Hunter Valley Balloon Fiesta Ready to Fill the Sky Again
The Balloon Aloft Hunter Valley Fiesta is back for its thirteenth year, taking over Pokolbin skies this October Long Weekend, 3-5 October. This year's Balloons & Bubbles theme promises a fleet of 20 to 30 hot air balloons ascending together at sunrise, filling the valley with colour each morning.
"The bubbles theme really adds to the magic of the morning and provides an element of fun," says Balloon Aloft owner and champion pilot, Matthew Scaife.
“Passengers will be equipped with bubble blowers for the flight, sending a whimsical cascade of bubbles shimmering against the dawn sky as they drift above the vines.”
"There really is nothing quite like flying amongst 20 to 30 balloons at sunrise over the beautiful vineyards, and the photographic opportunities are endless," he adds.
It's a rare vantage point on the Hunter, one that turns an early start into a highlight of any visit, whether you're the one on board or simply watching the fleet lift off from a vineyard lawn below.
Once back on solid ground, the celebration continues with a bubbly breakfast at Peterson House Winery, where guests can enjoy the winery's sparkling wines alongside live music from local artist Pat McMahon. It's the perfect way to toast a morning spent above the clouds.
"Tickets sell out each year, so we recommend booking your spot on one of the balloons as soon as possible to avoid disappointment," Scaife says.
Established in 1980, Balloon Aloft is Australia's most experienced and awarded hot air ballooning company, named both Adventure and Accessible Tourism Operator of the Year at the 2024 NSW and Australian Tourism Awards. Family-owned and operated, it remains the only operator in the state offering accessible flights to people with limited mobility, including wheelchair users, a mission that makes the magic of ballooning genuinely open to all.
Whether you're strapped in with bubbles drifting past or watching from below with a coffee in hand, the Hunter Valley Balloon Fiesta remains one of the most photogenic mornings the region puts on all year. Bookings are open now at www.balloonaloft.com.
