When it comes to hot air ballooning in Victoria, Global Ballooning isn’t just another company – we set the benchmark that the entire industry measures itself against.
For over 30 years, our founder Kiff Saunders and the GBA team have trained and mentored the majority of Australia’s commercial pilots and industry leaders, shaping the safety standards, training, and passenger experiences that define ballooning across the state. While others follow our lead, we continue to push the boundaries of professionalism, innovation, and service excellence.
More than just a balloon flight, we are proud to be a cornerstone of Victoria’s tourism, complementing its iconic food, wine, and culture, and delivering world-class experiences that visitors cherish forever.
Here are just a few reasons why booking your next sunrise hot air balloon flight with Global Ballooning will be an unforgettable experience:
✅ Proven Experience & Industry Leadership
30+ Years of Excellence: Delivering unforgettable hot air balloon flights over Melbourne, the Yarra Valley, and Mansfield since 1992.
150,000+ Happy Passengers Flown: Backed by thousands of 5-star reviews and testimonials across Google, TripAdvisor & Social Media – Instagram & Facebook.
Pioneers in Ballooning: Our founder, Kiff Saunders, is a respected CASA-accredited auditor and trainer who has personally trained the majority of Australia’s commercial balloon pilots.
Trusted by Tourism Leaders: We regularly support major projects with Visit Victoria, Tourism Australia, the film/media industry, top selling travel agents and VIP clients.
✅ Deep Expertise & Family Legacy
Australia’s Most Experienced Team: Our team is comprised of the most experienced ballooning professionals in the country.
Fourth-Generation Aviation Family: Owned and operated by the Saunders family for over three decades, with all three of Kiff’s children now working as commercial balloon pilots and actively involved in the business.
✅ Unrivalled Safety Commitment
Only Operator to Run Quarterly Safety Seminars: Led by CASA-oversighted professionals, ensuring pilots and ground crew are across seasonal updates and best practices. These sessions are part of our ongoing commitment to maintaining the highest safety standards and are overseen by CASA (the Civil Aviation Safety Authority), which regulates all aircraft operations across Australia.
Ongoing Safety Culture: Fortnightly team meetings dedicated to safety discussions – keeping our entire team sharp, informed, and aligned on the highest safety standards.
Most credentialed balloon company in Australia: Global Ballooning is the only Australian operator to hold the full combination of Civil Aviation Authority AOC certification for both passenger and special operations, and an Advanced Tourism Accreditation. Our pilots include CASA-approved examiners and flight trainers – meaning we don’t just fly balloons, we train the pilots who fly for others around Australia. From government contracts to VIP and film operations, our breadth of qualifications is unmatched in the industry.
✅ Custom-Built Technology that Enhances the Journey
Custom Mobile App: Provides real-time flight updates, essential pre-flight status info, an after-hours chat function, and access to complimentary inflight photos.
Seamless Rebooking: Our bespoke booking system allows passengers to rebook online in just a few clicks if a flight is cancelled due to weather, with instant access to live availability.
✅ More Availability, More Flexibility
Largest Availability in Victoria: With the biggest operational capacity – including a fleet of over 35 balloons – we offer more flight options and more space to rebook, giving our guests greater flexibility and peace of mind, especially when weather affects schedules.
Proactive, Personalised Service: If poor weather is expected in a certain location but we have availability in another with a better chance of flying, our team will proactively reach out to see if you’d like to move your booking. We always aim to fly our passengers as soon as possible, and our personalised approach helps you get in the air faster when opportunities arise.
Group Readiness: As one of the largest operators in Victoria, we are well-equipped to accommodate group bookings of varying sizes.
✅ A Truly Inclusive Experience
Local Customer Service Team: All enquiries are handled right here in Australia, with a 24-hour turnaround – no outsourcing or AI, just real people who know the experience.
Multilingual Hosts: The morning includes a Mandarin-speaking (and some Japanese speakers), ensuring guests feel safe, informed, and welcomed – something no other Victorian operator currently offers. Plus, our crew takes extra candid photos throughout your experience for you to keep and share.
Home to Australia’s Only Japanese Commercial Balloon Pilot: We are proud to be the only operator in the country with a Japanese pilot flying in Yarra Valley throughout our peak season, ensuring a deeper level of cultural understanding and personalised care for our Japanese-speaking guests.
✅ Established & Unmatched Presence in Iconic Locations
Melbourne’s Most Flown Balloon Operator: The only major city in the world where you can fly in a hot air balloon over a city of 5+ million people. Over our 30+ year tenure, we have flown more passengers than any other company in Melbourne, making us the city’s most trusted and experienced ballooning provider.
Yarra Valley Flights: Just 50 minutes from Melbourne and flying over a stunning wine region. Return transfers available from Pullman Melbourne on the Park hotel in the CBD for ultimate convenience.
Mansfield Flights: Explore Mansfield, located 2.5 hours from Melbourne at the foot of Mt Buller, where we first started flying when we opened the company in 1992 – offering stunning alpine views, a charming country town atmosphere, nearby wineries, national parks, and beautiful seasonal landscapes that make every flight unforgettable.
✅ Sustainability Leadership
We’re proud to be the only operator in Victoria to fully offset all flight emissions through Greenfleet, reflecting our commitment to responsible tourism and environmental stewardship. Every flight you take with us is 100% carbon offset.
✅ Meaningful Extras
Complimentary Gift: All passengers take a little ballooning magic home as a keepsake – a complimentary luxe balloon magnet.
Complimentary in-flight photos: Beautiful moments captured from the sky, gifted to you to treasure and share your incredible ballooning experience with family and friends.
44K+ Social Media Followers: Join over 44k followers who share their experiences and keep the ballooning spirit alive with us online!
Are you ready to experience the wonder?
Book your unforgettable hot air balloon flight with Global Ballooning Australia today and create memories that will last a lifetime.
