The small arts town of Airlie Beach is the perfect base from which to explore the Whitsunday Islands and the Great Barrier Reef, either by flight or by boat. We wanted to try both 🙂
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The Fly & Cruise Package
We had done a bit of research here and found a supplier with GSL Aviation that combines both possibilities with a Fly & Cruise Package.
Experience the best of both worlds with our Fly and Cruise packages. Begin your day with a courtesy bus transfer from your hotel to our terminal building at Whitsunday Airport. First on the itinerary for the day is a scenic flight in one of our high wing aircraft with a guaranteed window seat. Choose your flight option when booking, with our 25 minute scenic flight (Package 1) or our signature 60 minute Reef and Island flight included in Package 2. After experiencing the amazing Whitsundays from the air, the day continues with a transfer to Abell Point Marina and a full day adventure with Ocean Rafting. Everything is included in your full day of fun, such as snorkelling, beach time at Whitehaven and a bush walk to the Hill Inlet lookout. Sunsuit hire and lunch are also included with your Fly & Cruise Package. On return to the mainland, your return transfer is included at no extra cost.FLY & CRUISE PACKAGES
The routes of the Fly & Cruise Package
The start of our tour at Whitsunday Airport
In the best weather we were picked up from our Airlie Beach Hotel at 7.30 in the morning and taken to the local Whitsunday Airport. Shortly afterwards we took the small Cessna for our 60-minute round trip. With us there was another couple on board.
Our flight over Hamilton Island & Whitsunday Island
First we flew a little along the coast. Afterwards we went on via Hamilton Island, which is one of the most visited islands in Australia due to its good tourist development. Then we approached the main island Of Whitsunday Island with its great sand-water formations. Here you will also find the 8 km long and snow-white Whitehaven Beach.
Our sightseeing flight over the Great Barrier Reef
Our flight continued through a few clouds towards the Great Barrier Reef. Already from a distance, the different turquoise tones of the reef have radiated. It all looked insanely beautiful. The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef on earth, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and covers a length of 2,300 kilometres along the east coast of Australia. By comparison, this is the same route as from Frankfurt to Reykjavik!
The Coral Heart “Heat Reef”
The highlight of our sightseeing flight was the Hardy Reef with its coral heart “Heart Reef”.
After a good hour we landed safely after a great flight. What an experience!
Afterwards we were taken to the marina of Airlie Beach, where our boat tour to the Whitsunday Islands was to start at 10 a.m.
Unsere Reiseberichte von Australien (2015)
Mit der Einreise nach Australien hat für uns die 2. Hälfte unserer 6-monatigen Weltreise begonnen. Während unseres Aufenthaltes in „Down Under“ haben wir an der Ostküste, im Süden und im Inneren des Landes jede Menge erlebt: Wir haben die Großstädte Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane und Cairns besucht, eines der bekanntesten Wahrzeichen des Landes – den Ayers Rock – erkundet, einen zuckersüßen Koala in den Armen gehalten, Kängurus in freier Wildbahn erlebt, sind die Great Ocean Road entlang gefahren, haben eine Tauchkreuzfahrt am Great Barrier Reef unternommen und einen atemberaubenden Rundflug über Whitsunday Island und den Whitehaven Beach erlebt. Unsere Reise durch Australien hat uns sehr gut gefallen und das Land hat uns von Beginn an verzaubert.
» New South Wales: Sydney - Sehenswürdigkeiten & die schönsten Fotospots» Northern Territory: Der Ayers Rock (Uluru) & die Kata Tjuta (Olgas)
» South Australia: Adelaide - Koalas halten im Gorge Wildlife Park
» South Australia: Adelaide - die Sehenswürdigkeiten der Innenstadt
» Victoria: Die Stadt Hahndorf & Kängurus am Cape Bridgewater
» Victoria: Die Great Ocean Road - 12 Apostel, Papageien & Koalas
» Victoria: Melbourne - Sehenswürdigkeiten & der Dendy Street Beach
» Queensland: Brisbane - Die Sehenswürdigkeiten in der Innenstadt
» Queensland: Airlie Beach - Das Küstenstädtchen am Great Barrier Reef
» Queensland: Airlie Beach - Ein Rundflug über das Great Barrier Reef
» Queensland: Airlie Beach - Whitsunday Island & Whitehaven Beach
» Queensland: Cairns - Ein Rundflug über das Great Barrier Reef
» Queensland: Cairns - Eine Tauchkreuzfahrt am Great Barrier Reef