Land Based Tours

Let Raging Thunder introduce you to the safe and exciting sport of ballooning, in a spectacular dawn trip which highlights the diverse eco-culture of the Cairns region.

As the sun rises our pilots gently lift off and quietly glide the balloons over the panorama of the Cairns Highlands (also known as the Atherton Tablelands).

Afterwards you are treated to a wonderful breakfast at our outback adventures site, and then returned to Cairns or Kuranda with plenty of time to enjoy other tours in the same day.

So get aboard and experience the ride of your life!!!

30 Minute flight

Let Raging Thunder introduce you to the safe and exciting sport of ballooning, in a spectacular dawn trip which highlights the diverse eco-culture of the Cairns region.

As the sun rises our pilots gently lift off and quietly glide the balloons over the panorama of the Cairns Highlands (also known as the Atherton Tablelands).

Remember your balloon flight forever, with an 8x6 inch quality photograph, taken while you are high above the ground!! Best of all these photo lab quality prints are produced during breakfast, so you can take them with you, or mail them to family and friends .. a must have souvenir!!

Afterwards you are treated to a wonderful breakfast at our outback adventure site, and then returned to Cairns or Kuranda with plenty of time to enjoy other tours in the same day.

What you get:

- Exhilarating scenic Tablelands balloon flight
- Australia's most experienced balloon pilots
- Delicious hot and cold Aussie breakfast with champagne and juices, served in our exclusive bush restaurant only a short distance from the balloon landing site
- Friendly helpful crew
- Flight certificate
- Have fun helping pack up our giant balloons
- All accommodation transfers
- Cross Country Balloon chase

Optional Extra's:
Photos & merchandise available for purchase same day

Departs Cairns Daily from around 4.00am (returns approx 10.30am)

Departs Port Douglas Daily 4.30am (returns approx 11.00am)

Note - pickup times may vary. Usually 0410 - 0445.

Price $165 + $25 levy*

60 minute baloon flight

Experience the thrill of a 1 hour balloon flight (or two half hour flights over different areas depending on numbers).

At the crack of dawn we introduce you to the safe, exciting sport of ballooning. Our pilot will gently lift off and quietly glide the balloon over the panorama of the Atherton Tablelands - the best way to absorb the diverse eco-culture of the region. After this exhilarating experience you are transferred to a unique Aussie venue for breakfast with champagne.

Remember your balloon flight forever, with an 8x6 inch quality photograph, taken while you are high above the ground!! Best of all these photo lab quality prints are produced during breakfast, so you can take them with you, or mail them to family and friends .. a must have souvenir!!

What you get:

- Exhilarating scenic Tablelands balloon flight
- Australia's most experienced balloon pilots
- Delicious hot and cold Aussie breakfast with champagne and juices, served in our exclusive bush restaurant only a short distance from the balloon landing site
- Friendly helpful crew
- Flight certificate
- Have fun helping pack up our giant balloons
- All accommodation transfers
- Cross Country Balloon chase

Optional Extra's:
Photos & merchandise available for purchase same day

Departs Cairns Daily 4.00am (returns approx 10.30am)

Departs Port Douglas Daily 4.30am (returns approx 11.00am)

Note - pickup times may vary. Usually 0410 - 0445.

On the day of your flight, you should bring your ticket, suitable clothing (shorts or trousers) with warm clothing in winter months, hat and optionally money for souvenirs. The minimum age for our junior flyers is 5 years old

Price $270 + $25 levy*

WHY DO YOU FLY SO EARLY & WHY OVER THE CAIRNS HIGHLANDS?

Because of the nature of balloons they can’t be steered, instead they are carried along by wind currents. The Kuranda range provides a buffer from the coastal winds, making the gentle Mareeba valley the ideal place for ballooning, having less cancelled flying days than any other location in the world. Just after dawn the cool air in the Mareeba Valley provides the stable conditions which are perfect for ballooning, which is why we fly at dawn. Allowing our flights to always be controlled, with our landing being gentle affairs with the basket remaining in the upright position.

The winds may actually be moving in different directions at different heights, so our skilled pilots raise and lower the balloons to give them control over direction. They also make us of a number of different takeoff and landing sites in order to take advantage of the wind, some of which are shown above so every trip is unique.

WHAT TO BRING

Hat (recommended) Camera or video camera Sunglasses Due to safety reasons, you will not be able to bring these items aboard the balloon, but they can be left securely in your coach : Lighters Mobile phones Backpacks or day packs Handbags

*INSURANCE

Under the current Civil Aviation Laws of Australia, all holders of open Air Certificates engaged in Commercial Aviation are now required to insure each passenger to a minimum of $500,000 plus third Party Liability (a three fold increase from the previous amount of $180,000). Due to this huge jump and the fact that the Australian Aviation Underwriters Pool have withdrawn from insuring Hot Air Ballooning Operations, we are no longer able to absorb this amount into the cost of your tour. Consequently, we have elected to separately collect an on-board insurance fee from each passenger prior to flight. The customer is ultimately the beneficiary of the insurance not our company, as we are simply compelled to adhere to these laws as part of operating in Australian airspace.

*$25 Pay On Board fee comprising Civil Aviation insurance, landing fees, and part recovery of transfer costs and Government taxes and charges is payable on the day of travel.