World famous: the heart reef of the Whitsundays

You will have noticed the heart reef before on several picture books. The heart reef is one of the most beautiful destinations in the world.
This reef is located southeast of Airlie Beach and has the contours of a heart.
After my sailing trip to the Whitsundays and my skydive, this was the last attraction in Airlie Beach, which I absolutely wanted to join.

Reservation and booking

Each hostel is also selling trips. As a result I booked it directly at the Magnums Hostel where I staid for the first night.

219 AU$ to fly over Heart Reef, Whitsunday Islands and Whitehaven Beach is a unique way to explore the Whitsundays. I know it’s a rough price, but it’s worth it, though.
Of course, you can also book directly with GSL Aviation, but I was able to keep my luggage for a little longer after my check-out (free of charge).

The course of the Heart Reef flight

One day after my Skydive on the Whitsundays I went again into a plane and got high in the air.
Near the hostel you will be picked up with a small shuttle bus and brought to the airport, from where also the skydive flights start.
On site you check in and get a coloured card with number. The colour of the map is assigned to a specific aircraft and the number indicates your seat. During the waiting time (about 15 minutes) they show an information film about the flight, safety on board etc.

Boarding time!

After all arrived with the buses , it went out into the waiting area. Each aircraft was called by the different colours and we got our life jackets.

The flight over the Heart Reef

After the take-off we could see the different islands of the Whitsundays. Especially beautiful are the many reefs that stretch along the Whitsundays.

After about 25 minutes you reach the Hardy Reef, where the Heart Reef is located. The reef is extraordinary, as it looks like enchanted islets surrounded by the sea.

We spent approx 3 Minutes flying over the Heart Reef, so that everyone on the right side of the Cessna 208B can take pictures. While the passengers on the right side already saw the heart reef, the plain is crossing the heart reef on the left side.

On the return flight you will pass countless islands and bays before flying over Whitehaven Beach. You can see the famous Whitehaven Beach even from afar as the sand draws out into the sea like snaking lines:

Why is the flight over the Heart Reef worthwhile?

It was worth it for me, because I really wanted to see the Heart Reef itself instead of just in illustrated books about traveling and because I could get a much better impression of the Whitsunday Islands.
If you only stay in Airlie Beach or go on a sailing trip, you will not discover the beauty of these islands, which simply look different from above.