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Are you looking for the best helicopter tours in the Whitsundays? We are here to help!
The Whitsunday Islands are pure paradise, there’s just no other way of describing them.
This cluster of 74 islands is located around 55km off the coast of Queensland.
This collection of islands is also close to the world-renowned Great Barrier Reef.
The Whitsundays’ proximity to this national treasure has made this part of Australia a haven for swimmers, snorkelers, and sailors.
But this incredible spot is perhaps best viewed from the sky.
Helicopter flights in the Whitsundays are an incredible activity that provide you with some comprehension of the magnitude of this incredible area.
From the air, you can enjoy breathtaking beaches, turquoise waters, and incredible islands.
This list of the 10 best helicopter tours in the Whitsundays will help you decide which to book, and what your main priorities are with regards to this luxury travel experience.
1. Whitsunday Helicopter Tour: Flight + Whitehaven Landing
⏰Duration: 2 hours
This tour treats you to an incredible 30 minute scenic flightover the Whitsunday Islands.
Starting at Airlie Beach you will head up in the air and see destinations like Hill Inlet, Molle Islands, Hamilton Island, the perfectly named Daydream Island and more.
You will then laze around on the unfathomably beautiful white sand of Whitehaven Beach. You can stay on the beach for an hour and a half and enjoy the cooling waters and one of Australia’s top-rated beaches.
Be sure to pack your swimming gear, water, and some snacks to enjoy on the beach.
After you’ve enjoyed some blissful beach time you will begin your journey back to Proserpine Airport where you’ll take a courtesy bus back to Airlie Beach.
The pilot will make you feel at home with a smooth take-off and landing and some informative inflight commentary.
Everyone on this helicopter tour provides a welcoming and professional experience, one where you will feel comfortable and have an incredible time.
What is included?
- 30 minute flight over Whitsunday Islands:
- In-flight pilot commentary
- 1 hour 30 minutes at Whitehaven Beach
- Bus transfer to Airlie Beach
2. Great Barrier Reef Helicopter Tour with Whitehaven Landing
⏰Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Fancy exploring both the Great Barrier Reef and the Whitsundays, then this is the best tour for you. This private group tour starts with pick up from your Airlie Beach accommodation.
You will start your 2 ½ hour tour with a helicopter flight which will take you to the heart of the Great Barrier Reef.
From the moment you catch a glimpse of the reef, you will immediately understand why this is one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
In addition, you will then enjoy some incredible views of the Whitsunday Islands as well as Whitehaven Beach.
You will then land at Whitehaven Beach where you can enjoy 90 minutes of bliss beach time.
Your experienced pilot will put you at immediate ease and will provide commentary and information about this incredible part of Australia.
This is another of the best heli tours in the Whitsundays, just be sure to pack your camera, you’ll regret it if you don’t.
What is included?
- 90 minutes stop at Whitehaven Beach
- Window seat
- Bus transfer to/from select hotels Airlie Beach
- In-flight pilot commentary
3. Great Barrier Reef & Islands Helicopter Flight
⏰Duration: 1 hour
Another of the best helicopter tours in the Whitsundays is this 1 hour scenic tour. You will head up into the air to experience the Queensland coastline, islands, and the magnificent Great Barrier Reef.
There’s no landing on this helicopter tour, instead you will spend an entire hour marvelling at the impressive natural landscape below.
What is more, you will be guaranteed a window seat on this helicopter ride, so there’s no games of rock, paper, scissors to see who will get the golden window seat.
Whilst on the ride you will view the 74 Whitsunday Islands seeing landmarks like Shute Harbour, Molle Island, Long Island, Hamilton Island, Hardy Reef and much more.
You will also be treated to not one but two passes over Whitehaven Beach.
Many people’s favourite view is Heart Reef, the beautiful heart-shaped island. It’s one of the most beautiful reefs in the area, making this tour ideal for those looking for a Heart Reef helicopter tour from Airlie Beach.
You will return to Whitsunday Airport where you can then take a complimentary shuttle bus back to your hotel or a destination of your choice in Airlie Beach.
What is included?
- 1 hour flight over Great Barrier Reef and Whitsunday Islands
- Window seat
- In-flight commentary
- Bus transfer between Airlie Beach and meeting point
4. Whitsundays Fly and Cruise Helicopter Tour
⏰Duration: 7 hours
This is another of the best Whitsundays helicopter tours. You will start your day being picked up from your accommodation before cruising on a boat to the Whitsunday Islands.
You will head to Whitehaven Beach and their amazing beach club. You will have access to all of the clubs’ facilities and activities and you will also be able to enjoy a delicious buffet lunch.
You will feel like you’ve walked into a dream or a movie by spending time on Whitehaven Beach. You can stroll along the sand and splash about in the water, you can even walk to the South Whitehaven Lookout.
This lookout provides visitors with an awe-inspiring and expansive view of the 7km Whitehaven Beach backed by dense vegetation.
Later in the day, you will enjoy your Whitehaven Beach helicopter flight that provides views of Hill Inlet. It’s a great experience to be able to admire the place where you were just standing but this time from the sky. You will round off the day with a boat transfer back to your starting location.
What is included?
- Hotel pickup and drop off
- Helicopter flight
- Return boat transfer
- Buffet lunch
5. Hamilton Island Air Heart Reef & Whitehaven Stopover by Helicopter
⏰Duration: 2 hours
Another of the best scenic flights in the Whitsundays is this two hour tour. This is a tour that combines an incredible 40 minute helicopter flight over the Whitsunday Islands with a Whitehaven Beach experience.
This tour starts from Hamilton Island and the tour operators, Hamilton Island Air, will pick you up from any of the main hotels in the area. Alternatively, you can meet at Hamilton Island Air Terminal.
You will start your tour with a wonderful 40 minute helicopter flight over the Whitsunday Islands. You can then marvel at one of the seven wonders of the world, the Great Barrier Reef.
You will also see Heart Reef, a really iconic local landmark. You will then touch down on Whitehaven Beach where you can enjoy around 50 minutes of exploring, relaxation and swimming.
What is included?
- Helicopter tour
- Beverages: sparkling wine and water
6. Hamilton Island Air Whitsunday Islands and Whitehaven Express
⏰Duration: 30 minutes
Of the helicopter rides in the Whitsundays, this is a quick but enjoyable express flight.
This 30 minute non-stop flight takes you around the famous islands including over the top of Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet, Hook Island, Cid Harbor, and the Whitsunday Passage.
This is another excursion run by Hamilton Island Air. They can either pick you up at your hotel on Hamilton Island or you can meet at the airport terminal.
You will enjoy the simply stunning surroundings, gawk at the seemingly aquamarine-coloured ocean and marvel at the sweeping sandy beaches. Don’t forget your sunglasses and of course your camera.
What is included?
- 25 – 30 minute helicopter ride
- Hotel pick up
7. Hamilton Island Air Best of Both Worlds by Helicopter
⏰Duration: 4 hours
Another of the best helicopter tours in the Whitsundays is this ‘best of both worlds’ tour. This four hour tour packs in all the sites and experiences you could possibly want when visiting this part of Australia.
Hamilton Island Air will pick you up from your Hamilton Island hotel and then you will begin your excursion. Your helicopter ride will take you past Heart Reef and then to Reefworld.
You will then land and get to spend 90 minutes at Reefworld. This is a permanently moored pontoon that is fully-equipped. You can then snorkel and swim from the underwater viewing chamber.
You will then take a scenic flight to Whitehaven Beach via Hill Inlet, where you will spend an hour on the beach and swimming in the bluer-than-blue waters.
What is included:
- Snorkelling equipment
- 60 minute flight time
8. Hamilton Island Air Reef Discovery Fly Both Ways by Helicopter
⏰Duration: Roughly 2 hours 30 minutes
This tour includes a 50 minute return helicopter ride over the breathtaking Whitsundays and the expansive Great Barrier Reef.
You will start your trip from Hamilton Island’s main airport. You will fly over the islands, including Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet, and the famous Heart Reef.
Then you will touch down at Reefworld where you will catch a boat to the pontoon. You will then spend a glorious 90 minutes enjoying complimentary refreshments, snorkelling, and viewing the incredible coral from the underwater viewing chamber.
By the afternoon you will be returning via helicopter again, viewing the islands and your surroundings in a different and wonderful light.
Be sure to pack your sunscreen, swimming costume, a towel, and your camera. You won’t want to miss snapping pictures and videos from the sky.
What is included?
- 90 minutes at Reefworld
- Complimentary refreshments at Reefworld
9. Hamilton Island Air Whitehaven Beach Getaway
⏰Duration: 2 hours
Another of the best helicopter flights in the Whitsundays is this Whitehaven Beach getaway trip. This is a fantastic helicopter tour experience for couples as it’s super romantic.
After your pick up by Hamilton Island Air from your Hamilton Island hotel you’ll head to the airstrip where you will hop aboard the helicopter.
You will then be treated to a helicopter flight where you can take in the remarkable sites of the Whitsundays. You will fly directly over Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet.
You will then touch down at Whitehaven Beach and spend around 75 minutes on the pearly white sand. As well as the incredible views, one of the highlights of this trip is the beach experience.
You will find that a sunshade, rug, and sparkling wine awaits your arrival. What better way to spend a romantic date day or even as part of a honeymoon.
What is included?
- Hotel pick up
- 75 minutes on Whitehaven Beach
10. Journey to the Heart Tour – Heart Reef Experience
⏰Duration: 3 hours
The final of these best helicopter rides in the Whitsundays is a tour that centres around the charming Heart Island.
You will start this wonderful excursion with a helicopter ride from Hamilton Island to Heart Reef.
One of the highlights of this trip is that you will be experiencing it all with just five other guests and a host. Fewer people will allow you to truly enjoy the serenity of this incredible place.
Once at the reef, you will have access to the Heart Island Pontoon. You will spend 60 minutes onboard the pontoon where you will then enjoy a glass-bottom boat tour of Heart Reef Lagoon.
All of the snorkelling equipment you will need will already be waiting for you so you can maximise your 90 minutes at Heart Reef and snorkel as much as possible.
You can also swim inside the pontoon in the shallow undercover pool, perfect if you don’t want to spend too much time in the strong Aussie sunshine. Your group will also be provided with beverages to make the trip even more luxurious.
Remember to bring all your things for swimming and sunbathing on the pontoon. And of course, bring your camera and GoPro if you have one.
This is a wonderful combination of a helicopter tour and an on-the-ground (or water) experience. Explore Heart Island from the sky before seeing the intricate details of this fascinating reef.
What is included?
- 90 minute on Heart Island Pontoon
- 60 minute return helicopter flight
- Beverages at Heart Island Pontoon
- Snorkelling equipment
And that’s a wrap! You know everything about the best helicopter tours in the Whitsundays! Have fun!
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