Paradise Helicopters tour - North Shore
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Paradise Helicopters tour - North Shore
A tour with Paradise Helicopters out of Turtle Bay Resort offers some picturesque moments of Oahu's North Shore. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Turtle Bay Resort - hotel
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Turtle Bay Resort - hotel
A ride from Paradise Helicopters provides an aerial view of Turtle Bay Resort. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Paradise Helicopters - Palmer G.C. at Turtle Bay Resort
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Paradise Helicopters - Palmer G.C. at Turtle Bay Resort
The Palmer Course at Turtle Bay Resort looks easier from the air on a tour with Paradise Helicopters than it really plays. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Paradise Helicopters tour - Goat Island
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Paradise Helicopters tour - Goat Island
A small piece of land called "Goat Island" off the North Shore of Oahu near Turtle Bay Resort is visible during a tour with Paradise Helicopters. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Paradise Helicopters - North Shore coastline
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Paradise Helicopters - North Shore coastline
A tour of the North Shore with Paradise Helicopters reveals the rugged beauty of Oahu. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Polynesian Cultural Center
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Polynesian Cultural Center
The Polynesian Cultural Center, as seen from the air during a tour with Paradise Helicopters, is a popular tourist destination on the North Shore of Oahu. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Paradise Helicopters tour - Sacred Falls on Oahu
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Paradise Helicopters tour - Sacred Falls on Oahu
The only way to see the Sacred Falls is from a tour with Paradise Helicopters out of Turtle Bay Resort. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Turtle Bay Resort - Palmer golf course - 17th
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Turtle Bay Resort - Palmer golf course - 17th
Check out the bird's-eye view of the 17th hole on the Palmer Course at Turtle Bay Resort from a tour with Paradise Helicopters. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Paradise Helicopters tour
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Paradise Helicopters tour
My tour of the North Shores with Paradise Helicopters landed on a tiny ridge in the Ko'olau Mountains of Oahu. Courtesy of Paradise Helicopters
Paradise Helicopters - 'Magnum P.I.' chopper
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Paradise Helicopters - 'Magnum P.I.' chopper
Paradise Helicopters, which operates out of Turtle Bay Resort, flies a replica of the chopper used in the popular TV series "Magnum P.I. Courtesy of Paradise Helicopters
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Bird's-eye view: Paradise Helicopters soars above Oahu's North Shore from Turtle Bay Resort

KAHUKU, Oahu -- Turtle Bay Resort is the only Oahu resort launching helicopter tours right on property, making a magical flight along the scenic North Shore a convenient attraction for guests.

Paradise Helicopters sells a handful of tours, ranging from a short $56 ride to a full-blown adventure, the Oahu Magnum Experience, for $314 that covers the entire island, including Diamond Head and Waikiki.

I was lucky enough to ride in "The Chopper," a four-person helicopter that's a replica from the TV show "Magnum P.I." My 45-minute adventure explored the North Shore's best scenery, soaring above Turtle Bay's hotel and its Palmer Course, the Polynesian Cultural Center, Goat Island and Sacred Falls, a stunning multi-tiered waterfall pouring down from the Ko'olau Mountains. The 1,000-foot falls are only visible by air. They're located inside The Sacred Falls State Park, closed since 1999 after a rock slide killed multiple hikers.

After hovering above the falls, our pilot skillfully landed on a narrow mountain ridge, where we could take pictures of a lush valley and enjoy a drink overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Our pilot finished with a few thrills, taking off into a fear-inducing nosedive off the cliff and later, cruising full speed just above the pounding surf near the resort.

A similar tour, without the mountain landing, will cost $142 per person, money well spent for such a cool experience.

For more information on Paradise Helicopters, see www.paradisecopters.com.

Jason Scott Deegan has reviewed and photographed more than 1,100 courses and written about golf destinations in 25 countries for some of the industry's biggest publications. His work has been honored by the Golf Writer's Association of America and the Michigan Press Association. Follow him on Instagram at @jasondeegangolfpass and Twitter at @WorldGolfer.
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Bird's-eye view: Paradise Helicopters soars above Oahu's North Shore from Turtle Bay Resort