In April 1973, Air Whitsunday began it’s first official trading as a small seaplane operator flying guests to the Great Barrier Reef and Whitehaven Beach. This lead to one of our original pilots, on completion of his day, stating he had discovered a “cute little reef in the shape of a heart”, which is now one of the trade marks of the Whitsundays known throughout the world as “Heart Reef”.

In the beginning there was just the one Lake Buccaneer, similar to the one you can still see on a stand at the entrance to the Whitsunday Airport. Today, with 6 operating aircraft consisting of 3 De Havilland Beavers, 3 Cessna 208 Caravans and another 3 aircraft in various stages of overhaul, has seen Air Whitsunday with the title of the largest seaplane operator in the Southern Hemisphere. However we still have the same intention, which is showcasing the Whitsundays to visitors of this region. Over the last 33 years our seaplanes have been used in photographic shots and travel documentaries throughout the world.

What makes Air Whitsunday so unique is our exclusive snorkelling location inside Hardy Reef, where we have 2 semi-submersibles moored. All trips to these locations are scheduled at low tide, being surrounded by a reef wall it creates literally a lagoon for the aircraft to land and the guests to snorkel in. On this tide our location is 7-8 metres deep which gives the first time snorkeller more confidence, 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 our snorkelling tours to the reef we also provide day trips to Island Resorts, picnics at Whitehaven Beach, scenic flights with the added bonus of a water landing and with the Whitsundays being so well known for it’s yachting compatibility, what could be more romantic than being picked up from your yacht.