Highlights
- Enjoy a sunrise flight over the Canterbury Plains, calmest air, best light
- Meet Michael and Nicholas Oakley of a family-run ballooning team since 2012
- Help inflate and pack away the balloon
- Hear storytelling about the history and the farmland passing below
- Capture amazing photos with the ever changing landscape and light
Description
Escape to a world of peace and tranquillity with a hot air balloon flight over the Canterbury Plains.
Your day starts early. Ballooning is best at sunrise, when the air is calmest and the morning light is at its finest. You'll be contacted the evening before your flight to confirm the exact time and place, since timing shifts with the season and the sunrise.
Meet the team at the Ballooning Canterbury base in Hororata just a 45 minute drive west of central Christchurch. You will then transfer to the best launch site for the day based on wind and weather conditions across the Canterbury Plains.
Ballooning Canterbury has been family-run since October 2012. Chief Pilot Michael Oakley has been flying balloons since 1997 and is a New Zealand champion and representative at the World Hot Air Balloon Championships in Mildura, Australia. His son Nicholas has been flying since he was 4, went solo at 12, and now flies commercially alongside his father.
The flight itself runs for approximately one hour, drifting silently over the patchwork of the Canterbury Plains with views to the Southern Alps. It's a hands-on experience. You'll be encouraged to help the crew inflate the balloon before take-off and pack it away after landing.
Once you're back on the ground, celebrate with a glass of chilled bubbly or fruit juice, fresh muffins and seasonal fruit, served right there in the landing paddock.
Allow 3 to 4 hours in total for the full experience.
Includes
Hot air balloon flight, approximately 1 hour of flying time
Return transport between the Hororata meeting point and the day's launch site
Post-flight celebration: chilled bubbly or fruit juice, fresh muffins and seasonal fruit
Free in-flight photos
Experienced, CAA-certified pilots
Excludes
Transport to and from the meeting point at 2136 Bealey Road, Hororata
Gratuities and personal purchases
Important Information
- Exact meeting time is confirmed by the pilot the evening before, based on sunrise. Typical seasonal ranges: around 4:45am in summer, 6:00am in spring, 6:00am in autumn, 7:00am in winter
- Wear warm clothing and sensible, closed footwear. No open shoes
- Allow 3 to 4 hours in total. Flying time is approximately 1 hour
- This is a hands-on experience. You'll be encouraged to help set up and pack away the balloon, but this isn't compulsory if you're unable
- Maximum passenger weight is 130kg. If you're heavier than this, contact the operator directly to discuss options
- No upper age limit, but you should be fit enough to climb into the basket and stand for about an hour
- Children (12 and under) must be accompanied by a paying, consenting adult with a minimum height of 1.1m
- If you're pregnant, have a disability, or have recently had surgery, email ahead to check suitability
- Transfers from Canterbury can be arranged via coordination prior to travel
Easy cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
