Scenic Flight & A Day Out On The Reef
Fly & Raft - Southern Lights
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Premium Tour Operator
Free Cancellations - Up To 24 Hours Before DepartureDeparture Times
- Departs:
- 8:15am
- Returns:
- 4:30pm
- Departure Point:
Departure Point: Airlie Beach
Pricing Options
- $553 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 $535$525 AUD/ Person — Child (2-14 Years) - Including Lunch(01 Apr 2026 to 31 Mar 2027)
Enjoy an incredible combination of adventures with this unique package. Experience the delights of the sea and then see it from above!
- Enjoy a scenic flight to Heart Reef
- Explore the deep blue with Ocean Rafting - Southern Lights
- Combine two unique adventures for a perfect trip in the Whitsundays
- Relax on Whitehaven Beach, and then peer at it from above!
- Have fun with a social and adventurous crew!
Overview
Looking to squeeze in the best that the Whitsundays has to offer into one jam-packed day? Then look no further than Fly & Raft - Southern Lights! Beginning with a jaw-dropping view of the islands and the Great Barrier Reef courtesy of a scenic flight with a guaranteed window seat, feast your eyes on the illustrious Heart Reef and the mind-blowing Whitehaven Beach.
After that, you’ll get the incredible experience of traversing the deep blue with Ocean Rafting, one of our favourite tours here in the Whitsundays. This wonderful and multi-award-winning tour takes care of all of the necessary special permits that allow you to access Hill Inlet and other amazing destinations. As the only Whitsunday tour that can venture into the cosmic swirls of the blue and white Hill Inlet, buckle up for one of your favourite adventures yet!
Highlights
- 1-hour scenic flight over Whitehaven Beach, Great Barrier Reef, Heart Reef
- 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
- guaranteed window seat for your flight
- Snorkelling equipment and flotation devices
- Wetsuit/sunsuit hire
- Courtesy transfers
Fly & Raft - Southern Lights tour is the perfect adventure for those seeking more time to unwind on Whitehaven Beach. Does a longer and more in-depth experience of snorkelling tickle your fancy instead? Then head to the incredible Northern Exposure version of this tour. Regardless of which tour you take, you’re bound to be delighted by your experiences. Both tours proudly offer opportunities for snorkelling, traversing the Hill Inlet Lookout and the ability to 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
Get a glimpse of the Whitsundays from both above and below with this incredible tour. Starting the day with a bang, you’ll get a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the Great Barrier Reef from above with our stunning Whitsundays scenic flight. From above, you’ll spot mystical sights including the awe-inspiring Heart Reef and Whitehaven Beach. From an insanely captivating bird’s eye view, catch a glimpse of some of the Whitsundays wonderful islands and the colourful kaleidoscopes of the coral reef. Heart Reef is especially bound to blow your mind - as one of the Whitsundays’ most photographed sights, there’s nothing more romantic than ogling at the Heart Reef. The comfortable and spacious fixed-wing aircraft boasts huge windows, informative pilot commentary and without a doubt, the best views of the Whitsundays.
After your flight is complete, it’s time to see the reef from another perspective with Ocean Rafting. Offering a huge and diverse range of activities, Ocean Rafting will keep you satisfied thanks to an exhilarating ride to Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet, a pristine snorkelling experience and guided Whitsunday Island National Parks walks with our passionate crew.
Whitehaven Beach
Boasting a giant seven kilometres in length, Whitehaven Beach is a sight for sore eyes. When you explore with Ocean Rafting’s Southern Lights tour, you’ll get to soak up an extended stay at the southern end of this magical beach. The stopover lasts about two hours, leaving you more than enough time to relax, take a dip and take pictures to your heart’s content. You’re also more than welcome to bring your own beach toys or activities including a cricket set, a football or a frisbee!
Hill Inlet
Offering something special that no other tour boasts, Ocean Rafting holds special permits that allow access to all areas of Hill Inlet. The beautiful blue creamy swirls of the sand bars below offer a beautiful backdrop for relaxation and enjoy your tropical lunch pack. After lunch, a guided bush walk to Hill Inlet lookout is the perfect way to stretch your legs and get to know the wonderful flora and fauna. At the top, the lookout offers panoramic views of the swirls below. If you look closely you can sometimes even see the beautiful stingrays and lemon sharks resting in the shallows!
Snorkelling
Following your hike to the view, it’s time to cool down with a snorkel! With this tour, you’ll get the opportunity to snorkel for over an hour at Border Island, Dumbell Island, or one of Ocean Rafting’s secret snorkel spots! The location is dependent on the sea conditions, for your safety, with our knowledgeable and confident skipper keeping you in safe hands. Regardless of which spot you snorkel, you're bound to be blessed with views of incredible marine life and colourful corals. Make sure you keep your eyes peeled for rare fish species like Queensland groupers, hump headed Maori wrasse and Barramundi cod!
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
What's Included
- 60 minute reef and island scenic flight with a 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?
Your scenic flight over the Whitsunday Islands and Great Barrier Reef lasts for one hour.
Will I get a window seat on the flight?
Yes, everyone has a window seat on the scenic flight. So bring a camera to capture those amazing views!
Where does the scenic flight depart?
The flight departs from Whitsunday Airport in Shute Harbour. The office address is 12 Air Whitsunday Rd, Airlie Beach QLD 4802. Please try to arrive here 30 minutes before your flight.
Are accommodation 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?
Ocean Rafting's Southern Lights tour is a dream for beach lovers! You'll visit North and South Whitehaven Beach, with a guided bushwalk to Hill Inlet Lookout. There will also be one snorkel spot.
Where do we snorkel?
Your crew onboard will choose the day's snorkel location based on the tides and weather conditions to ensure you get the best visibility. If you want to enjoy less beach time and two snorkel spots, choose the Fly and Raft Northern Exposure!
Is food included?
A tropical lunch pack is included on your boat tour. There is also chocolate and drinks onboard for purchase (with cash only)!
Are prescription snorkel masks available?
Yes, you can hire prescription masks for snorkelling for $20.
What is the difference between the Southern Lights and Northern Exposure tours?
On this Southern Lights tour, you will visit one snorkelling location, Hill Inlet Lookout and both the north and south end of Whitehaven Beach. On the Northern Exposure tour you will visit two snorkelling locations, Hill Inlet and just the north end of Whitehaven Beach. Both Fly and Raft options have a scenic flight.
Reviews
This was the most amazing trip from start to finish. We had a jaw dropping flight over the Great Barrier Reef with a wonderful pilot Joey. Then an amazing raft ride to snorkel and then onto Whitehaven beach. Our crew on the trip were amazing - very informative but also great fun. A must do!!
An incredible day doing fun activities with friendly and helpful staff. I highly recommend this experience.
This was really the highlight of our trip in Australia so far. The scenic flight in the morning was mind-blowing and definitely worth money seeing the reef from above - the best scenery in my life! Travelling with my non-English-speaking parents was not easy, however, the crew were so friendly and super patient to guide my parents in the water and snorkelled with them! Really good fun and good lunch as well. Highly recommended to people like us that can only spend one full day in Airlie.
So my wife booked this tour as a birthday present. Must say what a great present. the best day ever, the crew, the boat, and the plane. All above expectations, a big team effort and surprised by how well it all came together.
