Cairns Helicopter Tours Over the Great Barrier Reef

Reef Adventure Cruise-Fly

$644.00 per person 3yrs + | $0.00 Infant Under 3yrs no neat
10:30 am
3:20 pm
Great Barrier Reef Adventure
Great Barrier Reef Adventure

$644 per person 3yrs + Includes Fuel Levy
Departs Daily Cairns 10.30am – 3.20pm

Discover the Great Barrier Reef as you cruise in fast catamaran comfort with Great Adventures to the activity platform moored at Norman Reef. Includes lunch, snorkelling equipment,  semi-submersible coral reef viewing tour with commentary, Underwater Observatory and Eco Reef Talk. Return to Cairns on a 25 minute scenic flight over the Great Barrier Reef.

Great Barrier Reef – Pontoon
Located off Cairns, just 90 minutes by fast catamaran or 25 minutes by scenic helicopter, the Great Adventures Outer Reef activity platform is a stable, all-weather base allowing visitors to explore the reef in comfort. Whatever your age, swimming ability or activity level there is something for everyone at Great Adventures. Snorkel, scuba dive or stay dry and visit the underwater reef observatory for a fun and informative Eco Reef Talk from a local marine expert. The Semi-Submersible is a great activity providing views of the reef from below the waterline without setting foot in the water and includes live commentary with fascinating insights into this complex ecosystem. You won’t go hungry either with morning & afternoon tea plus a hot and cold buffet lunch included in the day. Dine in comfort aboard the air-conditioned catamaran or pull up a lounge on the upper sundeck and soak up the tropical ambience.

Helicopter Flight
The 25 minute scenic flight from Cairns takes you to a reef activity platform located on one of two premium Outer Reef locations, Moore Reef or Norman Reef. Enjoy 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-Sep). Maximum individual seat weight limit of 130kg applies

  • 25 minute scenic flight to or from Cairns
  • Air-conditioned fast catamaran cruise
  • 2.15 hours at the Outer Reef activity platform
  • All snorkelling equipment including buoyancy devices and friendly instruction for beginners
  • Hot and cold tropical lunch
  • Semi-submersible coral reef viewing tour
  • Underwater Observatory and Eco Reef Talk
  • Afternoon tea and coffee whilst on the platform
  • Lycra suits
  • The Environmental Management Charge (EMC) is included in the price of your cruise ticket.
  • Certified diving $154 12yrs +
  • Introductory diving $205 12yrs +
  • Scuba Doo $190.00
  • Guided snorkel tour Adult $88 Child $45

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

IMPORTANT INFORMATION You should not fly at high altitude within 12 hours of a single dive or 18 hours when doing multiple dives (where possible wait 24 hours)

Maximum individual seat weight limit of 130kg applies

All tours are confirmed subject to availability, weather and achieved booking minimums.  Solo traveller bookings welcome.

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.

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Here’s why thousands of customers loveCairns Discovery Tours.

🗓️ Flexible Cancellations

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

💳 Book Now, Pay Later

Secure your place on our popular Cairns day tours with Klarna’s Book Now, Pay Later option. Lock in your adventure today and pay in easy installments — perfect for planning your Cairns holiday without upfront costs.

🌴 Local Since 1995

For over 28 years, Cairns Discovery Tours has been proudly locally owned and operated. Established in 1995, we’ve shared the tropical beauty of Cairns with thousands of travellers, offering authentic, community-connected tour experiences.

👩‍🏫 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.

Janice Welsh
Janice Welsh
7 months ago
We arranged 3 day tours from Cairns with Cairns Discovery tours, one to Fitzroy Island, one to Green Island and one to Kuranda . From the initial telephone contact to the conclusion of the tours, Maryanne was so helpful and professional. Booking and payment was easy, follow up information meant we knew exactly where to meet and what we would expect to see and do, when and where to check in on the day . I can thoroughly recommend booking with Cairns Discovery Tours.
Meredith Graham
Meredith Graham
9 months ago
Cairns Discovery Tours were amazing. I had very specific requirements for booking tours, due to the group we were travelling with. They made the process so easy. Their recommendations were spot on and then they took care of all our bookings, including updating me on any "deals" that companies had. If you are travelling to Cairns, I would highly recommend contacting Cairns Discovery Tours to sort your holiday!
I had the pleasure of booking my recent trip through Cairns Discovery Tours in Cairns and I must say it was an outstanding experience from start to finish.From the very beginning, Maryanne and team were extremely easy to work with. Their communication was clear, prompt, and effective, which gave me confidence that everything was being handled smoothly. No matter how many questions we had, they responded with patience and helpful details.Since we were completely new to Cairns, their recommendations were invaluable.Another highlight was the deal they worked out for us. They managed to customize the itinerary in a way that was both budget-friendly and full of experiences.Overall, I highly recommend Cairns Discovery Tours to anyone planning a trip to Cairns. They are professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely care about making your journey memorable. I would definitely choose them again for my future travels.Thanks once again Maryanne and Taam!
Kim Ryan
Kim Ryan
7 months ago
Easy to book online and and contact if need be. Well organised would recommend using this company to book tours through.
Adrian Olsen
Adrian Olsen
10 months ago
Like to thank Mary Ann for organising our two trips had to get a partial refund on one of the trips due to weather which was an easy process. Would definitely book through Cairns Discovery Tours again
G
Greg Scher
1 year ago
Marianne set up great tours and was very responsive with any questions. Highly recommended,