See Melbourne in the striking first light.
Stephen Tompkinson may be making ballooning across Australia popular in his new ITV series but travelling around Australia by hot air balloon isn’t a new phenomenon. In fact it’s by far the best way to see Australia! Imagine soaring through the air in a beautiful bright balloon, having an unparalleled 360° view of the magnificent Australian scenery. Unlike a helicopter or an airplane, you are not confined to a metal container, instead you can experience not only the sights of the landscape you are exploring, but the sounds and smells too. Nothing gets you closer to the true Australian experience!
If you go for an outback flight you can get close to the unique Australian wildlife as they carry on with their daily routines completely undeterred by the silent balloon floating above them. See the bright and colourful birds perched atop their treetop canopies, you’ll be so close you could almost touch their feathers! See the desert landscape or rugged mountains like they’ve never been seen before and as you slowly drift along you can take in all the sights without missing a single thing. Few people experience Australia from the air quite like this, so be one of the privileged few!
If you want a city experience then see the sights, hear the sounds and smell the scents of city life with a balloon ride over one of Australia’s major cities. Drift peacefully over Sydney Harbour and get a bird’s eye view of the Opera House. See the city and beyond in all its beauty !
As Stephen Tompkinson finds out, ballooning over Australia is a truly magical and unforgettable experience and whilst exploring the whole continent of Australia by balloon may be out of most people’s limits, experiencing parts of Australia this way certainly isn’t. We give you a summary of some of the best balloon tours on offer around Australia so that you too, can experience the wonders of Australia by air.
Outback Ballooning
Alice Springs is noted for its diverse and beautiful landscapes. Dominated by the great Simpson Desert which is famous for the huge red sand dunes and fascinating rock formations such as Chambers Pillar and Rainbow Valley. To the east and west of Alice Spring lies the rugged and majestic MacDonnell Ranges which are dotted with blue shining rock pools that are popular swimming holes for tourists.
Drift over fantastic Alice Springs territory.
Exploring this region by balloon is an exhilarating experience! Spinifex Ballooning lets you begin your journey just before dawn, so by the time the sun is lighting up the skies and throwing its radiant colours around this most spectacular of landscapes you are gently rising in the air. You can drift effortlessly over the peaks of the MacDonnell ranges, observe kangaroos at close ranges grazing in the morning sun and feel your spirit soaring as you survey the vast landscape stretching out in front of you.
Once you’ve got your breath back from the tremendous experience, your balloon flight will be celebrated with a picnic breakfast complete with sparkling wine so you can toast your success and recount your experience with your fellow travellers. Visit Spinfex Ballooning for more information.
If gliding peacefully over the famous vineyards of Australia is more your cup of tea – or should that be, glass of wine? – then Wine Country Ballooning is for you. Romantics will love watching the sun rise over the Hunter Valley regions with Hunter Balloon Rides. Soak up the majesty of this wine lovers region in an experience not to be forgotten. And what better way to finish off the perfect balloon flight than the perfect glass of bubbly from the very Valley you’ve just been floating over? Hunter Valley Balloons also do special VIP flights which make the perfect gift.
Tropical Hinterlands
See the tropical Gold Coast hinterland as you’ve never seen it before! Beyond the hotels of the Gold Coast lies a tropical paradise that few travellers get to see. 100,000 hectares of National Parks and reserves make up the Gold Coast Hinterland – all teeming with wildlife. The highest mountains in this region are the Tallebudgera Moutaine, Mount Tamborine and Springbrook Mountain. Many of the parks within this region are UNESCO World Heritage sites and are known for their beauty that is unsurpassed anywhere else. Rugged mountaineous regions are broken up by cascading waterfalls and steep valleys as well as 20,590 hectares of rainforest. Now you can see it all from the calmness of the skies. Hot Air do a range of packages that include a champagne breakfast. Whether you want to treat yourself or someone close to you, no gift speaks more than an unforgettable experience like this one!
City Balloon Flights
Sydney may not be the capital of Australia, but it’s certainly the capital of tourism. Here you will find the iconic Sydney Opera House as well as Harbour Bridge, Royal Botanical Gardens and Sydney Tower. The city is vibrant and buzzing with life and all of that can be captured perfectly from the air.
Balloon Aloft have won the travel and tourism awards twice and was the winner of the best adventure tour operator, so you know you are in good hands! The flight takes you from Homebush through the Penrith Valley so you can see the city in all its glory, lit up by the rising morning sun. The Harbour glistens and sparkles as it winds its way through the heart of Sydney and then a breathtaking change of scenery as you catch a glimpse of the Blue Mountains shimmering in the light and the look down at the treetop canopy by the Nepean River as you pass so close you could almost reach out and touch the leaves. As you land back down onto terra firma you get to toast the morning with a champagne breakfast and view your in-flight photos.
Soar like an eagle over Sydney's mountains.
Or if the laid-back and chilled out city of Melbourne is more your style then choose to meander through the city with BalloonoverMelbourne and see the city as it awakes from its slumber along with the beautiful and often rugged coastline on the city’s fringes. As ever you get to finish off the morning trip with a champagne breakfast and then the chance to explore Melbourne from the ground, treasuring the fact that you’ve seen a view of Melbourne that is rarely glimpsed by anyone!
So make your holiday in Australia a truly remarkable and memorable one or treat your loved ones to an experience they will never forget. If I ever draw up a bucket list, a balloon ride over Australia will be on it! Surely it should be on everyone’s ‘must do’ list?
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