Top 10 Cairns Helicopter Tours

1.Great Barrier Reef Cruise & Scenic Helicopter Flight

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,003 reviews · 8h 30m · from $279Our pick

Spend a full day aboard Evolution, a 35-meter superyacht, visiting Saxon Reef and Hastings Reef. Snorkel, add a scuba session, and take a 10-minute helicopter flight over the reef. The crew provides gear, stinger suits, lunch, and return-journey wine with cheese and biscuits.

“The trip was exceptional and we were all made to feel individually special. Smashing BBQ lunch with steak and prawns, hilarious and down to earth staff who make safety briefings fun and a jam packed day with reef snorkelling (away from any other boat and crowd) and helicopter ride. Will recommend this trip to anyone visiting Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef! The wine on the return journey and sun cream being provided were great touches. The staff couldn’t do more to help!”

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

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 340 reviews · from $283

Spend about 8.5 hours aboard Down Under Cruise and Dive’s Evolution, visiting two outer reef sites near Cairns. Snorkel, swim, or choose an introductory or certified scuba experience, then see the reef from a helicopter. Expect a large, professional operation with a BBQ buffet, helpful crew, and a maximum of 36 people.

“This was a great trip. Great crew, helpful and informative and so much to offer!! Helicopter added to our booking was excellent. Such an awesome way to see the reef!”

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

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 59 reviews · from $451Top rated

Fly from Cairns over Barron Gorge National Park, rainforest, waterfalls, the Great Barrier Reef, Arlington Reef, and Green Island. Nautilus Aviation operates this 45-minute flight for a maximum of six people, with pilot commentary throughout. Check in 45 minutes early at the Cairns waterfront. Hotel transfers, food, and drinks are not included.

“Incredible experience with spectacular views along with very friendly and helpful staff! I highly recommend this tour!”

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4.Great Barrier Reef 30-Minute Helicopter Flight

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 36 reviews · 30 min · from $322

Fly for 30 minutes over Green Island, Arlington Reef, Vlasoff and Upolu Sand Cay with an English-speaking guide. The shared helicopter carries up to six people, giving you a quick, clear view of reef patterns and possible sightings of turtles, sharks, manta rays, dolphins, dugongs and humpback whales from July to September.

“Incredibly satisfying! Saw reef by glass bottom boat and semi submersible after and the helicopter was by far the most amazing experience. Not cheap but worth every penny.”

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5.Great Barrier Reef 30-Minute Scenic Helicopter Tour from Cairns

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 36 reviews · from $328

Take a shared 30-minute helicopter flight from Cairns over Green Island and the Great Barrier Reef. Check in 30 minutes early at Nautilus Aviation, then listen to pilot commentary while looking for coral clusters, fish, rays, turtles, dolphins, and dugongs. Flights carry up to seven people and return to the Pier Heliport.

“The view was amazing and we loved riding in a helicopter. It was nice to have headsets and microphones to communicate with each other and listen to the airport and pilot conversations.”

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6.Great Barrier Reef Cruise & 10 Minute Helicopter

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 25 reviews · 7 hours · from $332

Take a seven-hour Great Adventures catamaran trip from Cairns to an outer-reef platform. Snorkel, ride a semi-submarine, enjoy lunch, and see the reef from above on a 10-minute helicopter flight. Pilot John has earned special praise for his friendly approach and excellent aerial views.

“The price point for this activity was great! We enjoyed the boat ride out to pontoon on the Great Barrier Reef. We booked the 10 Min Helicopter ride and highly recommend it! Our pilot, John, was exceptional. He was friendly and fun - the sights of the reef above were stunning. On the pontoon, you could snorkel or dive with the fish into the Great Barrier Reef. Highly recommend doing the semi submersible as well. The lunch buffet was decent, though if you don’t time it right, the food will be gone quickly. I just wish we had more time on the excursion!”

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

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 22 reviews · from $833

Fly from Cairns over the Great Barrier Reef, then land on Vlasoff Cay for about two hours of swimming, snorkeling, and a gourmet picnic with sparkling wine. Your pilot supplies chairs, an umbrella, blanket, and gear. If the public cay is occupied, you may visit Turtle Beach or receive a longer reef flight instead.

“Amazing!! We ended up on Turtle beach, had our breakfast there and went snorkeling a bit. It was super nice and relaxing. The pilot was great and amazing she took us for a tour around the reef, just beautiful.”

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8.Outer Reef Pontoon, Island & Helicopter Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 14 reviews · 8h 30m · from $336

This 510-minute Sunlover Reef Cruises trip combines Moore Reef’s pontoon activities with a 10-minute helicopter flight and two hours on Fitzroy Island. You’ll snorkel, use the glass-bottom boat and underwater observatory, then eat at Zephyrs Restaurant before beach time or a self-guided island walk. Check-in is at Cairns Marina from 7:00 to 7:30 am.

“Lots of inclusions. Plenty of snorkel/swim time. Lunch was good. Very informative and helpful crew. it was an amazing day.”

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9.1 Day Great Barrier Reef Cruise and 10 Minute Helicopter Flight

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 4 reviews · from $336

Take Great Adventures’ fast catamaran from Cairns to an Outer Reef platform for snorkeling, semi-submersible viewing, an underwater observatory, buffet lunch, and a 10-minute helicopter flight. You can add Green Island, scuba sessions, or the Scuba-Doo underwater scooter for extra cost. Crew member Paul is noted for friendly, practical help.

“Bring water bottle, towel, sun screen, and maybe a hat. All in a backpack. Really didn't need anything else. Water provided to top off bottles. Other beverages available to buy. Our time was packed. We did the sub, chopper, lunch, snorkeling. Barely had time to rest. Just the right amount of time as we didn't want to do Green Island.”

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10.Great Barrier Reef Pontoon, Travel by Helicopter

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · 6 - 7 hours · from $477

Choose a helicopter flight to or from Moore Reef, or fly both ways, then spend about four hours at a multi-level pontoon. Snorkel with supplied gear, ride the waterslide, tour by glass-bottom boat or semi-submersible, and enjoy a buffet lunch. Sunlover Reef Cruises provides the English-speaking crew and transfers between the reef terminal and helicopter hangar.

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