If your travels have you in Sydney, Australia, then make sure to take a day or two to head to Hunter Valley. We didn’t know about this area until we started doing some research on wine tasting and a surprise for my mom, a hot air balloon ride. This would be the perfect setting and an easy trip from Sydney.

Known as being one of the major wine regions in Australia, which in my mind is a adult playground, it was actually very family friendly. We wanted to make this trip easy and relaxing and to do something we had never done before. A hot air balloon ride had been on my mom’s bucket list for years.

It is always intimidating researching something like that. I am afraid of heights and I do not like it when my feet are not on the ground. I still went ahead and booked a ride with Beyond Ballooning after reading countless reviews and doing research on the company. From that moment on, I was nervous about the trip.

Hunter Valley by Hot Air Balloon

Beyond Ballooning actually had everything thought out. From where you should stay, getting picked up, throughout the ride, breakfast at the end and even pictures. We learned a lot and was happy to see how serious everyone took it. I just have these thoughts running through my mind that we would have a weird basket that swayed and I didn’t know who operated the balloon and how you could actually control it with just a little blast of fire. I really just didn’t know anything about it, but from the moment you meet them at the pick up location you are put at ease. From the driver, to the assistant to the pilot, you can tell this is a very serious thing for them. They work hard and put in many hours to learn. There are actually more astronauts than hot air balloon pilots!

To make this trip as easy as possible, we stayed at the Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley. This was their pick up location and it is at around 4:30am. We had no desire to get up any earlier to have to drive to the location. Right in their main lobby, they will put you in groups, you will meet your pilot and the assistant will provide all the necessary information about the process.

They then will load you into the vans and take you to where they think the best take off location will be. This changes for every flight because they watch the weather, specifically the wind.

We got there right before sunrise and watching them prepare the balloons was extra special.

Then after a couple minutes we were all in and ready! Besides my mom, my aunt and uncle were a part of the trip and so we got our own little section in the basket. There wasn’t much space to move which made me happy, you wouldn’t have people going every which way.

Then just like that we were taking off!

This would be the moment of truth. How was I going to be able to handle being so high up and was I going to have any motion sickness. Oddly enough, I had no issues being that high up. The basket top went up past my waste and there was no motion that you could feel. I ended up truly loving it (for a one time experience!).

It was simply amazing being able to float over vineyards and meadows. The landscape during the morning light was vibrant and ever changing. You would feel like you are daydreaming and a couple minutes would go by and you realized you were just still taking it all in.

Then out of nowhere we came across a mob of Kangaroos!

The entire flight lasted about 45 minutes. The pilot answered all our questions and was professional the entire ride.

After a location to land was confirmed, it took no time at all for us to land. They teach you how to brace for the landing but ours was smooth. Just a small hop and it was over.

You then get to help with getting the balloon deflated, lined up and rolled into the trailer.

The breakfast buffet at the Crowne Plaza was big and had everything that you could want. After one last good bye to our pilot, we went back for a nap. It truly was a full experience. You didn’t just show up with the balloon ready and take off, land and then leave. You were immersed in the process and the pace of the morning comfortable.

Wine Tasting!

Then it was time for some wine tasting!

Our first stop was Peterson House. A beautiful property with a great patio for the tasting. They even had the option to add ice cream!

We then moved on to Hungeford Hill for another wine tasting in an interesting building.

After the tasting another nap was in the works for a few of us. Kevin and I decided to check out the golf course on site at the Crowne Plaza. We had not brought any of the proper attire and didn’t have clubs, but they still let us on for 9 holes at the end of the day! This was a nice thing about the hotel. There were a lot of activities to entertain right on property. Helicopter rides, waterpark, golf, arcade and other fun activities.

We played around all the birds.

Then we saw our first black swans!

That was an incredible day and I highly suggest visiting this area. Whether it be for a quick weekend or a long week, this was the perfect vacation destination. It literally had something for everyone. A once in a lifetime hot air balloon ride and being with family made it for one of the best!

Have any questions, let me know in the comments!

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