Southern Barrier Reef Air Tour
- Australia, Queensland
- Brisbane to Hamilton Island • May & Oct 2023
- 11 Day Itinerary
- From $16,995 (AUD)
- 12 Max.
- Operated by one of our trusted partners
Brisbane to Hamilton Island • May & Oct 2023
Discover Australia’s most magnificent natural treasure, the Southern Great Barrier Reef. One of the seven wonders of the natural world, it is the only living thing on earth visible from space. Viewing this World Heritage Listed natural region up close in person and from your private aircraft is the perfect way to grasp the sheer magnitude of the southern expanse of the Great Barrier Reef while marvelling at its exceptional beauty.
You will explore the coastal towns that make up this region from Townsville in the north to Mackay, Rockhampton, 1770 and Bundaberg further south. No exploration of this stunning reef would be complete without visiting some of her 100 islands, including Magnetic Island and 2 nights at the luxurious and newly opened Hayman Island. Join your fellow travellers for a private aircraft odyssey of a tropical paradise and see a part of Australia you have only dreamt about.
About Aircruising
Aircruising is an exceptional and fascinating way to travel, allowing you to land directly in some of Australia’s most extraordinarily remote locations. Your time on the ground will be spent exploring the local region with your dedicated Journey Director, experiencing the finest accommodation available and dining in absolute splendour.
Mode of transport
This journey will be operated by a variety of aircraft. All aircraft are perfect for landing in the isolated airstrips throughout this journey. To ensure a variety of viewing for everyone, we change seat allocation each day. The aircraft is operated by an experienced pilots and accompanied by a Journey Director. The coaches that we use for the ground component of this journey are fully air-conditioned. There will also be air-conditioned 4WD vehicles used in some areas.
Level of fitness required: Easy Going
These journeys are not physically demanding unless you want them to be. They include easy guided walks, which are mainly on flat ground. There will be times when you are required to board a launch for shore excursions. You must be able to walk up to 500 metres unaided and will not need any foreseen assistance throughout the journey. For all clients to fully enjoy this travel experience, excellent health and mobility are required by all.
Tour Highlights
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Experience spectacular aerial sightseeing of the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef and Whitsundays including Lady Musgrave Island
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Luxury accommodation throughout including 2 nights at the exclusive InterContinental Hayman Resort located on its own private tropical island
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Explore ruggedly stunning Magnetic Island
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Rare platypus spotting at Broken River
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Discover the history of 1770 and see the thousands of Blue Tiger Butterflies on the Butterfly Walk
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Visit the iconic Bundaberg Rum Distillery and the Bundaberg Barrel
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Touring of Mackay, Rockhampton and Bundaberg
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Includes domestic economy flights to Brisbane and return from Hamilton Island*
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All touring, transfers and meals included
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Escorted throughout by a dedicated Journey Director
Gallery
11 Day Itinerary
Arrive into Brisbane and transfer to the Sofitel Brisbane Hotel, an elegantly appointed luxury hotel in the heart of Brisbane looking over the iconic ANZAC Square. We enjoy a city tour and discover what makes Australia’s third largest capital the welcoming, spirited and energised subtropical city that it is. Your Journey Director will host a welcome dinner this evening.
Meals Included: Dinner
Stay: Sofitel Brisbane or similar
After breakfast, we board our private aircraft for our flight to Bundaberg. We will see, smell and taste our way through the process of making Australia’s most famous spirit at the Bundaberg Rum Distillery. At the Bundaberg Barrel, discover another iconic local product, ginger beer and its other brewed drinks. Go behind-the-scenes and learn about the local food production industry in Bundaberg before visiting Macadamias Australia, the largest family-owned vertically integrated macadamia business in the world.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: Burnett Riverside Motel or similar
Today we board the aircraft for our flight to 1770. On the way, we enjoy exceptional flightseeing of the stunning Lady Musgrave Island, set on 3,000 acres of living reef with an azure protected lagoon. A truly unspoilt uninhabited Southern Barrier Reef island, it is nature’s aquarium, aviary and rookery all in one. Upon arrival, we learn the history of 1770, a coastal town in the Gladstone region which was built on the site of the second landing in Australia by James Cook and the crew of HM Bark Endeavour in May 1770. We visit the Captain Cook Monument and walk along the 1770 Butterfly Walk to view the thousands of magnificent blue tiger butterflies as they flock to the town during their migration.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: 1770 Lagoons Resort or similar
This morning we tour the town of 1770 and learn its history. A coastal town in the Gladstone region, it was built on the site of the second landing in Australia by James Cook and the crew of HM Bark Endeavour in May 1770. We visit the Captain Cook Monument, the 1770 Marina and picturesque Agnes Waters Beach. Following lunch, we visit Paperbark Forest and Chinaman’s Beach.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: 1770 Lagoons Resort or similar
Reboard our aircraft to fly to the central Queensland town of Rockhampton. A historically rich city, most famous for being the beef capital of Australia, Rockhampton is a modern throwback to the heydays of Queensland’s colonial past boasting heritage-listed streets and colonial buildings. Tour the limestone Capricorn Caves, which originated in an ancient 380-million-year-old coral reef and today are a maze of small tunnels and larger chambers. Visit the Rockhampton Botanic Gardens and stand at the iconic Tropic of Capricorn.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: Empire Hotel or similar
We fly on to Mackay today and tour this historic town that is set in the Pioneer Valley, home to lush coastal ranges and fertile plains. Tour the city centre’s heritage and art deco buildings which reflect Mackay’s turbulent past. We visit the Sky Window Lookout for views across Pioneer Valley, then transfer to the cool tranquillity of Broken River in Eungella National Park, one of the best locations in the world to see the platypus in the wild.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: Rydges Mackay or similar
We travel to the outback town of Charters Towers where the heritage streetscapes hark back to the gold rush days of the late 19th century. We tour this historical town learning about life in the late 1800s which is reflected in its colonial architecture, including the world’s first stock exchange. Fly on to Townsville, gateway to Queensland’s far north. A coastal city, Townsville is a vibrant mix of modern architecture and Federation-style buildings, bustling outdoor cafés, restaurants, boutiques and quirky galleries, all linked by a shady park-lined beach promenade.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: The Ville Resort & Casino or similar – 2 nights
Today we take a day trip to the ruggedly stunning Magnetic Island. Although Magnetic Island sits within the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, the landscape here is different from the usual tropical rainforest found on many nearby islands. About 275 million years ago, nature’s forces created an extraordinary landscape of rocky terrain and giant boulders. Magnetic Island has less rainfall than other Queensland islands so it has a dry tropical climate and is covered with eucalypt woodlands. Possessing the natural beauty and serenity of an untouched paradise, cameras at the ready as we tour today. Keep an eye out for koalas and rock wallabies, WWII military base ruins, secluded bays and magnificent national park beaches including Arthur, Radical and Florence Bay.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Reboard our private aircraft this morning for another scenically breathtaking flight over the Whitsundays, an archipelago of 74 tropical islands famed for idyllic white beaches and crystal clear teal and azure waters. We cruise from Hamilton Island to our exceptional accommodation for two nights on Hayman Island.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: InterContinental Hayman Island Resort -2 nights
A day at leisure to enjoy this world-renowned island paradise. The group gathers this evening for the Farewell Dinner.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast this morning we enjoy a launch transfer from Hayman Island back to Hamilton Island, where we will board our flight home. Say a fond farewell to new friends and take away memories of an unforgettable Barrier Reef adventure.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Tour Inclusions
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10 nights luxury accommodation throughout – Brisbane, Bundaberg, 1770, Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville, Hayman
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Includes all flights on a private aircraft, as per itinerary
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Includes domestic economy flights to Brisbane and return from Hamilton Island (Domestic economy flights are from Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Adelaide only – ask us about departures from other cities)
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All touring, transfers and meals included
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Escorted throughout by a dedicated Journey Director
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All sightseeing and touring as per itinerary
Tour Dates & Prices
Departure Date | Return Date | Price Per Person From | |
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23/05/2023 | 02/06/2023 | $16,995 per person twin share / $18,695 per person single |
Terms and Conditions
All pricing is on a per person twin share basis, unless otherwise noted ie: stated as a single. All prices based on cash payment – credit & debit card fees may apply. Deposits, amendment and cancellation conditions apply. Please note that many of the prices shown on this website are not shown in real time. Whilst we endeavour to keep our pricing as up-to-date as possible, the advertised prices shown here may differ slightly from the live prices in our booking system. All pricing and offers are subject to availability at time of booking. Whilst all information is correct at the time of publication, offers are subject to change. We reserve the right to correct errors without penalty. Full Terms & Conditions of tour/cruise operators will be supplied on booking, or ask us for full Terms & Conditions at the time of enquiry.
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