The Raft Day Without the Flight
Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet by raft without the scenic flight: what the 7-hour raft day includes, its times and price, and when Fly Raft is worth the difference.
If you only want the boat, book the raft day on its own: Hill Inlet Lookout, Whitehaven Beach, snorkelling on fringing reef and lunch on the beach, in about 7 hours from Coral Sea Marina, from US$174 a person on Viator (checked November 2026). Fly Raft adds a 60-minute scenic flight over the islands, Whitehaven, Hill Inlet and Heart Reef for US$388 a person in all (checked November 2026). The flight is the difference: about US$214 a person (checked November 2026).
Side by side
Airlie Beach: Fly Raft Package with Scenic Flight & Snorkeling
The 60-minute flight with a window seat, then Hill Inlet Lookout, snorkelling and lunch on Whitehaven Beach. Pickup from 17 named Airlie Beach stops (16 for South).
Check dates →Whitehaven Beach, Snorkelling & Hill Inlet Lookout
Ocean Rafting's raft day: two snorkel sites on Northern Exposure or more beach time on Southern Lights, the guided walk to Hill Inlet Lookout and lunch on Whitehaven Beach. Courtesy bus, or check in at Coral Sea Marina.
See the raft day →Prices, ratings and review counts from the listings (GetYourGuide checked November 2026; Viator checked November 2026). Operators price by date and season, so treat the figures as the shape of the market, not a quote.
The calendar above is for Fly Raft, the flight and the boat. The raft day alone books on Viator through the card.
What the raft day is
It is Ocean Rafting’s day on its own, sold on Viator as Ocean Rafting: Whitehaven Beach, Snorkelling & Hill Inlet Lookout and rated 4.9 from 5,022 reviews. You check in at the company’s office at Coral Sea Marina or take the courtesy bus from your accommodation. It comes in the same two versions as Fly Raft:
| Version | Check-in | Leaves | Back | On the day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Exposure | 8:00 AM | 8:45 AM | 3:30 PM | Two snorkel sites, the beach at Hill Inlet, the lookout walk |
| Southern Lights | 9:00 AM | 10:00 AM | 4:30 PM | One snorkel site, both ends of Whitehaven Beach, the lookout walk |
Times checked November 2026.
Included: a sun suit or wetsuit, snorkel gear, a tropical lunch on Whitehaven Beach, morning and afternoon tea, naturalist talks, the guided national park walk and the courtesy bus. Not included: drinks and chocolates on board, prescription mask hire, and the same Queensland public holiday surcharge as Fly Raft. It is not recommended for people with spinal injuries, pregnant travellers or anyone with poor cardiovascular health.
When the flight is worth adding
Add it if you want Heart Reef. The raft day does not go there, and the only way to see it on this trip is from the air. The flight also shows you Hill Inlet and Whitehaven from above in the morning, before you stand on them in the afternoon, which is the whole idea of the package.
Skip it if the reef from the air does not matter to you, if you want the later start (the raft day’s Southern Lights leaves the marina at 10:00 AM), or if the flight’s limits rule you out: everyone on Fly Raft must climb the aircraft steps unaided, and the package is not for anyone over 125 kg.
If you want both but on different days, the flight can be booked on its own; Fly Raft prices shows what the two cost booked apart.
More from Airlie Beach
Whitsundays Tours with Open Dates
Boat days, sailing trips and flights from Airlie Beach with live availability. What each includes and its cancellation terms are shown before you book.
Add the Flight: the Fly Raft Package
The same kind of raft day to Hill Inlet and Whitehaven Beach, with a 60-minute scenic flight over Heart Reef first and pickup in Airlie Beach.
Check dates