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.
26 Comments
Angie Silver
November 30, 2015 at 9:54 amAhhh… we had this booked when we were there but had to cancel cos it was pouring with rain. So guttted, your pictures are incredible!
Lots of love,
Angie
SilverSpoon London
Jayne Gorman
December 1, 2015 at 6:04 amAh Angie so sorry to hear that – what bad timing. Next time 😉
Ayla
November 30, 2015 at 4:18 pmOh. Wow.
I’ve visited the Whitsundays by boat but now I wish I had done it from the sky! I may just have to take a trip back as those views are simply stunning!
Jayne Gorman
December 1, 2015 at 6:05 amI did it by boat on my first trip so was incredibly lucky to go back and see it from above. It was even prettier than I imagined from up there!
Gilda Baxter
November 30, 2015 at 4:26 pmAmazing pictures, I would love to do this trip on the helicopter over the Great Barrier Reef. Thanks for sharing!
Jayne Gorman
December 1, 2015 at 6:05 amYou’re welcome. Hop you get a chance to one day 🙂
Kristin
November 30, 2015 at 9:47 pmThe color of that water is absolutely beautiful – and it really gives you a perspective on how HUGE the GBR is!
Jayne Gorman
December 1, 2015 at 6:07 amFor sure – it goes on for MILES!
Kirsten
December 3, 2015 at 4:10 pmI have no words. This is incredibly beautiful, and enough to convince me that it would be worth every penny! I’ve been to the Whitsundays and loved it, but now I have to go back and do this!
Jayne Gorman
December 4, 2015 at 12:24 amAw thanks Kirsten. That’s what I was trying to express but was struggling to say!! I felt exactly the same though. I loved sailing the Whitsundays but felt I saw how truly beautiful they were from the sky.
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Julie Small
December 10, 2015 at 9:28 pmWhat an incredible experience. I’ve visited the Great Barrier reef a number of times, I even learnt to dive on the reef but this is something special. What a beautiful day you had to take photos. Am just slightly envious!! 🙂
Jayne Gorman
December 10, 2015 at 10:34 pmO wow, learning to dive out there must have been incredible. I did an introductory dive and it was a great place to start 😉
Janice Stringer
December 13, 2015 at 7:18 pmHi Jayne,
Looks amazing. Definately a must do on my list, when I finally get back over there again.
🙂
Michelle Christina
December 15, 2015 at 3:09 pmSo gorgeous! I can’t believe those colors actually exist in nature!
Jayne Gorman
December 16, 2015 at 12:25 amMe neither – and I saw them with my own eyes 😉
Leigh
December 16, 2015 at 9:00 pmI took my first helicopter ride this year, out of the Grand Canyon – what a spectacular way to photograph scenery. Honestly, these photos of the reef are the first ones I’ve seen that make me actually consider Australia as a destination…who knows?! It definitely is gorgeous!
Jayne Gorman
December 17, 2015 at 2:16 amO wow, that’s awesome if it’s made you consider visiting Oz. It really is an incredibly beautiful and diverse country.
Nath
December 30, 2015 at 12:02 amWow I live and work in the Whitsundays but only travelled around by boat , those pictures are amazing and I’m definitely going to take my next trip by air 🙂
Jayne Gorman
December 30, 2015 at 7:32 amYou won’t regret it 🙂
Madhu
January 29, 2016 at 8:41 pmWOW! What a stunning set of images! You just pushed this up on my bucket-list.
Jayne Gorman
January 29, 2016 at 9:36 pmAwesome! It’s totally worth it 🙂
Peter Seymour - Lanzarote Villa
March 22, 2016 at 12:25 pmoh my oh my, that looks so good! almost like they are pics from another planet. You wont find a sea view like that in England for sure. I would love to experience that.
Austin Dixon
March 29, 2016 at 5:46 amSo gnarly! Loved the pictures — thanks for sharing 🙂
Juliette - Snorkels To Snow
July 25, 2016 at 2:08 amWhat incredible photos! I would be tempted to jump out of the helicopter into that water haha!