Sydney Flying Experiences

Sydney flying experiences here cover seaplane and helicopter flights over the harbour and beaches, aerobatic flights from Bankstown, and sunrise balloon rides over the Camden Valley. If you already know what you're after, the Sydney scenic flights and Sydney helicopter flights pages narrow it down.

Seaplane flights from Rose Bay

Sydney seaplane flights take off from the Lyne Park Seaplane Terminal at Rose Bay. The Sydney Scenic Seaplane Highlights Flight runs for 15 minutes past Bondi Beach, the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House and the waterfront mansions around Rose Bay.

The 30 Minute Scenic Flight over Sydney goes further, heading north to Palm Beach, where Home and Away is filmed, then coming back over the waterways of Pittwater and the Harbour Bridge. It runs on a shared basis.

Helicopter flights over Sydney Harbour and the beaches

Shared helicopter flights leave from Ross Smith Avenue in Mascot, close enough that the helicopter is over the harbour in under five minutes. The Sydney Heli Flight is 20 minutes over the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House and Bondi Beach. The Helicopter Grand Tour of Sydney stretches to 30 minutes and follows the coast from Manly and Curl Curl down to Bondi, Bronte and Coogee.

For a flight to yourselves, the Private Sydney Helicopter Flight carries up to three people from Bankstown Airport over Sydney Olympic Park, the Parramatta River, Fort Denison and the Harbour Bridge. The Blue Mountains and Sydney Harbour Private Helicopter Flight runs for 90 minutes, passing the Three Sisters and the Jamison Valley before crossing the harbour.

Aerobatic flights from Bankstown

The Sydney Thrillseeker Aerobatics Experience puts you in a Pitts Special biplane for spins, snap rolls and tail-slides, pulling up to 6 G's. The Sydney Extreme Aerobatic Experience swaps to an Extra NG stunt plane that reaches speeds of up to 400 km/h and G forces of up to 8 G's.

The Sydney Scenic Aerobatic Experience lets you set the pace, tracking over the Northern Beaches towards Barrenjoey Headland before the aerobatics start, as mild or wild as you ask for.

Balloons and light aircraft around Camden

The Sunrise Sydney Hot Air Balloon Flight from Camden drifts for about an hour over the Camden Valley and the Nepean River, with the Blue Mountains lit up at sunrise and the historic towns of Picton and Camden below. Breakfast at the Camden Valley Inn follows.

The Southern Highlands Scenic Joy Flight takes up to three passengers on a private 90 minute flight from Cobbitty past Bowral, Berrima, Mittagong, Fitzroy Falls and Belmore Falls.

Fly the helicopter yourself

Prefer to fly it yourself? The Sydney Helicopter Flying Lesson is a one on one hour at the controls of a Guimbal Cabri G2 from Bankstown, and it can be logged towards a helicopter pilot licence.

Frequently asked questions

How long is a scenic flight over Sydney?

Scenic flights here run from 15 minutes in a seaplane over Sydney Harbour to 90 minutes in a private helicopter over the Blue Mountains, while aerobatic flights are 30 to 45 minutes in the air.

Where do Sydney helicopter flights depart from?

The Sydney Heli Flight and Helicopter Grand Tour depart from Ross Smith Avenue in Mascot, and the private helicopter flights depart from Bankstown.

Do Sydney seaplane flights run in bad weather?

Seaplane flights from Rose Bay only go ahead when conditions are suitable, and the operator's Chief Pilot makes the call on the day.

Who can go on a Sydney aerobatic flight?

Passengers must be over 18, or 13 to 18 with parental consent, and each flight has weight and height limits listed on its product page. Aerobatic flights aren't suitable for pregnant women or anyone with a significant medical condition.

How early does the Camden hot air balloon flight start?

It departs between 3.30am and 6am, with your exact time confirmed at booking. Allow about three hours in total including breakfast at the Camden Valley Inn.

Local tip: Leave a spare day in your Sydney itinerary if you book a seaplane flight, because it only goes ahead when the weather suits.

Pick a flight above, whether it's the Rose Bay seaplane or the Bankstown aerobatics, and Sydney will look a lot smaller from up there. All good days are waiting.