• Upgrade your Great Barrier Reef tour and helicopter flight with a ride around the reef on a semi-submersible submarine, glass bottom boat, or even some scuba diving
• Discover one of the great natural wonders of the world with a scenic helicopter flight and a reef cruise.  
• Take a walk through the Underwater Observatory and learn about the Great Barrier Reef’s marine life with the onboard Touch Tank experience on the floating pontoon on the outer Great Barrier Reef
• Have your camera in hand as you soar above the Great Barrier Reef in a luxury helicopter. The aircraft’s large viewing windows provide endless selfie opportunities! 

Combine your next Great Barrier Reef tour to Moore Reef Pontoon with a breath taking Cairns helicopter flight and reef combo. A pontoon reef tour and a scenic helicopter flight over the reef is the ultimate way to explore this icon and to truly experience the reef in all its glory.

What to Expect

Combine your next Great Barrier Reef tour to Moore Reef Pontoon with a breathtaking Cairns helicopter ride and Great Barrier Reef combo. This tour offers an incredible way to explore the reef from both the air and the water. Choose whether to fly out from Cairns to the reef or return to Cairns from the reef by helicopter.

Experience the ultimate Great Barrier Reef adventure with a 25-minute scenic helicopter flight over the reef, followed by snorkelling from an outer reef pontoon located on Moore Reef, 40km off the coast of Cairns. Enjoy a tropical buffet lunch, glass bottom boat tours, an underwater observatory, snorkelling, a semi-submersible boat tour, and a giant waterslide. Additional activities like scuba diving and underwater helmet walking are also available for an additional cost.

Features and Highlights

Great Barrier Reef Interactive Pontoon

The Sunlover interactive pontoon is the hub of all Great Barrier Reef tour activities, including:

• Snorkelling
• Scuba Diving
• Seawalker Helmet Diving
• Semi-Submersible Submarine Tours
• Glass Bottom Boat Tours
• Underwater Observatory
• Fish Feeding Presentations

Upgrade to a scenic helicopter flight over the reef to experience the world's largest coral reef from above.

Optional Extra Upgrades

Introductory or Certified Scuba Dive

• Experience the Great Barrier Reef with an optional Introductory or Certified Scuba Dive, led by experienced PADI professionals. Explore colourful coral gardens, marine life, and unique reef formations.

Seawalker Helmet Dive

• Walk along the reef floor with a Seawalker Helmet Dive, perfect for those nervous about snorkelling or scuba diving. Breathe normally as you explore the reef up close with an experienced instructor.

Guided Snorkelling Tour

• Join a 30-minute guided snorkelling tour led by an experienced marine naturalist. Discover the reef's unique marine life and coral systems.

Moore Reef Great Barrier Reef Activity Pontoon

• Enjoy around 3 to 3.5 hours on the Great Barrier Reef pontoon with activities such as snorkelling, semi-submersible submarine tours, glass bottom boat tours, the underwater observatory, and a giant waterslide. A tropical buffet lunch is included, making this the perfect Great Barrier Reef tour for non-swimmers.

Enjoy a comprehensive day on the Great Barrier Reef with various options to suit your schedule and preferences.

See all Cairns Great Barrier Reef tours and helicopter combo package tours.

Learn more about the Great Barrier Reef.

Great Barrier Reef Interactive Pontoon Off Cairns

The pontoon is the hub of all the Great Barrier Reef viewing activities including in-water options like snorkelling, Scuba Diving and Seawalker helmet diving and dry options like the semi-submersible submarine (underwater reef viewing boat), glass bottom boat, underwater observatory and even an exciting fish feed by the on-board marine naturalist.

Upgrade to an unforgettable scenic helicopter flight over the Great Barrier Reef to experience the world’s largest coral reef from a birds-eye perspective, easily a highlight to any Tropical Far North Queensland holiday.

View the interactive pontoon here.

Cairns Helicopter Flight - Fly/Cruise

• 10:50am – Check in @Sunlover desk inside the Reef Fleet Terminal (1 Spence St)
• 11:00am – Transfer to Zoom Hangar @ General Aviation Cairns Airport
• 11:20am – Arrival at Zoom Hangar, Safety Briefing & Boarding
• 11:45am – Depart on helicopter from Cairns (approx. 25 min flight)
• 12:10pm – Arrive at Moore Reef pontoon
• ~ 4 HOURS OF REEF TIME (APPROX.)
• 04:00pm – Depart Moore Reef on boat
• 05:30pm – Arrival at Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal

Departing from Zoom Heli Hanger at 12:00pm you will enjoy an impressive 25 minute reef scenic flight over Cairns City and out to the Great Barrier Reef.

Witness the colour variations as you approach the reef systems, the clear shallow waters surrounding the coral reefs are home to a variety of marine life that can be viewed from your helicopter’s windows.

Capture photographic memories as your low level flight travels towards the floating pontoon, as your experienced pilot touches down on the separate helicopter platform crew members will be waiting in the transfer tender to ferry you across for a day of fun reef viewing activities and tropical buffet lunch.

Return on the fast air-conditioned catamaran to Cairns Marina at 5.30pm.

Cairns Helicopter Flight - Cruise/Fly

• 08:45am – Check in @Sunlover desk inside the Reef Fleet Terminal (1 Spence St)
• 09:45am – Check in closes
• 09:30am – Boarding starts
• 10:00am – Boarding closes
• 10:15am – Depart Cairns
• 12:00pm – Arrive Moore Reef Pontoon
• ~ 3.5 HOURS OF REEF TIME (APPROX.)
• 03:30pm – Depart Moore Reef on helicopter (approx. 25 min flight)
• 03:55pm – Return to Zoom Hangar @ General Aviation Cairns Airport Cairns
• 04:10pm – Transfer back to the Reef Fleet Terminal
• 04:30pm – Arrival at Reef Fleet Terminal

Upgrade your Great Barrier Reef tour to a Cruise/fly package to make your trip one you will never forget.

Cruise by boat to the outer reef pontoon on-board our high speed catamaran and then return to Cairns in the afternoon in style on board the Helicopter for a low level scenic flight. Now this is the life!

Departure from Cairns’ Marlin Marina is at 10:15am; enjoy a morning tea or coffee on arrival to the boat and an informative marine and safety presentation whilst cruising out to the reef platform.

The on-board helicopter crew member will seek you out and inform you of your afternoon helicopter departure meeting point, time and also conduct a short safety briefing.

With 3.5 hours on the outer reef pontoon you’ll be able to experience all the in-water reef viewing activities that are on offer as well as a delicious buffet lunch.

As the day draws to an end and fellow passengers are boarding the catamaran for the return cruise you’ll be ferried with your belongings over to the helicopter platform and embark on your spectacular scenic flight back to Cairns.

Lift up over the reefs and take in the beauty of the coral formations as you head towards the green luscious mountains surrounding Cairns.

Your helicopter flight path takes you over Moore and Sudbury Reefs, Fitzroy Island, Cape Grafton and Cairns City before touching down at the Zoom Heli Hanger at 4:10pm. Transfer back to the Reef Fleeet Terminal for a 4:30pm arrival. 

Cairns Helicopter Flight To The Outer Reef - Fly/Fly

• 10:50am – Check in @Sunlover desk inside the Reef Fleet Terminal (1 Spence St)
• 11:00am – Transfer to Zoom Hangar @ General Aviation Cairns Airport
• 11:20am – Arrival at Zoom Hangar, Safety Briefing & Boarding
• 11:45am – Depart on helicopter from Cairns (approx. 25 min flight)
• 12:10pm – Arrive at Moore Reef pontoon
• ~ 3 HOURS OF REEF TIME (APPROX.)
• 03:30pm – Depart Moore Reef on helicopter (approx. 25 min flight)
• 03:55pm – Return to Zoom Hangar @ General Aviation Cairns Airport Cairns
• 04:10pm – Transfer back to the Reef Fleet Terminal
• 04:30pm – Arrival at Reef Fleet Terminal

Upgrade to fly both ways and travel like a rockstar; this is the perfect option for those with limited time or would rather not travel by boat.

Your friendly helicopter staff will assist with a safety briefing and information regarding your day before your flight takes off at 12:00pm from Zoom Heli Hanger. 

Enjoy approx. 3 hours on the Great Barrier Reef, snorkel and join the reef viewing boats for a spectacular close up experience of the corals and marine life, have a delicious tropical lunch with prawns and watch the fish feed led by the marine naturalist.

On-board crew will assist you and your belongings on the boat transfers between the helicopter platform and pontoon on arrival and departure.

You will then board the helicopter again taking a different route back to Cairns Marina Heliport where you should touch down at 4:10pm transfer to the Reef Fleet Terminal for a 4.30pm arrival. 

See more Cairns helipcopter scenic flight options.

Important Information: Weights of individual passengers and accompanying carryon luggage (max 5 kg) MUST be advised at time of booking. A weight variance greater than 10% may incur an additional fee. Maximum single seat payload of 130kg. 

Optional Extras Upgrades

Upgrade to an Introductory or Certified Scuba Dive

Immerse yourself in the Great Barrier Reef with an optional Introductory or Certified Scuba Dive.

Your diving experience will be led by a team of experienced PADI professionals who will lead you through colourful coral gardens, marine life and unique reef formations direct from the pontoon.

There are a number of pristine dive sites located in Moore Reef and the best location will be chosen on the day.

For introductory divers, no experience is necessary and your experienced dive guides will be with you every step of the way.

For certified scuba divers, Moore Reef offers world class diving, from City Hall with its swim-through caves and large pelagic fish, through to Scary Point where the currents have encouraged the most diverse array of invertebrates to congregate.

All Certified dives are supervised by a qualified PADI Dive Instructor.

Upgrade to a Seawalker Helmet Dive

This unique and exhilarating experience will have you walking along the bottom of the Great Barrier Reef, getting up close and personal with the hundreds of fish species and spectacular corals surrounding Moore Reef.

Seawalker Helmet diving allows you to breathe through your nose and mouth as you would above water, making it an ideal activity for those a little nervous about snorkeling and scuba diving.

Led by an experienced instructor, you will make your way through the Fan-coral garden as you spot for colourful tropical fish, giant clams and large bommies.

If you are lucky you may even get a photo with Dolla the friendly Turtle or Wally the photo bombing Maori Wrasse. 

Upgrade to a Guided Snorkel Tour

Take your outer reef experience to the next level with an optional guided snorkel tour.

Led by an experienced marine naturalist, the guided tour lasts around 30 minutes, showcasing the reef’s unique marine life and coral systems.

Your snorkel guide will point out all of the best sites, including the world’s largest Bi-Valve Giant Clam, Clown Fish and the Giant Blue Starfish.

Moore Reef Great Barrier Reef Activity Pontoon

Depending on the option you choose you will have around 3 to 3.5 hours to enjoy the outer reef pontoon and the many activities on offer.

Snorkel equipment and demonstrations are available onboard and the pontoon has its very own snorkeling enclosure with rest stops and viewing stations.

Take a walk through the Underwater Observatory where you will have the opportunity to view the abundance of colourful corals and tropical fish that call Moore Reef home.

There is also fish feeding presentation and the best views are from the underwater observatory.

Discover and learn of the reef’s underwater wonders on a coral viewing Glass Bottom Boat tour.

Glide through the colourful coral gardens on a Semi-Submersible Submarine boat tour and keep your eyes peeled for the abundance of marine life that can regularly be spotted in the pristine waters of Moore Reef, such as Sea Turtles, Reef Sharks, Rays and plentiful tropical fish.

Onboard there is also a giant theme park style water slide, a fully enclosed kids pool, full bar facilities and a sun deck where you can unwind and soak in the breath taking views of the outer reef.

Whilst onboard you will also be served a full buffet lunch complete with prawns, salads, cold meats, curry, stir fry, tropical fruits, pastas and more. 

What better way is there to experience one of the world’s greatest natural wonders? 

This is the perfect Great Barrier Reef tour for non-swimmers.

Tour Languages Offered

• English

Departs From

Cairns

Departure Time

See itinerary section

Destinations

• Great Barrier Reef
• Great Barrier Reef
• Moore Reef

Months of Operation

January - December

Days of Operation

Daily

Excludes Christmas Day

Duration

Duration varies depending on the option you choose

Available for Purchase / Hire

• Upgrade to an Introductory or Certified Scuba Dive
• Upgrade to Seawalker Helmet Diving tour
• Upgrade to Guided Snorkel Tour
• Lockers available for hire
• Lycra suits, wet suits and prescription masks available for hire

Fitness Level Required

Low

Restrictions

• Scuba Diving – minimum age 12
• Seawalker helmet diving tour – minimum age 12 years
• Scuba diving – all participants must complete a medical assessment on board to assess their fitness for diving
• Weights of individual passengers and accompanying carryon luggage (max 5 kg) MUST be advised at time of booking. A weight variance greater than 10% may incur an additional fee. Maximum single seat payload of 130kg.
• Maximum single seat payload of 130kg. For passengers comfort and aircraft weight and balance, passengers exceeding 130kg are required to pay a 50% surcharge on the helicopter flight component of this tour directly to the tour operator prior to travel.

Weight: Up to 130 Kg / 287 Lb

IN-WATER RESTRICTIONS

Scuba Diving Restrictions

• Certain medical conditions and medications may preclude some people from scuba diving.
• Participation is subject to a medical questionnaire completed on board with the tour operator
• Minimum age for scuba diving is 12 years.
• Flying after scuba diving: a wait of 12 hours is recommended after one dive, 18 hour after 2 dives and at least 24 hours after multiple dives, before ascending to an altitude of 300 metres or greater.

Read more about Diving Safety on the Great Barrier Reef.

Scuba Doo and Helmet Diving Restrictions

• Certain medical conditions and medications may preclude some people from helmet diving and scuba doo.
• Participation is subject to a medical questionnaire completed on board with the tour operator
• Minimum age for helmet diving/scuba doo is 12 years.
• Flying after scuba diving: a wait of 12 hours is recommended after one dive, 18 hour after 2 dives and at least 24 hours after multiple dives, before ascending to an altitude of 300 metres or greater.

Read more about Diving Safety on the Great Barrier Reef.

Additional Information

Tours and aircraft substitutions are subject to Management and/or Pilots discretion, weather, air traffic control and availability.

Eco Certifications

• Hat, Sunscreen, sun protective clothing
• Swimming costume and towel
• Credit cards or cash for snacks drinks and optional activities
• Light jacket for cool/windy days
• Reusable water bottle and camera

• Family Fare: 2 Adults and 2 Children (not applicable with other discounts)
• Child Fare 4-14 years inclusive
• Infants age 3 will be charged the child price for any helicopter component booked, this charge will be added to your booking total
• Children 0-2 years travel FOC on the lap of a parent / guardian (max 1 per flight).