Discover the Great Barrier Reef with a full-day Cairns tour featuring a helicopter flight, snorkeling, glass-bottom boat, and Fitzroy Island’s beaches and trails.
★ 4.5“Lots of inclusions. Plenty of snorkel/swim time. Lunch was good. Very informative and helpful crew. it was an amazing day.”
★★★★★★★★★★
14 reviews8.5 hoursFrom $336by Sunlover Reef Cruises
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Lift off on a thrilling aerial escapade over Cairns, revealing unseen treasures in just 10 minutes - what secrets lie beyond the horizon?
“I bought the zoom 10min flight due to affordability....my son rode shot gun with the pilot.it was amazing having this opportunity.the pilot was very smooth flying.extemely enjoyed.......thankyou.xxxxxx”
★★★★★★★★★★
13 reviewsFrom $125.52by Zoom Helicopters
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