A day you shall never forget.
The evening BEFORE the flight, between 06:30 and 07:30 p.m. you need to call 1800-BALLOON (1800-22 55 66) to make sure your flight is going ahead. You will either talk to your pilot or a recorded message will tell you what to expect the following morning.
If the weather is suitable, we will meet at the Sofitel Hotel on 25 Collins Street as stated in your confirmation email, approximately one and a half hours before Sunrise. Yes, this is EARLY, especially in late Spring and early Summer when we can sometimes meet as early as 04:15 A.M. Our aim is to be in the air before Sunrise, not only to see the sunrise from a balloon over Melbourne but also because this is the safest moment of the day to fly, it is when the winds tend to be at their calmest. Our vehicles will drive you to our selected launch site where we proceed to inflate the balloon with the help of any passengers that are able and willing to participate in the preparations…this is meant to be fun and interesting. These gentle giants are MASSIVE and seeing them take shape as we first inflate them with cold air, later to heat the air with our powerful burners, is a lovely sight and experience, one which followers are welcome to come and watch as well.
Once all passengers are on board and after a short safety briefing, we will lift off and drift in the wind for approximately one hour, give or take, as the pilot will have to manoeuvre the winds at different heights to land the balloon in one of the many locations we are allowed to land on. Our vehicle will be following us during the whole flight. After we have landed, together with willing passengers, we proceed to pack the balloon away and we will drive you back to our original meeting place where you can enjoy an optional five-star champagne breakfast, truly the best way to finish your morning with us.