Private Tour
Private Helicopter Tour: Reef Island Snorkeling and Gourmet Picnic Lunch
Overview
Available languages
3 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
For a once in a lifetime experience, combine your scenic flight with an exclusive getaway to your own piece of paradise. Feel the thrill of flying over the picturesque coral-studded sea before landing on Vlasoff Cay (ex Cairns) - a pristine sand cay in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. 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. The experience is complete with a gourmet picnic hamper, sparkling wine and snorkelling equipment.
Additional Info
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Weight Policy: Individual passenger weights and accompanying carry-on luggage MUST be advised at time of booking. Weight variances greater than 10% may incur an additional fee. Maximum single seat payload of 130kg. For passenger comfort and aircraft weight and balance, passengers exceeding 130kg are required to purchase an additional seat at 50% of ticket price - this is non-commissionable and payable to Nautilus Aviation on day of travel.
All product requires a minimum number of passengers to proceed. Our Reservations team will reach out to confirm availability within the shortest possible time after we receive your order. For instant confirmation please call the team on 07 4034 9000.
Subject to favourable weather conditions. If cancelled due to poor weather, you will be given the option of an alternative date or full refund
Vlasoff Cay is a public sand cay and as such can not be reserved. On the rare occasion it is occupied on our arrival we will not be permitted to land. If this occurs passengers will receive an extended reef scenic flight back to the Pier Heliport (total flying time 45 mins including initial 20 mins from Cairns to Vlasoff Cay). Passengers will be able to keep their picnic lunch and our reservations team will advise and assist with any refunds applicable.
Child Policy: Children 3 years and above are legally required to be seated in their own seat and are therefore required to pay the full ticket price. Subject to conditions, children under 3 years may travel free of charge when seated on a parents/guardians lap. For bookings of more than one infant (under 3 years), conditions apply – please contact Reservations.
We recommend you are checked in 45 minutes prior to your scheduled departure time. Check-in will close 30 minutes before departure and you will not be able to check in after this time. Failure to adhere to check-in times, may result in you missing your flight and forfeiting the fare paid.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
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).
What To Expect
Nautilus Aviation
We recommend you are checked in 45 minutes prior to your scheduled departure time. Check-in will close 30 minutes before departure and you will not be able to check in after this time. Failure to adhere to check-in times, may result in you missing your flight and forfeiting the fare paid. You'll then board the helicopter to travel to Vlasoff Cay
Great Barrier Reef
Fly over the magnificent Great Barrier Reef before landing on Vlasoff Cay.
Options
Private Helicopter Tour: Great Barrier Reef Island Snorkeling and Gourmet Picnic Lunch
Gourmet picnic hamper
Reviews
21 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Fun but too short
Stephanie B,
Sep 18, 2022
- Viator
4.00The 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.
Great- just check equipment!
Danni V,
May 5, 2022
- Viator
3.00The 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
This tour was amazing!! It was once in...
Jennifer G,
Jan 23, 2017
- Viator
5.00This tour was amazing!! It was once in a lifetime. Spend the money!
It's really worth the money. The...
Xinwei R,
Nov 6, 2016
- Viator
5.00It'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.
The opportunity to visit idyllic...
Jason W,
Oct 21, 2016
- Viator
2.00The opportunity to visit idyllic Vlasoff Cay is wonderful, however the reality of this happening seems incredibly slim.
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.
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.
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.
We wouldn't recommend this trip.
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Operated by Nautilus Aviation