Would you take a 2 1/2 yr old on a 45 min helicopter ride?

maisonette

Thanks all - so that's a No then!

It's a shame as I know the 6 year old would love it but it would be a bit unfair on whichever parent go the short straw and had to stay on the ground with the toddler! Plus I want us to do stuff altogether as a family, as we only get to see each other once a year I want to make fantastic memories for the kids.

Soleil_lune

Yeah, I'm gonna go with no. Leave it another 4 or 5 years.

emg

why not do a glass bottomed boat trip instead, another great way to see the reef without getting wet :-)

maisonette

emg wrote: »

why not do a glass bottomed boat trip instead, another great way to see the reef without getting wet :-)

We're planning on taking the 6 year old snorkelling on one of the reef boat trips, the helicopter flight reviews were just so good I thought it would be a brilliant experience for us all but didn't know if it was suitable for such a young child.

Lara44

x 10 the glass bottomed boat suggestion - amazing! Much more exciting than it sounds

ska_lover

Oh no. The toddler could have a tantrum mid flight - and completely ruin the experience for everyone stuck in close proximity

Better_Days

When we went to Australia we did a trip to the GBR on the Wavedancer. http://www.quicksilver-cruises.com/wavedancer.htm

It was a magical day. DH went snorkelling, we had a trip in a glass bottomed boat and we also went scuba diving.

If there was only one day I could have again it would be that day. What was great about the Wavedancer was that it wasn't too big and the sound of the sails clicking in the breeze was lovely. After we got back from the scuba diving everyone else had gone over to the island, DH went snorkelling, and I was on my own lying on the deck in a blissfull state, pretending I like Lady Di on my own boat on the GBR

On the way back one of the crew got out his guitar and sang some songs he had composed and some Australian folk songs. Really, a perfect day.

We also did the helicopter trip which I loved, but I agree with the other posters, it is very likely to be too noisy and too long a trip for such a young child. As has been pointed out the ear defenders wont fit, and it would be such a shame to spend so much and end up trying to console a distraught toddler.

The other really magical experience was when we went to watch the turtles hatching at Mon Repos. http://www.queenslandholidays.com.au/things-to-see-and-do/mon-repos-conservation-park-9017225/index.cfm
It was nearly midnight, very hot and we got bitten by sandflies. But it was so worth it and it was really emotional watching the little turtles dig their way up and then make their way down to the sea where they would spend the next 20 to 30 years before the females come ashore again. We went at the weekend and there was a lot of thought into making it interesting for children.

Hope you have a great time OP

maisonette

Thanks Betterdays - we're planning on staying in Port Douglas rather than Cairns so will look into the boat you mentioned, there's so many different tours to choose from so good to have a recommendation. Would that trip be suitable for a 2 1/2 year old would you say?

Edit: Just looking at the outer reef tour from the same company you went with, they do a 10 min helicopter ride as part of the same trip so me, Mum or Dad and the 6 year old could do that without feeling we'd abandoned the toddler and accompanying parent! The 6 year old would love it I'm sure.