The Scenic Flight Whitsundays from Airlie Beach is a 60-minute helicopter ride offering an unforgettable bird’s-eye view of Australia’s famous tropical islands, sand cays and coral reefs. From your guaranteed window seat, you can look across the blue waters of the Great Barrier Reef and see its coral formations from above. Departing daily from Airlie Beach, the flight takes in some of the region’s best-known landmarks, including Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet and Heart Reef.
Prepare for an airborne journey over one of Australia’s most remarkable natural environments. Your experience begins at Whitsunday Airport, located only a few minutes from Airlie Beach, where the ground crew will welcome you before departure.
After take-off, your aircraft climbs above the green peaks, islands and blue waters of the Whitsundays. From the air, look down on Whitehaven Beach, renowned for its brilliant white silica sand, before flying over Hill Inlet, where changing tides create distinctive swirling patterns through the sand and water.
The journey then continues over the Great Barrier Reef towards Heart Reef, one of the region’s most recognisable coral formations and a landmark that can be properly appreciated from the air. Its naturally formed heart shape has become closely associated with the Whitsundays and Australia’s tropical reef landscape.
Throughout the flight, your experienced pilot provides commentary about the reef’s ecology, island geology and marine life. Towards the end of the experience, enjoy another sweeping view across the islands before the aircraft returns smoothly to Whitsunday Airport.
Keen to experience more of the reef? Seeing Heart Reef from above gives you a remarkable perspective, but the Whitsundays can also be explored from the water. After returning to Airlie Beach, take a look at other Australia Tours experiences, whether you want to snorkel around coral gardens, cruise the reef or sail between the islands.
Terms & Conditions
All prices include GST and Marine Park taxes. If fuel prices rise above $1.50 per litre, a fuel surcharge may apply.
Access to individual sites and scheduled times may change depending on weather and tidal conditions. Guests should reconfirm their reservation 48 hours before departure.
Unless guests advise Ocean Rafting otherwise, photographs of passengers may be used for promotional or advertising purposes.
Adventure travel carries inherent risks, and participants join at their own risk. Guests with injuries affecting the back, neck or hips, as well as those in the final three months of pregnancy, cannot participate.
The minimum age is 6 months. A waiver must be signed before departure, and travel insurance is recommended.
Health and Fitness
No previous experience is required. Participants should, however, be in excellent health and have a positive attitude towards the experience.
Cancellations and Refunds Policy
All cancellations incur a 5% non-refundable booking fee.
Reservations may be changed or cancelled until noon on the day before departure. After this deadline, no refund is available.
If the operator cancels the flight because of poor weather or safety concerns, passengers may choose to reschedule or receive a refund, less a 5% service charge.
Charge for Using a Credit Card
All payments made by credit card incur a 1.6% processing fee.
Prices
Prices are valid for travel until 31 March 2026. When making a booking for a later travel date, the applicable updated price will automatically be displayed.
Cruise Ships
Cruise ship passengers should note that Scenic Flight Whitsundays itineraries do not align with all cruise ship arrival and departure times. Cruise passengers must make bookings through the cruise tour desk.
When booking, you must provide the full names and accurate weights of all passengers.
Each seat has a maximum passenger weight of 125 kg.
Flight departure times are subject to decisions made by pilots and may be affected by weather conditions and air traffic control.
Guests staying at island resorts on Hamilton Island, Daydream Island, Long Island or Hayman Island cannot participate in this tour.
You must confirm your reservation 48 hours before departure.
Tour Number: WR-60
Daily Operations: 60 minutes
Departure times: 7:00 AM, 8:30 AM, 10:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 1:00 PM and 2:30 PM
Departure: Airlie Beach – Whitsunday Airport
Price: $335 per person, $335 per adult and $335 per child (children under 2 are free)
Meals: Not included
Transfers: Free shuttle service to and from the hotel
Maximum weight: 125 kg per seat
Additional public holiday charges apply to the Northern Exposure, Southern Lights, Fly Raft and Rafting Squad packages. These additional charges do not apply to scenic flights.
Public holiday information provided for the applicable periods includes:
APR 25–MAR 26
05 May 25 – Labour Day
20 June 25 – Show Whitsundays
06 October 25 – King’s Birthday
25 December – Christmas Day (CLOSED)
26 December – Boxing Day
01 January 26 – New Year’s Day
26 January – Australia Day
APR 26–MAR 27
03 April 26 – Good Friday
04 April 26 – Easter Saturday
05 April 26 – Easter Sunday
06 April 26 – Easter Monday
April 26 – Anzac Day
May 26 – Labour Day
Show Whitsundays – Still to be announced
October 26 – King’s Birthday
25 December – Christmas Day (CLOSED)
26 December – Boxing Day
28 December 26 – Public holiday for Boxing Day
You must call (07) 4946 6848 to make a reservation within 24 hours of departure.
All passengers are weighed before boarding. Anyone exceeding the 125 kg per-seat limit, or providing inaccurate weight information, may be refused boarding and may not be entitled to a refund.
Flights depart from the mainland only and are not available to guests staying at island resorts.
Flights are operated by Whitsunday Tiger Moth Adventures (WAVEAir Pty Ltd, AOC# CASA.AOC.0067) and Whitsunday Air Services Pty Ltd (AOC# 1-KPVQ0-06), which are licensed by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).
Australia Tours acknowledges the Gia, Giru and Ngaro People, the Traditional Custodians with enduring connections to the Whitsunday region. We recognise their continuing connection to land, sea and community and pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
Vacationit Audio Guides provide another way to access information during your experience. Designed with accessibility in mind, they work with screen readers and are available in both audio and transcript formats, supporting visitors who are blind, have low vision or simply prefer to read.
Aerial views over the Great Barrier Reef and Whitsunday Islands.
A dedicated window seat for every passenger for optimal photos.
In-flight insights and stories provided by your pilot.
Free transfer back to Airlie Beach after your flight.
Enjoy breakfast, light meals, and refreshments at Whitsunday Airport before or after your flight.
Professional photo packages available for purchase to capture your flight memories.
Yes. The stated minimum age is 6 months, while children under 2 are free. Passenger details must be provided when booking, and applicable seating and weight requirements still need to be followed.
Flights depend on suitable weather and aviation conditions. If the operator cancels because of bad weather or safety concerns, passengers can reschedule or request a refund, subject to the cancellation and service-fee conditions applying to the booking.
No. The tour operates from the mainland, and the supplied conditions state that guests staying at island resorts, including Hamilton Island, Daydream Island, Long Island and Hayman Island, cannot participate.
No previous experience is required. Passengers should meet the tour’s health, safety and weight requirements and follow the ground crew’s and pilot’s instructions before and during the flight.
No. The tour operates from the mainland, and the supplied conditions state that guests staying at island resorts, including Hamilton Island, Daydream Island, Long Island and Hayman Island, cannot participate.
