Sydney is a magnificent city, no matter if it’s being viewed from the sky, sea, or land. However, if you really want to experience the most breathtaking way of seeing the urban sprawl and where the sea meets the skyline, nothing is better than a helicopter tour.
This cinematic adventure takes you right from the heart of the city, over its iconic harbor, showing off its architectural wonders with an expert pilot to lead the way. If it’s your first time in Sydney, it can’t be beat, offering a lay of the land that will give you a whole new appreciation for the metropolis.
Let me show you the top helicopter flights over Sydney that are well worth your time and money!
Best Helicopter Tours of Sydney
| Sydney Harbour Tour by Helicopter | Private Helicopter Flight Over Sydney & Beaches for 2 or 3 people - 20 Minutes | 30-Minute Sydney Harbour and Olympic Park Helicopter Tour | |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Value Tour | Best Private Tour | Best 30 Minute Tour | |
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| Location: | Sydney Airport, 472 Ross Smith Ave, Mascot NSW 2020 | 462 Ross Smith Ave, Mascot NSW 2020 | 682 Tower Rd, Bankstown Aerodrome NSW 2200 |
| Start: | Between 10:00 AM - 1:30 PM | Between 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM | Between 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
| Duration: | 20 minutes | 20 minutes | 30 minutes |
| Includes: | Commentary and interaction with pilot, Complimentary city center transfers (if required) | Photo opportunities with the helicopter, Pilot narration through headsets, Safety briefing | All taxes, fees and handling charges, Professional pilot |
Quick Answer: The 5 Best Rated Sydney Helicopter Rides For 2024
- Sydney Harbour Tour by Helicopter
- Private Helicopter Flight Over Sydney & Beaches for 2 or 3 people – 20 Minutes
- 30-Minute Sydney Harbour and Olympic Park Helicopter Tour
- Sydney Grand Tour by Helicopter
- Helicopter Flight Over Sydney and Beaches – 20 Minutes
Sydney Helicopter Tour Reviews
1. Sydney Harbour Tour by Helicopter
- Duration: 20 minutes
- Departure: Sydney Airport, 472 Ross Smith Ave, Mascot NSW 2020
- Departure Time: Between 10:00 AM – 1:30 PM
- Includes: 20-minute helicopter tour, Commentary and interaction with pilot, Complimentary city center transfers (if required), Free parking for self-drive guests
I had to start things off with this first tour, as it was perfect in every way and I couldn’t imagine a better experience. The Sydney Harbour Tour by Helicopter is super easy to fit into even the busiest schedules, seeing as it’s only 20 minutes.
I know what you’re thinking though, and yes, 20 minutes may be short but when you’re up in the air, time seems to stand still.
I made my way to the helipad where we met the pilot for my helicopter flight experience, who gave us a rundown of what to expect and let us snap some photos before hopping inside.
The adventure began with a warm greeting and check-in from the friendly operations staff, offering a thorough safety briefing in the comfort of the modern and spacious guest lounge.
As I settled into my seat and put on the provided headset, we listened to the tales the pilot regaled us with about the architecture, geography, and history of the area.
For me, this was one of the best ways to see the gorgeous blue waters of the Pacific Ocean, along with the full 360 views of the Sydney Skyline, and even the historic Botany Bay.
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We then headed over to Maroubra Beach, Coogee, Clovelly, and the infamous Bondi Beach (do yourself a favor and check it out later on)!
It was unreal, and I felt like I had to practically pinch myself multiple times throughout the tour to remind myself that this was real life rather than some kind of VR experience!
You’ll get to see many other important landmarks like the Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House, Taronga Zoo, the Sydney Football Stadium, Cricket Ground, and so much more.
Thanks to the headsets’ voice activation feature, we were able to chat with each other and the pilot the entire time, making it an incredible bonding experience! Afterward, I had a much better idea of where to go and the places I wanted to explore further – go check it out!
Tour Information & Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
2. Private Helicopter Flight Over Sydney & Beaches for 2 or 3 people – 20 Minutes
- Duration: 20 minutes
- Departure: 462 Ross Smith Ave, Mascot NSW 2020
- Departure Time: Between 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
- Includes: Approx 20 minute private helicopter flight over Sydney and beaches, Photo opportunities with the helicopter, Pilot narration through headsets, Safety briefing
Something that I didn’t realize before first arriving in Sydney, was just how massive the city really was. This makes it a bit hard to see everything you want, unless you really have your planning dialed in.
Another way to see everything (in just a few minutes, at that) is by signing up for a tour like the Private Helicopter Flight Over Sydney & Beaches for 2 or 3 people Tour.
If you are traveling with kids at all, I can’t recommend this tour enough – I can’t say that all helicopters are kid-friendly, either. However, this one was so smooth and easy to participate in (and safe!) that I would say it’s even great for toddlers!
Plus, as it’s only 20 minutes, it’s not something that anyone has to commit for a very long time. We arrived on site and were greeted by the friendly staff and pilot, who provided us with a safety briefing and answered any questions we had about the experience.
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Before we hopped inside, he even offered to take photos of us, which was a nice touch. We were given headsets so we could hear everything our guide told us about the sites we were passing by and over, making it that much more convenient.
If you’ve never been on a helicopter before, this crew is so calm and kind that you will instantly feel comfortable throughout the entire time. The pilot was also very nice and obviously knowledgeable, as he knew exactly where to go to get the best views.
I highly recommend trying this tour at least once when you’re in Sydney – trust me, you won’t regret it!
Tour Information & Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
3. 30-Minute Sydney Harbour and Olympic Park Helicopter Tour
- Duration: 30 minutes
- Departure: 682 Tower Rd, Bankstown Aerodrome NSW 2200
- Departure Time: Between 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Includes: All taxes, fees and handling charges, Professional pilot
What I love about helicopter tours in Sydney is that you get to see the beautiful city, sitting against the gorgeous natural landscapes. This can be a bit difficult to do unless you’re on the beaches, which can get quite busy depending on the season.
The 30-Minute Sydney Harbour and Olympic Park Helicopter Tour is a fantastic way to celebrate a special occasion, or simply have a romantic date with a significant other!
This helicopter tour is just a bit longer than the other 2 I just covered, and those 10 minutes really do make a difference! I noticed that we got to see a lot more in those 10 minutes than on the other tours, which wasn’t necessary but a nice surprise.
Start off by meeting up at the Bankstown Aerodrome, where you’ll meet your pilot and the rest of the staff to ensure everything goes smoothly. I appreciated that there were a ton of different start times available, meaning I would be able to select the tour that fits my schedule perfectly. If you have the chance, I highly suggest picking up a sunset tour – it’s even more breathtaking if that’s possible!
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After a quick safety briefing, you’ll have time to head out to the helicopter and snap some photos in front of it before donning your included headsets.
Takeoff was very smooth, and it was immediately clear that the pilot was experienced and knew exactly what they were doing.
It was impressive how well they flew and navigated while telling us in real-time about the landmarks and different points of interest as we flew overhead. We got to see the Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Fort Denison, and so much more!
Tour Information & Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
4. Sydney Grand Tour by Helicopter
- Duration: 30 minutes
- Departure: Sydney Airport, 472 Ross Smith Ave, Mascot NSW 2020
- Departure Time: 10:30 AM or 1:30 PM
- Includes: 30 minute helicopter tour, Commentary and interaction with pilot, Complimentary city center transfers (if required), Free parking for self-drive guests
If it’s your first time in Sydney, just go ahead and heed my advice, scheduling this tour for the first day you arrive. Trust me, it’ll give you a whole new perspective on Sydney and let you see all the main sites laid out in a way that just makes it easier to navigate later.
The Sydney Grand Tour by Helicopter is an experience brimming with professionalism, attention to detail, and of course, breathtaking views.
This tour brought us out to the Sydney Airport, which is where the tour starts and lands. However, I did hear from others in our party that they offered hotel pickup and drop-off (and complimentary city center transfers!) as well, which is even more convenient!
The good news is that they also offer various departure times throughout the day, so you can select the time that works for you and your schedule.
No matter how you get there, once you arrive, you’ll start by checking in with the friendly operations staff who will be there to offer coffee, juice, and water.
After that, you’ll receive a safety briefing from your pilot, who I also found to be very kind and professional. After hanging out in the guest lounge for a few minutes, we were all set to head out to the helicopter, where we took some photos.
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Not only do they provide the high-quality radio headsets for 2-way communications between us and our pilot, they also allow you to bring along cameras and video recorders. The windows are closed, though they’re big enough that the views are practically unobstructed – it also made me feel safer than those with open windows.
We rose up into the air as we soared over the sparkling waters around Maroubra Beach, as well as the famous Bondi Beach, the historic Botany Bay, and so many other important landmarks.
While we’d already checked out some of those beaches, seeing the houses of Dover Heights and Vaucluse was so impressive that we actually ended up going to see them up close later that day!
The commentary of all of the landmarks was in a conversational manner, making it feel like we had a close local friend to take us around in his helicopter. I found it all so quintessentially Australian, that we were completely enraptured by the tour!
Tour Information & Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
5. Helicopter Flight Over Sydney and Beaches – 20 Minutes
- Duration: 20 minutes
- Departure: 462 Ross Smith Ave, Mascot NSW 2020
- Departure Time: Between 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Includes: Approx 20 minute shared helicopter flight over Sydney and beaches, Pilot narration through headsets, Photo opportunities with the helicopter, Safety briefing
Are you looking to celebrate a special occasion or really impress your date with a memory they’ll never forget? Then the Helicopter Flight Over Sydney and Beaches – 20 Minute Tour is just the ticket!
This 20-minute experience may be relatively brief, but it’s packed full of excitement and simply incomparable views that you can’t achieve even from the tallest building!
Start off by meeting at the last hangar on Ross Smith Avenue, where you’ll have complimentary car parking or be able to take a taxi/car share over if you prefer. If I’m honest, a huge part of why I loved this tour so much was because the crew was so fantastic!
They were all so funny, outgoing, and you could tell they took our experience and safety very seriously, which instantly put me at ease.
After this flight, I’d consider Sydney to be one of the most gorgeous cities in the world. Once we were up in the air, the live commentary from our pilot only enriched the experience – it was like a city tour on steroids!
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We got to see so much at one time, but in a way that wasn’t difficult to digest – on the contrary! We also took tons of amazing photos and videos, seeing sights that we likely wouldn’t have seen otherwise.
Of course, we saw the top sites like Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Bondi Beach, Watson’s Bay, and so on. However, we also saw plenty of natural landscapes, aside from the bay, the pristine beaches, etc.
All in all, I highly recommend checking out this experience if you’re looking to enjoy Sydney to its fullest!
Tour Information & Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
Sites Seen
Pilots
Value
The Sydney Harbour Tour by Helicopter is our Editors Choice for the best Sydney helicopter tour.
