• It's your choice on how you travel out to see the Great Barrier Reef and the best way we can recommend is on a helicopter ride for sure! And when you combine it with a landing at a pontoon you have found the ultimate reef adventure.
• With a helicopter departure or return to Cairns you will experience 25 minutes of eye popping beauty as you fly low over over the Great Barrier Reef coral gardens and out to the pontoon.  
• The pontoon sits on the outer Great Barrier Reef and offers a myriad of in-water toys to explore the reef such as glass bottom boat, semi-submarine, Scuba Doo, diving, snorkelling, observatory & helicopter rides at the platform.
• This Great Barrier Reef tour is perfect for simply everyone who wishes to see as much of the Great Barrier Reef in as many ways possible in a one day tour even if you don't want to get wet!

A helicopter ride over the Great Barrier Reef at a low level of only 500 feet is the ultimate way to experience the magnitude of the Great Barrier Reef. Guests can choose to fly out and cruise back or cruise out and fly back or fly/fly both ways to the pontoon.

Cairns helicopter rides & Great Barrier Reef pontoon tours.

There is something very special about snorkelling amongst the coral gardens and marine life and also soaring above from a different vantage point and seeing the lace like display of coral reef below.

From your seat in on your Cairns helicopter flight see marine life like whales, dolphins and manta ray's as they play in the crystal clear waters below.

Landing or taking off on a scenic helicopter flight from a platform in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef just of Cairns is an absolute treat.

Choose to depart Cairns on a helicopter flight or by boat and spend the day on the reef. Cairns helicopter flights to the pontoon take around 25  minutes or you can take a 10 minute scenic flight whilst out on the platform on the outer Great Barrier Reef.

A scenic helicopter flight really just has to be done as you never know if you will ever be back to see the Great Barrier Reef again. 

Make the most of your day on the Great Barrier Reef by adding a breathtaking scenic helicopter flight to your outer reef package.

Choose to fly to or from the Cairns Heli base to the outer reef platform or cruise out by boat and enjoy a 10 minute scenic flight straight from the Great Barrier Reef Adventures pontoon.

Helicopter flights offer a spectacularly unique perspective of the reef and you will be mesmerised by the coral formations, see marine life in their natural habitat and fall in love with the vibrant shades of blues in the shallow lagoons.

Our two tour companies join forces to ensure you experience the ultimate day on Australia's Great Barrier Reef. With a range of different helicopter scenic flight options you’ll be sure to find a helicopter flying tour to match your itinerary.

The platform at Norman Reef in the outer Barrier Reef includes many great fun activities to experience the Great Barrier Reef without getting wet. 

Included is a Semi-Submersible Submarine tour, Underwater observatory, snorkel gear, lunch, morning and afternoon tea.

You can choose to do an introductory Scuba Dive, Certified Scuba Dive or Scuba Doo for little extra cost.(Medical form to be  filled in prior to joining any underwater tours).

10 Minute Scenic Helicopter Flights From Outer Reef Platform

Cruise out to the outer Barrier Reef platform by boat and return to Cairns by boat.

Cruise both ways + 10 minute reef scenic flight.

• 10 minutes flying & 3 hours at the reef
• Depart Cairns: 10:30am
• Arrive Cairns: 5.30pm

Whilst out on the reef platform you can take off in a helicopter and enjoy a 10 minute scenic flight up above all of the snorkellers and scuba divers in the waters below.

This view will provide you with some great photography and give you a bigger perspective of the majesty of the reef and it's coral systems.

Please note: All helicopter flights are to be booked at time of booking the boat cruise and flights are based on total passenger weights.

Cairns Helicopter Flights - Cruise/Fly To The Reef

Choose the Cruise/Fly and your reef tour boat will cruise past Green Island to the outer reef pontoon where you will have 3 hours of in water reef viewing fun.

Check in by 9.30am at the Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal where the staff will issue your boat boarding passes and other useful information for your day and discuss the helicopter departure details.

• Flying Time: 25 minutes & approx 2hrs:15mins at the reef
• Depart Cairns: 10:30am
• Arrive Cairns: 3.40pm

A large powerful catamaran will ferry you out to Green Island approx. 45 minutes off the coast for a short stop to pick up guests from the island to join you for the day on the outer reef.

Continue another 60 minutes to the outer reef pontoon; a large stable platform where all the platforms activities are conducted from. Enjoy 3 hours of reef viewing activities and lunch.

As the end of day approaches your friendly crew will ferry you over to the helicopter pontoon with your belongings in a small tender and prepare you for your exciting flying adventure.

Take off over the reef and have your camera ready to capture memories of this spectacular vista. Arrive back in Cairns at 3.40pm, ideal if you have an evening flight or evening activity you need to meet.

Cairns Helicopter Flights - Fly/Cruise To The Reef

The Fly/Cruise package starts a little later in the morning with the helicopter departing Cairns at 12.30pm (check in 11.45am) and the ferry boat arriving back in Cairns at 5.30pm making it a perfect reef tour for those guests landing in Cairns that morning or for guests that widh to relax and sleep in a little whilst on holidays.

Please allow more time if you are staying at Palm Cove or the norhtern beaches of Cairns.

Fly to the Reef & Cruise Return

• 25 minutes flying & approx 2hrs:15mins at the reef
• Depart Cairns: 12:30pm
• Arrive Cairns: 5.30pm

Your scenic flight to the reef lasts around 25 minutes with breathtaking views of Green Island and surrounding reef systems.

As the low level flight makes it way over the coral formations keep an eye out for larger marine life like turtles, reef sharks and seasonal whales (June to Sept).

Landing takes place on the dedicated helicopter pontoon sitting out on the reef and a friendly Great Adventures Cruises staff member will come and collect you and your belongings for the short boat ride over to the main pontoon platform for your afternoon of reef viewing activities.

The boats return cruise back to Cairns departs the pontoon approx. 3.30pm, you’ll travel via the beautiful Green Island and arrive back in the Cairns marina at 5.30pm.

Cairns Helicopter Flights - Fly/Fly To The Reef

Do away with the transfer boat component altogether by flying in style like a VIP or rock star by helicopter to and from the outer reef pontoon.

A great option for those with limited time or for those that are not a fan of boat rides due to sea sickness.

Departing from Cairns at 12.30pm (check in 11.45am) and returning at 3.40pm this is the perfect way to experience the reef with no chance of suffering any effects from the motion of the ocean.

Fly to the Reef & Fly Return

• 50 minutes flying & approx 2hrs:15mins at the reef
• Depart Cairns: 12:30pm
• Arrive Cairns: 3.40pm

Helicopter flight paths are over the picturesque Green Island, Upolu and Michaelmas Cays and the surrounding reef systems including Saxon, Hastings and Arlington Reefs.

See more Cairns and Port Douglas scenic helicopter flight options

Tour Languages Offered

• English

Departs From

Cairns

Departure Time

• Cruise/Fly: departs Cairns at 10:30am returns Cairns 3:40pm
• Fly/Cruise: departs Cairns at 12:30pm returns Cairns 5:30pm
• Fly/Fly: departs Cairns at 12:30pm returns Cairns 3:40pm
• Cruise + 10 Min Scenic Flight: departs Cairns 10.30am returns Cairns 5.30pm

Destinations

• Great Barrier Reef
• Outer Barrier Reef - Norman Reef

Months of Operation

January - December

Days of Operation

Daily

Duration

Fly/Cruise: 5 hours (approx.) - Flying time 25 minutes
Cruise/Fly: 5 hours (approx.) - Flying time 25 minutes
Fly/Fly: 3 hours (approx.) - Flying time 50 minutes (25 minutes each way)
Cruise + 10 Min Scenic Flight: 7 hours (approx.)

Available for Purchase / Hire

• Scuba diving (Cruise/Fly only)
• Scuba Doo (Cruise/Fly only)
• Boat Snorkel Trip
• Return accommodation transfers

Fitness Level Required

Medium

Restrictions

Individual passenger weights and accompanying carryon luggage MUST be advised at the time of booking. Weight variances greater than 10% may incur an additional fee. Maximum single seat payload of 130KG. For passenger comfort and aircraft weight and balance, passengers exceeding 130KG are required to purchase an additional seat at 50% of ticket price 

Weight: Up to 130 Kg / 287 Lb

Additional Information

• Certified Divers, please present your dive card on day of travel
• You must be over 12 to Scuba Dive

• We suggest packing a small soft sided bag as if you were going to the beach for the day, including:
• Camera (underwater digital cameras also available for hire on the boat)
• Sunglasses – polarised lens is recommended
• Swimming costume
• Hat, towel, sunscreen (SPF 50+ recommended)
• A dry change of clothes including a jumper in winter
• Cash or Card for any onboard purchases

• Children 3 years and older are legally required to occupy their own seat and therefore must pay the per seat price
• Children 0-2 years travel FOC on the lap of a parent / guardian (max 1 per flight).