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Welcome to Ballooning Canterbury

Escape to a world of peace and tranquility. Hot Air Ballooning is magical experience and a flight with Ballooning Canterbury offers panoramic views across the fertile Canterbury Plains to the Southern Alps. There is nothing quite so romantic and exciting as floating effortlessly over an ever changing landscape.
Why fly with Ballooning Canterbury?
Ballooning Canterbury is a family owned and operated business. We operate two balloons: a Cameron-90 for special occasions or a small number of passengers and a Cameron Z-275, which can carry up to 16 passengers and is outfitted with the latest equipment and technology.
We can fly a minimum of two people - large groups.
We can offer groups a personalized experience, unique to your wishes; special family occasions, conference flights or team building.
We can fly a number of different locations in the Canterbury area.
What to expect from your day!
Your day will begin with an early start. Ballooning is best at sunrise, when the weather is calmest and to make the most of the beautiful morning light. Start times vary depending on the time of year. Ballooning Canterbury flights operate all year round, depending on passenger numbers and weather see our Flight Schedule for a indication of Availability. Allow approximately 4 - 5 hours for this remarkable experience; the actual flying time is approximately one hour.
We provide courtesy transfers from most hotels for visitors staying in central Christchurch you will be contacted the evening prior to your flight, giving you details of your meeting time and place. Please provide all these detail when you Make a Booking.
When we pick you up from a prearranged meeting place we will drive you to a suitable launch site. Hot air ballooning is a hands-on experience and you will be encouraged to assist with the set up and pack away of the balloon itself.
Before leaving the ground, the pilot will give you a briefing. It is important that you listen carefully and follow your pilot's instructions. Prior to landing it is particularly important that you are prepared and that you know what to expect. Most pilots try to perform as smooth a landing as possible.
Most of the time the balloon will land upright but sometimes the wind at ground level may have slightly increase from when you took off. If this happens the balloon, when it lands, may drag for a wee bit and may even tip onto its side. This is perfectly normal and nothing to be alarmed about. The pilot will brief you of your landing position before takeoff. Our large balloons basket has padding on the inside and handles to hold onto for landing.
Chilled champagne, orange juice and a light snack then be served, to conclude your amazing hot air balloon flight. In-flight photos of your balloon flight will also be available to purchase.
Don’t forget your Camera and lots of Film, Data Memory and Fresh Batteries!!
During your flight you will experience spectacular views and have fantastic photo opportunities see our own impressive Photo Gallery packed with photos of our flights. Be sure to check out Ballooning Canterbury's impressive YouTube Channel our watch some of our select Video Clips to entice you to give ballooning a go! You can also find out what other people thought of "The Ultimate Scenic Adventure" by reading our Testimonials, we also invite you to post your own feedback on your experience!
New Zealand, a magical world where a clean, green, pristine landscape provides the setting for an amazing variety of outdoor activities to show this we have added to our site some of the top Adventure Thrill Sports including Hot Air Ballooning!
Please do not hesitate to Contact Us if you have any questions, or email us directly at info@hot-air-ballooning.co.nz or read our latest news.
We are strong supporters of tourism related networking and encourage like-minded Websites to exchange Links with us. If you believe your Website meets our criteria then Submit Your Site for review.
Recent Articles
Scuba Diving
- Article
- 3rd August, 2012
- Adventure Thrill Sports
- No comments
New Zealand’s coastal waters offer some of the best underwater diving in the world. Our deeply indented coastline is actually longer than that of the United States. Add to this the fact that nowhere is more than two hours drive from the sea, and it becomes obvious why this is such an aquatic-centred nation.
Orienteering
- Article
- 3rd August, 2012
- Adventure Thrill Sports
- No comments
Sky Diving
- Article
- 3rd August, 2012
- Adventure Thrill Sports
- No comments
Nothing can match a parachute jump for a super sensation of flying, sheer speed and ecstatic excitement. Skydiving takes you as high as you can go in terms of adrenalin-pumping adventure sports. Nothing can prepare you for the phenomenal force of slipstream air on your face as you lean out the aircraft door, think briefly about backing out of the jump, and then plunge into space to free fall for 45 seconds at around 180 kph.
Zorbing
- Article
- 4th August, 2012
- Adventure Thrill Sports
- No comments
Here’s a burgeoning adventure thrill sport that’s on a roll. Zorbing is a unique Kiwi invention that is not only ‘off the wall’ but seems to also be off an alien planet. Zorbing originated in New Zealand in the 1990’s as a novel invention by two Kiwis looking for a new adventure challenge. It is now a worldwide business with franchise agents in many countries. In excess of 200 Zorbs have been rolled out from the Rotorua factory and the future for aspiring zorbonauts looks bright.
Rafting
- Article
- 3rd August, 2012
- Adventure Thrill Sports
- No comments
Imagine a thrilling roller coaster ride with the added fun and fear factor of tumbling white water rapids. White water rafting is hugely popular in New Zealand. The country has 1500 rivers, many of them accessible by road, and commercial rafting operators have sought out the most diabolical dancing waves, ‘stoppers’ and waterfalls to provide the ultimate challenge. Around 50 rivers are regularly worked by the operators, providing a complete range of rafting experiences.
Caving
- Article
- 27th July, 2012
- Adventure Thrill Sports
- No comments
Is there a latent speleologist inside you waiting to get out and explore the limestone labyrinths of the underworld? Caving opportunities abound in New Zealand, which has extensive areas of karst limestone landscape. Serious caving enthusiasts can stay in the Tomo Group Lodge at Waitomo and meet up with members of the largest caving club in the country. In the Nelson area caving clubs regularly run trips into the Takaka caving systems, which are among the longest and deepest in the world.
Heli Skiing
- Article
- 27th July, 2012
- Adventure Thrill Sports
- No comments
Have you tried the ultimate wilderness ski experience? New Zealand has thousands of hectares of untouched powder snow on virgin mountain slopes - the stuff of dreams. Heli-ski operators cover a vast area of off-piste territory, ranging far and wide along the Southern Alps during the July to October season. For intermediate skiers who are proficient in skiing on untracked powder, it can be the ultimate once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Skiing
- Article
- 3rd August, 2012
- Adventure Thrill Sports
- No comments
Canyoning
- Article
- 27th July, 2012
- Adventure Thrill Sports
- No comments
Picture a giant fun park waterslide for grownups, deep in a wilderness river gorge. Add torrents of rushing water and towering rock structures and you’re in canyoning territory. Canyoning is the ultimate fun adventure sport, which challenges this vertical world with a hands-on approach that relies on skill and self-reliance. Under the watchful eye of an experienced guide you plunge into a semi-underground environment of eroded rock with water as your constant companion and your mode of travel.
Aerial Sightseeing
- Article
- 27th July, 2012
- Adventure Thrill Sports
- No comments
Take off into clear blue skies for a unique perspective on New Zealand’s breathtaking mountain, glacier, fiord, lake and river scenery. Aerial sightseeing is one of our most popular visitor attractions and people often say that a scenic flight has been the highlight of their New Zealand holiday.
Christchurch Ballooning
Image Galleries
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Ballooning Canterbury 1st February
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Ballooning Canterbury 20 January
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Ballooning Canterbury 07/01/13













