Inner Reef Explorer: Scenic Helicopter Tour of Cairns and Inner Edge of the Great Barrier Reef
5.0
28 Ratings
Aeroglen
Embark on a thrilling 30-minute helicopter tour from Cairns to explore the inner edge of the Great Barrier Reef. Marvel at stunning views of Cairns, Trinity Inlet, Green Island, Arlington Reef, and more!
Duration: 30 minutes
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Great Barrier Reef - This 30-minute Great Barrier Reef scenic flight takes in the highlights of the inner reef. There is simply no better way to appreciate the sheer size and scale of the Great Barrier Reef than from the air. Expect picture-postcard views of the reef and an abundance of wildlife - sharks, turtles, rays and even whales (July to Nov).
What's Included
  • 30 minute reef scenic flight
  • All fees and taxes included
  • Informative, in-flight commentary
What's Not Included
  • Unique, collectable ‘Zoomy’ Merchandise - optional
  • Personalised ‘in-flight’ video - optional
Additional Information

Embark on a thrilling half-hour helicopter trip which starts from Cairns airport, steering away from the mainland to enjoy vistas of Cairns city and Trinity inlet. You will pass False Cape, containing remains of WWII defences, Mt Yarrabah, Mission Bay, and Cape Grafton. Next, we head to the Reef’s inner rim and Green Island, a six millennia old coral sand island hosting its own indigenous rainforest ecosystem. Moving northwards, we survey the west side of Arlington Reef, a habitat to a variety of sea life - including turtles, sharks, and stingrays.

Persisting with our northward journey, we encircle Vlasoff Cay, a small sand island in the reef heart that shrinks to just a few hundred square meters at high tide. From Vlasoff Cay, we steer west, over Upolu Cay and return to Cairns, absorbing the mesmerizing views of North Queensland’s shoreline, backdropped by the verdant rainforest-draped eastern slopes of the Great Dividing Range.

Location
Zoom Helicopters
Turn off the Captain Cook Highway into the General Aviation entrance to Cairns Airport, turn right and you will find us opposite the Aviation Skills Centre on the left hand side of Bush Pilots Avenue.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(28 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Latham_l
May 30, 2024
Zero regrets - Highly recommend! Amazing experience and well worth it. Don't be that one that doesn't do it and regrets it later.
Review provided by Viator
Kelly_c
May 13, 2024
Amazing experience! - What an incredible experience! Niels was the best - he is a skilled pilot and was so easy to talk to (and patient with all our questions!). The experience was amazing, the reef was absolutely beautiful and the helicopter ride was smooth and thrilling at the same time. Experience of a lifetime. Highly recommended!
Review provided by Viator
962siennac
Jan 29, 2024
UNREAL!!! - What an amazing experience! Absolutely unreal and would 1000% recommend. Excellent service, immaculate helicopter and mind blowing views. Thanks so much Zoom helicopters, I’ll be recommending you to my family and Friends, thanks again!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
103carines
Jan 3, 2024
Top of the day - Amazing experience. Beautiful views over the various reefs. Highly recommended. Everything is well organized
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Phil_s
Dec 6, 2023
Unforgettable adventure! - The flight out to the Great Barrier Reef was an unforgettable adventure! Niels was so informative about the whole process which put us totality at ease. I would highly recommend Niels as he gave us an experience of a lifetime!
Review provided by Viator
Reagan
Dec 2, 2023
Stunning & cool experience - I loved this tour! It was one of the best things we did during our Australia vacation. The view of the reef is stunning, and the owner was so accommodating! I saw a sea turtle and a stingray from the sky, which was so cool! And we touched down on a small sandbank, allowing us to get a bit closer to the reef. 10/10 recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
O6040dojackl
Oct 24, 2023
Amazing and Private Experience - Amazing experience! Warmly welcomed by Chris the owner who could not have gone more out of his way to make our day enjoyable and memorable. The pilot then took us over the reef where we saw incredible views of the reefs and green island with great commentary about the locations as well. The helicopter is only small (3 passengers), it was just myself and a friend on our trip which made it very private and personal. Highly recommend!! At the end, Chris even gave us a free ride to our next destination which goes to show how passionate he is about customer service.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Joty1975
Jul 22, 2023
Must Do Experience - Amazing experience. Niels was incredibly professional and we were also Lucky to see Humpback whales. Highly recommend to see amazing views of the GB Reef
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Audinoe
Jul 11, 2023
Amazing Experience - Highly recommended! The experience was fantastic: awesome view of the reef and surrounding. The pilot was very kind and professional, he also give us lot of information during the flight. We did this experience with our son (1 years old), they give us the equipment for him and he was seat on our legs.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Marialston
Jun 6, 2023
I want to do that..again - I had an absolutely unforgettable birthday experience with Zoom Helicopters. From start to finish, they exceeded my expectations and made my scenic helicopter tour an incredible adventure. The moment I arrived, I was warmly greeted by a friendly and knowledgeable Pilot (Niels), who made me feel at ease. He took the time to explain all the safety protocols and ensured that I was comfortable throughout the entire journey. The helicopter itself was top-notch. It was impeccably clean and well-maintained, instilling confidence in the overall safety of the tour. Niels was not only highly skilled but also incredibly personable. He shared fascinating information about the reefs, adding an educational aspect to the breath-taking views. Speaking of views, they were absolutely mesmerizing! I couldn't have asked for a more scenic route. The duration of the tour was just right, allowing me to soak in the beauty of the surroundings without feeling rushed. The entire experience was so smooth and well-coordinated.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Select Date and Tickets
minimum 2 guests
-
up to 3 guests
2 Adult
June 2024
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Today