Cairns & Port Douglas

15 Best Cairns Scenic Flights

The flights over the reef’s outer edges: fixed-wing loops and helicopter runs that put the coral mosaics, sand cays and reef walls under the window. From altitude the reef reads as one organism, which is the point.

1.Cairns: Outer Edges of The Great Barrier Reef Scenic Flight

Experience the Great Barrier Reef from the sky with a 40-minute scenic flight from Cairns, offering stunning views, expert commentary, and wildlife spotting.

Most Popular★ 4.9

“Great tour!!! The pilot was always very helpful and explained everything about the great barrier. I would only suggest to speak more slowly for those of us who do not have English as our first language.”

Check Availability →Read our full review →

3.Full Day Reef Cruise and 10 Minute Helicopter Scenic Flight

Experience the Great Barrier Reef from multiple angles with this full-day tour, including snorkeling, scuba, a BBQ lunch, and a scenic helicopter flight.

★ 4.5

“Amazing trip - stunning reefs, incredible helicopter ride and amazing staff. The whole crew is incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, they make ir super fun but you can also tell how serious they are about keeping everyone safe and lookiRead more”

Check Availability →Read our full review →

4.Great Barrier Reef 40 Minute Scenic Flight from Cairns – Reef Hopper

Experience stunning aerial views of the Great Barrier Reef on a 40-minute scenic flight from Cairns, including Green Island, Palm Cove, and Arlington Reef.

★ 4.5

“Wow. What an experience to see this wonderful natural feature especially for my partner who gets sick on smaller boats but was desperate to see the reef.”

Check Availability →Read our full review →

5.Outer Reef Odyssey – 40 minute Reef Scenic Flight

Experience the Great Barrier Reef from the air with this 40-minute scenic helicopter flight, offering stunning views, expert guides, and memorable wildlife spotting.

★ 5.0

“Well worth the trip! It was awesome and let us see what we were going to be snorkeling yesterday.๐Ÿ˜ƒ๐Ÿ˜ƒ๐Ÿ˜ƒ๐Ÿ˜ƒ๐Ÿ˜ƒ๐Ÿ˜ƒ๐Ÿ˜ƒ๐Ÿ˜ƒ๐Ÿ˜ƒ๐Ÿ˜ƒ๐Ÿ˜ƒ๐Ÿ˜ƒ๐Ÿ˜†๐Ÿ˜†๐Ÿ˜†๐Ÿ˜†๐Ÿ˜†๐Ÿ˜†๐Ÿ˜†๐Ÿ˜†๐Ÿ˜†๐Ÿ˜†๐Ÿ˜†๐Ÿ˜†๐Ÿ˜†๐Ÿ˜†๐Ÿ˜†๐Ÿ˜†๐Ÿ˜†๐Ÿ˜†๐Ÿ ๐Ÿ ๐Ÿ ๐Ÿ ๐Ÿ ๐Ÿ ”

Check Availability →Read our full review →

6.Great Barrier Reef or Rainforest Scenic Flights from Port Douglas

Experience breathtaking aerial views of the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest from Port Douglas with Nautilus Aviation's scenic helicopter flightsโ€”highlighting marine wildlife and lush landscapes.

★ 5.0

“The staff was very professional. Pilot John quickly put our two slightly nervous granddaughters at ease. Seeing the GBR from the air was a dream come true! The girls canโ€™t stop talking about the experience. Highly recommend!”

Check Availability →Read our full review →

7.Ultimate Great Barrier Reef and Rainforest 45-minute Helicopter Tour

Experience the stunning views of the Great Barrier Reef and Rainforest on a 45-minute helicopter tour from Cairns, with expert commentary and intimate group sizes.

★ 5.0

“The experience was truly unforgettable! We were lucky with the weather, which made the views of the Great Barrier Reef even more spectacular. Seeing this vast and awe-inspiring natural wonder from above gave me a real appreciation of its Read more”

Check Availability →Read our full review →

8.Inner Reef Explorer – 30 minute Reef Scenic Flight

Experience the Great Barrier Reef from above with a 30-minute scenic helicopter flight. Enjoy stunning views, expert guides, and a personal touch.

★ 5.0

“Professional from the moment we walked into the air conditioned office and enjoyed a complimentary soft drink, through the safety briefing given by Hayley. Through to Niels skillful piloting and description of the wonders belowโ€ฆ. Rays and seals were visible from 500ft.”

Check Availability →Read our full review →

11.Private Helicopter Tour: Reef Island Snorkeling and Gourmet Picnic Lunch

Experience the Great Barrier Reef from above and below with a private helicopter, secluded island picnic, snorkeling, and stunning scenery.

★ 4.5

“we had a fantastic time. Our Pilot was very informative about the area and very easy going and friendly. We have been telling everyone about our trip. It was the best thing we've ever done!”

Check Availability →Read our full review →

14.Zoom Around Cairns – 10 minute City Scenic Flight

Experience Cairns from above with a 10-minute helicopter flight offering stunning city and sea views, in-flight commentary, and optional souvenirs.

★ 5.0

“Our experience was excellent. Our pilot placed a great importance on safety and comfort and was friendly and very professional. Our pilot also acted as a tour guide pointing out various landmarks.”

Check Availability →Read our full review →

More Cairns Scenic Flights

Explore Cairns & Port Douglas

The reef out front, the oldest rainforest behind and a railway between.