A helicopter flight is one of the most memorable ways to see Australia. From above, the Great Barrier Reef becomes a maze of coral and lagoons, Uluru rises from an endless red plain, the Bungle Bungle Range reveals its striped domes, and the limestone stacks of the Twelve Apostles stand against the Southern Ocean. Helicopter tours range from a few minutes over a city harbour to full-day adventures with landings at remote beaches and wineries.
Helicopter Tour Guide is an independent guide to choosing and enjoying these flights. We explain where to fly, which type of flight suits you, how to choose a safe operator, what to expect on the day and how weather affects your plans. We don't sell flights or rank operators.
CASA
Safety regulator
Operators, pilots, aircraft
12
In-depth guides
Destinations, flights, safety
Independent
No flights sold
No operator rankings
Destinations
Australia's most spectacular scenic flights include the Great Barrier Reef and Whitsundays, with Heart Reef and Hill Inlet; Uluru and Kata Tjuta in Central Australia; the Kimberley's Bungle Bungle Range and Horizontal Falls; and the Twelve Apostles on the Great Ocean Road. Cities, wine regions, Tasmania and the Northern Territory's Top End also offer memorable flights. Explore our destination guides.
Types of flights
Choose from short scenic joy flights, heli-picnics and winery flights, doors-off photography flights and trial instructional flights where you take the controls. Explore our guides to types of flights.
Planning and safety
Our planning and safety guides explain how helicopter tours are regulated, what to check when choosing an operator, what happens on the day, how weather affects bookings and whether a helicopter or a plane suits your destination.
Five things to check before you book
- The operator. Is it established, and does it hold the appropriate authorisations for passenger flights?
- Time in the air. Compare actual flying time, not just the total experience time.
- The route and inclusions. What will you see, and are landings, transfers or photos included?
- The weather policy. What happens if weather cancels your flight?
- Weight and seating. Declare accurate weights, and check seating arrangements.
Flying responsibly
Many scenic flight destinations are World Heritage areas, national parks or marine parks, and some are places of deep cultural significance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Flights follow rules on heights, distances, landings and noise, including minimum distances from whales and wildlife. Choose operators who follow the rules and respect cultural values.
Who this guide is for
Helicopter Tour Guide is for anyone considering a helicopter flight in Australia: first-time flyers, travellers planning a bucket-list experience, people buying a gift, photographers and anyone curious about learning to fly.
How we research
We base our guides on official and authoritative sources, including the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, the Bureau of Meteorology, park authorities, UNESCO and the ACCC. Every guide lists its sources and shows when it was last updated. We don't invent prices, safety statistics, reviews or rankings. Read our editorial policy.
About this domain
helicoptertour.com.au hosted a generic helicopter tour article and directory site in the early 2010s. It later lapsed, and the domain was relaunched in 2026 as an independent guide with entirely new content. We aren't connected with any previous operator or any tour company. Read more about us.
Key points
Helicopter flights reveal Australia's landscapes in a way nothing else can. Choose a destination that matches the season, compare flights by time in the air and inclusions, choose an established operator, declare accurate weights, plan for weather and follow your pilot's instructions.
