Hot Air Balloon Perth

"We left Northam in full dark and watched the envelope fill under a work light before the burners really kicked in. Once we cleared the ridge the Avon River showed up as a grey ribbon threading through frost-covered paddocks. The pilot talked us through every altitude change without it sounding like a script."

"I assumed a hot air balloon perth flight would be noisy, but between burner bursts there is nothing except sheep, crows and the odd tractor. Our basket held about twelve people in four compartments and I still had an outside edge the whole way. Bring gloves, because the pre-dawn air in the valley bites harder than the forecast suggests."

"We drifted above canola stubble and stands of gum trees while the sun came up behind us and turned the whole Avon Valley amber. The chase crew found us in a paddock and had the envelope rolled and bagged in about twenty minutes. Our landing was a firm skid across stubble rather than a bump."

"The Avon Valley balloon flight itself was calm and the view out toward the wheat country seemed to go on forever. My one note is that the meeting point at Northam is a long drive from the city, so plan for that. The pilot handled a shifting breeze near the end without any drama."

"I bought hot air balloon perth tickets for my partner and we drew a flawless still winter morning. Watching the propane burner throw heat up into the envelope while we hung about a thousand feet over farmland is something I keep describing to people badly. The crew were relaxed in the way people are when they do this every week."

"From maybe 600 metres the Avon River and the railway line into Northam looked like pencil marks drawn across the paddocks. Our pilot dropped low over a line of gums so we could hear the birds, then climbed again for the wider outlook. The basket was steadier than I expected and nobody in our group felt queasy."

"This was my third balloon flight and the Perth ballooning tour over the Avon Valley gave the best light of any of them. Mist was still lying in the low ground when we launched and it burned off while we were up. Landing in a farmer's field with the chase truck already idling at the gate felt oddly well rehearsed."

"Spring air was sharp before sunrise and the burners were a welcome heater on my face each time they fired. We could make out the Darling Range escarpment as light spread across the valley floor and the dams turned into little mirrors. Staff kept the group small and the briefing short and clear."

"The lift-off was so gradual I barely registered it, one moment the crew were holding the basket and the next the ground was fifty metres below. Wheat paddocks, shearing sheds and river bends slid past while the pilot pointed out Northam off to our left. More calm than thrilling, which suited me perfectly."

"Our first attempt was scrubbed for wind and rebooked two days later, which is apparently routine for hot air balloon perth tours in this valley. The second morning was dead still and we floated along the Avon River for close to an hour. The pilot let a few of us help squeeze the air out of the envelope afterwards, which was more fun than it sounds."