Melbourne Hot Air Ballooning

Hot air ballooning in Melbourne means lifting off before sunrise and drifting over the CBD, the Yarra River and the MCG for about an hour. Flights are early-morning, weather-dependent and based in the city, so the whole thing wraps up in the morning.

What a hot air balloon flight over Melbourne involves

A Melbourne hot air balloon flight starts in the dark. You meet your operator before sunrise (the Australian Ballooning Company asks for about half an hour ahead of it), and the exact time shifts through the year as sunrise does. The operator confirms it the evening before, so the time on a booking confirmation is not the one to rely on.

Once the balloon is up, the flight itself lasts about an hour, and with the meet-up and the transfer back from the landing site the whole experience is a 3 to 4-hour morning. Balloons travel with the breeze, which means there's no wind chill in the basket. The air feels the same as it does on the ground.

What you can see from a balloon over Melbourne

Flights can take in Melbourne's CBD skyline, the Yarra River, the MCG and the Australian Tennis Centre, with St Kilda and Port Phillip Bay on the horizon depending on which way the wind takes you. At sunrise the light spreads across the bay and the city wakes up below, which is the part most guests photograph.

Parks and gardens sit alongside the sporting precinct, and the views reach from the Yarra Valley to the water of Port Phillip Bay.

Sunrise and weekday balloon flights from Melbourne CBD

Flights vary by operator, meeting point and what's included. The Melbourne sunrise hot air balloon flight is a 1-hour flight that departs from The Hotel Windsor on Spring Street and offers pickups from selected Melbourne CBD hotels if you give your accommodation address when booking.

The Australian Ballooning Company runs the midweek Melbourne hot air balloon flight, which includes pickup from accommodation within the CBD, a professional pilot and crew, and a transfer vehicle from the landing site. Its Melbourne hot air balloon flight with optional breakfast meets at Sofi's Lounge on the first floor of the Sofitel Melbourne instead, and includes transport between the CBD and the launch and landing sites.

Planning a Melbourne balloon flight

Ballooning depends on the weather, so check the meeting time and conditions the night before and be punctual. Bring a fully charged camera battery, because there's a lot to photograph.

If you want more time in the sky, the Melbourne flying page also has helicopter flights and tandem skydives as well as balloons, and the rest of the Melbourne activities cover more of what to do around Melbourne.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a hot air balloon flight in Melbourne cost?

The price of a Melbourne hot air balloon flight depends on the operator, the day of the week and whether breakfast is included, with separate adult and child tickets on most flights. The current price is shown on each flight's Experience Oz product page.

What time does a hot air balloon flight in Melbourne start?

Melbourne hot air balloon flights take off at sunrise, so you meet your operator in the early hours, about half an hour before sunrise on the Australian Ballooning Company flights. The exact time changes through the year and is confirmed the evening before your flight.

How long is a hot air balloon flight over Melbourne?

A Melbourne hot air balloon flight is a 1-hour flight in the air. With the meet-up and the transfer from the landing site, plan on a 3 to 4-hour morning.

Can kids go on a Melbourne hot air balloon flight?

Yes, child tickets are available on Melbourne balloon flights, and age rules vary by flight. The Australian Ballooning Company sets a minimum age of seven on its flight with optional breakfast, and guests need to stand for the whole 1-hour flight.

What happens if the weather is bad for a Melbourne balloon flight?

Ballooning is weather-dependent, so guests check the meeting time and conditions the night before. The operator confirms the exact time then, and the time on your booking confirmation should not be relied on.

Check the balloon flights above, pick the meeting point that suits where you're staying, and book your hot air balloon flight over Melbourne online.