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Ballooning Over, Yarra Valley - VIC
The Experience
Indulge in the sensation that is a balloon flight over the Yarra Valley. Float like the clouds as you witness the sunrise climbing over the unforgettable Yarra Valley horizon, close to Melbourne city it's one of Australia’s premier wine regions with spectacular scenery...
As you are floating you will feel no wind as you have become the wind, simply relax and enjoy the oldest and most romantic form of flight known to man. After your flight you have the opportunity to reflect on the experience over a Gourmet 'champagne' breakfast at five star Chateau Yering Historic Guest House.
Our pilots are internationally recognised and have received various awards for their piloting ability, so you are in great hands.
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Gifting this experience.
This Experience is perfect as a gift to a loved one, friend or colleague.
Top 3 facts on Gift Vouchers:
- Gift Vouchers are valid for 6 months from date of purchase
- You don’t have to pick a date straight away you can leave it open dated so the recipient can choose their own date.
- Gift Vouchers can be delivered via an instant email voucher (free) or a beautifully presented Gift Box (additional $15 incl express post)
Additional InfoWe are the Yarra Valley's most experienced Hot Air Ballooning Company. Our reputation for the reliability and safety is unsurpassed.
Please note when you book in for a date our flight manifest must obtain the names of the passengers flying, their approximate weights, home address and contact phone numbers. DurationFlying time is approximately 45 – 60mins. Please allow up to 5 hours for your entire experience.
Dress CodeWe recommend you wear comfortable casual clothes, sturdy shoes and a hat. Don’t forget your camera.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How safe is a balloon flight?
A. Yes. Hot air ballooning is regulated by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, which ensures the highest standards in the licensing of pilots, training, maintenance and quality control of operations. The director and Chief Pilot pioneered hot air ballooning in the Yarra Valley and has a wealth of experience ballooning all over Australia. Safety and comfort of passengers are our pilots’ highest priorities. Unlike fixed-wing aircraft we only fly when the weather conditions are just right; we would rather disappoint passengers than risk a flight in less than sound conditions.
Q. How many people does a balloon hold?
A. We have a number of balloon basket sizes to suit the group numbers; these range from one which fits 2 or 3 people to one which can hold up to 20 passengers. We have the capacity to fly up to 50 passengers on an ideal morning.
Q. What happens on the morning of a flight?
A. After ringing the pilot the night before to confirm weather details and a meeting time, you meet at Chateau Yering at the time nominated and leave your vehicles there. We then transport you to the balloon launch site and invite you to be involved with inflating the balloon. You then fly over the Yarra Valley for approximately an hour, while the ground crew track the progress of the balloon from below. The crew will be there to collect you when you land and transport you back to Chateau Yering for a celebration champagne breakfast. After your breakfast, visit Yering Station Winery’s Cellar Door for your wine tasting and then the Yarra Valley Dairy for a cheese tasting. It is a very civilised way to spend a relaxed and leisurely morning.
Q. What happens if the weather is bad?
A. If your pilot decides at any time that the weather is not suitable for a great flight, then we don't fly. Once or twice a year we even get to the stage of having the balloons ready for take-off and the weather changes to the point where we cannot fly. If your flight does not happen because of the weather you can rebook another date.
Q. What is it like to fly in a hot air balloon?
A. Hot air ballooning is like floating over the earth suspended in a basket that barely moves. The experience is so quiet and peaceful, that passengers have been known to whisper to each other. If you were to close your eyes you would not know if you were ascending or descending.
Q. Where do we fly?
A. We fly all year round over the beautiful Yarra Valley, about an hour east from the Melbourne CBD. This is one of Australia’s premier wine regions as well as being an area of visually spectacular scenery, and we are proud to continue the historic connections between hot air ballooning and vineyards.
Q. Is it cold during the flight?
A. You will be no colder in the balloon than when you are on the ground. The burners are located above your head and, as you will be moving with the wind, there is no wind chill..
Q. What do you see from the air?
A. At first you are absorbed by the immediate landscape gently moving away from you, the texture of the vineyards, the roads and cars getting smaller, the huge balloon above your head, the roar of the burners. Then your eyes travel to the Melbourne cityscape nestled by Port Phillip Bay and the flat of the western plains. The Dandenong Ranges are in another direction, beyond which is French Island in Westernport Bay. When the pilot rotates the balloon 180 degrees, you will see the sweep of the Great Dividing Range, the jewelled reservoirs in the morning light and more of the beautiful Yarra Valley with it’s meandering river course and vineyards.
Q. Do weather conditions affect a balloon flight?
A. Unlike powered flight, hot air balloons depend on wind currents and wind direction to travel from one point to another, so inclement weather such as gusty or high winds and rain can prevent a flight from taking off. In the event of possible inclement weather, passengers will be notified the night before when they ring their pilot; Should the flight not proceed, then you will be able to reschedule the flight for anther convenient date.
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