Guide to Ballooning in Melbourne and Victoria

There is something magical about watching a hot air balloon rise into the early morning sky. A balloon flight gives families a completely different view of Melbourne and Victoria, from the city skyline and winding Yarra River to vineyards, rolling farmland, coastal scenery and the mountains of the High Country.

Most passenger balloon flights take place around sunrise, when conditions are generally more suitable. The flight itself is usually about an hour, but allow three to five hours for the full adventure, including meeting the crew, travelling to the launch site, inflation, landing and the return transfer. Some experiences also offer an optional breakfast.

Ballooning can be a wonderful special-occasion experience for older children, but it is not suitable for very young children. Most of the Victorian operators listed below have a minimum passenger age of six years. Age, height, supervision and mobility requirements vary, so check directly with the operator before paying for a family booking. All flights depend on weather and wind conditions, and the exact route cannot be guaranteed.

Hot Air Balloon Flights Over Melbourne

Melbourne is an especially memorable place to experience a sunrise balloon flight, with changing views that may include the Yarra River, the MCG, city skyscrapers, parks and Port Phillip Bay. Balloons travel with the wind, so the actual route varies from day to day.

BalloonMan (Melbourne)

Flight area: Melbourne and surrounds. Meeting point: Grand Hyatt Melbourne, 42-44 Russell Street, Melbourne.

BalloonMan operates sunrise flights over Melbourne, with options for a shared flight, a flight with breakfast or a private balloon experience. Passengers travel with the ground crew to a launch site selected for the morning's conditions and return after landing. Children must be at least six years old.

Global Ballooning Australia (East Melbourne)

Flight area: Melbourne and surrounds. Meeting point: Pullman Melbourne on the Park, 192 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne.

Global Ballooning Australia offers sunrise flights over Melbourne with the chance to see familiar landmarks from a very different perspective. Flight-only, breakfast and private options are available. The operator also runs flights in the Yarra Valley and Mansfield. Children under six cannot fly.

Go Wild Ballooning (Melbourne)

Flight area: Melbourne and surrounds. Meeting point: Sofitel Melbourne on Collins, 25 Collins Street, Melbourne.

Go Wild Ballooning offers Melbourne sunrise flights, with the launch location chosen according to the weather. Its Melbourne, Yarra Valley and Geelong experiences have separate booking options. The minimum passenger age for its Melbourne flights is six years.

Liberty Balloon Flights (Melbourne)

Flight area: Melbourne and surrounds.

Liberty Balloon Flights operates sunrise balloon experiences over Melbourne, with flight-only and breakfast packages. It also has bookable flights in the Yarra Valley and Geelong. Children must be at least six years old.

Hot Air Balloon Flights in the Yarra Valley

The Yarra Valley offers a quieter rural setting, with vineyards, orchards, farmland and surrounding hills making a beautiful backdrop at sunrise. The landscape is particularly attractive when low morning mist settles across the valley.

Global Ballooning Australia (Yarra Valley)

Flight area: Yarra Valley.

Sunrise flights travel above the Yarra Valley countryside, with a flight-only choice and other packages that may include breakfast or Melbourne transfers. This is an appealing option for families who would rather look down on open countryside than city buildings.

Go Wild Ballooning (Yarra Valley)

Meeting point: Chateau Yering Hotel, 42 Melba Highway, Yering.

Go Wild Ballooning's Yarra Valley flights take in vineyards and farmland, with a sunrise flight of approximately one hour. Optional breakfast and transfers from Melbourne are offered. Children must be at least six years old.

Liberty Balloon Flights (Yarra Valley)

Flight area: Yarra Valley.

Liberty runs sunrise balloon flights over the Yarra Valley, including packages with breakfast and an option for transfers from Melbourne. Check the current itinerary carefully, as transfer packages make for a longer morning than a self-drive booking.

Blue Skies Ballooning (Yarra Valley)

Flight areas: Yarra Valley and the Rutherglen-Corowa wine region.

Blue Skies Ballooning offers smaller-group balloon experiences over vineyard and rural landscapes. Check the operator's current flight locations, child suitability and availability before booking.

Hot Air Balloon Flights in Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula

Geelong ballooning combines city, coast and countryside. Depending on the wind, the views can include Geelong's waterfront, Corio Bay, the Bellarine Peninsula, nearby farmland and Port Phillip Bay.

Geelong Ballooning (Geelong)

Meeting point: Novotel Geelong, 10-14 Eastern Beach Road, Geelong.

Geelong Ballooning, part of Go Wild Ballooning, offers sunrise flights over Geelong and surrounding areas. The flight lasts approximately one hour and the full outing takes around three to five hours. There are public group flights and private flight options. Children must be at least six years old.

Liberty Balloon Flights (Geelong)

Meeting point: Holiday Inn & Suites Geelong, 40 Ryrie Street, Geelong.

Liberty's Geelong flights offer changing views of the waterfront, Barwon River, Bellarine Peninsula and surrounding countryside. Flights begin before sunrise and typically include transfers to and from the chosen launch site. Children must be at least six years old.

Hot Air Balloon Flights in Mansfield and the King Valley

The Victorian High Country provides an entirely different ballooning backdrop, with broad valleys, farmland and distant mountain ranges. In cooler months, Mansfield flights may offer views towards the snow-covered mountains around Mt Buller.

Mansfield - Global Ballooning Australia

Flight area: Mansfield and the surrounding High Country.

Global Ballooning operates sunrise flights in Mansfield throughout the year and also offers afternoon flights during May to September. The surrounding countryside and mountain views make this a memorable choice for a family High Country getaway. Children must be at least six years old.

Mansfield - Goldrush Ballooning

Flight areas: Mansfield and the King Valley, with selected seasonal flights elsewhere in north-east Victoria.

Goldrush Ballooning offers sunrise flights over Mansfield and the King Valley, with scenery ranging from open valleys and vineyards to views towards the mountains. The operator also offers seasonal flights above canola-growing country in north-east Victoria when available. Children must be at least six years old and able to see over the basket rim unaided.

Hot Air Balloon Flights in Bendigo

BalloonMan Bendigo (Bendigo)

Flight area: Bendigo and surrounding countryside.

BalloonMan also offers sunrise flights over Bendigo, providing views of the historic city and surrounding bushland and farmland. The Bendigo operation has its own flight bookings and meeting arrangements, so check the details for this location rather than using the Melbourne itinerary. Children aged six and over can participate, subject to the operator's conditions.

Things Families Should Know Before Booking

Minimum age: Most of the Victorian commercial flights above accept children from six years old, but this is an operator requirement, not a universal age rule. Confirm the minimum age and any height restrictions for your chosen flight.
Adult supervision: Children must travel with a responsible adult. Check the operator's supervision requirements when booking.
Very early starts: Expect to meet well before sunrise. This can mean getting children out of bed in the dark and travelling before breakfast.
Standing and climbing: Passengers generally need to climb into the basket, stand throughout the flight and follow the pilot's instructions for take-off and landing. Discuss any mobility or medical concerns with the operator before booking.
Weather cancellations: Flights can be postponed at short notice because of wind, rain, visibility or other safety conditions. Leave flexibility in your plans and read the rescheduling and refund terms before paying.
What to wear: Dress for the outdoor temperature at dawn, with layers and sturdy enclosed shoes. The launch and landing sites may be grassy or uneven.
Flight path: A balloon travels with the wind, so neither a particular landmark nor a specific route is guaranteed.
Cost: Ballooning is a premium experience. Check each operator's website for current fares, family booking conditions, breakfast inclusions and any additional charges.

You do not need to book a balloon ride to enjoy seeing balloons in the sky. On suitable early mornings you may spot them above Melbourne or the Yarra Valley, but their flight paths change with the weather, so there is no guaranteed viewing location. If you are hoping to watch a launch, ask the operator where spectators are permitted rather than entering a launch or landing area without permission.