Hot Air Balloon Cairns (with kids)
How Kids-Friendly is Hot Air Balloon Cairns?
What makes it 61% Kids-Friendly: Kids 4–12 may board with a paid ticket and learn from the pilot, but 4 am pickups, one-hour standing, no toilets, and safety rules on lively movement mean comfort and flexibility are only average.
Positives:
- Scenic Learning Experience: Kids hear pilot commentary about local ecology and landforms.
- Included Transfers: Door-to-door hotel pickup and drop-off reduce travel hassle.
- Keepsake Certificate: Each family member gets a commemorative flight certificate.
Challenges:
- Early Start: Pickup before dawn means a 4–5 AM wake-up call.
- Weather Dependent: Strong winds or rain can cancel flights with short notice.
- Minimum Age Requirement: All children must be at least 3 years old and able to climb into the basket.
- No On-Site Facilities: Launch site has no toilets or changing tables; use hotel before departure.
What is Hot Air Balloon Cairns?
- A Cairns-based operator offering hot air balloon flights at dawn over the Atherton Tablelands region of Queensland
- Sunrise flights launched from private farmland with durations of 40 to 60 minutes
- An operator that manages balloon inflation, pilot-led aerial commentary, balloon deflation and repacking, and issues commemorative certificates
What is so special about Hot Air Balloon Cairns for with kids?
- Early-morning shared balloon flights with commentary over Atherton Tablelands
- Hands-on pack-up experience adds fun for children
- Included juice toast, light breakfast, and commemorative certificates
- Door-to-door hotel transfers for easy family logistics
- Most suitable for children aged 3 and up with minimum age requirement
Recommended visit duration: 3-4 hours
Why 3-4 hours visit duration is ideal for with kids: Includes pickup, 40–60 min flight, breakfast and return without overwhelming young children.
Kids-Friendly Activities in Hot Air Balloon Cairns
Family Sunrise Balloon Flight:
Join a shared early-morning flight over the Atherton Tablelands with pilot commentary.
Tip: Ask kids to spot rivers and farmland below. Dress in warm layers for the cool dawn air.
Balloon Pack-Up Experience:
Help the crew deflate and roll the balloon once you land.
Tip: Wear closed-toe shoes and comfortable clothes for the paddock.
Celebration with Juice Toast and Snack:
Receive a commemorative certificate and enjoy a juice or sparkling toast with a light breakfast.
Tip: Bring a camera to capture the toast and landing moments.
How to Make the Most of Your Visit to Hot Air Balloon Cairns
- Layer Clothing: Temperatures at dawn can be cool; add and remove layers as needed.
- Charge Your Devices: Bring a fully charged camera or phone for early-morning photos.
- Book in Advance: Secure spots early, especially during school holidays and peak season.
Reviews of Hot Air Balloon Cairns
Steve Devries
Well worth being on a bus at 3:30 in the morning to see the sunrise from a hot air balloon over the Atherton table lands. The whole experience felt totally safe including the landing. It should definitely be on your bucket list.
Ashi Herath
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Amazing Hot Air Balloon Experience! What an incredible experience! From start to finish, everything was so well-organized and enjoyable. Our pilot, Josh, was super friendly and made us feel completely at ease. The whole crew was very welcoming, professional, and added a fun, personal touch to the adventure — even helping with the balloon pack-up was surprisingly fun! The champagne bre...
Ariana Williams
BREATH TAKING SUNRISE!! 😁😁😁 Great view, phenomenal pilot and wonderful crew. Soft landing! Had a great time. Our bus driver Magic Mike was AMAZING! So funny and cheerful, kept us all entertained with his magic tricks. Highly recommended.
Sandra Gonzalez
This was my first hot air balloon experience and it was amazing. Frank took us up in the Koala balloon and we went up, up, up. Saw the sunrise, the landscape, the wallabies jumping about and all the beauty of the land. We are in Cairns and saw the Barron River, fields, crops, animals and people’s houses. I would recommend the experience to anyone interested. It is soooo peaceful up there. Thanks t...
Dee Marie
Jake, Frank & Gavin were wonderful. Awesome humour, knew their stuff & such a friendly bunch. The balloon ride was superb & we had so much fun. My 5 1/2 year old was a bit short so I had to hold him up to see & he found that a bit scary but he loved the flight itself as did I. Perfectly smooth landing too. Would definitely recommend these guys for your Hot Air Balloon flight.
When is the best time to visit Hot Air Balloon Cairns (Great Barrier Reef Area, Australia)?
Flights run year-round but often cancel in wet season (Nov–Apr). Choose May–Oct for clearer skies and cooler dawns. Book early in school holidays.
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Typical Budget for a Family of 4 (2 Adults + 2 Kids)
| Item | Cost (Approx.) |
|---|---|
| Adult ticket x2 | USD 503.74 |
| Child ticket x2 | USD 503.74 |
| Total Estimated | USD 1,007.48 |
Note: All prices are indicative and may vary. Please check directly with the venue for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
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Map of Hot Air Balloon Cairns
Address: 36 Abbott St, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
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About Hot Air Balloon Cairns
Opening Hours
Hours may vary during holidays, special events, and peak seasons. Please check the official website for the most up-to-date information.
Website
Official WebsitePhone Number
+61 7 4039 9900Average price
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