Solar Eclipse viewing with Hot Air Balloon Cairns November 14^th 2012

One of the most spectacular, once in a lifetime events is about to take place right over Cairns, Tropical North Queensland and you can experience this full solar eclipse in one of the most unique ways - a hot air balloon ride.

Hot Air Cairns have flown daily on the Atherton Tablelands for the past 15 years, and so are intimatly familar with the requirements and permissions needed to fly in the Mareeba valley holding all the required permissions, landholder access and a full operational base right on the spot. 

Mareeba is about 40 km inland from the Coast and so has the highest chance of an unobstructed view of the Eclipse itself,  and whilst the eclipse will take sometime to arrive and depart,  the peak 2 minutes of viewing at 06.38am in the monring falls in the middle of our ideal flying time.

Hot Air can offer a spectacular hot air balloon flight to see the Cairns Solar Eclipse, with 7 to 10 balloons flying that morning there will a truly spectacular sight with the glow of the hot air balloons lighting up like lanterns over the temporarily darkened Australian landsacape. 

Hear the birds fall quiet, as your balloon drifts along, providing a stable platform for your eclipse viewing. 

The next total solar eclipse is not until March 2020, and the last one was 700AD  showing the uniqueness of this accessable opportunity.

Ref  NASA Website Google Maps Interactive Solar Eclipse Guide

Your Itinerary 3.00am Early Departure from Cairns or Port Douglas to miss the traffic! 4.30am Onsite Coffee and restroom stop and briefing about the mornings activities 5.00am Arrive at launchsite to see balloons being prepared 5.30am Load onto your hot air balloon, saftey briefing, prepare for takeoff 5.50am Approximate takeoff time, partial solar eclipse begins 05.44 ref NASA  Flight time approx one hour,  extra time will be taken in the air if operational imperitves such as fuel and flight path,  landing site needs are met.  Flight height will be aprox 1000 - 3000' above ground level, (plus 900 feet above sea level)  dependant on wind conditions. 06.38 to 06.40 Time of total solar eclipse dependant on exact longitude and lattitude of flight path and height of balloon ref NAS book now!

Included Return Transfers Coffee\tea before the flight Balloon flight during the eclipse Hot Breakfast after the flight in Mareeba Special Total Solar Eclipse 2012 commemoration flight certificate, personalised and then signed by your pilot Inflight photograph during the eclipse (one) with extras available for purchase  $670 per person Enquiries - Contact us by email  It is possible to charter your own balloon in various configurations of 24, 20 , 16, 12, 2 passengers. Full pre-payment will be required to hold bookings book now! Special conditions apply - See here

Ref NASA Total Solar Eclipse Cairns

Northern and southern path limits are blue and the central line is red. ref NASA

Lat.: 16.9833° S
Long.: 145.4205° E Total Solar Eclipse
Duration of Totality: 1m40.9s
Magnitude: 1.008