Photo: Slug69 · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
The world's largest coral reef system, stretching 2,300 km along Australia's Queensland coast. Its brilliant turquoise shallows are visible from cruising altitude on many Australian routes.
124Flight Routes
OverheadClosest Pass
🐠 WaterType
Routes that pass it124
BNE → EDI
Right
BNE → SHA
Both Sides
EDI → BNE
Left
SHA → BNE
Both Sides
CNS → HND
Right
HND → CNS
Left
AKL → CNS
Left
BNE → NRT
Right
CNS → AKL
Right
CNS → NRT
Left
NRT → BNE
Left
NRT → CNS
Right
BNE → HTI
Both Sides
CNS → HKG
Right
HKG → CNS
Left
HTI → BNE
Both Sides
HTI → SYD
Left
SYD → HTI
Right
BNE → PVG
Both Sides
PVG → BNE
Both Sides
BNE → DUB
Both Sides
DUB → BNE
Both Sides
AKL → HAN
Both Sides
HAN → AKL
Both Sides
CNS → FCO
Left
FCO → CNS
Right
AKL → HKG
Left
HKG → AKL
Right
CNS → HBA
Right
HBA → CNS
Left
CXI → PER
Right
NRT → SYD
Left
PER → CXI
Left
SYD → NRT
Right
BNE → ICN
Both Sides
ICN → BNE
Both Sides
BNE → GMP
Both Sides
BNE → LHR
Right
GMP → BNE
Both Sides
LHR → BNE
Left
BNE → MKY
Right
MKY → BNE
Left
CNS → KIX
Right
KIX → CNS
Left
BNE → LCY
Right
BWU → CTS
Left
CTS → BWU
Right
AKL → CAN
Left
CAN → AKL
Right
CTS → MEL
Right
MEL → CTS
Left
HND → SYD
Left
MBW → NRT
Right
NRT → MBW
Left
SYD → HND
Right
BNE → KIX
Both Sides
KIX → BNE
Both Sides
BNE → EZE
Both Sides
EZE → BNE
Both Sides
CTS → MEB
Right
KIX → SYD
Left
MEB → CTS
Left
SYD → KIX
Right
CNS → MBW
Right
MBW → CNS
Left
CNS → MEB
Right
MEB → CNS
Left
BNE → TPE
Right
CNS → MEL
Right
MEL → CNS
Left
TPE → BNE
Left
MCO → CTL
Right
BNE → PPP
Right
BWU → CNS
Right
CNS → BWU
Left
ORD → PER
Left
PER → ORD
Right
PPP → BNE
Left
ADL → PPP
Right
CTS → SYD
Right
MEB → NRT
Right
NRT → MEB
Left
PPP → ADL
Left
SYD → CTS
Left
BNE → POM
Both Sides
CNS → SYD
Left
POM → BNE
Both Sides
SYD → CNS
Right
BWU → HND
Both Sides
HND → BWU
Both Sides
MEL → NRT
Right
NRT → MEL
Left
MEB → PPP
Right
MEL → PPP
Right
PPP → MEB
Left
PPP → MEL
Left
PPP → SYD
Left
SYD → PPP
Right
CHC → CNS
Right
CNS → CHC
Left
HVB → SYD
Right
SYD → HVB
Left
ROK → SYD
Left
SYD → ROK
Right
BNE → TXG
Right
TXG → BNE
Left
GMP → SYD
Left
SYD → GMP
Right
BNE → CNS
Right
CNS → BNE
Left
CNS → OOL
Left
OOL → CNS
Right
HND → MEB
Left
MEB → HND
Right
MEL → TSV
Right
TSV → MEL
Left
CNS → ZQN
Left
ZQN → CNS
Right
HND → MEL
Left
MEL → HND
Right
ICN → SYD
Left
SYD → ICN
Right
NAN → SIN
Right
SIN → NAN
Left
Tip: Visibility depends on cloud cover, time of day, and how close the flight path comes. Sit on the listed side for the best chance of a view. Morning and evening flights often offer the best lighting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you see Great Barrier Reef from a plane?
Yes — 124 flight routes pass within 80 km of Great Barrier Reef. The closest routes include Brisbane to Edinburgh, Brisbane to Shanghai, Edinburgh to Brisbane. Sit on the Right side, passing directly overhead.
Which side of the plane is best for viewing Great Barrier Reef?
The best side varies by route. For the most common routes near Great Barrier Reef: on a Brisbane to Edinburgh flight, sit on the Right side; on a Brisbane to Shanghai flight, visible from both sides; on a Edinburgh to Brisbane flight, sit on the Left side.