Incredible Helicopter Ride Over The Great Barrier Reef & Whitsunday Islands

I love words and have far more experience of writing them than I do taking pictures. But sometimes you need to let the pictures do the talking. My recent experience of flying in a helicopter over the Great Barrier Reef and Whitsundays is one of those occasions. The pictures say it all really.

In pictures: Helicopter ride over the Great Barrier Reef & Whitsunday Islands

First glimpse of Whitsunday Island, Hill Inlet and Whitehaven Beach

But let me give you a little context.

Last month I flew to Hamilton Island, the largest inhabited island in the Whitsundays and a very stylish place to base yourself whilst exploring the Great Barrier Reef and surrounding islands. From Hamilton Island I took a boat out to Reef World, where I spent a night sleeping on the Great Barrier Reef, swimming with sea turtles and viewing the most incredible sunrise I’ve ever seen in my life.

In my previous post I mentioned how I then transferred from the Reef World pontoon back to Hamilton Island in a helicopter. I hinted that it was one of the best experiences I had at the Great Barrier Reef but I felt I really wanted to show you why.

So without further ado..

Helicopter ride from Reef World to Hamilton Island

Reef World has two helipads floating a short distance away from the main pontoon. My ride is the one landing in the background.

The take off was incredibly smooth. You only need a little height before you start to see the stunning patterns of the reef.

From above the Great Barrier Reef looks like a giant mass of veins – or maybe a confused world map?!

Heart Reef – the most photographed & famous section of the Great Barrier Reef is a short distance from Reef World.

Our pilot looped the Heart Reef so we could see it from every angle.

The aircraft rises into the clouds as we head towards Hamilton Island.

But first we flew over something pretty special.

The pilot eyes up Hill Inlet on Whitsunday Island

Then flies us over the famous Whitehaven Beach -7 kms of practically pure silica sand.

Whitehaven is regularly voted one of Australia’s best beaches.

An incredible tricolour formed by the trees, sand and water.

How tempting is that water?

We pass more of the Whitsunday Islands (there are 74 in total) on the way back to Hamilton Island.

I think I’d like to live on this one.

If your budget doesn’t stretch to a helicopter ride you get a pretty good view from Jetstar flights from Hamilton Island too!

More Info

Scenic helicopter rides from Reef World start from $135 per person for a 10 minute joy flight. Transfers from Reef World to Hamilton Island take approximately 35 minutes and cost $499 per person.

I travelled to the Whitsundays with Round The World Experts who arranged all my accommodation, transfers and activities with Cruise Whitsundays, Hamilton Island and Hamilton Island Air. Speak to one of the Round The World Experts about creating your dream Australia holiday.