Air Whitsunday Seaplanes
Airlie Beach

Air Whitsunday pioneered seaplane services to the Great Barrier Reef and the Whitsunday Island in April 1973. The company quickly grew to the largest seaplane operator in the Southern Hemisphere and it retains that position today. What makes Air Whitsunday so unique is the exclusive snorkelling location inside Hardy Reef, where they have their own semi-submersible moored. All tours to this location are scheduled around low tide, being surrounded by a reef wall; it creates a suspended coral lagoon for the aircraft to land and the guests to snorkel in. During low tide the location is only two to six metres deep providing the first time snorkeller with more confidence due to the comfortable conditions, while the more experienced can enjoy the abundance of sea life and coral that the added protection of the reef wall has provided. Along with the snorkelling tours to the reef, they also provide day trips to Hayman Island and Peppers Palm Bay Resorts, picnics at Whitehaven Beach and scenic flights with the added bonus of a seaplane touch and go water landing at the reef. All the aircrafts are available for private chartered tours and transfers between mainland and island destinations.