Location: 1 Old Brunswick Road, Byron Bay, NSW
Want to view Byron’s beauty from the air but a skydiving experience a little too extreme for you? Understandable, and fortunately there’s an easy, tranquil and laid-back alternative that awaits – a hot air balloon ride with Byron Bay Ballooning should do the trick.
Byron Bay’s spectacular “Green Cauldron” is a stunning and criminally underrated environment that deserves more national press for its scenery, and this is something you’ll get to fully appreciate when seen while floating through the air in the early morning sunlight.
An experience that blends scenery and sightseeing with a touch of romance and some of the best photo opportunities you’re likely to come across during your time exploring Byron, a hot air balloon ride might not be cheap but in terms of providing views and a sense of scale of the landscape and layout of this part of Northern NSW as a whole, it’s definitely hard to beat.
A locally owned and operated company, the balloon guides here sure know their stuff – not only are they expert pilots but they know the region like the back of their hand, and as a result, a ballooning ride here is as informative as it is beautiful.
The ballooning experience requires a VERY early wakeup (rise and shine at around 3:30am) – launching pre-sunrise is the goal, and with the combination of getting to the launch site, inflating the balloon and climbing into the basket there’s a lot of pre-flight preparation involved.
There’s a reason for this, however: the combination of the stillness and clarity of the morning air coupled with the wonderful spectacle of the sunrise casting its colours of the landscape more than justify the sleepy eyes.
Once in the air, the rewards become obvious – you’ll have roughly an hour’s worth of flight time, and there’s an eye-popping array of sights to take in during that time.
"Byron Bay’s “Green Cauldron” is a stunning and criminally underrated environment that deserves more press for its scenery, and this is something you’ll get to fully appreciate when seen while floating through the air on a Byron Bay hot air balloon flight.
This part of the country with its low-lying hinterland valleys produces a panorama of fog-drenched countryside that adds an aura of mystique to the experience, and at this height, the blend of additional views on offer is extensive.
The panorama extends from the beaches and coastline of Byron Bay and its surrounds all the way out to the Mount Warning National Park and its iconic peak in the distance, and ocean views make for the possibility of spotting breaching whales during their migratory period.
Flying over gorges, patchwork tapestry of fields and paddocks and more is all accompanied by expert commentary on the regional highlights and landmarks, with the staff combining friendly local knowledge with professionalism into a single enjoyable package.
Landings take place in a field and are typically smooth due in large part to the expert skills of the pilots, and putting a cherry on top of the experience is a lovely champagne breakfast at the end, with some tasty food and a drop of bubbly a great way to celebrate what will no doubt have been a memorable trip.
Service with a smile and a proper level of passion, a comprehensive 4-hour experience and unmatched views of the Byron Bay hinterland short of being able to fly yourself make this one of the premier options for Byron sightseeing that’s also ideal for celebrating special occasions.
