Top Cairns & the Tropical North Helicopter Tours

Indulge yourself and your loved ones with a private helicopter tour that takes you out to a secluded island on the Great Barrier Reef. Admire the reef from above during your scenic helicopter, then experience its natural beauty up close after your pilot gently lands on the gorgeous and remote Vlasoff Cay and provides everything you need—including a picnic basket with sparkling wine, and nibbles—for a luxurious beach retreat.

Enjoy the best of both worlds on this exhilarating 45-minute helicopter flight, crossing both land and sea. Swoop over the lush rainforest and thundering waterfalls of the Barron Gorge, then admire the vast reefs and aquamarine waters of the UNESCO-listed Great Barrier Reef including Arlington Reef.

This 60-minute reef scenic helicopter flight is also known as the "pilots favourite". It takes in all the sights from every single one of our shorter duration flights and delivers them in a package that cannot be matched. Sweeping city views, rolling lush rainforest, tableland scenery, waterfalls, islands, reef and sand cays - this flight packs it all in.

Fly over the Great Barrier Reef on this 40 minute helicopter flight, where your pilot/guide will give you a commentary about the landscape and sea you’re flying over. You’ll get to the edge of the reef where the water is over 1000 feet deep. You’ll also pass Vlasoff Cay, Green Island, and Arlington Reef. Learn about what lives in the water below from your pilot while you take incredible photos.

Enjoy the most scenic 30 minutes of your life on this private helicopter ride over the Great Barrier Reef. Fly over Green Island and see its unique forest canopy—it’s actually part of the reef, not an island—and see Mount Yarrabah and False Cape on your way. Spot marine life like rays and sharks from above as you travel to Arlington Reef, then enjoy unbeatable views of the Queensland coastline and the Great Dividing Range on your way back to Cairns.

Experience the awe-inspiring Great Barrier Reef with Great Adventures. From our spacious Outer Reef platform, discover vibrant coral and marine life. Swimmers and non-swimmers alike can snorkel or dive, explore the reef from the underwater observatory or air-conditioned semi-submersible, or enjoy a breathtaking 10-minute scenic helicopter flight.Enjoy morning tea, afternoon tea, and a delicious hot & cold buffet lunch. Optional activities like scuba diving and the exclusive Scuba-Doo underwater scooter are available for an additional fee. Enhance your visit with a 2-hour stop at Green Island before the Reef Pontoon. Explore the rainforest, relax on sandy beaches, and snorkel in crystal-clear waters—all gear is provided.

Enjoy unforgettable views of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef as you fly over the UNESCO-listed natural wonder in a helicopter. Experience the magnitude of the vast reef as you float overhead, spotting landmarks like Green Island and Upolo Cay and swooping low enough to see coral clusters and schools of tropical fish and rays. The tour departs from Marina Point at 2 Pier Point Rd in Cairns City.

Escape to the Outer Great Barrier Reef on a small-group half-day snorkel tour limited to 60 guests. Enjoy up to two hours in the water with expert marine guides, warm hospitality onboard, and all gear included.

Experience one of the wonders of the natural world up close and personal on this snorkeling and diving cruise on the Great Barrier Reef. Climb aboard a superyacht in Cairns and set sail to two different outer reef locations. Explore the colorful world underneath the water, and snorkel or dive for a closer look. A delicious barbecue lunch and light refreshments are included.

See snapping crocs in action on this half-day tour to Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures. Departing from Cairns or Palm Cove, explore the five different zones of this eco-park and working crocodile farm, including a narrated boat tour through a coastal lagoon. Stroll along elevated boardwalks to observe cassowaries, turtles, lizards, and koalas, and admire the mighty stars of the attraction at the thrilling Crocodile Attack Show.

Enjoy an unforgettable animal encounter with a visit to Hartley's Crocodile Adventures from Cairns. Brave a face-to-face meeting with menacing crocodiles or hand-feed kangaroos and wallabies with guidance and supervision from the friendly staff, then get up-close to other Aussie creatures like Koala's, cassowaries, quolls and snakes. Best of all, your self-guided tour includes entrance tickets, hotel pick-up and round-trip transport from Cairns.

This tour combines the best elements of the reef and rainforest. Starting with the reef we fly to Green Island and then explore the local reefs, including the beautiful Vlasoff Sand Cay. We then track to Palm Cove and climb up to 2,500 feet as we glide over the Great Dividing Range on our way to Kuranda - the village in the rainforest. We then track down the Barron Gorge, home of the immense Barron Falls, before tracking back to Cairns Airport with stunning panoramic views of the surrounding area.

Go snorkeling or scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef on a full-day cruise from Cairns. Relax on board your 80-foot (25-meter) luxury catamaran as your captain sails to two exclusive locations on the Great Barrier Reef. Choose to snorkel or dive, with full instruction provided by guides, and see an array of colorful fish, sea turtles, and corals. Your tour includes morning and afternoon tea, and a buffet lunch, with additional beverages available for purchase.

Venture off-the-beaten-track and explore the UNESCO-listed wilderness of Australia’s tropical north on this full-day tour from Cairns. Journey along the Captain Cook Highway; take a guided hike through the Mossman Gorge and cool off with a dip in the Mossman River. After lunch (included), look out for crocodiles on a scenic cruise down the Daintree River, then continue to Cape Tribulation to trek through the Daintree Rainforest and enjoy magnificent views over the Great Barrier Reef. This small-group tour is limited to 14 people for a personalized experience.

Explore the lush beauty, amazing wildlife, and rich heritage of Tropical North Queensland on this customizable full-day trip to Kuranda from Cairns. Travel to this enchanting rainforest village aboard the historic Kuranda Scenic Railway, and choose from a variety of activities including visits to Birdworld and Rainforestation Nature Park. Hang out with koalas and exotic birds, browse local markets, and more. At the end of the day, glide through the treetops back to Cairns on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway.

Immerse yourself in the natural wonders and Aboriginal heritage of Australia's Tropical North Queensland on this full-day tour from Cairns. First, head to the Mossman Gorge to take part in a traditional smoke ceremony with the indigenous Kuku Yalanji people. Then, enjoy lunch in the Daintree Village. After lunch, join a wildlife cruise on the Daintree River where you might see a crocodile, and learn about the fragile ecosystem of this impressive, serpent-like river system. Finally, head to Thornton’s Beach, where the rainforest meets the reef.

Explore the World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest on a full-day tour from Cairns. Take a guided nature walk through some of the oldest rainforests in the world at Mossman Gorge, look out for crocs on a cruise down the Daintree River, and stroll on the famous Cape Tribulation Beach. Enjoy a tropical lunch in a rainforest setting and stop for a refreshing snack at the Daintree Ice Cream Company. Round-trip luxury coach transfers complete this memorable adventure through the Wet Tropics of Queensland.

Explore the Great Barrier Reef and a lush island rain forest on this catamaran tour to Green Island from Cairns. Create your own perfect day on this protected coral cay with a variety of activities including snorkeling, scuba diving, Seawalking, nature walks, and tours on a glass-bottom boat. Upgrade to include a delicious buffet lunch on board the catamaran and/or a ride in a semi-submarine. It’s a fantastic way to discover the underwater wonders of the world’s most famous reef.

Get amazing views over the city of Cairns with this 10 minute scenic helicopter flight. Take in the Marlin Marina, Trinity Inlet, Admiralty Island and the cityscape itself, while also admiring the Great Dividing Range in the background, and the marvelous Coral Sea to the east. In-flight commentary will help you understand and appreciate this special part of Australia.

A truly VIP experience, discover one of the great natural wonders of the world with a roundtrip helicopter scenic flight and a day at the Reef Cruises’ pontoon! Snorkel, Scuba Dive, visit the Underwater Observatory, witness the lively fish feeding demonstration, or learn more about this intricate ecosystem on an informative Glass Bottom Boat or Semi-Submersible tour. Pontoon facilities include ample undercover seating, fresh water rinse showers, changing rooms, and a spacious sundeck with lounges. This family-friendly day ticks all the boxes and also includes the only theme park-style waterslide at the reef – the popular Sunslide!

Get truly impressive views over the rainforests of North Queensland with this 30 minute scenic helicopter flight, departing Cairns. Take in amazing views of many of the unique sights of the area, including the Great Dividing Range, Kuranda Scenic Railway, Barron Gorge, Great Barrier Reef and much more. In-flight commentary allows you to deepen your appreciation of this beautiful corner of Australia.

The Reef Spectucular does exactly what the title says - provides you with one hour of total reef paradise! We leave no stone (or coral) unturned as we explore two vast clusters of reefs. Rays, turtles and sharks are commonly seen on these flights. There is no better way to experience the vastness and beauty of the Great Barrier Reef.