Above the Reef: 60-Minute Helicopter Flight from Townsville to Palm Island
Difficulty
easy
Duration
1 hour
Fitness Level
Minimal exertion required; passengers should be able to get in and out of a low helicopter step and follow safety instructions.
Overview
Lift off from Townsville and spend an hour tracing reef lines, circling Magnetic Island, and skimming the coastline of Palm Island. This 60‑minute helicopter flight turns the Great Barrier Reef’s fringing corals and island communities into a precise, moving map—ideal for first-time reef observers and photographers.
Above the Reef: 60-Minute Helicopter Flight from Townsville to Palm Island
Select participants and date
The rotor’s first chop drowns the airfield chatter and for a moment Townsville is reduced to a grid of tin roofs and the distant screech of gulls. As the helicopter lifts, Magnetic Island slides into the side window like a watercolor—rocky headlands, handfuls of sandy bays—and the mainland shrinks to the Strand’s thin, reflective ribbon. The pilot banks and the Coral Sea opens: a scatter of green-blue islands, fringing reefs that crouch below the surface, and Palm Island’s coastline unspooling beneath you.
Adventure Photos
Adventure Tips
Arrive early for briefing
Check in at Hangar 15 at least 30 minutes before departure to complete safety briefings and weight disclosure.
Declare accurate weight
Provide passenger and carry-on weights when booking—aircraft balance and seating depend on exact numbers.
Protect from sun and glare
Bring sunscreen and polarized sunglasses—the sea reflects intensely even on overcast days.
Secure photography gear
Use wrist straps or a neck strap and keep lenses attached to reduce the risk of dropping equipment during the flight.
Local Insights
Wildlife
- sea turtles
- brown boobies
History
Palm Island has long been home to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and later became the site of government settlements; the community today balances tradition with contemporary island life.
Conservation
The waters around Palm Island lie within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, where reef protection and visitor impact management are ongoing priorities.
Select participants and date
Adventure Hotspots in Townsville
Frequently Asked Questions
Recommended Gear
Sunglasses with polarizing lenses
Reduces glare from the ocean surface and improves reef visibility from the air.
Light windproof jacket
Helicopter cabins can feel cool at altitude and on windy days.
Compact camera with polarizing filter
A polarizer cuts surface glare and brings out reef colors through the canopy of blue.
Motion-sickness medication or wristbands
Useful for anyone prone to airsickness on scenic flights with turns and climbs.