Daintree Air Services

Daintree Air Services

Daintree Air Services
5
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
About
This family run company has operated for over 35 years accumulating hundreds of thousands of flying hours throughout Australia. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and Australia’s North East Coast has always been their backyard. Their knowledge and experience combined with their passion for all of Australia’s natural assets ensure that you the customer receive the best experience Australia has to offer. Daintree Air are world leaders in eco-friendly practises within the aviation industry, reducing their carbon footprint for aircraft engineering to almost zero by completing a two million dollar, state-of-the-art maintenance facility. The hangar can operate 24 hrs a day, generating its power from the sun and its own water from rainwater tanks, backed up by an underground stream. Daintree Air understand many of their passengers will have just one chance to view the Great Barrier Reef from the air, therefore they will do their utmost to ensure your experience is a memorable one.
Cairns, Queensland, Australia

Awards
Travellers' Choice
2024

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5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles1,082 reviews
Excellent
1,036
Very good
28
Average
1
Poor
4
Terrible
13

tricydicky
Nusa Dua, Indonesia42 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2022 • Couples
Early this year I booked a Cape York Day Tour. We booked for the 26/4 on our arrival in Cairns the weather was horrible rain and high wind, we thought this isn’t looking good. A few days prior and as requested we called and check what was happening and where advised we would get a call the night before. This happened and sadly the flight was cancelled. I was offered a refund or leave the deposit in the hope the weather would get better. It didn’t and we left for Cooktown. The guys knew we would be the till the 2/5 and would try and gets us to the cape from Cooktown. True to the promise, Greg called me and asked if the 30/4 would suit, we agreed and he told us he would confirm later that day. Sure enough another call from Greg confirming us and another 2 pax would leave from Cooktown and we needed to be a Cooktown airport by 0730. That evening we received a txt asking us to confirm we would be there.
What an amazing experience. Low level flight up to Bamaga over the coast reef and mainland all complimented by local boy Lochy our pilot for the day commentary. On arrival in Bamaga we where acquainted with the Cairns flight and there pilot Aaron then transferred to a 4x4 bus for the trip to Pajinka (the tip) a walk out guided by Aaron and Lochy ensuring a safe and accident free walk. Another drive to Seisia for lunch and the back to Bamaga. The flight back to Cooktown was at 10000ft with more great views. All in all one of the best experienced we’ve had. Awesome customer service and attention to safety.
Can speak highly enough.
Written 1 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Joel Hueppi
4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Friends
We did a 40min Great Barrier Reef flight with Thomas the Pilot and it was amazing, worth Every penny!
Saw a Turtle and lots of Islands and lots of different Reefs with good explanations of Thomas for each and everyone of them!
👍😆
Written 24 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Susan B
Tea Gardens, Australia27 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022
Cape York Day Tour
Locally owned company Daintree Air Services which has its offices within Cairns Airport but some distance from the main terminal, runs this tour. Make sure you present yourself at their office on Tom McDonald Drive (Terminal 1, Building 97 Tom McDonald Drive), as we held up the departure by going to the general terminal building and having to find another taxi to take us from there to the waiting plane.

Cape York is more than 200,000 square kilometres of diverse highlights. The low-level flight took us over amazing sights: high mountains with their heads wrapped in clouds, river systems with tributaries merging until they meet the sea, vast rainforests, tiny settlements linked by roads like scars on the countryside and reefs stretching over 1,100 km. The pilot/guide provided a commentary that opened my eyes to the history of the region during the second world war and the scale and importance of the Australian and US forces guarding our coastline. The military built much of the infrastructure (in particular air strips) during the war.
From the Northern Peninsula Airport in Bamaga the pilot took the wheel of the 4WD bus for the drive over what was allegedly a road to within one km of the northernmost point of the Australian mainland. After a scramble over a rocky ridge, we were there, and having photos taken to prove it! It was an extremely beautiful spot and definitely worthy of the photo-taking spree.
Back to the bus, and we wound our way back to Bamaga with a substantial lunch on the way. During the return flight, we flew at higher altitude and learnt how the different cloud types influenced the turbulence and therefore the exact route we took. We also enjoyed a magnificent view of parts of the Reef.
Written 6 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Betty
Wollongong, Australia5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021
I did the Cape York day trip with Daintree Air Services on 23/8/21 and am writing this under my wife’s account. I have read a previous review and am not sure which company they actually flew with.. I found Daintree and their boss, Greg to be particularly courteous, straight talking, well organised and above all professional.
On the morning we booked to fly out of Cairns the weather was not perfect for a sightseeing tour and predicting the exact weather hundreds of km north was not an exact science as there is not much up to the minute weather data available up there. The group was asked if we wanted to go or postpone, we elected to go. At that point it wall all go. We were on out twin engine plane headed for Cooktown at about 350kph.
We were given some great background of the areas we were flying over by Greg and our pilot for the day Aaron. After putting down at Cooktown, dropping off Greg and picking up some other tour passengers plus another plane full of tour passengers we headed North.
Aaron showed us an enormous amount on our 2hr flight to Bamaga, most impressive for me was the outer reef from the air.
At Bamaga we transferred to a 20 seater bus and saw the sights of the Tip, had a good, preordered lunch at Seisia and then boarded our refuelled plane for a high level and smooth flight back to Cairns.
Make no mistake this is a big day and it is not cheap, but it is one you will never forget. According to Aaron I think we covered about 2000k in the air and about 75k on the ground around the Tip. You are flying over very remote areas and will see far more than just the road.
I would highly recommend these guys and the tour they provide. You can sense that safety is a high priority and your experience is made the best it can be given the remote conditions you are operating in. Stu.
Written 25 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Glenda M
42 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
June 2022
Daintree air run a trip right to the tip in a day. We started from Cairns but some were picked up at Cooktown airport. We had a scenic flight with full commentary by Aaron our pilot. Flew up for siteseeing and back the quickest pathway. His commentary included detail about the outer reef, islands, stories, mountains etc and was scattered with humor. He made us very welcome and relaxed. He prewarned us re some bad weather and landed us so competently at Bamaga amidst a lightening storm. Out pilots them became our 4x4 drivers, tour guides and walking guides. After about an hour, we walked the last 1.2 km with out caring pilot, guides ensuring we all got to the tip and back safely. A long day but amazing. So glad we went and walked to the tip of Australia.
Written 7 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

wisemary53
Melbourne, Australia56 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2021
We went to Cape York on a day trip in early May. A friend had rung to book but he when he said his weight he was told "oh no I'll have to work that outing inferred he was too fat he said he would ring back but never did.i was told they would ring but had to ring as well .
The pilot was experienced and safe but as a tour guide was very poor. He had a colourful interpretation of the local history and its original people and made derogatory remarks about one of his pilots. There was no need to say three times that one of the group couldn't do the walk and had to alter the plans .No-one had any trouble and in fact the alteration involved walking along the beach which was very pleasant. He didn't need to make those comments.
We were not told that the bus was broken and had to squash 8 people in a 4 wheel drive. He drove too fast and everyone felt unsafe especially when he hit bumps at speed and said weren't we lucky it had good suspension!! He said several times we can stop at Cooktown as a treat to see his new hangar but it was to change pilots thus adding an extra hour the day. several times we were told "i don't know" about the flight times etc when he actually did know.
Given the $1500 cost it was not a pleasant experience I would suggest another method of seeing the cape
Written 10 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Wise Mary , You mentioned in your rant you had a fat friend , we did not and would not use that expression to describe a person. All aircraft have a max take of weight. If that weight is exceeded the flight can not go ahead. We therefore weigh every passenger even after they have told us their weights as at times people do not get their weights correct. Some passengers find the walk to the top of Australia difficult. You apparently did not find it difficult. I think it wrong of you to imply the walk is easy for all people. We advise potential passengers the walk can be difficult subject to environmental conditions on the day of travel. Not very wise Mary.
Written 18 August 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Hiran P
27 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2024 • Family
Great experience. Booked via Get your guide. Clear instructions on the experience and meet up details. Daintree Air staff were great. Friendly and professional. Actual experience was great and the pilot was great at pointing out the islands and reefs. The weather was great so the flight was smooth. Amazing views and highly recommend.
Written 20 November 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

BelC0001
Sydney, Australia1,024 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022
It's almost impossible to describe in words the amount of care Greg, Aaron and their colleagues put into customer service on these scenic flights. We joined a group of five other tourists for the day's flight from Cairns airport to Cape York. The flight takes 2.25 hours travelling 1100 kms from Cairns to Bamaga airfield. Then into a 4WD vehicle driven by pilot/tour guide/driver Aaron for the 40km red dirt dusty bumpy road to The Tip. They tell you to wear walking shoes ie sneakers as there is a walk over rocks for several hundred feet to reach the Cape York signpost. What is not mentioned is the undulating track over rock to get there (and back).
Whilst Aaron flew us from Cairns, Greg and their other pilot had flown two more planeloads of tourists from Cooktown, so our larger group had three pilots to assist everyone needing a hand up or down the hilly rocky terrain to navigate footholds safely. No shame in asking for help each step of the way!
I read that this air services company had recently transported a wheelchair bound tourist to the Cape York signpost, to fulfill a life's ambition. Considering the rocky terrain, that is the stuff of legendary customer service.
Morning tea on the flight northbound was a pleasant surprise: an esky stowed in the back with one of our travellers (who also handed items forward to us) produced juice boxes and mango bread. A rubbish bag made its way forward for the refuse. This was repeated in the afternoon flight south to Cairns with a pastry and small can of soft drink.
Lunch was an excellent choice of crumbed/battered/grilled mackeral, chips and salad and soft drink at a campground/cafe at Bamaga.
After lunch and on the way back to Bamaga airstrip, we pulled in off the road to see a downed DC-3 from WWII; fascinating history.
Aside from these details, the hero is really the view out the plane windows of the Great Barrier Reef, the Daintree National Park from the air, Cooktown. The flight route pretty much hugged the coastline northbound, only deviating a little eastwards to fly over interesting parts of the Reef.
This flight is not cheap but it's Bucket List stuff. The care the pilots took of all of us passengers was Above and Beyond the Call of Duty.
Written 13 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

whitty672018
14 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Family
This was one of the best best flight I have been on, my daughter and myself enjoyed from take off to landing. The service was exceptional, flight was amazing and pilot was the best, especially his commentary about the reef and not forgetting his famous rollercoaster. Seeing several islands and the reef from the air was great. Would recommend these guys to everyone, 10 out of 10.
Written 23 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Patricia S
Prangins, Switzerland24 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
If you really want to experience the full beauty of the Great Barrier Reef, you should fly over it. The views are absolutely spectacular. We had a terrific experience with Daintree on the first day of our stay.

I would recommend contacting them directly: info@daintreeair.com.au
The more they know about your flying interests and the flexibility of your schedule, the better they can arrange the right flight for you (important to understand that behind the scenes they are working to fill the planes and manage schedules to ensure best weather conditions).

As my husband is a pilot, I contacted Daintree a couple weeks before our trip. Greg responded immediately with various options. We were interested by the Lizard Island trip, but the conditions were not great for the flight out, so we scheduled into a 40-minute tour instead. The flight included hotel pickup and dropoff which was very convenient. Greg met us at our hotel and drove us to the airport. We had a terrific flight with Connor and much to our surprise, in an air conditioned plane (important on a hot day!). He pointed out the various islands, marine life, and taught us more about the reef. The views were truly breathtaking.

Instead heading back to the hotel, Greg recommended we stop off at the Botanical Gardens/Tank art exhibitions which are on the way back into town. An excellent recommendation, the gardens were beautiful and was a nice complement to the afternoon's activities. From the gardens, it was an easy bus trip back into town.

All in all, a wonderful five-star experience, thanks to Greg and the team at Daintree!
Written 20 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for taking the time to review us! We are so glad you enjoyed your experience and hope you can come back and do Lizard Island with us soon!
Written 15 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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