Recent Traveler Photos
We've selected the best candid trip photos submitted by our users to help you decide if the Yarra Valley Balloon Flight at Sunrise from Melbourne is right for you.
Global Balloon
There's nothing prettier than a multi-colored balloon sailing over a beautiful landscape with a sunrise for light.
Connecting Balloon to Gondola (Basket)
We'd been picked up at our hotel in downtown Melbourne around 4:20am! ARRRGH! Everyone met at Rochford Winery, checked in, selected from the breakfast options and then were transported to "launch pad". There were 3 balloons going up. Each held 16 passengers plus the pilot. Now at the launch pad, our pilot (Brian) and another ground crew member connected the balloon to the basket! Brian definitely wanted to be sure he returned softly to the ground! That was good for us!
Getting Air Into The Balloon
Now all connected to the basket, the balloon needed to have air in it. The ground crew set up a huge fan on either side of the gondola. Brian asked for volunteers to hold the balloon so it could capture the air. Several folks volunteered. He picked the first two who came forward. We didn't volunteer as we wanted to take pictures and video!
Getting The Balloon Off the Ground
Note that the basket is on its side. After some time spent "fanning" air into the balloon, Brian hit the burner to heat the air. That, in turn, gave the air in the balloon a reason to rise off the ground... and, at the same time to lift the basket to an upright position.
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