Discover the Whitsunday Great Barrier Reef on a breathtaking day flight from Airlie Beach. Soar over Heart Reef, then land for a swim at Whitehaven Beach for an unforgettable tour of Hardy Reef.
Whitsunday Great Barrier Reef Day Flight
Stretching 2,300 km along Queensland’s coastline, the Great Barrier Reef is the largest living organism on Earth. While you can explore it by boat, a Whitsunday Great Barrier Reef day flight departing from Airlie Beach is an experience like no other. The Air Whitsunday Panorama Tour, a half-day (four-and-a-half hour) adventure, is worth every splurge, offering an eagle’s eye view of the Whitsunday Islands National Park, Hardy Reef, and the iconic Heart Reef. This unforgettable tour includes snorkeling, beachcombing on Whitehaven Beach, and champagne to top off a perfect day in paradise.
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Plan Your Trip to the Whitsundays
Traveling to the Whitsundays and Airlie Beach is like stepping into a tropical paradise, offering access to the iconic Great Barrier Reef and the stunning Whitsunday Islands. Accessible by air or road, Airlie Beach is served by Whitsunday Coast Airport in Proserpine, just a short drive away, making it easy to reach this vibrant seaside town. As the gateway to Whitsunday Great Barrier Reef day flights, Airlie Beach is the ideal base for scenic flights over Heart Reef and Hardy Reef, as well as boat tours to Whitehaven Beach. Whether arriving by car along the scenic coastal roads or flying into the nearby airport, travelers can enjoy the perfect mix of relaxation and adventure in Airlie Beach, with endless opportunities to explore the world-famous reef, sparkling beaches, and lush islands.
- Cheap flights
- Savings on accommodation from hotels to luxury hotels
- Affordable sightseeing tours and day trips
- Affordable car rental options
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First stop on the Great Barrier Reef day flight – Whitehaven Beach
Great Barrier Reef day flight to Hardy Reef leaves from Whitsunday Airport, located about 15 minutes from Airlie Beach. We boarded a seaplane to head out over the Great Barrier Reef to the first destination, Whitehaven Beach. Our group was small, with only nine people, including the pilot, which is in stark contrast to the numbers on some of the boat trips which ply the same route. It was coral spawning time so the normally clear blue water was decorated with ribbons of floating algae which is all part of the reef’s renewal. Gazing out the window, the water appeared transparently aqua with gleaming white sandbanks just underneath the surface.
Whitehaven Beach
The plane cruised around Hill Inlet, showing the expanse of white sand that makes Whitehaven Beach so distinctive. It only took a few minutes, and we were down on the water landing at Whitehaven, which was just as smooth as the runway takeoff. Pilot Paul Steszewski positioned the plane close to the beach, and we stepped off the floats into knee-deep water, wading to the shore for our glass of champagne, chocolates, chips and cookies. A stroll along the blindingly white sand beach followed by a swim was too hard to resist. I could have spent all day floating in the water, but we had more on the Great Barrier Reef day flight list, including a look at the famous Heart Reef near Hardy Reef.
Snorkelling at Hardy Reef
Back in the plane for more of the Whitsunday Great Barrier Reef day flight to Hardy Reef, we cruised over more heartbreakingly beautiful reefs toward the outer edge. Soon, we reached Hardy Reef and the iconic Heart Reef, a natural coral composition shaped like a heart. I’m told Heart Reef has been the scene of many proposals, and if you let the pilot know before your Whitsunday flight from Airlie Beach, he might be able to allow a little extra time to get those special words out.
Snorkeling around the coral garden at Hardy Reef revealed a world of wonderment. The incredible coral formations waved gently in the current, with hundreds of small fish weaving in and out and larger fish cruising below, occasionally casting wary glances upward. All of this took place in the warm waters of the Whitsundays—a truly blissful and memorable experience. It’s two hours of swimming and viewing, but it seems like a microsecond, and you are back on the plane, waving goodbye to a very special part of the world.
Getting there
Unfortunatley, the half day flight tour I did is not available at the moment. Instead, here’s a one hour scenic flight over the Whitsunday Islands, Whitehaven, Hill Inlets swirling sands, and Great Barrier Reef including Heart Reef with live commentary from your guide.
Airlie Beach Whitsunday Islands & Heart Reef Scenic Flight
More about the Great Barrier Reef
- Have you heard that the Great Barrier Reef dying? Here’s a report from three experts on the spot.
- Here’s what happened at the latest Great Barrier Reef coral spawn.
- Enjoy flight tours? Try this one over Fraser Island.
Disclaimer: Ed+bK travelled as a guest of Tourism Whitsunday.
