Hot Air Balloon Ride in Yarra Valley

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Hot Air Balloon Ride in Yarra Valley

23 July 2012 1,844 views 6 Comments

Hot Air Balloon Ride in Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia

In the recent trip to Victoria Australia, I have travelled to a wine producing region called Yarra Valley. Home to dozens of top class wine producers, the best way to enjoy the beautiful scenic of Yarra Valley is by air through hot air balloon and to gaze upon sky as the sun rises.

Riding on a hot air balloon in Yarra Valley is a very popular tourist attraction in Australia. Due to the uncertainty of weather condition in Victoria, I had to stay one night in Yarra Valley before the hot air balloon ride.

It was a very cold morning and the hot air balloon company called up an hour before the ride which was 4 am in the morning for confirmation. If the weather was unpredictable, the hot air balloon ride will be postponed to the next morning. Thankfully, it was a very calm morning and every passenger gathered at the vineyard for briefing before we are transported to a flat land.

Everyone was required to learn to prep the hot air balloon. Firstly, we unfold the balloon from a large bag. Next, the crews will start to inflate the balloon using the cold wind
(with a fan) before using the burner. The pilots and the crews are highly trained professionals to ensure safety for all passengers. It took us almost half an hour to fully inflate the balloon.

At first the sky was pitch dark but as we were trying to lift the hot air balloon, the sky turned brighter. Due to the cold weather, the hot air balloon was lifted hastily and easily.

The hot air balloon can fit approximately six persons at a time. There were three hot air balloons in total and one by one it was lifting away. Although weather was fine however the sky was very cloudy. From above, we could see farmlands, plains and vineyards and the fading moon on top of us. It was as if we were in between heaven and earth.

The morning mist.

It’s Yarra Valley hidden under the mists.

The moon and the hot air balloon.

The hot air balloon lifted us above clouds. The moment felt like the scene from “The Never Ending Story” when the dragon was carrying the boy and flew him through the clouds. The breeze above was so cooling and refreshing until I did not realize we had already flown for almost an hour.

The best picture of the morning, love the clouds.

Can you spot the two hot air balloons?

Good morning Yarra Valley.

This is the real Yarra Valley, what a beauty!

The pilot slowly navigates the hot air balloon landing on clear spot on a farmland. The ground crew will then locate us and transport us back to the vineyard.

Yes, it was not a joke!
Back to vineyard, we celebrated the hot air balloon ride with the original French way with a toast of champagne.

Champagne for breakfast? It was my first time too.
It was not just toast of champagne but a ‘champagne breakfast’.

That was us up on the air!
The hot air balloon ride is not just another ride. In fact, luck plays to hand as weather plays a big part on whether the ride is possible or not. There are a few companies are offering the hot air balloon ride, we took the Global Ballooning.

It is one of those magical moments that you might want to miss. One of the ‘must do’ things in Yarra Valley or else you will regret it. I don’t mind doing it again in the future.

Global Ballooning Pty Ltd

First Floor, 173-175 Swan Street
Richmond, Victoria 3121
Ph: (03) 9428-5703
Fax: (03) 9428-8473
Email: balloon@globalballooning.com.au

Web: http://www.globalballooning.com.au/

A.B.N: 55 314 947 279

Office Trading Hours:
Mon – Fri: 8.30am – 5.00pm

Wednesday 25th April- Anzac Day Closed

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6 Comments »

Meitzeu said:

I wish to enjoy the view from above and sitting inside the hot air balloon!!

Awww~ lovely.

[Reply]

# 24 July 2012 at 11:52 am

Jesse said:

I for one, would probably enjoy this one great adventure too. Though as a frequent flyer by a plane, the thrill of this experience is 3x more worth it.

[Reply]

# 25 July 2012 at 4:10 pm

Hong C. Wern said:

wahlau eh..early morning take champagne d ar?
it’s a nice experience leh to try the hot air balloon…one of my things to do list before I die..hehe
Hong C. Wern´s last [type] ..Pilgrim’s Rest: An Old Gold Mining Town

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