Wonder & Exhileraton From Above (and Below!)

Hot air ballooning enthusiasts will be in seventh heaven later this month thanks to this year’s Balloon Aloft Hunter Valley Balloon Fiesta.

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The annual Balloon Aloft Hunter Valley Fiesta will take to the skies over the Hunter Valley from the 28th September to 1st October in an amazing display of colour and excitement!

Each day will see upward of twenty-five hot air balloons from all around the country launch together at sunrise and float majestically over Hunter Valley wine country.

The best way to view the hot air balloon festival is definitely as a passenger on board one of the balloons - in fact, it’s a once in a lifetime experience - but you’ll need to book soon as space is limited.

The excitement begins just before dawn as the balloons are inflated in the launch field - make sure to have your camera ready, it's quite the spectacle - then take off and drift over the Hunter Valley vineyards for an hour in the company of a fleet of hot air balloons.

Celebrations continue after the flight back at Peterson House with live music, a gourmet breakfast and a champagne tasting to wrap up an exciting and fun-filled morning.

Participating balloons will include the unusually-shaped Dodo and ‘Nudie’ balloons, as well as Balloon Aloft's new eye-catching heart shaped balloon.

The Hunter Valley Balloon Fiesta was the brainchild of Event Director and Balloon Aloft Senior Pilot Matthew Scaife who had participated in balloon fiestas around the world and saw an opportunity to showcase the beautiful Hunter Valley by holding a similar event here.

Now in its eighth year, the event continues to grow in popularity, with last year’s Fiesta selling out weeks in advance. This year the program has once again been extended from two to four days to allow even more people the opportunity to be a passenger on one of the balloons.

Close to thirty balloons from all over Australia are expected to take part in 2018, and while you can follow the action from the ground, there’s no doubt the best view in the house will be alongside the pilot in one of the baskets attached to the bottom of the balloons.

With the expanded program, around 500 passengers will be given a chance to take part in the Fiesta for what will be the trip of a lifetime. To book a flight on board one of the balloons flying in the Fiesta, visit www.balloonaloft.com

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