Ultimate Great Barrier Reef and Rainforest 45-minute Helicopter Tour
Traveler rating
4.8/5
Based on 63 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Ultimate Great Barrier Reef and Rainforest 45-minute Helicopter Tour worth booking?
Ultimate Great Barrier Reef and Rainforest 45-minute Helicopter Tour is a 0.8-hour experience in Cairns & the Tropical North, Australia, from $487 per person. It scores 61 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice”, based on a 4.8/5 rating across 63 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 61 / 100
- Rating
- 4.8/5 (63)
- Duration
- 0.8 hours
- From
- $487 per person
Fly high over the Barron Gorge and stunning rainforest canopies before heading over magnificent sights such as the Great Barrier Reef, it's spectacular islands and sand cays. This 45-minute helicopter flight allows one to see the 'best of both worlds', as it showcases the highlights of heritage rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef.
What you get
About this experience
Fly high over the Barron Gorge and stunning rainforest canopies before heading over magnificent sights such as the Great Barrier Reef, it's spectacular islands and sand cays. This 45-minute helicopter flight allows one to see the 'best of both worlds', as it showcases the highlights of heritage rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef.
What's included
Included
- Australian Goods & Services Tax
- Surcharges on fuel
- 45-minute helicopter flight
- Informative commentary during the flight
Not included
- Food and drinks
- Pick up and drop off from Cairns and Northern Beaches hotels
What you'll see and do
Nautilus Aviation
We recommend you are checked in 45 minutes prior to your scheduled departure time. Check-in will close 30 minutes before departure and you will not be able to check in after this time. Failure to adhere to check-in times, may result in you missing your flight and forfeiting the fare paid. You'll then board the helicopter for your scenic flight.
45 minutes here · Admission included
Barron Gorge National Park
Enjoy views of Barron Gorge National Park & Falls
Pass by without stopping
Great Barrier Reef
Fly over the amazing Great Barrier Reef
Pass by without stopping
Green Island National Park
Enjoy the view from above of Green Island.
Pass by without stopping
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Cairns & the Tropical North
We recommend you are checked in 45 minutes prior to your scheduled departure time. Check-in will close 30 minutes before departure and you will not be able to check in after this time. Failure to adhere to check-in times, may result in you missing your flight and forfeiting the fare paid.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
We recommend you are checked in 45 minutes prior to your scheduled departure time. Check-in will close 30 minutes before departure and you will not be able to check in after this time. Failure to adhere to check-in times, may result in you missing your flight and forfeiting the fare paid.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 6 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Nautilus Aviation
Know before you go
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Weight Policy: Individual passenger weights and accompanying carry-on luggage MUST be advised at time of booking. Weight variances greater than 10% may incur an addition fee. Maximum single seat payload of 130kg. For passenger comfort and aircraft weight and balance, passengers exceeding 130kg are required to purchase an additional seat at 50% of ticket price - this is non-commissonable and payable to Nautilus Aviation on day of travel.
- Child Policy: Children 3 years and above are legally required to be seated in their own seat and are therefore required to pay the full ticket price. Subject to conditions, children under 3 years may travel free of charge when seated on a parents/guardians lap. For bookings of more than one infant (under 3 years), conditions apply - please contact reservations.
- All product requires a minimum number of passengers to proceed. Our Reservations team will reach out to confirm availability within the shortest possible time after we receive your order.
- We recommend you are checked in 45 minutes prior to your scheduled departure time. Check-in will close 30 minutes before departure and you will not be able to check in after this time. Failure to adhere to check-in times, may result in you missing your flight and forfeiting the fare paid.
- Nautilus Aviation reserves the right to increase pricing or add surcharges where applicable
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 63 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Organization
5 mentionsPickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.
Photo opportunities
4 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Knowledge and storytelling
3 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Value for money
3 mentionsTravelers feel they got more than they paid for.
Traveler reviews
63 verified traveler reviews for Ultimate Great Barrier Reef and Rainforest 45-minute Helicopter Tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Stunning landscapes from sea to land. Worth every penny!
An absolutely magical experience from start to finish! The entire process was seamless, easy, and well-organized. Easy to find location next to the Marina. The views were breathtaking—flying over the vibrant colors of the Great Barrier Reef and then over the lush rainforest of Kuranda was incredible. Getting to see and hear the explanation of the surrounding islands and endless green canopy from above gave us a whole new perspective of the region. The scenery is truly unbelievable. If you're thinking about booking this tour, don't hesitate! It was unforgettable and worth every second. The pilot was incredibly knowledgeable and great flying smooth skills.
Response from the operator: Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear you had such a magical experience from start to finish. There really is something special about seeing the Great Barrier Reef, surrounding islands, and the lush rainforest from above, and we're so pleased you enjoyed the unique perspective and the commentary along the way. We'll be sure to pass your kind words on to your pilot, they'll be delighted to know their knowledge and smooth flying helped make your experience so memorable. Thank you for choosing to fly with us. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure in the future! Kind regards Kel
via Tripadvisor
Fantastic experience!
It was a great experience! The pilot was very informative and the views were amazing! Very timely and organized.
Response from the operator: Thanks for the fab feedback, we are thrilled that you had such a great time.
via Viator
Great operation
Snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef is one of those romantic bucket list items. But due to an incoming tropical storm threatening to become a cyclone, all water operations were cancelled for our 2 days. To salvage our visit we checked with Nautilus to do a helicopter ride ahead of the storm to at least see the reef by air. Bobby immediately sorted us out and got us onto a tour within that afternoon. Michael the pilot was great, took us all along Arlington Reef and Green Island. We would have preferred to be swimming with the fishes, but appreciate Nautilus coming to our rescue.
Response from the operator: Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us! While we know nothing quite compares to being in the water and snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef, we are so glad we could help you tick that bucket list item off from a different perspective. Safety is always our primary focus, especially when tropical systems are moving through the region, so we’re thrilled Bobby was able to pivot quickly to get you in the air before the weather closed in. It’s great to hear that Michael provided an enjoyable flight over Arlington Reef and Green Island; the colours from above are truly something else, even on a cloudy day! We hope you're able to make it back to Tropical North Queensland soon for that swim with the fishes. We’d love to welcome you back on board anytime.
via Tripadvisor
Reef flight excellence
Best ever !! What an experience, massive Manta Rays, like monstrous! Totally stoked. Pilot was all time fun and interactive. Pilot John N was cool as an office crew / ground crew so friendly and organised. We got the best weather too which was a lot of luck !
Response from the operator: Thanks for the fantastic review, Jason! We're thrilled to hear you had such an amazing experience with the manta rays and enjoyed your time with Pilot John and our crew. We appreciate your kind words and hope to see you again for more adventures!
via Tripadvisor
Disappointing, bad communication and waste of time.
Really disappointed with our experience with Nautilus Aviation. We booked and paid for a helicopter flight for two from Green Island, only to wait over an hour with no heads up, before being told our flight was canceled due to "operational reasons." We had just waited an hour watching other groups take off and land. A Japanese couple who pre-booked on the same flight were upset and confused, struggling with the lack of clear information. This was meant to be a highlight of our trip, but it turned into a frustrating waste of time — oh… we’re still waiting on our refund.
Response from the operator: Thank you for providing this feedback. I understand your frustration and disappointment with the experience you had. I want to acknowledge your perspective and take full responsibility for what happened. The mistake was ours, as unfortunately the staff member sold more flights to Green Island than we are permitted to operate, resulting in the cancellation of your flight. This was an unacceptable error that should not have occurred, and I am very sorry that this oversight ruined what was meant to be a special part of your trip. I also want to apologise for the lack of communication on the day. Waiting for over an hour without any information is not the standard of service we aim to provide. You and the other passengers should have been informed of the cancellation as soon as we were aware of the issue. We have addressed this internally by providing targeted training to prevent this specific error from happening again. We are committed to learning from this and improving our operational procedures so that future guests do not have the same experience. I appreciate your concern about the Japanese couple, so I thought I would let you know that after the cancellation, we were able to arrange for them to fly with us from one of our other departure locations later that day. Regarding the refund, our records show that it was processed on the same day as your canceled flight. Please check with your bank as it can sometimes take a few business days for the funds to appear in your account. If you continue to have issues, please let us know.
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 0.8 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $487 to $681
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 22
- Verdict
- Solid Choice
Who runs this experience
Operated by Nautilus Aviation, who run 3 experiences we rank across 1 city, with an average Outty Ranking of 55.6.
See everything Nautilus Aviation runsWhy this scores 61
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Ultimate Great Barrier Reef and Rainforest 45-minute Helicopter Tour: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Cairns & the Tropical North.
How much does Ultimate Great Barrier Reef and Rainforest 45-minute Helicopter Tour cost?
+
Prices start at $487 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Cairns & the Tropical North usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Ultimate Great Barrier Reef and Rainforest 45-minute Helicopter Tour take?
+
Plan for about 0.8 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Cairns & the Tropical North is not rushed.
Is Ultimate Great Barrier Reef and Rainforest 45-minute Helicopter Tour worth it?
+
It holds an Outty Ranking of 61 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.8/5 across 63 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Cairns & the Tropical North, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Ultimate Great Barrier Reef and Rainforest 45-minute Helicopter Tour?
+
Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Ultimate Great Barrier Reef and Rainforest 45-minute Helicopter Tour suitable for kids and families?
+
Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 0.8-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Ultimate Great Barrier Reef and Rainforest 45-minute Helicopter Tour?
+
Around 22 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Cairns & the Tropical North can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
+
Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Cairns & the Tropical North and add a light layer if any part of the 0.8-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Ultimate Great Barrier Reef and Rainforest 45-minute Helicopter Tour start and how do I get there?
+
The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Cairns & the Tropical North within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Cairns & the Tropical North?
+
On Outty we rank every Cairns & the Tropical North experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Fun, Falls and Forest Day Trip from Cairns, Passions of Paradise Great Barrier Reef Cruise by Catamaran, Tully River Full-Day Rafting: Cairns, Mission Beach or Self-Drive. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Cairns & the Tropical North?
+
Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Cairns & the Tropical North?
+
Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
+
Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Ultimate Great Barrier Reef and Rainforest 45-minute Helicopter Tour?
+
Included: Australian Goods & Services Tax; Surcharges on fuel; 45-minute helicopter flight; and Informative commentary during the flight. Not included: Food and drinks; and Pick up and drop off from Cairns and Northern Beaches hotels. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Where is the meeting point for Ultimate Great Barrier Reef and Rainforest 45-minute Helicopter Tour?
+
We recommend you are checked in 45 minutes prior to your scheduled departure time. Check-in will close 30 minutes before departure and you will not be able to check in after this time. Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own transport and arrive 15 minutes early.
What languages is Ultimate Great Barrier Reef and Rainforest 45-minute Helicopter Tour offered in?
+
It runs in English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Ultimate Great Barrier Reef and Rainforest 45-minute Helicopter Tour?
+
Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is Ultimate Great Barrier Reef and Rainforest 45-minute Helicopter Tour wheelchair or stroller accessible?
+
The operator notes: Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller; Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap; and Child Policy: Children 3 years and above are legally required to be seated in their own se. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to Ultimate Great Barrier Reef and Rainforest 45-minute Helicopter Tour if the weather is bad?
+
This experience depends on good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.
What do travelers say about Ultimate Great Barrier Reef and Rainforest 45-minute Helicopter Tour?
+
Across 63 reviews averaging 4.8 out of 5, recurring themes include organization, photo opportunities, knowledge and storytelling. Pickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.
Ready to lock in your spot?
Pick a date, choose your group, and see the exact price for Ultimate Great Barrier Reef and Rainforest 45-minute Helicopter Tour.
Pick your date
