Do It All - See The Reef From Above And Below
Fly & Raft - Northern Exposure
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Premium Tour Operator
Free Cancellations - Up To 24 Hours Before DepartureDeparture Times
- Departs:
- 7:00am
- Returns:
- 3:30pm
- Departure Point:
Departure Point: Airlie Beach
Pricing Options
- RRP $553$529 AUD/ Person — Adult - Including Lunch(01 Apr 2026 to 31 Mar 2027)
- $0 AUD/ Person — Infant (6 months +) (01 Apr 2025 to 31 Mar 2027)
- RRP $488$479 AUD/ Person — Child (2-14 Years) - Including Lunch(01 Apr 2026 to 31 Mar 2027)
Enjoy the perfect combination of adventures with this wonderful package. See the beauty from above and below!
- Enjoy a scenic flight to Heart Reef with a guaranteed window seat
- Explore the deep blue with Ocean Rafting - Northern Exposure
- Combine two unique adventures for the best trip in the Whitsundays
- Relax on the north of Whitehaven Beach, and then peer at it from above!
- Have fun with a social and adventurous crew!
Overview
Fly high above the dreamy hues of the world-famous Whitsundays in style with the incredible Fly & Raft - Northern Exposure tour. If you’re looking to squeeze all of the beauty that the Great Barrier Reef has to offer into one day, look no further! You’ll begin the day with your head in the clouds, flying high above the kaleidoscopic patterns of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park with a guaranteed window seat scenic flight. You’ll spot the gorgeous Heart Reef and the sparkling white Whitehaven Beach, leaving nothing to the imagination.
After your flight, it’s time to explore the reef from a different perspective: we’ll embark on a wild ride upon the deep blue with Ocean Rafting, one of the best tours here in the Whitsundays. This is an incredible multi-award-winning tour that offers a peek into parts of the Great Barrier Marine Park that most tours can’t access. With the necessary special permits all taken care of, you’ll get exclusive access to float across the creamy cosmic swirls of Hill Inlet and other incredible destinations.
Highlights
- 1-hour scenic flight over Whitehaven Beach, Great Barrier Reef, Heart Reef
- Guaranteed window seat for the best views
- Full-day boat tour on Ocean Rafting, multi-award-winning day tour
- Special permits to access exclusive areas of Whitehaven Beach
- Guided National Park bushwalk
- Inner fringing coral reef snorkelling
- Personalised snorkel instruction
- Reef and island naturalist talks
- Tropical lunch pack and refreshments
- Informative commentary throughout
- Snorkelling equipment and flotation devices
- Wetsuit/sunsuit hire
- Courtesy transfers
Looking to spend more time snorkelling and wading through the multicoloured coral? This is the perfect tour for you. If you’re more of a beach bum and are looking to spend more time winding down on Whitehaven Beach, head to the Southern Lights version of this tour. Regardless of which option you choose, both tours offer you the chance to snorkel, hike up Hill Inlet Lookout and relax on Whitehaven Beach.
Please note: if you are travelling the Whitsundays on a cruise ship, the timings of this experience do not align with the visiting cruise ship schedule.
Itinerary
Soar like a bird above the jaw-dropping views of the Great Barrier Reef with our beloved scenic flight. You’ll feast your eyes on many mystical sights, including the Instagram-famous Heart Reef, Whitehaven Beach and the luscious blues and greens of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. After an amazing experience flying high, you’ll get to embark on a wild adventure on Ocean Rafting.
To kick off the adventure, you’ll get to enjoy an incredible aerial view of one of the most treasured wonders of the world. The Whitsundays boasts 74 incredible islands, and you’ll get to gawk at so many of them! You’ll also spot the miraculous white tones of Whitehaven Beach and the unmarred swirls of Hill Inlet. After these mind-blowing sites, you’ll get to gaze lovingly at the amazingly colourful Great Barrier Reef. The spacious and comfortable fixed-wing aircraft boasts huge windows, commentary from our passionate and knowledgeable pilot and the best views possible of the Whitsundays!
After you’ve soared with the birds, it’s time to embark on your next adventure: traversing the deep blue by boat! Ocean Rafting will whisk you away to Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet, before taking you to pristine snorkelling sites and the beloved Whitsunday Island National Parks walk.
Snorkelling
Hook Island offers mind-blowing snorkelling opportunities that the whole family will enjoy. Between Mantaray Bay, Maureen’s Cove and other secret snorkeling spots, you’ll get to glimpse the magical world of vivid marine life and colourful coral. The site will be determined by the skipper on the day, who will determine your best chance of seeing mystical marine life depending on the sea conditions. Our passionate crew is determined to make your day as memorable as possible, so the chosen site is bound to tickle your fancy. Get ready to rub shoulders with an incredible array of marine life including Humphead Maori Wrasse, loggerhead turtles, dolphins and even whales if they’re around!
Whitehaven Beach
The incredible Whitehaven Beach is yours to explore. Boasting a wild and incredible 7 kilometres of pristine white silica sand, we’ll be sweeping you away to the northern end of the beach, located where the gorgeous swirling sands of Hill Inlet lay. You’ll get to relax and bask in the clear cool waters of one of the world’s best beaches, or choose to bring along some beach toys and throw a frisbee!
Hill Inlet
One of the most incredible parts about this tour is the unbelievable access you get to the cosmos of swirling blues and whites. Ocean Rafting holds special permits, that aren’t held by other tours, allowing access to all areas of Hill Inlet. This gives you the perfect opportunity to soak up the Hill Inlet like never before! It’s a wonderful place to relax and tuck into your tropical lunch pack on board. After lunch, appease your curiosities by setting out on a guided bush walk to Hill Inlet Lookout. From above, you’ll get to feast your eyes on an incredible panoramic view of the swirling hues below. Make sure you keep your eyes peeled for the illusive stingrays and lemon sharks darting through the water below.
On your way home, after a beautiful day exploring, it’s time to put your racing caps on! Often when the weather is right, Ocean Rafting boats will get a little cheeky and race against each other back to the mainland!
Tour Map
The Northern Exposure tour follows the purple coloured path around the Whitsunday Islands.
What's Included
- 60-minute reef and island scenic flight
- Guaranteed window seat
- Tour to Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet
- Guided National Park walks
- Inner fringing coral reef snorkelling
- Tropical lunch pack
- Refreshments
- Personalised snorkel instruction
- Use of snorkel equipment and flotation devices
- Sunsuit/wetsuit
- Reef and island naturalist talks
- Courtesy bus transfers
What's Extra
- Prescription Mask Hire - $20
- Water
- Soft Drinks/Juice
- Beer/Cider
- Chocolate
Queensland Public Holidays: The following days incur a public holiday surcharge of $20 per adult, $10 per child and $50 per family (2ad and 2ch).
- 03 April 26 – Good Friday
- 04 April 26 – Easter Saturday
- 05 April 26 – Easter Sunday
- 06 April 26 – Easter Monday
- 25 April 26 – Anzac Day
- 04 May 26 – Labour Day
- 19 June 26 – Show Whitsundays
- 05 October 26 – King’s Birthday
- 25 December 26 – Christmas Day (CLOSED)
- 26 December 26 – Boxing Day
- 28 December 26 – Boxing Day public holiday
- 1 January 2027 – New Year’s Day
- 26 January 2027 – Australia Day
- 27 March 2027 – Good Friday
- 28 March 2027 – Easter Saturday
- 29 March 2027 – Easter Sunday
- 30 March 2027 – Easter Monday
What to Bring
- Swimmers
- A beach bag with a towel, hat and shoes
- A jacket during winter to protect you from wind and for warmth after snorkelling
- Cameras in a waterproof case or Tupperware
- Cash for water, soft drinks, fruit juices and chocolates for sale on board
- Everything you need for the day as you will not return to your accommodation between tours
Frequently asked questions
Are the two tours back to back?
Yes, the scenic flight and boat tour with Ocean Rafting are back to back on one incredible day. The Ocean Rafting team will cover the transport to ensure you make it to both tours on time!
How long is the scenic flight?
The scenic flight is one hour, giving you plenty of time to see the Whitsundays, Great Barrier Reef, and Heart Reef!
Will I get a window seat on the scenic flight?
Yes, everyone onboard the scenic flight gets a window seat so you can get uninterrupted views!
Where does the flight depart?
Flights depart from Whitsunday Airport in Shute Harbor. Try to arrive there at least 30 minutes before your scheduled flight time.
Are pick-ups offered?
Yes! Courtesy coach pickups are available from local accommodation houses starting from 6:10am. If you have requested a pickup you will receive confirmation of the time directly from Ocean Rafting. If your pickup has not been arranged, please get in touch with our reservations team at (07) 4946 6848 to confirm your pick-up time & location. A minimum of 24 hours notice is required for all pickup requests.
Where do we go on the boat tour?
Your Ocean Rafting Northern Exposure boat tour takes you over to Whitsunday Island, where you'll explore Whitehaven Beach and hike to Hill Inlet Lookout. You'll also visit two amazing snorkelling spots!
Is any food included?
A tropical lunch pack is included on your boat tour. There is also chocolate and drinks onboard for purchase (with cash only)!
Where do we snorkel on the boat tour?
Your captain will pick two snorkelling spots on the day based on the tides to ensure you get the best conditions on the fringing Great Barrier Reef. Hook Island is home to some popular snorkel locations including Mantaray Bay and Maureen’s Cove, but it all depends on the conditions that day!
Are prescription masks available?
Yes, you can hire prescription masks for snorkelling for $20.
What is the difference between the Northern Exposure and Southern Lights options?
On the Southern Lights tour, you will visit one snorkelling location, Hill Inlet Lookout and both the north and south end of Whitehaven Beach. Whereas, this Northern Exposure tour will take you to two snorkelling locations, Hill Inlet and just the north end of Whitehaven Beach. Both Fly and Raft options have a scenic flight.
Reviews
I had an amazing experience with this company! I did both the scenic flight and the ocean rafting tours. We went snorkeling, visited beautiful beaches, and enjoyed stunning lookouts. The staff were very friendly and professional. I would definitely recommend booking with them to everyone!
Fantastic, great views, great snorkeling sites we visited but of most importance the crew were the greatest, they accommodated our needs or requests and made the experience a lot of fun. Cheers Until next time Peter
Had a great time and my 12 year rated it as one of the favorite things we did. All the staff were very friendly and checked in with all passengers regularly and ensured everyone was feeling comfortable and having a good time. Amazing hosts
An amazing combination package! scenic flight over the Great Barrier Reef and Whitehaven beach + an incredible full day of ocean rafting!
