Above & Beyond: How Balloon Aloft is Making Hot Air Ballooning Accessible for All
There is nothing more beautiful or eye-catching when you’re driving through the rural landscapes of the Hunter Valley than spying the colourful hot air balloons of Balloon Aloft peacefully floating across the sky as the sun rises.
Your thoughts turn to the lucky ones in the basket, enjoying a bucket list moment or a special occasion. Perhaps you remember your own experience with fondness, or maybe you add it to your own wish list, but just spotting them in the sky makes your day a little bit better.
Balloon Aloft is now Australia's largest hot-air balloon company, flying out of the Hunter Valley, Mudgee, Camden, Byron Bay and Burketown, and was recently inducted into the NSW Tourism Awards Hall of Fame for Adventure Tourism. They also won two Gold awards, one for Adventure Tourism and the other for Excellence in Accessible Tourism. This recognises the company’s success in providing ballooning experiences for those in a wheelchair, or those with other accessibility issues. Director Matthew Scaife says that winning the awards was a wonderful recognition of his staff's passion and hard work in the business, with many of them having been with him for 15 to 20 years.
“We all consider ourselves fortunate to be working in ballooning,” said Matthew.
“There’s a joyfulness in our work because we become part of other people’s special occasions and happy experiences. The recognition the awards gave us this year was much appreciated by the whole team, who love what they do and work hard for it.
“Our operation here in the Hunter Valley has become the go-to destination for ballooning in Australia. Along with wine, ballooning experiences are now one of the major reasons for visitation to the region.”
Balloon Aloft is very much a family company. Matthew has been flying since he was six years old and grew up with it being a central part of his life. The company has been in operation for over 44 years and plays a leadership role in the industry.
“It’s not just about passengers and flying,” said Matthew.
“We are innovators too. We will go to the manufacturers with ideas on how we want our balloons to be built. A good example is the accessible balloon basket. The first one was built ten years ago, but it was very restrictive. We’ve improved the design so that now it’s much more accessible and can fly in most conditions, unlike the original version.”
Launched a year ago, the new accessible balloon has been an enormous success. Made by Australian ballooning manufacturer Kavanagh Balloons, it enables wheelchair users to access the balloon basket via a specially designed door. It offers customised seating for up to four passengers and two harnesses for passengers with higher accessibility needs to ensure that all passengers are safe and secure during their flight.
“There’s almost no limitation now in terms of accessibility. It’s been amazing. We’re also slowly adding some of the accessibility elements, such as seats, to our regular balloons. We have vision impaired people who fly with us. Their experience is very interesting; it's all about their other senses. The only sensitivity we have is that of noise. Sometimes those who may be neuro-divergent may be unable to remain quiet and peaceful for our other passengers. In these cases, we recommend getting a group together for an exclusive flight where the disturbance won’t matter.”
Accessibility and inclusion are also critical components for responsible and sustainable tourism, to which Balloon Aloft is deeply committed. Balloon Aloft is the first balloon ride operator to complete Ecotourism Australia’s Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard, which measures how well they address the four pillars of sustainability and is the first step before progressing to global best practice sustainability standards through one of Ecotourism Australia’s certification programs.
“We want to do our bit to reduce our environmental impact. We have partnered with Greenfleet to offset all carbon emissions, and we utilise rainwater and solar energy. We also actively promote the incredible work of Sea Shepherd as a Proud Sea Shepherd Ambassador, working to protect marine life and raise awareness about the importance of preserving our planet for future generations. I fly the Sea Shepherd balloon all over the world for them, and it’s always such a positive
experience.”
This desire to make a difference has also led Balloon Aloft to work with Yagurli Tours, an Indigenous-owned business operated by the Gangalidda and Garawa Peoples of Burketown (Moungibi) located on the Albert River in the Gulf of Carpentaria in far North-West Queensland. Beginning four years ago, Balloon Aloft worked with Yagurli Tours to
run balloon flights over Australia’s largest salt pan and the Albert River. This one-of-a-kind experience allows passengers to drift peacefully above the vast Gulf Savannah, offering unparalleled views as they learn about the region from the Traditional Custodians of the land. The experienced Gangalidda and Garawa crew share the rich cultural heritage of the land and point out landmarks steeped in tradition.
“This operation helps the town from a visitation perspective as well as providing employment for the young indigenous people so there’s a reason to stay in Burketown, no need to move away for work. The scenery is spectacular, especially the largest salt flats in Australia!”
Here in the Hunter Valley, Balloon Aloft flies seven days a week, weather permitting, with one-hour flights taking off at sunrise and flying over the spectacular vineyards and picturesque landscapes of Pokolbin, Lovedale, Rothbury or Broke at the height of 2000 feet or more. Back on land, passengers celebrate with a sparkling wine tasting and gourmet breakfast at Peterson House and Restaurant Cuvee and receive a complimentary digital photo album as a record of their special event. The whole experience takes about 3.5 to 4 hours, and prices start at $319 per person. Exclusive flights are also popular, particularly with loved-up couples – perhaps to pop the question or celebrate a private moment in their lives. Exclusive flights are available from $2200.
Balloon Aloft has put the Hunter Valley on the map for reasons other than wine. Together, the two complementary industries make for sensational experiences, whether you’re a local or a visitor from further afield. Don’t wait for a special occasion; the chance to float high above an awe-inspiring landscape is enough reason to book your flight! Visit
