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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How much does a balloon flight cost?
A hot air balloon ride costs $295 per person.
Child rate (age 7-11) is $190 per person.
Are there any discounts for groups?
Yes, book four or more balloon flights to receive a 10% discount. Group discounts apply only for direct bookings (i.e. no group discounts available to travel agents, concierges, or any other booking agents).
How do I know if my balloon flight is going ahead?
A hot air balloon trip is weather dependant, so you will need to check-in with your pilot the night before you go ballooning for a weather check and flight confirmation.
Where do we have the champagne breakfast?
All champagne balloon flights culminate in a complimentary Balloonist’s Breakfast served on the terrace at Cessnock Airport. A gourmet breakfast is an optional extra at the newly opened Crowne Plaza Resort, opposite Cessnock Airport.
Do you offer hotel transfers?
If you are without transport, we can arrange a free local hotel transfer (within 5kms of Cessnock Airport).
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What should I wear and bring?
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Clothing suitable for walking/hiking is recommended. Covered shoes, long trousers and a long sleeved top. Natural fibres are better. Tall people may wish to wear a hat. We suggest you also bring a bottle of water, camera, video and sunglasses.
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Where do we meet?
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We meet at Cessnock Airport, about 7kms to the north of Cessnock, behind the Wine Country Visitor Information Centre in the lower Hunter Valley. This is 2-5 minutes from Lovedale and Pokolbin and 10 minutes from Mt View.
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How high do we go?
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This all depends upon the winds. Flights can be anywhere between the tops of the trees and 2 or 3 thousand feet.
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How long does it take?
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The balloon ride itself is between 45 minutes and one hour. The total time you are with us is between 3 and 4 hours. This includes filling in some paperwork, travelling to and from the launch and landing sites and the champagne celebration afterwards.
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Is it cold in the air?
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Generally it is no colder ballooning than on the ground. The burners above keep us warm in flight. In winter the mornings can get as cold as a few degrees so lots of thin layers and a beanie are best.
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Is there an age limit?
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| Children need to be at least 120cm tall so they can see over the top of the basket. We tend not to take children under the age of 7. The burner noise can be a bit frightening to young children. |
| There is no upper age limit - as long as you are fit and healthy with good knees, hips and back. You will be required to climb into the balloon basket, and a hard landing is similar to jumping off a small chair, meaning you will be required to bend your knees. |
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Can I buy a gift voucher?
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Gift Vouchers are available for the same cost as balloon flights. They are open dated for 12 months.
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What happens if the flight is cancelled?
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If your balloon flight is cancelled by us then you are welcome to rebook or have a refund ($10 admin fee will apply). Gift Voucher Holders rebook only. Please see the terms and conditions for details.
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Are you covered by insurance?
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We carry $5,000,000 of public liability insurance.
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Why do you fly only in the morning?
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The weather is at its most stable in the morning, with generally light winds and not too hot.
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How safe is it?
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We are proud of our 100% safety record and will not fly if the conditions are not suitable. We are governed by CASA (Civil Aviation Safety Authority) the same as Qantas or Virgin Blue and fly strictly to the guidelines set down by them.
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Why should I book with Balloon Safaris?
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Simple – we offer the best value balloon flight experience in the Hunter Valley, using the best equipment available. We only fly here and have excellent local knowledge. Our pilots are very experienced including instructors, examiners and the Australian National Champion. We have been awarded Best Tourism Adventure Operator at the Hunter Region Awards for Excellence in Tourism for the last 3 years.
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