1 Hour Heart Reef Scenic Flight

Soar Above the Whitsundays and Heart Reef with Guaranteed Window Seats

Flight Information

Where This Flight Goes

Departure Location & How to Get There

About the Heart Reef Scenic Flight

The Heart Reef Scenic Flight is a 60-minute scenic flight operated by Ocean Rafting, departing from Whitsunday Airport in Flame Tree near Airlie Beach. The one-hour flight soars over all 74 Whitsunday Islands, Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet, and the world-famous Heart Reef on the Great Barrier Reef.

This is hands down the best way to see Heart Reef - it's too far out to reach by boat on a day trip, and helicopter tours cost about double. The fixed-wing aircraft are purpose-built for scenic flights with massive windows and guaranteed window seats for every single passenger. The pilots are brilliant - they do fly-bys of key spots so both sides of the plane get perfect views, plus they give you the full commentary on what you're seeing below.

The flight itself is smooth and comfortable - these aren't tiny little planes that get bounced around. Six daily departures give you flexibility with timing. Morning flights tend to have the clearest conditions and fewer boats on Whitehaven Beach, which makes for better photos. The colour of the water from above is absolutely mental - those swirls at Hill Inlet where the sand shifts with the tides are even more spectacular from the air than from the lookout.

What Guests Are Saying

What's Included

The Experience

A Heart Reef scenic flight is the ultimate way to experience the Whitsundays from above. You'll cover in one hour what would take days to see by boat - and some spots like Heart Reef are simply impossible to reach on day tours. The bird's-eye perspective shows you why the Whitsundays are considered one of the most beautiful places on earth.

Your Flight Itinerary

Hotel Pickup: Free courtesy coach collects you from your mainland accommodation in Airlie Beach. You'll arrive at Whitsunday Airport about 30 minutes before departure. Check in, get your safety briefing, and have time to grab a coffee at the Hangar Café.

Pre-Flight Weighing: Everyone gets weighed for safety and weight distribution on the aircraft - it's standard procedure for small planes. Maximum weight per seat is 125kg. The pilots use this to ensure proper balance during flight.

Boarding: You'll board your fixed-wing aircraft - either the 7-seater or 11-seater depending on group size. Every single seat is a window seat with massive viewing windows. The aircraft are purpose-built for scenic flights, not just regular planes doing sightseeing on the side.

Takeoff and Whitsunday Islands: You'll take off from Whitsunday Airport and immediately start seeing stunning island views. The pilot gives constant commentary, pointing out Hook Island, Whitsunday Island, Daydream Island, Hamilton Island, and all 74 islands below you. The colours are insane - turquoise, emerald, sapphire blue - photos don't do it justice.

Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet: The flight path takes you over Whitehaven Beach - that 7km stretch of pure white silica sand looks even more incredible from above. You'll see both the northern and southern ends of the beach. The pilot does a fly-by of Hill Inlet where the sand and water create those famous swirling patterns. The pilot circles around so both sides of the plane get perfect views and photo opportunities.

Out to the Great Barrier Reef: You'll head out past the islands to the Great Barrier Reef proper. The reef shelf is clearly visible from above - bright coral gardens in shallower water, deep blue ocean channels. On a clear day you might spot manta rays, dolphins, whales (in season), or sea turtles from the air.

Heart Reef: This is the highlight. Heart Reef is a naturally formed coral formation in the shape of a perfect heart - it's about 17 metres across and sits in Hardy Reef. The pilot does multiple passes so everyone gets photos. It's one of the most photographed sites in the entire Great Barrier Reef, and seeing it from above is genuinely bucket list stuff.

Return Flight: The flight loops back over the Whitsundays, giving you another perspective on the islands you saw earlier. The whole experience is 60 minutes of pure visual overload in the best possible way. You'll land back at Whitsunday Airport and either drive yourself back or catch the courtesy coach to your accommodation.

Before You Book

Frequently Asked Questions

More Scenic Flights & Whitsundays Tours

If you're interested in seeing the Whitsunday Islands and Great Barrier Reef from above, check out other scenic flights from Airlie Beach. For the complete experience, combine this flight with a boat tour to Whitehaven Beach - Ocean Rafting's Fly & Raft packages let you see it all from above and below. Or explore all day tours departing from Airlie Beach.

Why Trust This Guide?

We're Airlie Beach locals who've called the Whitsundays home since 2001. Over more than two decades living and working in this stunning corner of tropical North Queensland, we've personally experienced the tours, walked every beach, and know which operators genuinely deliver on their promises.

Ocean Rafting has been operating since 1997 and is genuinely the most awarded tour operator in the Whitsundays. Their scenic flights use licensed CASA-certified carriers with experienced pilots who know these islands like the back of their hand. The guaranteed window seats and multiple fly-bys of key sights aren't just marketing - they actually deliver on it every single flight.

The recommendations are honest, unbiased, and based on genuine local knowledge to help make your Whitsunday holiday unforgettable.

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