Your hot air ballooning experience starts at Cessnock Airport, about 5kms north of Cessnock on Wine Country Drive (formally Allandale Road).  This is only 50m from the Wine Country Visitors Information Centre.  The airport’s location is central to all the Valley’s major resorts and wineries.  The airport is situated on the borders of Pokolbin and Lovedale. 

There is ample free parking at the airport for hot air ballooning passengers and their guests. Toilets and of course the Visitors Centre and café is only 1 minute down the driveway.  The airport is not well sign-posted but heading for the Visitor’s Information Centre will make finding Balloon Safaris easier.

Our hot air balloons are flown all over the lower Hunter Valley.  We always meet at the airport but we do not always launch from there.  We have about 20 launch sites all over the Valley and we will take you to an appropriate site depending upon the weather conditions of the morning.  It is not uncommon to see our balloons aloft Pokolbin, Lovedale or Mount view.  Your pilot will choose the best launch site for your hot air ballooning experience in the morning, once he has checked the weather.