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Zoom Helicopters | Inner Reef Explorer

FROM: $415
4
SingleDay
Min. Age
All Ages
5.0 (2 Reviews)

Departure Times

Departs: Daily - Please Enquire
Returns: Daily - Please Enquire

Departure Point: Bush Pilot's Avenue, Cairns Airport QLD 4870. 

Pricing Options

$415 AUD / Person - General (3+ years) (Between: 20 Jun 2024 and 31 Dec 2025)
$0 AUD / Person - Infant (0-2 years) (Between: 13 Sep 2024 and 31 Dec 2025)

Witness the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef on this 30-minute Inner Reef Explorer with Zoom Helicopters departing from Cairns Airport!

  • Soar high over Green Island, Arlington Reef, Vlasoff and Upolu Cays
  • Enjoy a more exclusive tour with only 4 passengers per flight
  • See more of the Great Barrier Reef delights from spacious windows
  • Take in the lush landscapes of the majestic North Queensland coastline

Fly high over rainforest encrusted islands, white sandy cays, coral treasures and sparkling turquoise waters on this 30 minute scenic helicopter ride! This popular scenic flight showcases the best sights Cairns has to offer. Explore the beauty of Cairns City, Trinity Bay, Green Island, Arlington Reef, and the Sandy shores of Vlasoff and Upolu Cays.

Keep a look out for turtles, sharks, rays and maybe even whales during July and August! Be treated to breathtaking vistas of the North Queensland coastline, framed by the lush, rainforest-clad slopes of the Great Dividing Range as you make your way back to Cairns. It’s the ideal way to tick off a bucket list item, making for a trip you’ll never forget!

Green Island Aerial View

Highlights

  • 30 minute scenic helicopter ride 
  • Explore the Inner Great Barrier Reef
  • See Green Island, Trinity Inlet, Arlington Reef, Vlasoff and Upolu Cays
  • Witness historic remnants of WWII defences at False Cape
  • Enjoy guided commentary
  • Local expert pilot
  • Comfortable, spacious seats
  • Only 4 passengers per flight, allows for a more exclusive experience
  • HD video cameras to capture the tour from multiple viewpoints

Zoom Helicopters Scenic Flight

More Information

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What To Bring

  • Ticket
  • Camera
  • Sunglasses
  • Small soft bag only

What's Included

  • 30-minute scenic helicopter tour around the Inner Reef
  • Guided commentary
  • Spacious windows for excellent views

What's Extra

  • Personalised in-flight video - $75
  • Souvenirs

Cancellations

Client Cancellations:

All cancellations forfeit 25% of the recommended retail price (RRP) - not the discounted/sale price. No shows or client cancellations made within 72 hours of d...

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What To Bring

  • Ticket
  • Camera
  • Sunglasses
  • Small soft bag only

What's Included

  • 30-minute scenic helicopter tour around the Inner Reef
  • Guided commentary
  • Spacious windows for excellent views

What's Extra

  • Personalised in-flight video - $75
  • Souvenirs

Terms and Conditions

Important Information:

Infants must sit on parents' lap to receive free travel. 

Passenger Weight Policy

  • Weight variances greater than 10% of that advised at the time of booking may incur additional fees and/or allowances being reduced. 
  • The single seat weight limit for Zoom Helicopters is 130kg. 
  • Zoom Helicopters reserves the right to refuse travel and charge a 100% cancellation fee.

All information provided at any time by Cairns Tours and our affiliates is subject to these Terms & Conditions. This includes but is not limited to tour information, pricing, blog posts, travel advice, itinerary information and availability.

Your Responsibilities:

Please advise us before booking if any passengers are under 18 years old to ensure this is the appropriate trip. 

You must reconfirm all booked tours prior to travel as specified on your voucher. If applicable, notes such as dietary requirements, pick-up locations and additional fees should also be confirmed at this time. Reconfirmations cannot be actioned through Cairns Tours/Mr Travel and must be done so directly through the Service Operator as specified on each ticket.

It is your responsibility to notify us of ticket discrepancies. Please read through the details on your voucher thoroughly to ensure all details such as passenger names, ages and dates of travel on vouchers are correct.

It is the responsibility of all passengers travelling to advise both your travel agent at the time of booking and check-in agent before boarding of any medical conditions including food allergies you may suffer from.

You need to allow adequate time to check-in prior to the specified departure time. Please refer to the specific tour page for full check-in instructions.


Prices/Extra Costs:

All prices are stated in Australian dollars and include GST. The Service Operator reserves the right to alter prices and extra costs. Extra costs may include EMC fees, Stingersuit/Wetsuit Hire, Luggage Storage, Insurance, Linen Hire, National Park Fees, Fuel Levies, Dietary Fees, etc. Bonds may also apply.

We will also endeavour to communicate these extra costs with you at the time of booking, and on your ticket. However, it is your responsibility to confirm which (if any) additional costs apply with each Service Operator upon reconfirming your trip.


Travel Risk/Insurance:

It should be noted that adventure travel involves risk. Whilst we make every effort to safeguard clients, we cannot be responsible for personal injury or loss due to the actions of our clients which are beyond our control. We highly recommend that all clients have travel insurance covering illness, injury, loss or damage to personal belongings and not being able to travel on the confirmed date of departure. You should also ensure your travel insurance will cover special circumstances including weather events preventing guests from travelling to their tour departure destination and cancelled flights due to unforeseen circumstances. 


Transport:

It should be noted that any transport you have booked (buses, flights and ferries) through Cairns Tours is non-refundable and non-transferable. It might be possible to change flights however do note this must be done directly with the flight operator and we are unable to offer any support with this. This may incur change fees or cancellation fees, it depends on the T+Cs of the flight operators themselves. As we acted as a booking agent for you, it is possible to liaise with the airline directly should there be any unexpected events and the airline is forced to cancel your flights. If there are any changes to your flight times or days, we will get notified and send this email directly to you in a reasonable time.


Merchant Fees:

Please be aware operators pass on credit card merchant fees so there is a non-refundable 1% surcharge for VISA and MASTERCARD card purchases.


Other: 

Terms and Conditions (including the Cancellation Policy) are subject to change. The most recent versions can be found online on the relevant product pages. 

All ticket/voucher reissues attract a $20 administration fee.


Transfers:

The Service Operator reserves the right to limit courtesy transfers to select local accommodations. Private residences or Airbnb properties may be asked to meet at the closest confirmed location. Failure to meet at the specified pick-up location may be treated as “No Show”, for which the Client Cancellation Policy applies. Not all tours offer transfers, please refer to the individual product to see if this is applicable to your tour.


Open Date Vouchers / Gift Certificate:

Shipping Costs are in addition to the ticket price and will be added at check-out. Shipping costs are non-refundable and do not makeup part of the ticket value. 

E-Vouchers incur no shipping fees.

You have 5 years to use the value of the voucher. Seasonal Price Rises will apply if travelling out the current seasons pricing. Vouchers can be exchanged for free up to the full value of the voucher excluding credit card fees and charges.

Cancellations

Client Cancellations:

All cancellations forfeit 25% of the recommended retail price (RRP) - not the discounted/sale price. No shows or client cancellations made within 72 hours of departure forfeit 50% of the total ticket price. No shows or client cancellations made within 48 hours of departure forfeit 100% of the total ticket price. 

Cairns Tours is required to notify the operator of any cancellations within the specified cancellation period. It is your responsibility to make sure you submit your cancellation request with adequate time, and during standard business hours (9am-5pm), to allow us to contact the tour provider.

Transfers between tours can be made at the suppliers' discretion, however, it should be noted that supplier fees may apply. Tour transfers also incur a $20 administration fee. 

It is compulsory that all cancellation requests are in writing and sent via email to: admin@mr-travel.com. Cancellations attempted via online chat or phone will not be actioned.


Supplier Cancellations:

The Service Operator reserves the right to alter prices, alter itineraries, apply a fuel surcharge, cancel departures, arrange alternative transport and vary itineraries and services if necessary.

All departures and itineraries are subject to weather. Tours may be changed or cancelled for any reason at the discretion of the Service Operator. If the Service Operator has to cancel the trip or activity (prior to departure) and we cannot offer a suitable alternative, then a refund will be given minus a 20% administration fee and any associated card fees. We strongly recommend that you have travel insurance, especially during the wet season.

All add-on activities (including but not limited to scuba diving, stand-up paddleboarding, helmet diving, guided snorkel tours, banana boat rides and waterslides) are subject to availability and price changing, and may not be available during your tour without notice. Guests are not eligible for refunds on the grounds of non-operating extra activities.

In the unlikely event of your trip being cancelled or stood down, all guest communication is required to go through our Online Store via telephone or email. While there is a Travel Shop retail outlet located in Cairns, please be aware that they operate as a separate entity and are unable to access reservations made by the Cairns Tours/Mr Travel online department.


Refunds:

All refunds are in Australian Dollars and must be made to the card of payment. Cairns Tours/Mr Travel is not liable for exchange rate fluctuations or fees, or any other merchant/bank fees associated with domestic and/or international transactions.

Where a full refund is applicable, there is the option to transfer the whole cost of the tour to another tour or “Credit” to avoid the administration fee. A transfer fee of $20 will apply.

You will be emailed confirmation once the refund has been processed. Once the refund has been processed, it may still take time for the banks to clear the amount. Please allow 7-10 business days for the funds to clear into Australian accounts and up to 21 business days for international accounts.


Accountability/Misconduct:

All Service Operators have the right to provide client feedback and to cancel bookings based off of feedback from other Service Operators. 

Please enjoy your travel experience in a kind and responsible manner.

Cairns Tours/Mr Travel will treat this as any normal client cancellation and therefore the cancellation fees stated in the Client Cancellation Policy will apply.


Information & Advice:

All information, advice or pricing provided by Cairns Tours and our affiliates, or through any of our team, is subject to change. Cairns Tours articles and products are provided online for general information purposes only and are intended as guides. Any advice interpreted from information on the website (including but not limited to financial, immigration, employment and tax information) is not specialist advice and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional instruction. Cairns Tours does not guarantee that any information provided is up-to-date or accurate. Please obtain professional advice before actioning any advice, including but not limited to tax, immigration, employment, travel restrictions and finances.


Thank you for booking with our East-Coast travel experts here at Cairns Tours/ Mr Travel. If you would like any further advice, assistance in arranging accommodation, transfers or additional tours please get in touch.

Frequently Asked Questions

How early do I need to be at the airport for check in?

Zoom Helicopters requires passengers to arrive no less than 20 minutes prior to planned departure time.

Will we see Heart Reef?

Heart Reef is located in the Whitsundays at Hardy Reef, which is 485km south of Cairns. So while you won't see Heart Reef, rest assured, you'll see a similar (if not better!) selection of the Great Barrier Reef that Cairns has to offer!

How many people can fit on the helicopter?

Zoom Helicopters can seat a max of 4 passengers per flight, with a minimum of 2 passengers required for a tour to go ahead. 

Are return transfers included to and from the airport?

Transfers are currently not operating at the moment. But getting to the Zoom office at Cairns Airport is easy and located just a short 10 minutes drive from the Cairns City centre.

How big is the step into the plane? I have mobility issues.

It’s a decent step up into the helicopter, but Zoom Helicopters have steps to assist with anyone with mobility issues.  There are also recessed areas in the ceiling that are useful to hold on to as you get into the helicopter. Zoom have flown just about every age there is from 1 to 100 and everyone has beenable to get in and out without any problems.

What if the weather is cloudy? Will we be able to see anything?

Yes – absolutely.  Zoom don’t just fly a standard flight path, they fly the BEST flight path suitable for the conditions of the day.  Cloudy days are an unavoidable reality, but that doesn’t mean you can’t see the reef! Your pilot knows the best way to go to in any weather condition.  They will make sure you get the very best flight that they can provide.

Can I talk during the flight?

Yes you can. Zoom is fitted with Bose noise-cancelling headsets for extreme comfort.  Before every single flight your pilot will check that you can all talk to each other, as this is a fundamental part of the customer experience. Your pilot doesn’t want to parrot commentary to you during the flight, they want you to join in, too!

What happens if I get sick?

Zoom pilots are professional pilots who love what they do. They fly very smoothly.  If you do feel sick during a flight, there are sickbags on board should that be necessary.

Can I do a scenic flight on a public holiday? Will there be a surcharge?

With the exception of Christmas day, Zoom Helicopters operate every day of the year! There is no surcharge for flying on a public holiday.

Can I fly if I am heavily pregnant?

You certainly can. Zoom Helicopters will offer you the front seat which provides more room, but you are also welcome to sit in the back if you prefer.

Reviews

Overall Rating

5.0 / 5.0

Based on 2 reviews

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Reviews by our Cairns Tours customers

Rob Schussler, 19 Sep 24
What an awesome trip, zooming over the reef spotting turtles and manta rays, the guys that run Zoom are so friendly and do work around to fit you in, thanks Johnno and Neils for our very first chopper flight.
Jimmy Gallagher, 19 Sep 24
Chris and Niels were amazing from the moment we stepped in. The flight out to the reef went above and beyond our expectations - can’t wipe the grins from our faces. Highly, highly recommend!
Jayme
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