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.
All travelogues from Australia (2015)
With the entry to Australia the 2nd half of our 6-month world trip started for us. During our stay in "Down Under" we experienced a lot on the east coast, in the south and in the interior of the country: We visited the big cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Cairns, explored one of the country's most famous landmarks - Ayers Rock, held a sugar-sweet koala in our arms, experienced kangaroos in the wild, drove along the Great Ocean Road, went on a diving cruise on the Great Barrier Reef and experienced a breathtaking scenic flight over Whitsunday Island and Whitehaven Beach. We enjoyed our trip through Australia very much and the country has enchanted us from the beginning.
» New South Wales: Sydney - Tourist Attractions, Things to Do & Photo spots» Northern Territory: Ayers Rock (Uluru) & the Kata Tjuta (Olgas)
» South Australia: Adelaide - Holding a Koala at Gorge Wildlife Park
» South Australia: Adelaide – Tourist Attractions, Things to Do & Photo spots
» Victoria: The town of Hahndorf & Kangaroos at Cape Bridgewater
» Victoria: The Great Ocean Road – 12 Apostles, Parrots & Koalas
» Victoria: Melbourne – Tourist Attractions & Dendy Street Beach
» Queensland: Brisbane – Tourist Attractions, Things to Do & Photo spots
» Queensland: Airlie Beach – Gateway to the Whitsundays & Great Barrier Reef
» Queensland: Airlie Beach – A sightseeing flight over the Great Barrier Reef
» Queensland: Airlie Beach – Whitsunday Islands & Whitehaven Beach
» Queensland: Cairns – Scenic flight over the Great Barrier Reef
» Queensland: Cairns – Snorkel, Dive & Cruise the Great Barrier