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Private Helicopter Tour: Reef Island Snorkeling and Gourmet Picnic Lunch

4.5 (21)
Cairns, AU
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Private Helicopter Tour: Reef Island Snorkeling and Gourmet Picnic Lunch

4.5 (21)
Cairns, AU
Share
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Experience the ultimate luxury and adventure with a private helicopter tour to the Great Barrier Reef. Soar over the stunning coral-studded sea before landing on the secluded Vlasoff Cay, a pristine sand cay in the heart of this natural wonder. Feel the soft white sand between your toes as you relax on the beach, or dive into the crystal-clear waters to snorkel and discover the vibrant underwater world. Indulge in a gourmet picnic lunch, complete with sparkling wine, while enjoying the breathtaking views of the reef. With all snorkeling equipment provided and hotel pickup and drop-off included, this exclusive experience offers the perfect blend of excitement, relaxation, and natural beauty. Don't miss the chance to create memories that will last a lifetime on this extraordinary private helicopter tour.

About this experience

  • Free Cancellation For a full refund cancel at least before the start of your booking
  • Admission Included
  • 2 hours 30 minutes
  • Suitable for 1-6 Participants
  • Private Tour
  • Guided Experience
  • Scenic flight over the Great Barrier Reef
  • Exclusive getaway to a pristine sand cay
  • Relax on pure white sand and crystal waters
  • Snorkel and discover the magic underwater world
  • Gourmet picnic hamper with sparkling wine
  • 2-hours on secluded Vlasoff Cay
  • 25-minute scenic helicopter flight over the Great Barrier Reef
  • Picnic basket including gourmet food and beverages
  • Australia's Goods and Services Tax (GST)
  • Snorkeling equipment
  • Picnic blanket, beach umbrella and beach chairs
  • Environmental Management Charge (Reef Tax)
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off Cairns
  • Private return transfers to/from Port Douglas are $205 per car (up to 4 passengers).

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More about this experience

Introduction

Experience a once in a lifetime adventure with the Private Helicopter Tour: Reef Island Snorkeling and Gourmet Picnic Lunch. This exclusive tour offers a unique opportunity to explore the breathtaking beauty of the Great Barrier Reef from above and below the water.

What to expect?

Prepare to be amazed as you embark on a 25-minute scenic flight over the Great Barrier Reef, witnessing its stunning coral formations and crystal-clear waters. Upon landing on Vlasoff Cay, a pristine sand cay in the heart of the reef, you'll have the chance to relax on the pure white sand, snorkel in the shallow crystal waters, and discover the magic of the underwater world.

Who is this for?

This tour is perfect for adventure seekers and nature enthusiasts who are looking for a truly unforgettable experience. Whether you're traveling solo, with a partner, or with friends and family, this tour caters to everyone's sense of adventure.

Why book this?

This tour offers a unique and luxurious way to explore the Great Barrier Reef. Unlike crowded boat tours, you'll have the privilege of enjoying the reef's beauty from a private helicopter. The personalized experience allows you to immerse yourself in the stunning scenery and create memories that will last a lifetime. The gourmet picnic lunch adds a touch of elegance to the adventure, providing the perfect opportunity to indulge in delicious food and sparkling wine while surrounded by the natural beauty of the reef.

Good to know

It's important to note that private return transfers to/from Port Douglas are available at an additional cost. This ensures a seamless and convenient journey for those staying in the area. Additionally, the tour includes snorkeling equipment and all necessary amenities such as a picnic blanket, beach umbrella, and beach chairs.

Reviews

Travelers who have experienced the Private Helicopter Tour: Reef Island Snorkeling and Gourmet Picnic Lunch rave about its exclusivity and the unparalleled views it offers. They praise the knowledgeable and friendly staff who ensure a comfortable and memorable experience. Guests also appreciate the high-quality picnic lunch and the opportunity to snorkel in the pristine waters of Vlasoff Cay. Overall, the reviews highlight the tour's exceptional value and the once in a lifetime nature of the experience.

How long before the event do I need to book?

  • You can book at any time before the event

Vouchers accepted in the following formats

  • Mobile

Is an adult required for the booking?

  • At least one adult or senior required per booking

Your Itinerary

Nautilus Aviation

Check-in is 30 minutes prior to your departure for your pre-departure briefing. You'll then board the helicopter to travel to Vlasoff Cay

Admission Included

Great Barrier Reef

(Pass by)

Fly over the magnificent Great Barrier Reef before landing on Vlasoff Cay.

Vlasoff Cay

Spend approx. 2 hours at Vlasoff Cay. Relax on the pure white sand, beach comb for treasures, lay in the shallow crystal waters or snorkel straight off the cay and discover the magic of the underwater world.

Great Barrier Reef

(Pass by)

On your return journey, enjoy admiring the views of the reef before heading back to Cairns.

Reviews

(21)

4.5 (21)

Stephanie_B

The helicopter ride was absolutely beautiful! Our pilot, Jules, was really down-to-earth and fun to talk to. We were supposed to go to the sand cay and have that to ourselves but there was a tour there already so the helicopter was not allowed to land there. Instead we were flown to the Green Island. We were provided a picnic lunch and a bottle of champagne! The thought is very cool but the practicality of being able to have lunch, drink the champagne, and snorkel in just 2 hours is not realistic. Apparently the 2 hours includes the time of us getting off and on the helicopter, walking to the beach, and setting up the chairs. We sat in the chairs for maybe 10 minutes, snorkeled for 50 minutes, then when we got back we were rushed to leave since Jules had another tour to attend to. For the amount of money we had to pay for a "private" lunch and helicopter ride, I think the amount of time to wherever we end up going to should be longer especially since we did not end up getting any privacy.

Danni_V

The experience was Amazing but my husband who has received this as a gift. Unfortunately mine was not so great with different size flippers and a child’s mask, so couldn’t snorkel- so disappointed. Pilot was lovely, food great. disappointing I haven’t heard from Nautilus

Suzie2488

ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!!!! Planned this surprise on NYE, crystal clear water, breathtaking views, very friendly staff, once in a lifetime experience so 100% worth the money! Vlassof Cay is literally perfection! Made to feel like a VIP! Best thing I’ve ever done (I’ve travelled a lot) so this beats any other attraction in Cairns. You need to see the GBR from above to understand it’s true beauty. Most amazing day of my life!!! Thank you Nautilus Aviation ❤️🚁

AudBoz3

First time in a helicopter at 50 years of age and can’t believe I didn’t do this sooner. Pilot Michael was very reassuring- the trip was smooth and had beautiful views of the reef. We even saw a turtle and a stingray. Lovely picnic hamper. Very enjoyable experience and would definitely do it again.

593rachaela

One of the best experiences I’ve ever had!!! You cannot put a price on this outstanding trip. The day was absolutely perfect and the pilot was very knowledgeable and friendly. We forgot his name but he was such a great pilot. We were fortunate enough to land on the sandcay and have a beautiful picnic followed by snorkelling. The food in the picnic was absolutely awesome!!! We got given so much and it was delicious! The picturesque views were one of a kind and the snorkelling was fantastic. We got to see so much of the reef - it was the best!!! I would do this trip over and over again if I could. Thank you so much it was the best day ever!!! If I could give 10 stars I would.

Eric T

We made a reservation for the day trip with flight over the coral reef, snorkelling around and lunching on the cay. This was for a special occasion and we were looking for it for a very long time. It was the main reason we came to Cairns actually. We were supposed to be picked up at the hotel at 0745. At 0815 since no one had shown up I called Nautilus and was told that there were some technical problems but that someone would pick us up at 0845. We walked around and were back at the hotel at 0845. At 0900 since no one had shown up I called again and was told that the pick up car was delayed due to traffic. Eventually the car showed up and we were driven to Nautilus Aviation. At that stage we were welcomed by a very embarrassed officer who explained that there had been a technical problem on an helicopter which could not be fixed. Hence the trip had to be cancelled. We were proposed instead either to postpone to the next day - which was not possible since this was when we had to leave - or a 30’ flight at no cost to us. This is what we did. We were not charged and the company apologised. The flight was nice but nothing to compare to the full day trip. We also regretted very much the fact that no one had called us at 0745 to explain the situation. In conclusion, the company behave properly in trying to address the issue but the information did not come on time and the overall experience a great disappointment.

Jennifer G

<p>This tour was amazing!! It was once in a lifetime. Spend the money!</p>

Xinwei R

<p>It's really worth the money. The entire small island was completely for us only! How great was it! Everyone we met was friendly and very knowledgable. I definitely will recommond this tour to my friends.</p>

Jason W

<p>The opportunity to visit idyllic Vlasoff Cay is wonderful, however the reality of this happening seems incredibly slim.</p> <p>We booked this trip based on the plan fuelled by many lovely photos of visiting Vlasoff Cay, however we ended up on Turtle Beach. The tour company are thorough from every angle to ensure you understand that if Vlasoff Cay is occupied, then landing on Turtle Beach is the alternative - they make you sign numerous disclaimers agreeing you understand this. However, what they failed to do was advise from their experience, how unlikely it is that you will land there. We emailed quite a few times beforehand asking for the odds and even asked for photos of Turtle Beach so we could make an informed decision it's a lot of money! but didn't receive anything useful back. We even suggested leaving earlier in the morning to ensure we'd be able to land, but were told that we couldn't due to tides - our pilot on the day said the tides wouldn't have stopped us flying early. </p> <p>On the day we flew it seemed like they already knew we couldn't land there. This meant we flew out for 15mins over the reef and then landed on Turtle beach. The beach is lovely, but exactly like all the others along the coast. The 'champagne' was sparkling Jacobs Creek and the picnic was squashed sandwiches, they could do a much better job of this. It's also worth noting that the pilot stays with you, which isn't explained in the description. </p> <p>This trip has the promise of being amazing, but for us it didn't get anywhere close to that, and ended up being one VERY expensive helicopter ride and average picnic. </p> <p>We wouldn't recommend this trip.</p>

Julianne_C

<p>I would give a three and a half star review. The Nautilus Helicopter staff were fabulous. The only downside was the flight was quite short and although the trip did go to the reef we all thought it would be further out where the day trippers go. Having said that the snorkelling was enjoyable, the little island we landed on was lovely and we had a delicious lunch. So well worth doing.</p>
Collected by Evendo, Tripadvisor & Viator
2024-05-05 08:44