See Green Island from the air — a rainforest cay on the inner reef off Cairns, coral water around it, the island you cannot read from the Esplanade. From a ferry it is a beach stop. From the helicopter it is a green disc in the Coral Sea. The Cairns 30-, 45-, and 60-minute scenic flights all look at this island. They do not land here. A Green Island cruise with a short island helipad hop is a different product, not these four tickets.
The 30-minute reef helicopter from Cairns is the Great Barrier Reef ticket built around this view: Green Island, Arlington Reef, Vlasoff and Upolu sand cays. About 30 minutes. Shared. The 45- and 60-minute Cairns flights add the Wet Tropics after the reef. Port Douglas does not fly this inner-reef line; that ticket is Four Mile Beach and the Low Isles.
You do not snorkel on these scenic flights. You do not get a cay picnic. You sit, you look, you go back to the Pier Heliport. Wildlife — turtles, rays, whales in July–September — is a maybe, not a promise.
The extra of 45 minutes is rainforest after this island, not a closer Green Island pass. The extra of 60 is Lamb Range and Lake Morris after that. Stay on 30 if the inner reef is the point. Take Port Douglas if you sleep there and want the Low Isles instead.
Upolu Sand Cay is the pale patch on the same Cairns 30. Barron Falls and the Wet Tropics are the rainforest half of the longer Cairns flights. Another water-from-the-air hub on this site is Cape Town.
Check in 45 minutes before at Cairns Pier Heliport, 2 Pier Point Road. Check-in closes 30 minutes before. No hotel pickup on these scenic tickets. Shared, not private. Window seats are not guaranteed. Infants 0–2 on a lap, max one per flight; from 3 years your own seat. 130 kg: extra seat at 50% of the fare, payable on the day. Give accurate weights when you book.
Book the Cairns reef helicopter and see Green Island from the air.
See Green Island from a helicopter over Great Barrier Reef. Book the Great Barrier Reef 30-Minute Helicopter (Cairns).