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Hot Air Ballooning Experience - Canterbury

4.9
380
Deals from $220.00 Save $175.00 Check dates nowsystem_update_alt
Hot Air Ballooning is a magical experience and a flight with Ballooning Canterbury offers panoramic views across the fertile Canterbury Plains to the Southern Alps.

Hot Air Ballooning is a magical experience and a flight with Ballooning Canterbury offers panoramic views across the fertile Canterbury Plains to the Southern Alps.

Highlights

  • A hands-on experience - Passengers are actively encouraged to help the pilot with the pre-flight inflation and the packing up at the conclusion of the flight
  • An early start - Ballooning is best at sunrise, when the weather is calmest and to make the most of the beautiful morning light. Allow approximately 4-5 hours for this remarkable experience, from the time you leave your accommodation to the time you return
  • Spectacular views and fantastic photo opportunities during your one-hour flight
  • A glass of chilled champagne or fruit juice and a light snack after landing
  • In-flight photos are given to you for free by way of Facebook
  • Winners of the Selwyn Tourism Awards 2021

There is nothing quite so romantic and exciting as floating effortlessly over an ever changing landscape. Top 5 bookme.co.nz reviewed products in the South Island!

Why fly with Ballooning Canterbury? Ballooning Canterbury is a New Zealand family owned and operated business situated just outside of Christchurch.

We are passionate about flying. Michael Oakley is one of New Zealand's top balloonists. He has been flying since 1987, winning 10 national ballooning events throughout New Zealand and representing New Zealand at World Hot Air Balloon Championships.

Michael is also a keen glider pilot having represented New Zealand at World Gliding Competitions and has held New Zealand and World gliding records. Michael also holds a private pilot’s licence. Nicholas has been flying in balloons since he was 4 years old. He had his first solo flight in a balloon at 12, solo glider flight at 14 and solo power plane flight at 16 years of age. He won his first Balloon Fiesta at 14. At 22 he gained his Commercial Hot Air Balloon License and started flying for the family business. Nicholas is also a keen glider pilot, having won National Titles in New Zealand and representing New Zealand at junior and senior World Gliding Championships in Australia and Europe.

We are passionate about Canterbury. Michael and Nicholas were born and raised in the area and are also 5th and 6th generation Canterbury farmers. Their experience with flying and Canterbury's unique weather patterns gives him a wealth of knowledge to guide you through the elements you’re flying in, as well as providing insight into the fertile Canterbury Plains, river gorges and mountains passing below.

We are only 30 minutes’ drive west of Christchurch Airport. In-flight photos of your balloon flight are given to you for free by way of Facebook. We hold the Hall of Fame Certificate for 5 consecutive years of Excellence.

Adult $395.00
Child $250.00 (12 years and under)

Location

  • 2136 Bealey Road
  • Hororata
  • which is a 30 minute drive west of Christchurch Airport.

Restrictions

  • Minimum height of passengers is 1.1 meters.

Child Friendly

  • This experience welcomes families with children.

Bad Weather Refunds

  • If your experience is cancelled by the operator (because of the bad weather, safety concerns, unscheduled maintenance etc) you will be entitled to a full refund.

Notes

  • Minimum Requirements:We require a minimum of 4 people to fly. If you are booking for less than 4 people you are still able to book but please be aware there must be other passengers also booked on that day for the flight to go ahead. Sometimes we will not know until the evening prior to the flight.

    Weight Restrictions:Because a hot air balloon is a lighter-than-air aircraft, it is limited to the total number of kilograms it can lift. Weight limitations vary according to the outside temperature, humidity, and the number and total weight of the passengers and pilot on board. It is extremely important for flight planning that we have accurate weights, it is a legal requirement that each person must be weighed before the flight. Please note the maximum weight for each passenger is 130 kg. If anyone is heavier than this, please contact us directly to discuss the options to accommodate them.

    Cancellation Policy:

    If you cancel within 24 hours of the flight you forfeit the full fare. If your cancellation is due to having a new medical condition which raises concerns about completing the flight safely and comfortably, or which poses a risk to other passengers, we will consider a refund upon presentation of a medical certificate. Cancellation must be made directly with Ballooning Canterbury.

    A $100 per person cancellation fee applies if you cancel with 48 hours for small groups or within 7 days of flight for large groups.

    If we cancel the flight due to weather or for safety reasons, a full refund will be given or you can change your booking to another date if space is available. (Conditions apply to flights booked via a voucher).

    When booking special BookMe hot deals, the operator in very rare occasions, not withstanding all endeavours, - may have to reschedule the time slightly if load requirements dictate and or refund.

    Please note only one balloon flight departs daily and the departure time differences are for differential fare pricing purposes. Please also note that departure times are dependent upon the sunrise and range between 5am and 6:45am.


  • What to do if you are unable to fly due to having COVID:

    Please let us know as soon as possible if you are unable to fly due to you having tested positive for COVID, or you are required to isolate due to being a close contact. We are happy to change your ticket to another day.

    If you are unable to go another day and have cancelled more than 48 hours from the time of the flight we will give you a full refund.

    If you have to cancel within 48 or 24 hours of the flight and would like a refund please read our cancellation policy below.

    The wellbeing of our passengers and staff is our top priority and all our staff are fully vaccinated. Thank you for doing your part in helping us do this.

    Child price applies to ages 12 years and under and over 1.1m tall.

    All flights are weather dependent. We need to be able to contact all passengers 7.30 pm the evening prior to the flight to confirm that it is operating and to reconfirm the meeting time and place with everyone. The time on you booking form is only to be used as a guideline - we will confirm this with you. If we are unable to make contact with you please call us. Due to the early nature of ballooning please DO NOT CALL AFTER 9.00 PM.


Available Bookings from 23 Dec to 5 Jan 2025

Change Dates

All prices are shown in NZD ($)

Mon 23 Dec
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Fri 27 Dec
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Bookings close in 8 hours...

  • Adult$259.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$250.00

  • Adult$225.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$250.00

  • Adult$395.00
  • Child$250.00

  • Adult$220.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$250.00

  • Adult$220.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$250.00

  • Adult$259.00 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$250.00

  • Adult$395.00
  • Child$250.00

  • Adult$395.00
  • Child$250.00

Authenticated Reviews & PhotosAll of our reviews are from people who have booked and paid for this activity thru Bookme

Authenticated Reviews & PhotosAll of our reviews are from people who have booked and paid for this activity thru Bookme

4.9

380 reviews

Showing all 380 authenticated Bookme reviews

yongjiaj from China wrote on 13 February 2024

Fantastic experience

非常安全、专业,整个流程从准备工作到结束都井井有条,参与度高。在空中多角度欣赏Canterbury的美景,也有详细讲解,非常棒的体验。

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Yu Guo from China wrote on 18 June 2017

Amazing

Great view Nice balloon Nice pilot 乘坐热气球的梦想得以实现? 值得体验

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from Taiwan wrote on 16 April 2018

很棒的體驗⋯⋯

可以自己動手幫忙準備架起熱氣球和較落後的收尾,我們覺得很好玩!駕駛會介紹旅途中看到的景色,將落後也有很特別的橋段,不是一般的開香檳慶祝而已,這是我在別的地方都沒有體驗過的。 缺點是我們並不知道自己的團費不包含免費接送,老板在結束熱氣球要回程的時候和我們收錢,有種不給就會被丟包在荒野的感覺,如果在前一天確認接送時間地點時能告知一下會比較好,否則我們以為自己是屬於免費接送的,訂單上也並沒有說折扣多少就算是super discount ,不然其實我們可以自己開車過去。

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CHI Fun Idy from Hong Kong wrote on 17 August 2016

Good experience

Good experience

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Catriona from United Kingdom wrote on 16 November 2022

Fantastic views

Must do activity if you are in Christchurch area. Well worth getting out of bed early to drift across the sky in the hot air balloon and see amazing views of green hills, snow capped mountains and the farmland and villages below.

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From Hot Air Ballooning Experience - Canterbury

Was great having you join us. Was good that we have multiple launch sites so that we could launch away from the low cloud to give you the best views.

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Qualmark Certification

This award identifies a business with a high level of professionalism, a keen awareness of the impact it has on the environment and a commitment to a customer centric approach.

This award is evidence of a sophisticated tourism business that consistently exceeds visitor expectations. Their proactive leadership and management ensure the business's focus on continuously improving their economic, social and environmental performance to create genuine, constantly evolving and sustainable tourism experiences.

This award recognises the best sustainable tourism businesses in New Zealand. It denotes exceptional customer experiences at the heart of everything the company does. This business is leading the way in making the New Zealand tourism industry a world class sustainable visitor destination.

When you see the Qualmark logo, your activity of choice is endorsed by New Zealand Tourism's official quality assurance organisation and backed by leaders in the industry. It's your trusted guide to iconic activities and experiences that are awarded for their exceptionally high level of quality, safety and sustainability.

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