Experience the thrill of seaplane rides in Australia as you soar above crystal-clear waters, lush coastlines, and iconic landmarks.
From Sydney Harbour to the Whitsundays, these unforgettable aerial adventures offer a unique perspective on Australia’s natural beauty.
Yes, there are seaplane rides in Australia! Several companies offer scenic flights over stunning locations like Sydney Harbour, the Great Barrier Reef, and the Whitsunday Islands.
You can even take a seaplane to reach remote destinations like the Horizontal Falls.
Australia has a long coastline. In addition, the country has 8,222 islands under its administration.
There is a vast scope for seaplane rides in Australia, but surprisingly, there are a little more than 10 locations in Australia where you can enjoy a float plane ride.
6 Unforgettable Seaplane Rides in Australia!
Here are some popular companies offering seaplane rides in Australia:
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Sydney Seaplane Tour
Sydney’s top seafront attractions include:
- Sydney Harbor
- Rose Bay
- Palm Beach
- Sydney Opera
- Watsons Bay
- Bondi Beach
- Hawkesbury River
There are two Floatplane tour operators in Sydney.
These tours are highly sought-after way to view Sydney’s favorite tourist landmarks, and mostly a lunch or dinner is thrown in.
The duration of seaplane rides varies between 15 and 30 minutes,
Hunter Valley day trips:
If you opt for this amphibian plane tour, you will be taken to Hunter Valley. The aerial views of this location are said to be jaw-dropping.
In addition, you can volunteer to join a wine tasting tour and give you feedback.
Sydney’s floatplane rides depart from Rose Bay and Palm Beach, which is about 40 km away.
The Hunter Valley day trip lasts 10 hours which is inclusive of air time, and land tour of the valley, wine tasting, and dining hours.
Hunter Wine region day trip is one of the most fun experiences when you tour Sydney.
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Paradise Seaplanes
We now move over to the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia,
The exact location is Maroochydore, Sunshine Coast.
It’s a beautiful spot to enjoy the East Australian sun. When you fly over the Sunshine Coast in an amphibian plane, the aerial view is so beautiful that you will like jumping into the Pacific Ocean.
The boatplane also flies very low over the ocean which will give you the irresistible urge to get into the water.
Paradise Seaplanes offers the following tours.
- Adventure Flights
For this tour, the tour operator engages different seaplanes, and they are known as “warbird” seaplanes.
I could not get a photo of these adventure-oriented floatplanes but I think, the doors of the flying machine will be left open for a thrilling aerial view.
You can see below Sunshine Coast, Mount Coolum, Madjimba Iskand, Noosa National Park.
Tours of different durations.
- Maroochy River Adventure lasts for just 10 minutes.
- Sunshine Coast Adventure tour lasts 20 minutes.
- Noosa River Adventure involves 30 minutes. Below is video of this particular floatplane ride.
What are the attractions shown to you from the amphibian plane?
- Twin Waters which point to the coral Sea and Maroochy River. Coral Sea an extended arm of the South Pacific Ocean.
- Mooloolaba Beach
- Point Cartwright Headland
Headland is a smaller version of a cape.
- Mudjimba Island
- Noosa River
Paradise Seaplane tours so popular that people make exclusive trips Sunshine Coast, just to enjoy the breathtaking amphibian experience.
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Horizontal Falls Aerial View Tour
As the name indicates, the highlight of this boat-plane tour is the view of Horizontal Falls.
Aren’t you taken aback by the name? How water can fall horizontally?
Before I explain, watch the video below, which itself is self-explanatory.
The wave action that concurrently occurs, depict such a picture which is truly unbelievable.
This extraordinary geographical phenomenon is seen on the west coast of Australia, in the region of Kimberly.
You have to go to a city known as Broome in the Kimberly region. From Broome, you have to reach a place called Derby from where you can book a seat with Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures.
Duration of the tours:
- A half-day tour which involves a
short ride only. However, the tour extends further in a boat that goes through the attractive ‘horizontal falls’. This tour lasts 6 hours in total.
- A full-day tour also lasts for 6 hours but there is a helicopter tour over the “Horries” and the Kimberly region.
- Finally, a 24-hour tour is also available that covers all that is shown on the above two tours plus an overnight stay in a houseboat.
The attractions that are viewed aerially:
- Cape Leveque
- Buccaneer Archipelago comprising 800+ islands
Almost all these islands are devoid of human settlement. These islands are floating in the Indian Ocean.
- Dampier Peninsula.
- Talbot Bay
- Cyclone Creek
- King Sound (a sea inlet between two mountains)
Unlike other ‘sounds’, this is a dead-end sea inlet that finally forms into a gulf!
Amazing phenomenon!
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Whitsunday Islands:Seaplane Tour
The 74 near-uninhabited islands in Queensland, Australia, are world-famous geographical attractions. The heart-shaped reef is a massive reef system.
The islands are home to lush rainforests, very rich, and at the same time diverse marine life, pulling tourists right through the year,
The heart-reef will steal your heart when you view it from the seaplane. The vibrant colors of the coral reef are simply jaw-dropping.
The naturally formed coral reefs in the shape of a heart can only be seen aerially. A ride in a floatplane or a helicopter is the best thing to appreciate this breathtaking phenomenon.
In fact, I would recommend viewing from an amphibian plane because it can be parked right in the center of the reef system and allow the passengers to dive into the water either carrying an oxygen cylinder or wearing a snorkel.
In addition, the perfect navy blue sea is rightly contrasted by the sand beaches, dotting the Coral Sea.
The unforgettable seaplane tour over the Whitsunday Islands, and the Great Barrier Reef takes about 60 minutes. This includes the halt time in the water and on one of the islands.
Moreover, you can enjoy a short ride in a boat whose floor is made of glass for a clear view of the marine life without getting wet.
The tour is operated by Hamilton Island Air. You can also opt for a helicopter tour offered by the same company.
The gateway to this and other tours of the Great Barrier Reef is Airlie Beach, Queensland.
For full details, visit hamiltonislandair.com
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Gold Coast Seaplane Tours
This aerial view of the Gold Coast might have been shot from a floatplane! Isn’t the skyline, as the backdrop of the Gold Coast, stunningly beautiful?
The location is just 30 km from Queensland’s capital, Brisbane.
The aerial tours are offered by Cloud 9 Seaplanes. There are 4 different tour packages. The duration of the seaplane ride varies from 6 minutes to one hour.
The departure point is the SeaWorld Resort in Gold Coast.
Since the duration is too short, you have to make the trip’s money worth. Here are a few nearby attractions that will capture your heart”
- Warner Bros Movie Studios
- Currmbin Wildlife Sanctuary ( see all the marsupials of Australia in one place)
- Surfers Paradise Beach
- South Stradbroke Island
- Skypoint Viewing Platform
There is more to do here than I mentioned.
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Seaplane tours in Melbourne
Melbourne is a bustling city, abutting the Tasman Sea, on Australia’s southern coast which is also known as Victoria Coast.
Melbourne Seaplane offers picturesque fun rides in their seaplanes. Port Philip Bay is the gateway to board the seaplanes.
The ride lasts only 30 minutes, showing the beautiful landmarks in Melbourne.
Other cities in Australia where you can tour the city riding in a floatplane:
- Adelaide
- Perth
- Canberra
- Darwin
- Hobart, Tasmania Island
So, in all the major cities in Australia, you can enjoy a scenic, jolly ride in an amphibian plane.
