Cairns Classic Hot Air Balloon ride
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Don't miss the chance to go for a hot-air balloon flight over Far North Queensland's Atherton Tablelands. It's one of the "must do" activities when visiting the tropics. You have the choice of pick-up from Cairns, the Northern beaches or Palm Cove hotels.
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there is not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund
All passengers must be able to get into the balloon basket unaided to the satisfaction of the pilot, or they will not be able to fly
Children aged 3 years and under are not permitted to fly
Mobile phone contact required when booking
Pregnant women unable to travel
Please provide mobile phone number or email address at time of booking
Flight time is minimum 40 minutes
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Insurance Levy
GST (Goods and Services Tax)
Digital photo package
Glass of Bubbly or Juice
Air-conditioned vehicle
Hotel pickup and drop off
We provide a light breakfast snack
Commemorative flight certificate
Gratuities
Hotel pickup from Yorkeys, Holloways, Kewarra
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
What To Expect
Hot Air Balloon Cairns
You will be met by our professional driver at your pick up location to be transfered to your Hot Air Balloon ride. As the day begins, you will experience a wonderful hot air balloon flight above the Atherton Tablelands, Australia. After your flight and landing, enjoy games and lots of laughs as your pilot, crew and driver lead the fun of packing up your hot air balloon. Your hot air balloon experience finish time varies with the seasons (summer, winter and the time of sunrise). Your driver can drop you back to your Cairns accommodation or, with prior notice, we can drop you off to the Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal, Skyrail, Tjapukai or perhaps a Cairns cafe or restaurant if you would like to have breakfast at your own arrangements.
Atherton Tablelands
The Atherton Tablelands is the area over which we fly our hot air balloons. You will experience this area at dawn - the best time of the day to spot wallabies, kangaroos, many different species of birds, and other wildlife. In addition, you may fly over many different crops as The Tablelands are known for their fruit and vegetable produce. Keep an eye out for crops of mangoes, bananas, lychees, avocados, pineapples, limes and more.
Options
Cairns Classic Ballooning
Trsf from Cairns Hotels
Pickup included
Cairns Luxury Balloon package
PalmCove Beach side breakfast : 5 star gourmet beachside breakfast at Palm Cove
Private return transfers: Enjoy private chauffered transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle with your own driver as your guide
Pickup included
Private Charter balloon for 2
Private balloon flight: Enjoy experienceing ballooning in your own private balloon with one of our experienced pilots.
Gourmet beachside breakfast: 5 star gourmet breakfast at Palm Cove
Private return transfers: Enjoy private chauffered return transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle with your own driver as your guide
Pickup included
Reviews
570 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Balloon experience
keith k,
Nov 1, 2025
- Review from Viator
3.00We bought the premium package balloon experience. This was our first balloon flight and we were picked up at our hotel in a private car and also dropped back later. We joined a larger group who arrived in three small buses. The team assembling and inflating the balloons were excellent and very safety conscious. We enjoyed the balloon flight although the scenery below was mainly farmland and small buildings and we would perhaps have preferred a different landscape. The balloon fight was about 40 minutes. After the flight the premium package included a luxury breakfast in Palm Cove. We agreed with the driver to come back one hour later which we thought was enough for the breakfast. We had two coffees and yoghurts but unfortunately by the time the hour was up the breakfast hadn’t arrived, so we left and joined up with the driver to return to our hotel. In hindsight we felt the premium package wasn’t worth the extra cost but the balloon flight was good.
Don’t miss this!
Mark B,
Oct 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Beautiful scenery and wonderful crew! Don’t miss the chance to view it all from up in the air; kangaroos, wallabies, birds!
Marvelous Experience
ReneeGupp,
Oct 24, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a great experience! Highly recommend this activity and the company running the activity. Brownie drove us to the ballon site and Frank was our balloon pilot. They had lovely champagne and light bites when we landed.
Very accommodating, knowledgeable and friendly.
Tina B,
Oct 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent tour guide Mike. He was very friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating when the weather did not allow us to go up.
My First Experience
bcpr02,
Oct 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The most amazing ride. Josh was wonderful and the food at the end was just great. We woke up at 3:00am to get the ride to Cairns. Highly recommend it!
Amazing views and calm experience
Lucy A,
Oct 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very friendly and engaging staff. Amazing views from the balloon. Such a calm and amazing experience. Saw kangaroos and birds on our journey!
Peaceful Sunrise in Mareeba
sandra cidi,
Oct 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We were in a tour with Tauck and some of us were interested in a hot air balloon ride experience. Our tour director booked it and Mike picked us up at Daintree and drove us to the balloons. Frank was our conductor in the balloon and he was great. It was a wonderful and peaceful experience to be up there watching the sunrise and admiring the beautiful views. We were in Mareeba. After landing we had champagne, mimosas and some delicious snacks. It was a wonderful experience.
Hot Air Ballooning over Mareeba
Dee T,
Oct 2, 2025
- Review from Viator
4.00The experience was amazing. The staff were awesome. The only reason I can’t give 5 stars is because I had to support my 5yo so he could see which scared him a little. Perhaps some fix in booster stools could be offered or have minimum height recommendation on the booking page (he’s 117cm).
hot air balloon
結貴應,
Oct 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was a great memory. I'm proud to recommend it to my friends!!! The staff were very kind and had a great time! Thank you very much.
Great expérience
G8426LAjuliab,
Oct 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I had a wonderful Time with Jake, Gavin and Bob. Pick up on time, warm welcome, good safety explanations, great mood of the team and very patient with everyone. The trip is very smooth and call. Also, the breakfast with champagne was super good. Highly recommended
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