Step aboard an air-conditioned twin engine aircraft and view the reef and rainforest like you’ve never seen it before. The 1-hour flight takes in waterfalls amid the pristine World Heritage listed Daintree Rainforest and many of the Great Barrier Reef systems. See Endeavour Reef (Captain Cook’s nemesis), the natural sand island of Michaelmas Cay and view marine life swimming around the many other stunning reefs, including turtles, stingrays and sharks.

• 1-hour flight over world heritage listed Reef and Rainforest areas
• Expert Live commentary on board
• Wireless headsets
• All seats have uninterrupted views as aircraft are High Winged
• Dropdown DVD screens
• Return transfers from Cairns and Cairns Beaches Accommodation

What to bring

• Sunglasses and Camera
• Cash or credit card for purchases of Reefwatch souvenirs and merchandise

Reefwatch Air Tours charter options allow the visitor access to many regions of Tropical North Queensland including remote islands of the Great Barrier Reef, romantic rainforest getaways, and adventure holidays in Australia's outback and Cape York - in a day or a week. Itineraries can be designed to deliver an exclusive and unique feel showing the best Australia has to offer. Flights can be arranged around domestic or international connections.

• Your choice of departure times
• Meet and greet service provided to and from the domestic and international airport terminals
• Large baggage capacity - up to 200kg/400 pound
• Seating capacity of six to nineteen
• Private charter means just that - you have exclusive use of the aircraft
• Scenic transfers available to all destinations – most clients fly scenic one way and direct the other
• Interconnecting transfers available – ie: Lizard Island to Dunk Island or Cow Bay (Daintree) to Lizard Island - no need to come back into Cairns to connect with your next destination.

Reefwatch Air Tours have near 30 aircraft in their current fleet, the majority of which are Aero Commanders with over twenty AC500s aircraft, two AC680s and two Luxury VIP AC690s.  These aircraft are twin-engine with large cabins, air-conditioning, low floor giving easy access for passengers and an extremely good loading capacity for aircraft of their size, thus offer additional luggage weights. 

A number of AC500S aircraft based in Cairns were previously Australian Customs surveillance aircraft with special bubble observation windows, making them great for the Scenic Flights Reefwatch Air Tours operates.  The VIP aircraft are exceptional for transfers or more "time critical" operations.

The company recently purchased a number of Dornier 228 aircraft offering greater capacity at 19 seats, ideal for small groups or large families.

With our experience on the aircraft type, they are very reliable and inexpensive to operate. Combine these highly efficient aircraft with a team of experienced and dedicated operations staff and Reefwatch Air Tours is the perfect air charter alternative!

Reefwatch Air Tours is an Australian owned aircraft charter company based in Cairns, Tropical North Queensland, Australia.  As a division of General Aviation Maintenance, other bases include Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne.  Our company is the Authorised Service Centre and largest operator of Aero Commander (AC) Shrike 500 aircraft in the world.  This unique, twin-engine aircraft, normally used for surveillance missions are an excellent way to see the Great Barrier Reef, World Heritage Rainforests and Australian Outback – so see it like you've never seen it before!

Owner Steve Nott bought his first aircraft in 1987 after 5 years in aircraft maintenance.  Since then, the company has grown both in fleet and people, now diversifying into other areas including ad-hoc freight chartering, passenger movements, tourism chartering and tour services.

Our selection of exciting half day, full day and extended tours have been designed to offer the visitor a matchless experience in a short space of time. The tours visit diverse and interesting places such as historical Cooktown, the Undara Lava Tubes (the Australian Outback), Cobbold Gorge and Tyrconnell Outback Experience and Historic Gold Mine.

Our most popular Reefwatch Discovery Scenic Flight is a sixty minute scenic flight over the Great Barrier Reef and World Heritage Rainforests of Tropical North Queensland.

Reefwatch Air Tours also offers a convenient and efficient alternative to transfer guests from the mainland to such island resorts as Bedarra, Dunk, Haggerstone and Lizard Islands, the Whitsundays, Daintree Airstrip and much more. Extended itineraries for individuals or groups throughout Australia and the South Pacific are also catered for.