Cairns skydive, reef far below.

Few drop zones put this much into one view. Skydive Australia promises freefall over the Great Barrier Reef, the green rainforest and the city of Cairns, and places its check-in at the Reef Fleet Terminal, among the shops and cafes of the tourist precinct. The operator also notes that a skydive here climbs about 4 times higher than the top station of the nearby Skyrail.

The reef is the reason most people come to Cairns at all, and from altitude you see its colour rather than its coral: bands of turquoise, then deep blue, with the coast curving away. Inland the land rises into the rainforest ranges. Under the canopy, once the noise of freefall is gone, there is time to take all of it in.

Cairns is also an easy place to arrive. Tourism Australia says Cairns Airport is 5.5 km from the city, and the operator says its check-in is about a 15-minute drive from the airport. Tourism Australia names the Gimuy-walubarra yidi as the Traditional Owners of the city and the country around it. It is worth remembering on the way down that you are looking at their country.

The listing lets you reserve now and pay later, and free cancellation runs up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. For an activity that depends on the sky, that flexibility matters: you can lock in a date during your first days in town and still change plans if the forecast or your nerves move. Booking ahead also helps in busy months, when the early slots go first.

Inside the last day the rules tighten. The operator's own terms charge a 100% fee for cancellations within 24 hours, and say that backing out of the jump means losing what you paid. If you booked through a reseller, the operator says refunds go back through that agent. Weather cancellations are a separate matter, covered in the weather section further up.

The jump price also includes things you might expect to pay for separately. On the operator's rate card, the Cairns fare already covers three months of Australian Parachute Federation membership plus the compulsory personal accident insurance. What it does not include is the camera, which is sold as an extra. That is worth knowing before you compare prices between listings.

Everyone steps on the scales at check-in in clothes and shoes, and from 94 kg the operator adds a surcharge. Its terms set the bands at AUD 55, AUD 80 and AUD 105, and say the maximum at most of its drop zones is 110 to 115 kg, varying by drop zone and by day. The listing says people over 95 kilograms are permitted subject to the Safety Officer's approval.

The minimum age is 16 by law, and anyone under 18 has to bring a parent or legal guardian along on the day to sign the forms at the drop zone. The listing says children under 18 can take part with their parents' written consent. Younger children can come to watch, but must be supervised by an adult at the drop zone at all times.

Tell the operator about any medical condition, injury or illness before the jump date. It asks about epilepsy and heart conditions before booking, and its policy bars anyone who is pregnant from jumping. The weight and age guide covers the details, including what happens if the scales show more than the limit allows.