Description: Hot Air BalloonsIf there was ever a reason to get up at 3:45 a.m. for a 4:30 a.m. activity, this is it. We boarded a van from our hotel belonging to a company called Hot Air, who would then take us on a one-hour excursion to a town called Mareeba to A) find and B) board our hot air balloon. We stopped for a bathroom break (full of lovely legged creatures) and then waited. We were waiting for an announcement on which way the wind was blowing, which would determine our launch site. When we got the “go”, we got going to a launch site that apparently no one on staff that morning had ever been to before. We stepped out into a big field, paid our $165 to the nice man in the green shirt, and watched the process unfold (Plus a $25 aviation levy). (That money was for a half-hour flight; a one-hour flight can be had for $265.)
The passenger baskets started out on their side, and a truck rolled out the balloon in front of it. Wires were hooked where they needed to be on the basket (oh please get that part right!) and two folks held the balloon open while a really big fan blew cold air into the balloon to inflate it. When it was mostly inflated, the propane heater started to heat up the air and make the balloon rise off the ground. That’s when we all loaded in – all 20 of us, five in each of the four compartments with our very cute pilot named Jay in the center.
I was astonished at how effortlessly the balloon lifted off the ground. Not once did I feel unsafe or scared. We floated around for a while with some really great views of the Australian tablelands, and as we came down from the clouds we saw a few wild roos hopping around. We managed to get a few extra minutes in the balloon, because as you change altitude, you change winds, and we couldn’t land where we originally planned.
The landing was also smoother than I thought it would be. One bounce, which wasn’t even that jarring, and we were on the ground with big men hanging off the sides to keep us down! We did have to assume a landing position, grasping hand ropes and backs against the padding, but no problem.
Then they Huck Finn-ed us into helping them deflate and pack up the balloon (It’ll be fun!) It was kind of fun.
Photos were taken while we were in the air, as well as in a group with the basket when we landed. They can be purchased separately.
I enjoyed this so very much. I think everyone should give it a go!
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