I visited Cairns and the Gold Coast in Australia in mid-March. This report introduces Green Island, a green island off the coast of Cairns. We will focus on popular activities enjoyed on the Great Barrier Reef, a marine World Heritage site.
Helicopter flight to Green Island. The scenic flight was amazing to enjoy the outer reef from a bird’s eye view!
Along with Kuranda, the rainforest city I introduced in the last issue, another popular activity in Cairns is Green Island sightseeing. I remember going there by boat when I visited Cairns a long time ago. This time, however, it was by helicopter! I enjoyed the World Heritage Great Barrier Reef from the sky.
We participated in a fly and cruise package from Cairns called “Green Island 1 Day Tour by Helicopter”. We took a Nautilus Aviation helicopter to Green Island and returned to Cairns by Great Adventures’ high-speed boat. The tour fee, from A$570 for adults, includes a snorkel set, glass-bottom boat, use of the island’s swimming pool, and return high-speed ferry fare.
After weighing ourselves and our luggage and watching a safety instructional video in Japanese, we walked to the heliport, which was just a short walk away. The sight of our helicopter flying in out of nowhere and landing right in front of us was already exciting! On board, we put on headsets. (I have flown in a Cessna, but this may be the first time in my life to fly in a helicopter!) ) In no time at all, we were floating and the ocean was right below us. I couldn’t take my eyes off the ever-changing colors of the ocean.
After passing Green Island, where we will land later, we will be over the outer reef about 15 minutes after takeoff. In the emerald green shallows, you can see a sand island called Sand Cay. (What I see in front of me now must be one of the most beautiful sights on earth!) ) I was so impressed that I was snapping the shutter like crazy.
The Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef area stretching across the northeastern part of the Australian continent, is approximately 2,300 km long and roughly the same in area as the Japanese archipelago! It is a World Heritage site of extraordinary scale.
There are cruises available to get from Cairns to the Outer Reef (beyond Green Island), but it takes 1.5 to 2 hours each way by boat. But it takes 1.5 to 2 hours one way by boat, and only 25 minutes by helicopter! Not only does this save time, but it is also great for those who are prone to seasickness. The spectacular view of the Great Barrier Reef from the sky will be a memory that will last a lifetime. If you have ever wanted to try a helicopter flight, this is the place to do it!
Nautilus Aviation offers a variety of helicopter flight packages to enjoy in Cairns, including 45- or 60-minute scenic flights that allow you to experience both the Great Barrier Reef and the rainforest. It is an amazing opportunity to get a bird’s eye view of two World Heritage sites at once! Departure is from Cairns city, so it is easy to join. Personally, I highly recommend this helicopter flight.
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