Flying in a hot air balloon - a strange yet wonderful experience

Nov 20, 2020

We recently had the privilege of hosting seasoned travel writer Tiana Templeman, a collaboration made possible by Destination Gold Coast. Tiana, armed with her evocative storytelling and vivid descriptions, embarked on an unforgettable journey with our hot air balloon company. She detailed her experience in a remarkable piece titled "Oddly uplifted by hot air" featured in the Senior Traveller publication.

In her article, she paints a breathtaking picture of a dawn journey over Australia's Gold Coast. The suspense of the predawn hour, the anticipation of boarding one of Australia's largest commercial hot air balloons, and the gentle ascent into the serene sky are all beautifully captured in her narrative. Tiana intertwines elements of thrill and tranquility, providing readers with an intimate understanding of what our hot air balloon experience entails.

We invite you to read Tiana's exquisite account below. Her words will not only immerse you in the experience but may also inspire you to embark on your own hot air balloon adventure. Enjoy!

"IT IS an otherworldly experience driving from our hotel in Surfers Paradise to the Hot-Air Gold Coast take-off spot in the dark.
Soft blackness envelops the landscape like a blanket as the very first stages of dawn touch the surrounding hills. In the distance, we spot the orange glow of our balloon, which is almost fully inflated by the time we arrive.

The farm gate is opened and we walk across a field to one of Australia's largest commercial hot-air balloons.
On November 26, 2005, Indian Vijaypat Singhania set the world altitude record for the highest hot-air balloon flight, reaching 21,290 metres and flying 240 kilometres.
Thankfully, our pilot has no plans to take us that high or that far. Most Gold Coast flights travel 10-12 kilometres and you can see the ground and surrounding scenery the entire time.
Everyone climbs into the basket and waits a few minutes as our pilot adjusts the burners. Slowly, the balloon lifts off the ground. Aside from the occasional rush from the burners and the sound of people talking, it is silent and still.

Perfect Silence

Flying in a hot-air balloon is a strange yet wonderful experience as it doesn't feel like you're flying at all but rather standing in a small room as you float through the air.
When the initial excitement from the take-off is over and we get used to the movement of the balloon, it is as if everyone has agreed to be quiet for a few minutes. Conversation stops and we enjoy the beauty of our surroundings in perfect silence.
Farmland forms a patchwork below and the Great Dividing Range and Lamington National Park are silhouetted against the sky in the distance. The sun peeks over the mountains and bathes the landscape in a soft glow as the scenery changes.

Bird's eye view
From the air you get an entirely different perspective on Australia's beauty. We gain a bird's eye view of farms and spot an eagle's nest. It is amazing how much you can see when you're this high.
Even when we're flying over similar farms, the view changes by the minute due to the changing light on the mountains and the land. As we fly over a dam, we see our balloon reflected in the water.

After soaring over farms, creeks and bush for almost an hour it is time to land and the balloon begins to descend. This happens slowly and the pilot gives us plenty of warning so there is no need to rush to get ready.
Our pilot ensures we are all in the correct landing position - holding on to the handles inside the basket with feet firmly on the floor and phones and cameras packed away - and brings the balloon down in a field with a gentle bump.
The support vehicle arrives not long afterwards and we help deflate the balloon and pack it into the large carry bag on the back of the retrieval vehicle. The fabric appears gossamer-thin when it's inflated but is made out of the same sturdy fire-resistant material as firefighter suits.
After the balloon and basket are loaded, we ride out of the field to the minibus which takes us to breakfast at the O'Reilly's Vineyard homestead and a glass of sparkling wine to celebrate our return to earth."