Canterbury Plains: Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Flight｜New Zealand

Escape to a world of peace and tranquillity with a hot air balloon flight over the Canterbury Plains.

Your day starts early. Ballooning is best at sunrise, when the air is calmest and the morning light is at its finest. You'll be contacted the evening before your flight to confirm the exact time and place, since timing shifts with the season and the sunrise.

Meet the team at the Ballooning Canterbury base in Hororata just a 45 minute drive west of central Christchurch. You will then transfer to the best launch site for the day based on wind and weather conditions across the Canterbury Plains.

Ballooning Canterbury has been family-run since October 2012. Chief Pilot Michael Oakley has been flying balloons since 1997 and is a New Zealand champion and representative at the World Hot Air Balloon Championships in Mildura, Australia. His son Nicholas has been flying since he was 4, went solo at 12, and now flies commercially alongside his father.

The flight itself runs for approximately one hour, drifting silently over the patchwork of the Canterbury Plains with views to the Southern Alps. It's a hands-on experience. You'll be encouraged to help the crew inflate the balloon before take-off and pack it away after landing.

Once you're back on the ground, celebrate with a glass of chilled bubbly or fruit juice, fresh muffins and seasonal fruit, served right there in the landing paddock.

Allow 3 to 4 hours in total for the full experience.