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Cairns Helicopter Tours Over the Great Barrier Reef

Fly-Cruise Great Barrier Reef Sunlover Cruises

Adult $724.00 | Child 2-15yrs $586.50 | Family 2A+2C  2-15yrs $2449.00
11:45 am
5:30 pm
Fly and cruise reef experience with Sunlover Cruises
Great Barrier Reef tour from Cairns with Sunlover Cruises
Fly and cruise reef experience with Sunlover Cruises
Great Barrier Reef tour from Cairns with Sunlover Cruises

Adult $724|Child 3-15yrs $586.50
Infant 12 months Free |
Family 2A+2C  2-15yrs $2449
Price includes Fuel Levy
Departs daily 11.45am – 5.30pm
3.5 hours at the Great Barrier Reef

Experience the ultimate adventure with a breathtaking 25 minute helicopter flight from Cairns to the Sunlover Pontoon at Moore Reef, located 54 kms offshore. Soar above the tropical rainforest coastline, glide over the sparkling azure waters of the Coral Sea, and marvel at the heart of Australia’s iconic Great Barrier Reef.

The 25-minute scenic flight between Cairns and Moore Reef delivers stunning panoramic views extending from the tropical rainforest-clad coastline, across the azure waters of the Coral Sea and into the very heart of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Your highly skilled pilot will share their local knowledge of the region while on the lookout for Turtles, Dolphins, Manta Rays, large schools of pelagic fish and even majestic Humpback Whales (Jul to Sep).

Perfect for all ages, the Sunlover Pontoon offers a fantastic day out for the whole family. Enjoy snorkelling, semi-submersible coral viewing tour, glass bottom boat and the newly added sun deck and the exhilarating Sunlover Sun water slide, ensuring endless fun and relaxation in the stunning marine environment.

 

  • 25 minute scenic helicopter flight – Depart Cairns 11.45am (check in 11.00am)
  • Spend 3.5 hours at the Great Barrier Reef
  • Delicious buffet luncheon featuring fresh seafood, hot dishes, salads and sumptuous tropical fruits
  • Guided coral viewing from our semi-submersible and glass-bottom boat tours
  • Underwater observatory
  • Fish feeding presentation
  • Touch tank to experience unique marine life up close
  • All snorkelling equipment
  • Snorkelling enclosure with rest and view stations
  • Fully enclosed kids’ pool
  • Theme Park Waterslide -The only one on the Great Barrier Reef
  • Freshwater showers and change rooms (on the pontoon)
  • Toilets (on the boat only)
  • Full bar facilities
  • FREE Wi-Fi
  • 3.45pm Reboard the catamaran for the cruise home. Afternoon tea is served and your reef photos from Calypso Reef Imagery are sent to your phone before you arrive back in Cairns.
  • Arrive Cairns 5.30pm
  • Seawalker Helmet Dive $149.00 per person
  • Certified diving $149
  • Introductory diving $149
  • Guided snorkel tour $52

 PLEASE READ dive medical before booking any dives. This will be required to be completed on the day of travel. View Dive Medical

 

  • Swimmers
  • Towel
  • Hat
  • Sunglasses
  • Reefsmart sunscreen
  • Underwater camera
  • Water bottle (you are able to refill on board)
  • Change of clothes
  • Extra cash or credit card for onboard purchases
  • Small soft bag required for helicopter

Check in 45 minutes prior to Nautilus Aviation
Checkin closes 30 minutes prior and failure to do so may result in missing your flight
Cancellation notice of 48 hours is required for a full refund
Any flight amendments made inside 48 hours with incur a 50% penalty.
Cancellation within 24 hours is non refundable
No amendments accepted inside 24 hours prior to departure

Flights are subject to Management and/or pilot discretion, weather, air-traffic control and availability.
The decision of the pilot in command is final with regards to cancelling a flight due to inclement weather and/or the refusal of the passenger/s if the passenger/s are deemed unfit for flight.

Helicopters (as with all light aircraft) are subject to strict weight specifications per aircraft type.

Accurate individual passenger weights and accompanying carryon luggage MUST be advised upon booking.

It is a legal requirement for all passengers and luggage to be weighed at the time of check-in. Weight variances greater than 10% may incur an additional fee and/or luggage allowance may be further reduced.

Nautilus Aviation operate a fleet of helicopters with individual specifications. The maximum single seat payload is 130KG.  For passengers exceeding 130KG, aircraft seating four or more (4+) passengers are required for private charters and for listed tours and packages, an additional seat at 50% of ticket price may need to be purchased for passenger comfort and aircraft weight and balance.

Seat allocation including window seats for scheduled flights (non-exclusive) are decided based on weight and balance and at the discretion of the pilot or ground crew to ensure the safe carriage of all passengers.

Explore related tours

Kuranda Scenic Railway heritage train station

Kuranda Scenic Train departs Cairns at 8.30am or 9.30am
Return Skyrail Rainforest Cableway at 2.30pm or 3.30pm
Not bookable online ☎️07 40283567
Experience the Kuranda Scenic Railway from Cairns or Freshwater Station, choose from 8:30 am or 9:30 am train (Gold Class upgrade available). Explore the Kuranda markets and the many attractions in Kuranda. Return on the Skyrail Rainforest Cablewayas you guide over the rainforest canopy.  Includes return transfers from Skyrail to Cairns/Freshwater Railway Stations.

Adult $155.50 | Child $85.00 | Family 2A+2C 4-14yrs $399.00 | Gold class option 9.30 train only $60.00 per person

Helicopter scenic flight over the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns

30 minutes $487 per person includes Fuel Levy
45 minutes $676 per person includes Fuel Levy

Departs daily from Cairns Heli pad -The Pier Cairns City

The most popular scenic flight combines 30-minute Great Barrier Reef scenic with an additional 15 minute bird’s eye view of the oldest continually surviving tropical rainforest on earth. Commencing over the reef, we cross back over the coast near Double Island and the resort township of Palm Cove before ascending the coastal rainforest-clad mountains into the heart of the Barron Gorge National Park.

 

30 minutes $487.00 | 45 minutes $676.00 Per Person

Daintree Tours from Port Douglas

Adult from $259 Child (7-14yrs) $229 not suitable for under 7yrs
Depart daily from Port Douglas only at 7.30am –  4.30pm

Discover the ancient Daintree Rainforest in style. Enjoy guided interpretive walks, a gourmet lunch and a wildlife cruise on Cooper Creek to spot crocodiles and birdlife. Friendly local guides who will share the stories, culture and ecology that make this World Heritage-listed rainforest so extraordinary.

More Info

Adult from $259.00 | Child $229.00 Child 7yrs-14

7:30 am
4:30 pm
More Info
River drift Daintree Tours

This unique Daintree Rainforest experience will have you discovering Mossman Gorge in depth. Start the day with a secret location to commence your ‘River drift’ tour,. Enjoy lunch and a traditional smoking ceremony ending the day with a 1.5 hour guided rainforest walk in the Gorge…..

 

More Info

Adult $270.00 | Child $225.00 5 - 15 yrs | Family 2A+2C $910.00 2A+2C

8:30 am
4:30 pm
More Info
Cairns Aquarium marine life experience banner

Adult $179| Child $79
Available Tues to Sat 3pm – 6:15pm

Experience available up until 28th June 2026

Aquarium by twilight gives you an insight into the unique changes of the region’s nocturnal sea creatures as they move about in the shadows. Witness the predators in the Oceanarium with appetiser and drink in hand, before completing your evening at Dundee’s Restaurant with a perfectly matched 3 course dining experience while enjoying a stunning marine life backdrop.

Adult $179.00 | Child $79.00

3:00 pm
6:15 pm
Silversonic diver exploring outer reef coral formations

Adult $315|Child $228
Fuel Levy Adult $10 Child $5 payable on the day of travel
Departs Port Douglas 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

Silversonic from Port Douglas takes you to explore three stunning and exclusive outer edge locations at the renowned Agincourt ribbon reefs in superb style and comfort. Spend 5 hours at the reef enjoying unlimited snorkelling and some of the best diving on the Great Barrier Reef. Includes Port Douglas hotel transfers, hot and cold Tropical Buffet Lunch & all snorkelling and dive equipment included.

More Info

Adult $328.00 | Child $238.00 | $10.00 Adult $5 Child Fuel levy payable on the day of travel

8:30 am
4:30 pm
More Info

A full-day reef fishing charter offers an incredible adventure on the stunning waters of the Great Barrier Reef, targeting iconic species such as Coral Trout, Red Emperor, Large Mouth Nannygai, and Spanish Mackerel.

More Info

$340.00 Per Person | $60.00 Fuel levy

6:00 am
4:00 pm
More Info
Aerial shot of Nautilus Helicopter over the Great Barrier Reef

$1189.00 per person
Departs Daily from Port Douglas
11.10am – 3.30pm

Short on time or want to experience the Great Barrier Reef on a return 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).

Spend 2 hours – 15 minutes at the Quicksilver pontoon to enjoy snorkelling, semi submersible coral viewing tour, underwater observatory and a delicious buffet lunch.

 

Here’s why thousands of customers trustCairns Discovery Tours.

🗓️ Flexible Cancellations

Enjoy peace of mind with our flexible booking policy. Most Cairns Tours can be cancelled up to 24 hours before departure with a full refund. (Helicopter tours are 48 hours) We make exploring Cairns stress free, so you can book with confidence.

💳 Book Now, Pay Later

Reserve your place on our popular Cairns day tours with Klarna’s Book Now, Pay Later option, or just give us a call or send us an email to secure your booking. We will be in touch to arrange payment 7 days before your departure.  Perfect for planning your Cairns holiday without upfront costs.

🌴 Local Since 1995

For over 30 years, Cairns Discovery Tours has been proudly locally owned and operated. Established in 1995, we’ve shared the tropical beauty of Far North Queensland travellers from around the world. Based in Cairns, we offer authentic tour experiences backed by genuine local knowledge and long standing connections to the region.

👩‍🏫 Expert Local Guides

Our passionate Cairns tour guides are storytellers, historians, and nature enthusiasts. With deep local knowledge, they bring the Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Rainforest, and Cairns’ tropical heritage to life, ensuring an unforgettable and educational experience.

Stephen Dennis
Stephen Dennis
2 days ago
Maryanne from Cairns Discovery Tours has a wealth of local knowledge and gave accurate advice on all experiences offered. We found her to be exceptionally professional and of high integrity in all aspects. Our Cairns to Cooktown AWD tour incorporating the full Bloomfield track was amazing. Thanks again for organising a great day.
Joanne Winter
Joanne Winter
13 days ago
Maryanne was so fabulous. Directed us to all the best suited tours for our family answered all my crazy questions with attention and enthusiasm. Highly recommend her.
Monica Wang
Monica Wang
1 month ago
Thank you Maryanne for helping me to plan the trip what I called the 'must see trip before someone dies trip'. My family and I really enjoyed the trip, especially when it comes to picking which activity is suitable for elders , which reef/island is the must see, and also since this is an Australian Owned Business, it made me feel like my money also goes to supporting the locals instead of sending it overseas. I highly recommend anyone that wants to save time and keen to book an unforgettable trip from a knowledgeable Cairns local
Rena Keeney
Rena Keeney
2 months ago
We had such a fun time on a half day tour of Fitzroy island with Cairns Discovery Tours! We managed to do an everything we wanted (Nudey beach, long snorkel and lunch) within the time period we had and we even got to swim with turtles 🐢 an unforgettable experience! This would not have been possible without the fantastic help of Maryanne who booked us in for the tour. She went above and beyond to help us find somewhere to leave our bags during our tour and we wouldn’t have been able to go without her help. We enjoyed the experience so much and we are very grateful to Maryanne for her help and her exceptional customer service! I would definitely recommend booking local for these kind of experiences because that kind of customer care just doesn’t come when you book through third party sites. 10/10 experience ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Seka Mrkonja
Seka Mrkonja
2 months ago
Highly recommended!
karen McArthur
karen McArthur
1 month ago
We went on a tour with Discovery Tours today, doing the Mossman Gorge, Daintree / Daintree River Cruise, finishing of visiting Cape Tribulation… Our driver was James, who was exceptional. Giving running commentary along the trip. Guiding his group of people through all the different areas. Thanks James, top job.
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