Cardwell Air Charter Queensland Australia

Cardwell is surrounded by several national parks and two world heritage regions: the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics. Much of the area is completely inaccessible except by air. So Cardwell Air Charter, now in its tenth year of operation, offers a range of scenic flights.

A 40 minute flight around the utterly spectacular Hinchinbrook Island allows the visitor to experience the amazing difference of scenery afforded by the east and west coasts.

There is a one hour Reef and Islands flight which shows off the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef and arouses the dream of having one’s own special deserted tropical island.

The hinterland is mostly world heritage Wet Tropics and boasts isolated gorges and spectacular waterfalls, including Australia’s highest single drop – Wallaman Falls. Cardwell Air Charter’s “Grand Tour” takes in all this along with the east coast of Hinchinbrook and the pretty little Brook Islands.

Undara Lava Tubes are only a 45 minute flight away. Tours of the tubes with the famous Savannah Guides are included with each Undara Flightseeing package.

A very comprehensive day tour is offered with “Air-Land-Sea”. This includes four-wheel drive pickup from Cardwell to Mission Beach, an eco tour to Murray Falls, a one hour scenic flight either to reef or hinterland, and a boat cruise in the Hinchinbrook Channel or Missionary Bay.

For the really serious traveller Cardwell Air Charter does extended tours such as the Savannah Way. An eight day air tour includes Undara, Georgetown, Karumba, Lawn Hill Gorge, Riversleigh Fossil Fields, Normanton, the Gulflander train, Croydon, Cobbold Gorge, Einasleigh’s Copperfield Gorge, Wallaman Falls and the Hinchinbrook Channel. It’s a great way to avoid dusty roads and to spend more time at destinations rather than getting to them.

Other extended tours can be devised to suit the individual.

Touring Options

Around Hinchinbrook

Spectacular Hinchinbrook Island dominates the seaward view from Cardwell. You will pass Goold and Garden Islands en route to Missionary Bay and Macushla. Mangroves stretch almost across to miles of secluded sandy beach at Ramsay Bay. Then it’s down the Island’s rugged and beautiful east coast, past Nina and Zoe Bays to Hillock Point. The Palm Group, including Orpheus Island, is easily visible as you cross to Lucinda and the world’s longest jetty. Along the stunning Hinchinbrook Channel you pass a floating barramundi farm, several prawn farms, Port Hinchinbrook and Cardwell township before returning to the airstrip.

Reef and Islands

This flight takes up past Goold and Garden Islands and over the mangrove everglades of Hinchinbrook to Ramsay Bay, then it’s out to the fabulous Great Barrier Reef at Britomart Reef. Pools and channels between coral reefs dazzle you with an amazing range of blue tones. You may see schools of fish, sharks, or giant manta rays as you fly around this large reef area. Next you cross to see the fringing reef round the Brook Islands. You pass the Family Isles with the resorts of Bedarra and Dunk, and then return to Dallachy aerodrome via Edmund Kennedy National Park.

Grand Tour

You cross the rugged mountains on your way to Blencoe Falls, then follow the spectacular Herbert River down to the farming land, before visiting Wallaman Falls, Australia’s highest single drop waterfall. Across past the southern end of Hinchinbrook Channel you see the world’s longest jetty at Lucinda. You will turn north to fly along the unbelievably beautiful east coast of Hinchinbrook, past pretty Zoe and Nina Bays to nine kilometres of secluded sand at Ramsay Bay. Beyond it, mangroves stretch to Mission Bay. After the Brook Islands with their fringing coral reef, you return via Port Hinchinbrook and Cardwell township.

Undara Lava Tubes

Departure is via the fertile Kennedy Valley and over the mountains to Blencoe and Herbert River Falls as you track westward. After passing isolated station properties you begin to see numerous craters dotting the countryside. Your pilot points out Undara volcano and you follow the tell-tale green pockets of rainforest marking roof collapse along the line of lava tubes. Landing at Undara airstrip embark on a ground tour of the lava tubes. The Savannah Guide gives you a fascinating insight into vulcanology, botany and ecology. Return to Cardwell is about 2.30 p.m.

Savannah Way Aerial Tour

The spectacular Gulf Savannah is huge – long journeys and dust by road! This relaxed eight day aerial tour spends time at sights rather than getting there. Highlights include Undara Experience, Georgetown’s Terrestrial rock and mineral collection, Karumba’s unbelievable sunsets, a day at Lawn Hill George, tour to Riversleigh Fossil Fields, a drink in the Purple Pub at Normanton, Gulflander train trip to historic Croydon, a full day fossicking for agates, exploring and cruising the unique narrow Cobbold Gorge, black basalt Copperfield Gorge and a collection of miniatures at Einasliegh and flight over Wallaman Falls and the Hinchinbrook Channel.