So, you’re thinking about booking a Melbourne Helicopter ride…. great choice! Whether you want to take to the air to have a more encompassing view of the city or to see some beautiful surrounds, there are plenty of Melbourne helicopter tours for any needs and lengths.
After working as a tour guide in the city for a year, I became accustomed to pretty much all questions and recommendations possible – including different types of helicopter rides in and around Melbourne.
Basically, all you need to know is that there are a few main kinds of Melbourne helicopter flights:
- Helicopter flights over and around the city
- Helicopter flights over the Great Ocean Road
- Helicopter flights over Phillip Island
- Helicopter flights and tours to and around the Yarra Valley (+ wine tasting)
If you know what kind of tour you are looking for, feel free to skip to that section to view what I consider your best options. If you don’t… check out all four sections and see whether city views, rolling vineyards, or amazing ocean views sounds the most appealing. The true daredevils can also try skydiving in Melbourne as well!
Melbourne Helicopter Rides Over the City
Flying over the Melbourne city center is a truly incredible experience. It’s one thing to fly over nature, but to have a bird’s eye view of landmarks, sports stadiums, city traffic, and skyscrapers is truly something else. Most also pop over to the sea so you can view the beautiful Port Phillip Bay from above, too.
If you do a city Melbourne helicopter ride, you’ll even spend some time flying between some of the skyscrapers in the CBD and on Southbank. You’ll truly understand the grandeur of the Eureka tower and Australia 108 as you fly at an altitude lower than their heights.
When you book a helicopter flight over the city, you’ll have to choose between a 20 minute ride and a 30 minute ride – with 30 minutes of course being more comprehensive yet more expensive. You can also pay a little bit more to have a guaranteed front seat. These helicopters have a capacity of 5, so you can book up to that many places. Most of these Melbourne helicopter tours leave from Essendon Airport, which is reachable by car or train.
Below is a trimmed/easier version of all your options – just make sure to select the booking for ‘front seat guaranteed’ if you want it!
Book 30 Minute from Essendon / Book 20 Minute from Essendon
You can also book a 25 minute flight over Melbourne and Port Phillip Bay from Moorabbin Airport, which is south of the city (whereas Essendon is north). This could be easier for some, and is more affordable.
If you explore the CBD, don’t forget to check out my CBD guides:
- Things to do in Melbourne CBD
- Breakfast and Brunch Guide to Melbourne CBD
- Melbourne Hidden Bars Guide
Melbourne Helicopter Rides Over the Great Ocean Road
The Great Ocean Road is an absolute MUST-SEE when visiting Melbourne. This uniquely scenic stretch of coastline makes the perfect 2-3 day road trip from Melbourne OR day trip from Melbourne, depending on how much time you have.
If there was one place that having a helicopter view would be mind-blowing… this would be it. Being able to see the famous twelve apostles and other dramatic and massive sandstone cliffs, arches, and caves from the air is truly next-level. So, a few companies have jumped on the bandwagon to create not only flights but also proper full-day tours over the Great Ocean Road with helicopter rides included , OR full-day helicopter tours where you won’t touch a car/bus at all.
For those with truly little time to spend seeing these sights OR little parience for hours of driving yourself… this is for you. Here are your best options (but be aware, they’re quite spendy):
- GO BIG: Private Great Ocean Road Tour for 2 – Drive the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne, stopping at important sights and for a gourmet lunch and wine tastings. Go back to Melbourne via 75-minute helicopter ride over Great Ocean Road and Port Phillip Bay.
- FLYING ONLY: Private Melbourne Helicopter Ride to/from Twelve Apostles from Moorabbin – this 5-hour tour will get you from Moorabbin airport, around your own customized flight route to the Twelve Apostles, and back. You’ll land at the Twelve Apostles in time for a platter, drinks, and some views, and then you’ll fly back to the city. This is the MOST efficient option!
- DAY TOUR WITH FLIGHT: Luxury Great Ocean Road Tour: This is a Great Ocean Road day tour, but on steroids. Your guide will show you around the Great Ocean road in a luxury vehicle, with lunch, coffee, and drink inclusions, and most importantly a helicopter ride over the 12 Apostles.
Or, if you want to get yourself to the Twelve Apostles and book a shorter flight from there, 12 Apostles Helicopters has you covered. You’ll see these helicopters taking off/flying by a few times an hour if you’re in the area – their helipad is just next to the visitor’s center.
They offer 15, 25, and 60 minute flights all around the gorgeous sights and landmarks of the Great Ocean Road.
Book Great Ocean Road Scenic Helicopter Flight Here
If you explore the Great Ocean Road, don’t forget to check out my guides:
Melbourne Helicopter Rides Over Phillip Island
If you’re looking for a helicopter tour over Phillip Island, Phillip Island Helicopters is a well-rated company that has kept 5-star reviews for quite a few years. People like to visit Phillip Island to hike, surf, see the famous Fairy ‘Penguin Parade’ that comes out each evening, and to visit the Phillip Island Grand Prix.
Taking a helicopter flight over Phillip Island is the best way to get a well-rounded idea of the incredible geography and scenery of the island quickly – or to see a bird’s eye view of the Grand Prix circuit! You’ll see beautiful beaches and cliffs as well as the beautiful bays arouudn the island, too.
The choices you have for a Phillip Island helicopter ride are in terms of length. Rides here go from 8 to 16 to 25 minutes in length, each one a better deal than the last. If you’re on a budget and simply want a taste of the stunning sky views, you can book an 8-minute ride for just $90. Or, the 16-minute ride is $165 and the 25-minute is $250 (at the time of publishing). Check them out below!
Book 8 Minute / Book 16 Minute / Book 25 Minute
Melbourne Helicopter Rides in the Yarra Valley
For the pinnacle of Melbourne Helicopter Tours, you should book one to the Yarra Valley that includes a winery stop. It’s basically a helicopter wine tour. I know, right?! So insanely luxurious it seems unattainable? Well I’m here to tell you that it isn’t, and also recommend the best Yarra Valley helicopter flights to you.
Both of the helicopter rides below involve a private helicopter flight for two from Essendon Airport to a Yarra Valley winery, a three-course lunch, wine, and time to explore the winery it lands at.
Essentially, think of this as a extended (50 minute) Melbourne helicopter ride (which will take you over the Yarra Valley with a knowledgable pilot pointing things out). But, rather than JUST admire the views, you’ll actually LAND AT A WINERY for an incredible lunch, spend some time there, and THEN head back.
It sounds like a dream date to me, and honestly I think I speak for every girl on the planet with that one. The price tag is quite steep, but for the right occasion, it’s nothing.
Book Yarra Valley Helicopter Flight to De Bortoli Winery
Book Yarra Valley Helicopter Flight to Levantine Hill Estate + EZARD Restaurant
I hope you have found the perfect Melbourne helicopter ride for your taste! Let me know in the comments how it goes. Pin this article by saving the image below!
Passionate, full-time travel blogger with over 230k on social media and 150kMPV blog. Extraordinary photographer with two DSLR's + a drone with a love for capturing candid moments, epic drone shots, and magical compositions. I'm a natural-born content creator originally from California, but I've been on the road for 9 years living, working, traveling, blogging, and photographing my way around the world. I recommend the most amazingly adventurous and unique + boutique travel experiences/stays and helpful products to my audience and write comprehensive guides on my website that have helped millions of travelers so far. I love to inspire people to plan their dream trips, and many readers have given feedback as such. The reach on my platforms continues to soar, especially when combining cutting-edge social content with optimized articles on my high-authority website.