• While floating above the Atherton Tablelands behind Cairns on your hot air balloon, do keep your eyes peeled for animals, they often hide but suddenly you could spot some ’kangaroos take off!  
• Inflating the Hot Air balloon is impressive as the skin seems to suddenly expand into life so try to get a shot in front of it! Share your selfie to our Facebook page.
• It’s a good idea to wear a hat because of the heat from the hot air balloon burner which can also give off soot, so also avoid wearing white or light clothes.
• Cairns offers the cheapest place in Australia to fly in a hot air balloon so take advantage of this amazing way to explore Cairns and Far North Queensland from the air.
• Ask about our romance hot air balloon flight packages with breakfast on the beach. Book a solo hot air balloon, pop the question and then be transported to a beachfront restaurant in Palm Cove 
• Book a Gift Voucher Hot Air Balloon flight for a loved one.

Hot air balloon rides from Cairns, Northern Beaches and Port Douglas is the cheapest and best value hot air ballooning in Australia! Cairns Hot Air Ballooning takes you over the beautiful Atherton Tablelands. Have you always wanted to go up in a hot air balloon?

Cairns Hot Air Ballooning takes you over the beautiful Atherton Tablelands where you have the opportunity to sneak up on grazing kangaroos, wallabies and other wildlife in their natural habitat, even unsuspecting people coming out of their house in their pyjamas to collect the newspaper.

Glide in your hot air balloon over all the beautiful farmlands aptly named the Tablelands as this is the ultimate region for growing tropical fruits, vegetables and macadamia nuts.

We fly our hot air balloons from the Atherton Tablelands so we keep our costs down and our guests win with the cheapest and best value hot air balloon tours in Australia!

Riding along warm air currents in a hot air balloon is one of the most unique, once-in-a-lifetime experiences to be had, and is synonymous with tranquillity and romance.

Hot Air Ballon Ride Options

• Classic Self Drive
• Classic with return transfers from Cairns, Northern Beaches & Port Douglas
• VIP Luxury Hot Air Ballooning packages from Cairns, Northern Beaches & Port Douglas
• Luxury Private Ballooning Experience

What You Will See On Your Cairns Hot Air Balloon Ride

Departing from Cairns & Northern Beaches in your coach pick up you arrive on the Atherton Tablelands for your early morning adventure.

Your hot air balloon glides smoothly through the soft white clouds as you gaze below at the enchanting display of Australian nature at its finest.

Watch green patchwork paddocks melt into tropical forest, glimpse native Australian wildlife scurry through the trees as exotic birds soar through the forest canopy.

The majestic forest clad mountains of the Great Dividing Range soar out of the ground, tall and proud, and command your fullest attention.

The horizon, an extraordinarily impossible distance away dissolves into the ground below, creating a breathtaking and enchanting spectacle for you to appreciate.

How To Get To The Hot Air Balloon Site

Hot Air Balloons from Cairns provide guests the unique opportunity to experience ballooning for a 60 minute balloon flight.

The day begins at 5.00am approx with a comfortable coach transfer from your hotel accommodation (hotel transfers are available from Cairns, Cairns Northern Beaches (Palm Cove) and Port Douglas

Hot air balloons use the rural region of Mareeba on the Atherton Tablelands as a point of departure for balloon flights, as it’s renowned for stable weather conditions that are conducive to successful ballooning, thus providing the most reliable ballooning experience in Australia and the cheapest ballooning experience in Australia.

Where Do The Cairns Hot Air Balloons Fly?

Your take off point Mareeba on the Atherton Tablelands is located roughly an hour west of Cairns and Port Douglas, and the morning journey showcases some beautiful native Australian forest that has a mysterious ambiance in the dusky ebony twilight.

On arrival at the launch site you will be greeted by the spectacular display of the inflation of the Hot Air Balloons.

Each balloon has its own distinctive design (including native Australian designs such as koala’s and kangaroo’s), that is only revealed upon inflation.

We have the largest range of balloons in the Southern Hemisphere, thus providing guests with the unique carnival atmosphere of a balloon festival each morning.

The Cairns Hot Air Ballooning Experience

The Cairns hot air ballooning experience is simply breathtaking. From the moment the majestic balloon begins its smooth and silent ascent into the powder blue tropical sky, and the ground below starts to quietly fall away, there is a unique sense of calmness and tranquillity.

As the balloon gently glides through the sky, and the sun rises over the forest clad hills, there is an exquisite feeling of harmony and oneness with nature that no other experience encapsulates.

Feel the extraordinary exhilaration as you share the sky with other hot air balloons, and marvel at the amazing heights the balloon soars over the lush green Cairns countryside.

Our fleet of Cairns hot air balloons is the largest in Australia, with the capacity to carry up to 20 people, thus the unique feeling of flying can be shared with others. The ballooning experience is so exquisite that many people conduct weddings and marriage proposals in the hot air balloon with family and friends.

Hot air ballooning is such a unique experience, largely due to the fact that no two ballooning journeys will ever be alike. Ballooning relies solely on wind currents, thus the location for landing will always be different.

Cairns Hot Air Balloon Pack Up Time

The fun really begins once you’re back on terra firma, assisting the hot air ballooning staff deflate and pack up the balloon, while playing fun games that provide an entertaining finish to an exquisite experience.

There is plenty of time for more photographs, and lots of laughs. After the balloon is packed away, it’s the quiet calm journey back down the mountain range to your Cairns or northern Beaches resort or to meet your next tour adventure connection for the day such as a day on the Great Barrier Reef at beautiful Green Island .

Ask us about our great value hot air balloon package deals.

View more scenic flights around Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef and great value combo package tour deals.

Classic Self Drive

Meet our Pilots & Crew at the Mareeba Heritage Centre. Meeting times are confirmed on booking but it is generally around 6.00am

Port Douglas 1 hour & 15 minute drive
Atherton 30min drive
Cairns 1 hour drive via Kuranda Range Road (Kennedy Highway) - Note: Kuranda Range Road opens at 4am.

6.30am
Experience the fun & unique sensation of being in a Hot Air Balloon, flying gently high above the Atherton Tablelands, Australia.
The balloon takes off from Mareeba on the Atherton Tablelands.
Enjoy the picturesque landscape at dawn, floating in your Hot Air Balloon, time to really breathe in the wide-open spaces!
We have Australia's largest fleet of Hot Air Balloons and a fun and highly trained crew to maximise the enjoyment of your balloon flight. It's just like a balloon festival, every day!

7.50am
Our hot air balloon flights are more than an aerial adventure.
Upon landing, you're invited to a post-flight celebration featuring an array of locally-sourced refreshments.
Delight in a selection of fresh fruits, energising muesli bars, scrumptious muffins, and a delectable variety of savoury pastries and quiche.
Pair these with our carefully selected sparkling wine or a refreshing orange juice, as you share your experiences and create connections with fellow adventurers, our pilot, and support crew.
Please note, our offerings may vary to continuously provide you with the best of local produce.
Digital photos are available for free after your morning with us and will be automatically emailed to you.

8.00am
Drop off to the Mareeba Heritage Centre.
The tour finish time varies with the seasons (summer, winter and the time of sunrise).

Classic with return transfers from Cairns, Northern Beaches & Port Douglas

Cairns & Norhtern Beaches

This option with return transfers from your accommodation in Cairns or on the Northen Beaches (Palm Cove, Trinity Beach, Clifton Beach) follows the same itinerary as the self drive option except for:

5.00am Pick up from your accommodation in Cairns & Northern Beaches

9.30am - 10.00am
The tour finish time varies with the seasons (summer, winter and the time of sunrise). 
We can drop you back to your Cairns accommodation or, with prior notice, we can drop you off to the Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal, Skyrail, Tjapukai or perhaps a Cairns cafe or restaurant if you would like to have breakfast at your own arrangements.

Port Douglas

This option with return transfers from your accommodation in Cairns or on the Northen Beaches follows the same itinerary as the self drive option except for the return time.

9.00am - 9.30am
The tour finish time varies with the seasons (summer, winter and the time of sunrise)

VIP Luxury Hot Air Ballooning packages from Cairns, Northern Beaches & Port Douglas

This experience is designed for two passenger however we can accommodate sinle flyer - minimum charge equivalent to two passengers applies.

Pre dawn pick up, 5.00am approx.
Designed for two people only, enjoy private and exclusive door to door pickup at your Cairns, Palm Cove or Port Douglas Resort.
Enjoy the scenic drive to the Atherton Tablelands for the gentle beginning on Australia's only Luxury Hot Air balloon tour this morning! 
Your confirmed Pickup/Meeting time will be issued as soon as you Reserve your booking.

6.00am
A great team of pilots, expert and knowledgeable are your guides.
You arrive just in time to see the spectacular sight of your hot air balloon inflate.
Take off & experience the fun & unique sensation of hot air ballooning over the Atherton Tablelands, Australia.
Your hot air balloon ride gently floats over the picturesque landscape as the day begins, allowing you to relax and breathe in the wide-open spaces!

6.30am
The patchwork panorama below brings new sights every day, watch out for the variety of Australian birdlife & take in the peace & serenity that is hot air ballooning.

8.30am - 9.00am
Come back to earth and be whisked off by your private transfer to a beachfront five star resort to enjoy a private breakfast at your own table. 
Breakfast is at one of  The Norths most famous restaurants, NuNus based in Palm Cove. 
Your delicious breakfast is cooked to order is your choice from a gourmet tropical breakfast menu and a glass of cold crisp sparkling wine too.

Return - You decide
Maybe a stroll after breakfast on one of Cairns' beautiful tropical beaches or a few more photographs with a palm tree background and no shoes!
Return private transfer is available of course but , please advise your driver when you wish to depart for your accommodation. 

Tour Languages Offered

• English

Departs From

Cairns

Departure Time

Pre dawn pick up at 5.00am approx.

Departure Instructions

Choose an option including return accommodation transfers OR self drive

Pickup Locations

• Cairns Northern Beaches
• Port Douglas

Destinations

• Atherton Tablelands
• Mareeba - Atherton Tablelands

Months of Operation

January - December

Days of Operation

Daily

Does not operate Christmas Day and New Year's Day

Duration

Up to 60 minute flight

Fitness Level Required

Low, Medium

Restrictions

Must be physically fit and able to climb in and out of balloon basket unaided

Height: From 120 Cm / 3ft11in

Additional Information

Not suitable for pregnant women

• Your ticket
• Walking shoes
• Camera
• Dress casual outdoor layered clothing. White clothing not recommended.
• Peak Hat & sunglasses
• Bottle of water

There is no height limit for flying. The basket is approximately 120cm high with a couple of footholds on a side of the basket where small children can have views through these holes. The minimum age for a child to fly is 3 years old. Children must be supervised at all time and cannot fly on their own. Children's rates are applicable for children aged 3 - 12 years inclusive. Proof of age is required under 5 years, we suggest passport. Children under 3 cannot fly and must stay with an adult at all time.