Hot Air Balloon Sydney: Complete Guide and Review (2025)
IS A HOT AIR BALLOON RIDE IN SYDNEY ON YOUR BUCKET LIST? We’ve got all the latest information to make the most of your experience!
There’s something truly magical about watching the world wake up from a wicker basket suspended beneath a massive, colorful hot air balloon. As someone who has always dreamed of those postcard ballooning experiences, I am so excited to share first-hand information with you to plan your bucket list experience!
Just 1.5 hours away from Sydney, lies the beautiful suburb of Camden, where we had our first hot air balloon experience! We soared over 3,000 feet above the Macarthur region among the clouds, catching the first rays of sunrise as it lit up the valley. Truly spectacular!
However, our hot air balloon Sydney flight, we spent hours researching: what to expect, whether it is safe, the best hot air balloon locations in NSW, and most importantly, whether it’s worth it, so if you’ve decided on your experience, this guide has everything you need to know.
Let’s jump straight into it!
Our Hot Air Balloon
We booked this Hot Air Balloon experience in Camden with Balloon Aloft, one of Australia’s longest-running Hot Air Ballooning companies with a perfect safety record! Our experience was simply extraordinary, and we highly recommend them!
Hot Air Balloon Sydney
If you are looking to drive down from Sydney city, I would recommend booking either of these two flights with Balloon Aloft, the Camden Valley Hot Air Balloon experience or the Hunter Valley Hot Air Balloon experience. You can find a hot air balloon ride in other parts of Australia, like Byron Bay, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Cairns, and Brisbane.
While the Hunter Valley experience is a bit further (ps- you need to wake up at 2am to get there in time or you could stay overnight), floating above vineyards and seeing kangaroos run by is a unique experience in itself and your booking can include transfer from the city too so you can snooze on the way.
We wanted an experience closer to Sydney and picked the Camden Valley hot air balloon flight. (Spoiler alert – no regrets! It just comes down to the amount of time you have). Camden Valley is just over an hour drive from Sydney CBD and floating gently over the valley with a bird’s eye view of the mountains, rivers, and picturesque landscape was simply magical.
You can see our reel about the Camden Valley Hot Air Balloon experience here to know what it’s like.
Is Hot Air Ballooning in Sydney Safe?
Balloon Aloft is Australia’s most experienced hot air balloon company, with over 40 years of experience. They are governed by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and fly strictly according to their guidelines. We felt perfectly at ease and safe during our flight.
They have a perfect safety record and in case of weather-related cancellations, you can get a 100% refund (flexi ticket) or reschedule up to 36 months!
Before You Book Your Hot Air Balloon Ride
There are a few important things to keep in mind!
➡️Unsuitable for children under 7 years
➡️ Ballooning is not suitable if you are pregnant or have any significant knee, hip or back problems
You need to be able to stand for one hour unassisted.
Is a Hot Air Balloon Ride in Sydney Worth it?
If you are like us and don’t want to wait till the iconic hot air balloon experience in Cappadocia, then a hot air balloon experience in Sydney is 100% worth it! No matter where you do the experience, be it in Camden or in Hunter Valley, floating in the sky is magical and could be one of the best experiences of your life.
As we will share later, the staff is incredibly friendly and the entire experience is premium, including the celebratory breakfast in the end!
What To Expect on a Hot Air Balloon Ride in Sydney
Here’s a complete breakdown of our experience to help you prepare for your hot air balloon flight in Sydney, including things we wish we had known before the flight!
Before the Flight
☑️ Pre-Arrival Check-in
🚘 Camden Valley Inn Arrival
🚌 Shuttle Bus to Location
A Day Before the Ride
Hot air ballooning is highly weather-dependent, so Balloon Aloft will confirm your flight the evening before your scheduled experience. You’ll receive an email or SMS with your flight status, meeting time, and important details for the next morning.
In case of weather-related cancellation, you can request another date, or if you’ve booked your experience through the links above, you’re eligible for a 100% refund too!
We received our confirmation around 4.30 pm with the pilot’s name and a pre-arrival check-in link to sign the waiver and select our breakfast. Don’t forget to carry your passport/ID card, shoes, sunglasses, and hats.
TIP
Planning to fly with your friends/family on a different booking? You might end up being allotted different balloons! Ensure you link your bookings or just contact Balloon Aloft asap to let them know.
Arrive at Camden Valley Inn
The meeting point for our experience was the gorgeous heritage-listed Camden Valley Inn. You’ll know you’ve arrived when you spot the twinkling fairy lights draped over the yard, visible from the parking lot in front of the hotel.
Don’t want to drive? No worries. You can book a transfer as an add-on if you are going on a weekday (Monday-Friday) for the Camden Valley Hot Air Balloon experience. Just let them know and confirm it’s available when you receive the booking confirmation.
Our 5:45 AM meeting time was confirmed the day before, but this can vary(i.e, earlier in summer and later in winter), so be sure to double-check your timing. It took us just over an hour to get there, and since everything runs on a tight schedule, don’t be late, or you might miss your flight!
LAST CHANCE FOR A BATHROOM BREAK
From here, you’ll be transported to the launch site, but there are no toilets there, so be sure to use the facilities at the inn before your flight!
Shuttle Bus to Location
Once briefed, we jumped into our assigned shuttle bus, which took us to our designated launch site. Surprisingly, there are over 30 takeoff locations in the region! The final launch site is determined on the day based on wind conditions, ensuring the best and safest flight experience.
Once the final launch site has been finalised, you will be transported there with your hot air balloon towed to the bus!
During the Flight
🔥 Balloon Inflation and Boarding
🪂 Hot Air Balloon Flight
⬇️ Landing
Balloon Inflation
The crew began preparing the hot air balloon, and we were stunned by the sheer size of the balloon! They were massive, much larger than we had expected (they can be as high as 30 metres), and with the flame’s roar started getting everyone pretty excited.
The process begins with cool air being pumped into the balloon to help it expand. Once it’s partially inflated, hot air is then introduced to fill it up completely and give it the necessary lift. The staff even asks for a volunteer from each group to help out!
As the hot air balloon slowly started to rise, everyone took plenty of pictures and videos from the safety zone. And shortly, the balloon gently began to float upwards, and soon enough, we were all set and ready to climb aboard!
Boarding
The baskets are divided into five compartments, with the middle one for the pilot and one in each corner for the passengers. The crew assigns each person to a section to ensure the weight is distributed evenly.
TIP
While you enjoy panoramic views in every direction, we found it a bit snug to move once we were on the balloon and but don’t worry, each section has a corner for those incredible photo opportunities, and the closer you are to one, the better!
Now for the tricky bit…actually getting into the basket! The crew places a small stool beside the basket, and you need to climb through two foot holes using the basket for support. We highly recommend avoiding dresses, skirts or anything too tight to restrict movement.
LEAVE THE CARRY-ONS
Keep in mind that your carry-on items can be left behind in the shuttle buses; no need to bring them with you on the hot air balloon ride!
Hot air balloon Sydney flight
After boarding, the pilot gave us a safety briefing for landing procedures. The lift-off is very smooth. I didn’t even notice until we were almost 200 feet high, waving to the crew on the ground.
The other balloon took off right before us, and it was absolutely breathtaking seeing the sun rise and its warm colors reflecting on the balloon ahead.
And just like that, we were floating above the clouds!⛅
The early morning fog has settled over the Camden Valley, creating postcard-like views in every direction. From this bird’s eye view, you can not only see rivers, houses, and farm animals but also all the way up to the Blue Mountains and the Sydney CBD.
It is so serene and quiet at this altitude that for a couple of moments, you forget there is anyone around you. To our surprise, it was not as cold as we expected during the ride either; in fact, it actually was pretty warm with the occasional flare heating us up!
For 55 unforgettable minutes, we drifted through the sky, gently ascending and descending, with every moment revealing another spectacular view.
We didn’t feel cold at all during the flight. The heat from the balloon kept us surprisingly warm. In fact, it got quite hot at one point. We recommend wearing a jacket for the early morning transport to the launch site but leaving it in the bus before takeoff.
Midway, our pilot, Andrew, clicked a few group photos from the attached GoPro. These photos are all shared in the end as part of the experience.
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Landing!
After about one hour in the air, we were told to lean our backs against the walls of the basket and hold tightly onto the rope inside as the pilot gently landed the hot air balloon.
The landing was super smooth, and since we landed first, it was exciting to see the other balloon landing too! We ended up in a farmland area, which was far from where we took off, but the crew got there minutes later with the ute and shuttle bus.
After the Flight🎈
Pack Up the Balloon
After a successful landing, everybody jumped carefully out of the baskets and got a group photo with the deflated balloon.
All of us worked together to pack them up and tow them to the shuttle buses. You don’t have to help, but every bit of it makes a difference. It was a fun process of packing up the balloons, can’t stop thinking about it!
Soon after, our shuttle buses arrived and we were transported back to the inn!
Celebratory Breakfast!
We were directed to our reserved table at Camden Valley Inn with a placard with our names. Remember the breakfast you selected the day before? Now is the time to devour it!
You’ll be surprised by how hungry you’d be by the time you’re back to the inn. We had smashed avo with a colorful salad on the side and a croissant eggs benedict (loved this one)! You can also get a coffee, tea, or juice alongside your meal.
Hot Air Balloon Sydney: FAQs
We have answered a few of the most commonly asked questions about hot air ballooning in Sydney!
1. How Much is the Hot Air Balloon Ride in Sydney?
We recommend booking the Camden Valley Hot Air Balloon experience here which costs $339 per person with a 100% refundable ticket in case of weather-related cancellations.
2. What Month Is Best For a Hot Air Balloon?
The flights are scheduled all year round, however, most of the cancellations happen during August and September, since it’s quite windy, so I would avoid those weeks.
3. How long do Hot Air Balloons Go For?
The balloon ride is ~60 minutes long! But the entire experience, including the breakfast, is around 4.5 hours.
4. What to Wear on the Ride?
We highly recommend wearing something comfortable AND something you can hop over the basket in, so avoid skirts and dresses or anything too tight. You also don’t really know where exactly you’d take off or land, so we’d suggest closed shoes (for reference, we took off from a farmland that had some 💩 in the grass).
The Wrap-Up: Hot Air Balloon Sydney
We loved every minute of our hot air balloon experience in Sydney and highly recommend it to anyone looking to tick this off their bucket list. It was one of the experiences that made us fall in love with flight-based adventures even more. Feel free to reach out on Instagram if you have any questions or suggestions!
