A travel blogger I follow, RTW in 30 Days, wrote earlier this year about her visit to the Whitsundays and memorable helicopter ride over the Great Barrier Reef. Upon looking at her photos I resolved to seek out a way to view this natural wonder from above.

I was very lucky to find a fantastic company, GBR Helicopters, to host my trip!

They offer scenic flights of various distances all over the area. Our group today has about 30 minutes to admire the Great Barrier Reef from the air.

I am so giddy with excitement that I even wore a dress. (That’s an emergency life vest around my waist, not a fanny pack.)

Ready for take-off…

Throughout the flight our pilot relays geographic information about the Great Barrier Reef and other locations around Cairns — various islands and even the Daintree Rainforest in the distance. He also explains the biology of the reef and ecosystems found here. We’re all wearing headsets so we can listen (and ask questions) over the noise of the chopper.

This is Green Island, a popular snorkel spot for day trippers in Cairns.

It’s low tide and this part of the reef is exposed:

Love these vibrant colors.

What a view! Not many people get to see the reef from this perspective and I feel really lucky to be up here.

While I primarily focus on snapping photos with my DSLR, I also shoot some video footage on my iPhone:

When our half-hour is nearly up, we head back towards Cairns.

Can you see the city lagoon off in the distance?

I have such a great time on this trip. If your budget is limited, consider prioritizing a helicopter ride because it’s pretty unforgettable to see the Great Barrier Reef from above.

A HUGE thanks to GBR Helicopters for generally hosting my trip. Opinions, as always, are my own.