Helicopter or plane for scenic flights?

Scenic flights in Australia come in two main forms: helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, usually small planes. Both offer spectacular views, and at many destinations you can choose either. Which is better depends on what you want to see, how far you want to go, whether you want to land and your budget.

This guide compares helicopters and planes for scenic flights and explains which suits each type of destination.

How they compare

When a helicopter is the better choice

• Close-up views. Helicopters can fly lower and slower and can hover, giving close views of coastlines, cliffs, waterfalls and city landmarks.
• Landings. Helicopters can land at beaches, islands, hilltops and wineries with suitable landing sites.
• Short flights. For a short scenic experience, helicopters are ideal.
• Photography. Large windows, the ability to position the aircraft and doors-off options make helicopters popular with photographers.

When a plane is the better choice

• Long distances. Planes cover much more ground per minute, which matters in places like the Kimberley and Central Australia.
• Budget. Fixed-wing flights are generally less expensive per minute.
• Fly-in tours. Planes can fly to remote airstrips for tours on the ground.

Destination by destination

• Great Barrier Reef and Whitsundays: both are popular. Helicopters suit shorter flights with landings; planes cover more reef.
• Uluru and Kata Tjuta: both operate from Yulara. Helicopters for closer, shorter flights; planes for longer flights to Lake Amadeus or Kings Canyon.
• The Kimberley: planes from Kununurra and Broome cover huge distances; helicopters operate within Purnululu.
• Twelve Apostles: helicopters dominate short scenic flights.
• Cities: helicopters suit short city flights over harbours and landmarks.

Comfort

Both can be smooth in calm air. Turbulence affects both, especially on hot afternoons. Planes may have more cabin space on longer flights; helicopters offer an open, panoramic feel.

Noise

Both are noisy inside without headsets, which most operators provide.

Common mistakes

• Assuming helicopters are always better.
• Comparing prices without comparing time in the air and routes.
• Choosing a short helicopter flight for a destination best covered by a long plane flight.

How helicopters fly

A helicopter's main rotor provides both lift and thrust. By tilting the rotor, the pilot can move the helicopter forwards, backwards or sideways, or hold it in a hover. This is what lets helicopters fly slowly, turn on the spot and land in small spaces. The trade-off is that helicopters are mechanically complex, burn more fuel per passenger and are slower than planes in cruise.

How small planes fly

A fixed-wing aircraft gets its lift from air flowing over its wings as it moves forward. Planes need a runway to take off and land and can't hover, but they're efficient in cruise, cover ground quickly and are less expensive to operate per hour. High-wing designs, with the wing above the cabin, give passengers a clear view of the ground below.

Turbulence and comfort

Turbulence comes from wind, heat rising from the ground, terrain and weather. Both helicopters and planes feel it. Hot afternoons over desert and hills tend to be the bumpiest; early mornings are often smoothest. If you're prone to motion sickness, a morning flight, a front seat and looking at the horizon can help.

Seaplanes and other options

In some places, seaplanes offer another option, taking off and landing on water. Gyroplanes and microlights offer open-air flights in some areas, though they carry only one passenger. Hot-air balloons, operating at dawn in places such as the Yarra Valley, Hunter Valley, Canberra and Alice Springs, are a gentle way to see the landscape, but they go where the wind takes them.

Combining both

On a big trip, you might use both. In the Kimberley, for example, travellers often take a fixed-wing flight from Kununurra over Lake Argyle and the Bungle Bungles, then a helicopter flight within Purnululu for a closer look at the domes. At Uluru, a short helicopter flight gives close views, while a longer plane flight covers Kings Canyon and Lake Amadeus.

Questions to ask the operator

• What aircraft will I fly in, and how many passengers will be on board?
• Will I have a window seat?
• How long is the flight in the air, and what route will it follow?
• Are landings included?
• What is the weather and cancellation policy?

Which suits your trip?

Choose a helicopter if you want low, slow, close views of a specific landmark, a landing somewhere remote, or a short flight with maximum impact. Choose a plane if you want to cover a large area, such as a reef system or a whole national park, or if you're on a budget and want more time in the air for your money. If you're unsure, ask operators to describe their routes, altitudes and aircraft, and compare the experience rather than just the price.

Photography from each aircraft

From a helicopter, you can often photograph through open or sliding windows, or doors-off on some flights, and the pilot can position the aircraft to give everyone a view. From a plane, you shoot through acrylic windows, which can cause reflections and scratches, so press your lens close to the window and use a dark lens hood or cloth to cut glare. High-wing planes avoid the wing in your shot, while on low-wing planes the wing can block part of the view below. In both, a fast shutter speed helps counter vibration, and a polarising filter can reduce glare off water but may create odd patterns on aircraft windows. Talk to the operator about seating if photography matters to you, and remember that the pilot decides seating for weight and balance. Whatever you fly in, spend some time just looking; many people say the view is what they remember most.

Environmental considerations

All powered flights burn fuel and make noise. Some operators fly set routes and heights to reduce noise over communities and wildlife, and some offer carbon offset programs. If this matters to you, ask operators what they do.

Key points

Helicopters suit close-up views, landings and shorter flights. Planes suit long distances and value. Compare time in the air, routes and inclusions, and choose an established operator whichever you fly.