Heart Reef
The Basics
Due to its protected status, visitors aren’t permitted to snorkel or dive on Heart Reef. Although it’s possible to see the reef from water level, the best way to experience it is from the air, where the unique formation is clear—it was a pilot, in fact, who discovered the heart shape of the coral composition.
Flightseeing tours depart from Airlie Beach and take you over Heart Reef as well as other scenic spots in the Whitsundays, such as Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet.
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Things to Know Before You Go
Heart Reef is one of the Great Barrier Reef’s must-see sites.
Sightseeing flights normally guarantee window seats for all passengers.
Pilots usually provide information as you fly over the reef.
How to Get There
Heart Reef is located in Hardy Reef, part of the Great Barrier Reef, among Australia’s Whitsunday Islands. Flight tours typically leave from Whitsunday Airport, just outside Airlie Beach.
Trip ideas
When to Get There
The ideal time to visit the Great Barrier Reef (including Heart Reef) is May through October, as temperatures are comfortable and the water is often clear.
A Romantic Gesture
Many sightseers flying over Heart Reef have chosen the spot to propose to their loved one. If you’d like to do the same, let your pilot know your plans, so they can give you some extra flight time over the reef.