This tour combines the best elements of the reef and rainforest. Starting with the reef we fly to Green Island and then explore the local reefs, including the beautiful Vlasoff Sand Cay. We then track to Palm Cove and climb up to 2,500 feet as we glide over the Great Dividing Range on our way to Kuranda - the village in the rainforest. We then track down the Barron Gorge, home of the immense Barron Falls, before tracking back to Cairns Airport with stunning panoramic views of the surrounding area.
In demand: 30 of the next 90 departures are already sold out.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 15.
Green Island is a 6000 year old Coral Cay Island that is very popular for day visits with frequent ferry services to and from the island. There are numerous activities on the island, such as snorkel tours, diving, glass bottom and semi-submersible boat tours. It is a 45-minute ferry ride from Cairns and is a popular tourism destination.
Vlasoff sand cay is a tropical sand island located on Vlasoff Reef. It is unvegetated, and acts as a natural resting place for a range of sea birds.
This flight includes stunning views of Arlington Reef, Vlassof Reef and Upolo Reef. These reefs are just a few of the 2900 individually named reefs that comprice the Great Barrier Reef.
Palm Cove is a popular tourist destination with a bubbling esplanade packed with restaurants, cafes, hotels and shops. It's a great place to visit and looks fantastic from the air. Palm Cove is the last suburb within the Cairns locality.
The Barron Falls is a 900m multi-stage waterfall. During the wet season most of the rock formations are hidden by the raging white water. During the dry season the underlying cliff is exposed showing incredible detail of this ancient formation.
Kuranda, sometimes called the "village in the rainforest" is a popular destination for tourists and an easy day trip activitiy. It is filled with markets, cafes and eateries, as well as numerous tourist attactions.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
Excurgo comparison of 241 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
45 Minute Reef and Rainforest Flight lasts about 1h 10min. The itinerary has 6 stops.
Prices start at $468 per person for this Cairns and the Tropical North experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 10:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 2:00 PM.
It can: 30 of the next 90 departures are already sold out, so booking ahead is a good idea.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
The meeting point is Turn off the Captain Cook Highway into the General Aviation entrance to Cairns Airport, turn right and you will find us opposite the Aviation Skills Centre on the left hand side of Bush Pilots Avenue. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
The experience is available in EN.
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 6 participants.
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Wheelchair accessible Transportation options are wheelchair accessible All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
Great flight out over the reef and rain forest. Calum our pilot was great,with just the right amount of info. The staff on check in were very professional and friendly. I would recommend doing a flight over the reef with the Zoom team.
At the 11th hour (5pm Fri), I called Zoom to book a 60th Wedding Anniversary surprise flight for my 85 yr old father, a gift from my Mum. Hayley answered the call in more ways than one in helping to organise a voucher to present to him at their celebration for the next morning. My father was very, very surprised and looks forward to his flight which he will do in September, a perfect time of year in Cairns. Hayley's friendly and professional customer service was 2nd to none and I cannot rate her enough. Thankyou again, we cannot wait for him to experience his first helicopter flight with Zoom.
Beautiful experience, everything ran smoothly on arrival. We were weighed and given safety precautions with a life jacket. Hailey our pilot was nice and informative.
We were in the expert hands of Haley who guided us through the most incredible journey. Photos and videos just can't do it justice. The tide was low and the sun was out so we saw lots of corral reefs then climbed up and over the rainforest to Kuranda and the famous gauge. The water tumbling into the plains below which only recently were flooded. What an almighty tour. Highly recommended. One of the world's wonders and in such safe hands.
Exhilarating experience. The sea over the reef was crystal clear. Amazing trip, great people made a fantastic end to our trip to cairns
Outstanding flight over the reef and the rainforest. Would certainly recommend. Great to have an overview of both before visiting them individually over the next two days. The entire team were welcoming, knowledgeable and friendly. Worth every cent.
Was an amazing trip, definitely worth doing. The Barron falls was amazing to see from above and the reef was breathtaking.
The view of the reef from the air is stunning. Chris did a wonderful job of providing a smooth ride and creating a memorable experience.
8/6/2024 My daughter and I did the Rainforest Fusion flight this morning with Niels and it was absolutely amazing. I am scared of heights, but this fear was quickly forgotten thanks to the beautiful scenery and our pilots lovely friendly manner. From booking, right through to actually experiencing the flight, they’ve been a great company to deal with. I would 100% recommend Zoom Helicopters too everyone
The pilot was very helpful, professional, friendly and easy to talk to. We flew very smoothly in the air, it was a little bit windy, but the pilot did a really great job driving the helicopter. We were accommodated very well. Five out of five!
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 Minute Reef and Rainforest Flight | 1h 10min | 5.0 (13) | $468 | |
 40-Minute Great Barrier Reef Scenic Flight from Cairns | 40 min | 4.9 (874) | $177 | View |
 Great Barrier Reef or Rainforest Scenic Flights from Port Douglas | 30 min–1h | 4.9 (73) | $346 | View |
 30 minute Rainforest Scenic Flight | 30 min | 5.0 (3) | $330 | View |
 Cairns 45 Minute Guided Jet Ski Experience | 45 min | — | $77 | View |
 Quicksilver Pontoon and 10 Minute Scenic Helicopter Flight | 6h 30min | 4.3 (4) | $384 | View |
 Green Island and Great Barrier Reef Full-Day Tour from Cairns | 10 hours | 4.7 (7) | $244 | View |