Brisbane Hot Air Ballooning

Hot air ballooning in Brisbane means floating over farmland and hinterland at sunrise, with balloons launching around Ipswich and out in the Scenic Rim. Trips drift with the wind for around an hour, and breakfast on the ground often follows.

Where hot air balloon flights near Brisbane launch

Balloon flights near Brisbane launch west and south-west of the city, in the Ipswich area and out in the Scenic Rim. Ipswich is a 30-minute drive west of the CBD, and from the basket you can take in the city skyline, patchwork farmland and the Great Dividing Range.

The Scenic Rim flights float over the hinterland, with the coastline in view on the other side.

What a sunrise ballooning trip is like

Balloons lift off around sunrise, so ballooning means an early start, with meeting times set before dawn and your operator confirming the exact time after you book. Your pilot gives commentary on what's below as the light comes up, and passengers can help the crew inflate and deflate the balloon if they want to. A commemorative flight certificate is a usual part of the morning.

Ipswich trips are about an hour in the air, and those that add breakfast and transfers fill most of the morning.

Ballooning options near Brisbane: simple, with a meal or private

Flight-only trips, such as the Greater Brisbane scenic balloon flight, keep the morning simple: the flight, the commentary and your own plans for breakfast. Flights that add a meal, such as the Greater Brisbane balloon flight with breakfast, finish at a restaurant.

Scenic Rim experiences go further. A trip like the Scenic Rim balloon experience with breakfast at O'Reilly's Vineyard ends with a hot vineyard breakfast and sparkling wine, and includes coach transfers from Nerang or Canungra.

For a group of your own, a private balloon flight with breakfast and wine tasting is flown for your party alone, with private hotel transfers from Brisbane.

What weather decides a ballooning day near Brisbane

Balloons need calm, stable air, so pilots call flights off for rain, for fog expected at landing, and for winds that are too fast or too slow aloft. In the Scenic Rim, slightly stronger winds from the east are workable, because they carry balloons inland where surface winds are usually lighter.

Cooler overnight temperatures suit ballooning, and the early start is chilly from April to October, so dress warm.

Balloon flights and other Brisbane activities

A morning in the air leaves the rest of the day free for other Brisbane activities, from a Story Bridge climb to skydiving near Brisbane. Gold Coast hot air ballooning is the nearest alternative if you're staying on the coast, and hot air ballooning around Australia runs from Melbourne to Cairns.

Frequently asked questions

Where can you go hot air ballooning near Brisbane?

Hot air balloon flights near Brisbane launch around Ipswich, a 30-minute drive west of the CBD, and in the Scenic Rim hinterland. Pick-ups from Nerang, Canungra and Brisbane hotels are available on some trips.

How long is a hot air balloon flight in Brisbane?

The Ipswich balloon flights are about an hour in the air. Scenic Rim experiences with breakfast and transfers fill most of the morning.

What time do hot air balloon flights near Brisbane start?

Balloon flights near Brisbane lift off around sunrise, with meeting and pick-up times set well before dawn. Your operator confirms the exact time after you book.

Is breakfast included on a Brisbane hot air balloon flight?

Breakfast depends on the balloon flight you choose. Some Brisbane flights are flight only, while others include a restaurant breakfast or a hot vineyard breakfast with sparkling wine.

Can you book a private hot air balloon flight near Brisbane?

Private hot air balloon flights near Brisbane are available for groups from 2 to 24 passengers, with private hotel transfers from Brisbane and a vineyard breakfast.

What is the minimum age for a hot air balloon flight in Brisbane?

Children under 6 can't fly on the Ipswich balloon flights under Australian aviation rules, and the Scenic Rim flights set their own minimum age. Check the age rules on the flight you choose.

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

Pilots call off Brisbane balloon flights for rain, fog and winds that are too fast or too slow, because balloons need calm, stable air. Check the cancellation terms on your flight for rebooking and refund details.

What should I wear on a hot air balloon flight near Brisbane?

Wear layers, a hat and sunglasses, avoid white clothes and bring a camera. From April to October it's cold before dawn, so add warm clothes.

A sunrise in the basket is one of the quieter ways to see the country around Brisbane, and there's plenty more to do in Brisbane once the morning is done.