This post may contain affiliate links. We may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase. Read Disclosure.
“Uplifting by nature” is how it’s billed.
The Atherton Tablelands in Tropical North Queensland was the setting for our early morning hot air balloon ride.
Before arriving in Tropical North Queensland I, was of course, familiar with it being the location of the Great Barrier Reef, Cape Tribulation, and the World Heritage Daintree Rainforest.
But, throw in the Atherton Tablelands and the diversity of this area is why I now call it one of my favourite regions in all of Australia. Being the nature lover that I am, this area just speaks to me.a
Located just one hours drive west of Cairns, the Atherton Tablelands are a sub-tropical haven spread over an area larger than the state of Tasmania. Who knew?
Our first encounter in the area was our adventurous, or should I say tragic mountain biking experience. This time, we would be taking things a lot SLOWER and admiring the region from the air.
Turns out, North Queensland is one of the most popular places in Australia for a hot air balloon flight. The weather is favourable, and the scenery not too shabby.
Our day started early with a 4.15 am pick up from the QT Hotel in Port Douglas.
Yep, sunrise is the best time for your hot air balloon in Cairns. Starting your day watching the sun rise over the rolling hills is an experience.
Get to the launch site as early as you can so you can get in the first balloon that takes off, otherwise if you’re photographers like us, the light gets hazy real quick.
It’s pretty special to look out over the at all the balloons flying – it looks like you are at a Balloon festival. I especially loved the waving kangaroo!
Gliding along with the gentle breeze, the thing you notice most about floating in a hot air balloon is the silence – except when the propane burners are firing.
There is a calmness on board as you rotate around the basket, and whilst we weren’t airborne for long we enjoyed the 360-degree picturesque views of the greenery below before floating gently back down to earth.
Once you’re done with your hot air balloon flight, consider indulging in some of the regions gourmet food and wine, waterfalls, or other adventure activities in Tropical North Queensland like white water rafting, jungle surfing scenic flights, Kuranda train, and stand up paddle boarding.
P.S. A little thrill for us on the bus ride back into Cairns – two lovely young English lads, who were in our balloon, asked us if we were that Australian couple who have a travel blog. We then chatted for the rest of the journey and shared with them our tips for travelling Oz.
The Facts
Hot Air Balloon Cairns operates flights daily, weather dependent, from the Atherton Tablelands, Cairns, Port Douglas and Palm Cove with door to door transfers included in your Cairns hot air ballooning tour.
You can purchase your tickets for the tour here. You can experience a 30 minutes or 60 minutes balloon flight over Far North Queensland Atherton Tablelands.
A few hot air balloon safety tips:
Before you book your Cairns hot air balloon tour, be aware of the following
- Have travel insurance (be sure it covers hot air ballooning.
- Ballooning is not suitable for anyone who may be pregnant
- The minimum age is 4 years and those under 18 must travel with a guardian or parent
- It is a CASA (Civil Aviation Safety Authority) requirement that you be able to climb in and out of the basket unaided using the footholds provided
More tips for the Cairns region including day tours
- Riding the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway + Kuranda Scenic Railway in Cairns
- How to visit the Great Barrier Reef
- 11 Amazing Things to do in Cairns (including Green Island)
PLAN YOUR TRIP TOÂ CAIRNS
We’ve been traveling consistently for 17 years and have come to rely on a few trusted websites that save us money and time when booking accommodation, flights and car rental. Below are our preferred partners:
Accommodation
- Booking.com has 700,000+ hotels, apartments and hostels worldwide. Don’t forget checking Cairn’s northern beaches. You get free cancellation on most rooms and a best price guarantee.Â
Airbnb also has unique local homes to rent
Flights
- Skyscanner is a comparison website that searches millions of flights. Once you find your best deal, book directly through the airline (no extra fees).
Car Rental
- RentalCars.com is the world’s biggest car rental booking service that compares all the major brands like Hertz, Avis, Alamo, and Europcar. Outdoorsy also does campervan rentals.
Disclaimer: We were guests of Tourism Queensland