Nothing captivates the imagination quite like hot air ballooning. Most of us have a childhood infatuation with the idea of floating through the morning skies, dancing in the rays of the early morning sun and drifting high above the world detached from reality. Hot air ballooning is the world’s oldest form of aviation and the first human beings to fly did so in 1783 in a balloon. It goes without saying then, that we have had a long time to evolve the art of ballooning. The equipment used and methods employed have come quite a long way since the...

After a successful volunteer tree planting day with TreeProject in June 2016, the Global green team took to Lysterfield National Park on 19th of August 2016 for another successful day out with our partner, Greenfleet. Other supporters from Disney, Europcar, Kings Transport and Telstra also joined us. It is always a good feeling when we get out of the office to plant native trees - there is a strong emotional connection of what we are achieving and it shows us where our contribution to offsetting our flights goes.   As Greenfleet say: 'There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad...

Melbourne, Australia A sunrise hot air balloon flight over Melbourne is a truly remarkable experience. There are few major cities in the world that can be traversed by hot air balloon and there certainly is no better way to take in Australia's second largest city. In the early morning light our balloons drift by the array of parks and gardens that make Melbourne the world's most liveable city. As the city comes to life you will look down from your balloon onto some of the cities iconic sporting venues like the MCG, Melbourne Park and Albert Park racetrack. If...

1. Romance: If you’re looking for the ultimate romantic experience, nothing could possibly beat the intimate nature of hot air ballooning. Holding your loved one close as you watch the world wake up below you? Hard to think of anything to top that! And for the hopeless romantics looking to pop the question, what better setting than high above in a balloon?     2. The views… You’ll be hard pressed to find better views of Melbourne or the Yarra Valley. Flying up to 5,000 feet above the ground, hot air balloons offer an incredible vantage point to appreciate just...

Be a unique traveller and travel through the sky instead of using the sidewalk. Instead of following people on foot and sifting through the crowds whilst trying to peak at the world around, give hot air ballooning a go and view the sights of Melbourne City and the Yarra Valley without any interruptions - just the calm of drifting up above the skyscrapers and busy Melbourne streets or the rolling fields and lush vineyards of the Yarra Valley. Now that you may have decided to see Melbourne or the Yarra Valley in the most special way possible, let’s go through...

There is nothing Kiff Saunders, our director and chief here at Global Ballooning Australia can’t do in a balloon. Break world altitude records, launch a balloon on the North Pole and most recently be interviewed by Rafael Epstein on a sunrise flight 3,000 ft above Melbourne. Kiff has had an incredible journey and his own share of challenging events over the years. You can see from this interview the one thing that helps him overcome anything that comes his way is gratitude and a deep seeded love for what he does. For your convenience and reading pleasure we have transcribed...

On 12th April 2016, the Global Ballooning Australia team gathered at Hedgend Maze in the beautiful Yarra Valley to throw a one-of-a-kind baby shower for our Sales & Marketing superstar (and mother to be!) - Erin Tucci. Set on 20 acres of stunning Yarra Valley real estate, Hedgend Maze boasts a wide range of immersive experiences including their famous 1.2km hedge maze, all set upon an unbeatable view of the rolling valley hills. Erin was welcomed to Hedgend by some of the Global boys dressed in the latest women’s fashion, sporting ‘balloon babies’ under their dresses to complete the theme. ...

Did you know Global Ballooning Australia has helped plant 1343.0 native trees in Australian forests by supporting Greenfleet, one of Australia’s most trusted environmental charities? As we join the global community to celebrate the International Day of Forests on March 21, we are proud of our commitment to reduce our impact on climate change by offsetting our emissions with Greenfleet’s native forests. Forests and trees sustain and protect us in invaluable ways. They provide the clean air that we breathe and the water that we drink. They host and safeguard the planet’s biodiversity and act as our natural defence...

We asked Sue O’Brien a few questions about her experience being the General Manager of the stunning historical homestead - Chateau Yering, in the Yarra Valley... How long have you been the General Manager at Chateau Yering?  16 years Please share some history on the property. The main house and gardens are heritage listed.  The house was built in 1954.  In 1996 the present owners purchased the property and added on accommodation, restaurant and café, it was re-born as a hotel in 1997. What do you enjoy most about working at Chateau Yering? The people, guests and staff alike. ...

On 20th December 2015, the Global family celebrated the annual Christmas Party set amongst 45 acres of vines, in the intimate and rustic space at Zonzo Estate. We indulged and shared in antipasto, salads and casalinga bread, followed by delicious wood-fired pizzas and complemented by divine Zonzo Estate wine. A farewell toast was made by Kiff (Director) to Simon, an outstanding and faithful employee of 10 years at Global Ballooning Australia. We are sad to have lost such a wonderful employee but wish Simon all the very best with his future in the north of Australia.