Sydney Seaplanes

Flying 1,000 feet above water, past sandy half-moon coves dotted with white sails in the turquoise sea, lush bush-cloaked headlands, and soaring above the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, I thought to myself: Sydney is bloody beautiful.

Based in Rose Bay and operating since the mid-2000s, Sydney Seaplanes runs scenic flights and fly-and-dine experiences daily. Passengers can take the ‘Sydney Highlights’ journey ($310), flying above the curve of Bondi Beach before looping back over the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. Or try the ‘Sydney Secrets’ route ($440) which begins at Rose Bay, follows the Northern Beaches to Palm Beach (the birthplace of Home and Away), glides over the waterways of Pittwater, and finishes with Sydney’s biggest landmarks.

Before boarding, our friendly pilot Nick Amey runs through a safety briefing, and then it’s go time. Along the way, he points out landmark beaches from Camp Cove to Shelly Beach, Avalon to Palm Beach, peppering his commentary with insightful facts from high in the sky.

At one point, a pod of 20 dolphins frolics around Barrenjoey Lighthouse. Nick tilts the plane so passengers can capture the best photos as the flight returns to the inner harbour at 1,000 feet. The Manly Ferry looks like a tiny toy boat from above. The grand finale circles the fortress island of Fort Denison before the plane lands on the water in a rollercoaster-like rush.

Back on land, the Sydney Seaplanes terminal houses a high-end waterside dining spot where locals and visitors can enjoy a coffee and pastry, or Champagne and oysters. A mini museum onsite details the terminal’s history as a destination for luxury aviation.

For a next-level experience, the team also offers a ‘Fly n’ Dine’ package, which includes a 30-minute scenic flight, three-course lunch and a glass of prosecco ($530).

Whether it’s a date, a birthday or just a special day out, Sydney Seaplanes offers a sky-high adventure that’s one for the memory books.

Find out more and book your spot here.

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