YES! Global Ballooning Australia has a full covid-safe plan in place to ensure everyone's safety for the duration of the experience. Feel free to read this prior to booking.
Hot air ballooning is weather dependent so your flight can be cancelled if the weather does not make it safe to fly you.
Once booked in, please check your flight confirmation for further details on what you need to do to check your flight status and precise meeting time.
If you can't see your flight confirmation in your emails, please search for 'Flight Confirmation' in your junk mail folder.
Ballooning is an audience participation activity and you will be encouraged to assist with the set up and pack away of the balloon. It is an active morning in the outdoors, so wear clothes that can get stained or dirty & appropriate closed-toe footwear.
We meet approximately 1hr, 30mins before sunrise. The pilot will tell you the precise time when you check the flight details (by app, online or phone) the night before the flight (see your flight confirmation for full details).
The below information will give you an indication of meeting times but should be used as a guide only.
For CBD hotel transfers, you will start 30mins to 1 hour earlier than the times shown below.
You can expect to be with us for around 3.5 - 6 hours depending on which experience you have booked. This includes driving to the launch site, setting the balloon up, the approx. 1hr flight, packing down the balloon, driving back to the meeting venue and breakfast.
Melbourne & Yarra Valley flight only: 3.5 - 4hrs
Melbourne & Yarra Valley flight + breakfast (self-drive): 4 - 4.5hrs
Yarra Valley flight, breakfast and transfers: 6 - 6.5hrs
If your flight is cancelled due to inclement weather, you'll receive a cancellation email and can reschedule to an alternate date.
Simply contact our friendly office on +61 3 9428 5703 or via email balloon@globalballooning.com.au and quote your reference number.
Please note, our weekend flights are extremely popular and can book out up to 8 weeks in advance at some times of year. Please be aware of this when re-booking, and understand that we will do our best to get you on a flight! You may like to consider a weekday flight instead. We schedule flights everyday of the year except Christmas Day (25/12).
If you cannot reschedule, you may request a refund. Please note, discounted bookings & gift vouchers are strictly non-refundable. If your package purchased is refundable, a $25 administration fee is incurred which Global Ballooning Australia retains due to bank fees.
You will be no colder in the balloon than when you are on the ground. The burners are located above your head and, as you will be moving with the wind, there is no wind chill. The burners can be quite warm so wear layered clothing & we recommend you wear a hat to protect your head from the heat of the burners.
Yes, you can book this through our office by calling +61 3 9428 5703 and quoting your reference number. The cost is $35 per adult and $20 per child (up to the age of 12).
Breakfast is held after the flight so you can confirm the approximate time that you will be back so they can meet you there.
Yes, we have open-dated gift certificates. All vouchers are valid for 3 years from purchase date if purchased on or after 1/11/2019 (unless you purchased a voucher using a special promotion and in that case remain at 12mths validity, unless otherwise specified).
If purchased before 1/11/2019, your existing 12 month validity will apply. Vouchers are transferable, but non-refundable. Note: if you are transferring your voucher to another recipient the same validity will apply. The voucher will not be renewed as part of a transfer.
The recipient of the voucher will need to book and take the experience within the time specified on the voucher on the date of purchase.
Please note Global Ballooning Australia will honour the value (amount paid) of the voucher for the duration of the time specified on your voucher at the time of purchase. This can be used as a form of a credit to be used towards any flight experience/package on the Global Ballooning Australia website. Please keep in mind if there has been a price increase for the experience purchased during the time of your voucher validity, you will be required to match the difference of the total value.
A reminder that it is the responsibility of the purchaser or recipient to book the open dated flight experience of the voucher (the experience needs to be used before the voucher expires). For your convenience, we schedule flights everyday, except for Christmas Day so there are plenty of opportunities for your loved ones to book in with us using their gift voucher.
Please note: always check the validity of your voucher as the voucher expiry date and terms are subject to change when applied to any discounted bookings/vouchers, donations, second hand vouchers, monetary gift vouchers or if part of a loyalty program.
Yes, we offer group discounts depending on the size of your group. Please note, any discounted booking is strictly non-refundable and valid for a strict 12 month period.
Please contact our office on +61 3 9428 5703 or via email on balloon@globalballooning.com.au for more information & please provide the below details:
Both meeting points have parking available:
As long as you give us more than 7 days notice to change or cancel a flight, the only fee involved is a $25 admin fee if you require a refund. Within 7 days of the flight date, a $50 per person fee is applicable. Within 48 hours of your flight date, no changes or cancellations can be made to the booking.
Click here for full terms and conditions.
The Global Ballooning Australia and Burt & Davies have developed an Easy Access Basket (EAB). This incorporates a door to allow less able-bodied individuals, including those with serious physical disabiliites, to enter and exit the basket with ease. The EAB also incorporates customised seating, seat belts and a grab handle suspended from the burner frame. Unfortunately, we don't have a wheelchair accessible vehicle though so you are welcome to join us on our mini bus or you can arrange a driver to follow our vehicles.
Read more information on this basket here: https://www.globalballooning.com.au/accessibility
Yarra Valley flights can have up to 24 people in one basket but there are other sized balloons if less or more passengers have booked.
Melbourne flights hold 10/12 people per basket.
We can fly pregnant women in their 1st and 2nd trimester only. Please consult your doctor for health risks and advice.
Unfortunately, we will NOT be able to fly you in your 3rd trimester.
Flights are scheduled 7 days a week. Weekends always book up the quickest, we suggest allowing 6-8 weeks notice to book on a weekend, or try for a Monday-Friday flight.
You'll see live availability on our website.
The only time of the year that we close operations is:
Melbourne/Yarra Valley: Operations closed in July/Aug & on Christmas Day
Mansfield: Christmas Day
If you're looking for romance, ballooning is definitely for you! And what better way to propose to your significant other than with our Proposal Package. We have a customised "Will You Marry Me" balloon, and, as it is slowly inflated by our pilot, the words become visible. That's your cue to get out the ring! The package includes an exclusive flight for just the two of you, and a romantic champagne breakfast afterwards to celebrate your engagement. Please contact our office on +61 3 9428 5703 or via email: balloon@globalballooning.com.au for further details.
Whilst there is no maximum age limit for ballooning, a child under the age of 6 years is not able to fly with us due to safety regulations.
For children aged 6yrs - 12yrs, a child price applies.
Children aged 13yrs + are considered adults and the adult price applies.
Impress your loved one with an AUTUMN BALLOONING ADVENTURE over Melbourne, Yarra Valley or Mansfield.
Visit our BOOKING page & see the special package 'FOR 2' offers under each flight location.
Book a public flight or gift voucher valid for 12mths.