Gold Coast Hot Air Balloon with 5 Star Champagne Buffet Breakfast

Terrible Pilot Chris

Please don’t book any activities with Balloon Aflot and most importantly don’t book it with Chris, very rude super duper rude bloke. He was super duper rude with all the asian clients including us. It was just a waste of our time and money. On top of that that rude pilot landed over a wet land which ruined our clothes and shoes. Please don’t book. Please. Chris, please retire buddy. It’s not your kind of job.

balloon flight over Scenic Rim

The whole experience was 5 star- breath taking views,got amazing photos. I'm scared of heights so wasn't sure how I'd go but I was fine with this - the basket was high n I felt secure. Definitely recommend this company - hats off to Paco our amazing pilot and crew Gary and Nick. Thankyou guys for the awesome morning !! PS breakfast at the Star was great too - Julie and Ben

False advertising-inland flight...extremely cramped mini bus

The minibus was old and cramped and very full. At 5 ft 10 my legs couldn't fit in my seat. As other reviews state this was not a coastal flight. Before getting on to bus I asked the driver where are we headed and how long will it take. He said he didn't know. I already assumed as per other reviews we would head 60km inland and we did with one stop at dirty public toilets. Peaceful and calm flight but over barren desert farm land nowhere near coast. Pilot and bus driver both evasive when asked how often they fly over the coast. I suspect never and images of coast and advertising statements are just lies. Upon returning champagne was offered at buffet breakfast but group dining experience in back corner of a crowded buffet was not 5* experience at all. Ballon was packed to maximum capacity. Once in a lifetime experience and if I had read reviews before booking I would have chosen somewhere much more scenic to do it.

It was great peaceful and...

It was great peaceful and stunning views . Tour guid was great and breakfast. Good was a great experience. Thanks to our pilot and tour bus and the rest of the crew.

What a experience

It was a early morning start we were picked up at 4.15 am from our hotel A total of 24 people max go up in a balloon divided into 4 compartment the balloon took off at about 6 just at sunrise The view was nice and the breakfast served was very good One only wished the drive time could be shorter

Absolutely fantastic

Absolutely fantastic. Worth getting up super early in the am. Very seemless from start to finish. Had a great driver Bill, very friendly, easy to understand and a great driver. Our balloon pilot was Chris and he was fantastic, very friendly also and very knowledgeable on our flight about where the landmarks were and places of interest. The 'takeoff' and 'landing' was about as smooth as you could get being in a wicker basket attached to a giant balloon !! Loved that we got to help deflate and pack up the balloon (totally voluntary). Breakfast at Star Casino was amazing, great variety and quality. Would totally recommend the flight and breakfast to anyone.

Still worth it…. Just

The ride itself was as expected. Knowledgeable staff. Our ride was in the hinterland so we missed sunrise, never saw the Gold Coast as advertised and due to the poor winds we were lucky to have travelled 5km in a straight line. The cost per person included a “FREE” $139 photo package although I am at a loss as to why they advertise this as you are still expected to fork out considerable money to have the images emailed to you. There was four of us so apparently there was $139x4 free photo packages but we got nothing for it! Be prepared to help pack away the balloon at the end. I’ve been lucky to ride in a balloon in Turkey previously so my expectations here were based on that. This ride wasn’t anywhere near as good. Awesome breakfast at the Casino.

I would not recommend this company!!! False Advertising!

DISAPPOINTING EXPERIENCE!!! DO NOT BOOK unless you don’t mind flying over Beaudesert and land on Cows’ paddock Our Experience was terrible!!! We were looking forward to our very first hot air balloon experience to celebrate my partner’s birthday. Before I booked over the phone , I asked their staff Trevor where we would be flying over, he mentioned either the Gold Coast or the Hinterland, as advertised on their website. Either location would have been an amazing experience. My partner also called their office and was told the same information. No mentioned of possibly flying over Beaudesert. On the day of the flight, we were collected from the Casino and left around 4:20am. The driver announced we will be departing from Canungra. We arrived at Canungra and was told we had to wait until we heard from the pilot as he was doing some testing. After waiting for quite sometime, we were told that we will be moving further and that we couldn't fly from there. We were then told that we had to wait for the trailer with the basket and balloon to drive past us and follow them and so we waited again! The driver did not mention where we were going. The trailer drove past and we started driving, it was quite a long drive and we didn't know where we were going until we saw the sign "Beaudesert". I understand that it’s all dependent on the direction of the wind on the day, but they failed to inform me this when I asked them on the phone. This is false advertising! This information should be communicated to their clients and they should mention this on their website otherwise I would never have booked it. To make matter worse, at the end of the flight, they asked for volunteers to help pack-up the balloon and we had to wait again until it was done before they drove us back to the Casino. We had purchased the package that included Breakfast and Photos. By the time we left Beaudesert, it was after 9:00am and the driver was racing back. The buffet breakfast finished at 10:30am. At 10:15am, I advised the driver that we had purchased the package with the buffet breakfast which finishes in 15 minutes and asked him what happens then? He informed me that someone is speaking to the staff at the Casino and they will keep the buffet open. We arrived at 10:20am, 10 minutes before the buffet finished. We were then being rushed to go in and grab some food quickly. Some of us needed to go the the bathroom as we didn't have the opportunity to go prior to leaving Beaudesert. We quickly grabbed some food - there were hardly any left. When we went back to get some more food at 10:30am, they had already taken all the food away as the buffet had finished at 10:30am. If we didn't have to wait until they had packed up the balloon and drove us back straight after the flight - maybe we would have enjoyed our breakfast. But instead, we had 10 minutes to have our breakfast with hardly anything left. I contacted their office to raise my concerns and disappointment, it took them over a week to respond and didn’t address my concerns which were: * No mentioned of flying over Beaudesert - why didn’t they inform us when my partner and I asked? * We arrived back 10 minutes before breakfast had finished - totally unacceptable Based on our experience, it was very disappointing and I would not recommend this company at all!

Dissapoint

Really disappointed. This was going to be a very special flight for two members of our group of five people. However our flight on 01 July 2022 was cancelled due to weather so we were entitled to a refund. I rang them twice and also e-mails seeking a refund which they finally did, but they took a 5% fee out of our refund. Money for nothing! Check the fine print before you book with Balloon Aloft Gold Coast

Great Morning

Had a great flight which all started with the friendly bus driver. The crew were remarkable setting up the balloon. The pilot had so much knowledge and definitely loved his job. The breakfast at the end was amazing aswell.

Bucket List Check!

Absolutely loved the experience. From the ground crew to the pilot flying the balloon, every crew member aimed to make sure you had the best day! Buffet breakfast back at the Mercure was exactly what you needed after an early morning, along with a nice glass of champagne. Bucket list item checked off! ✔️

1hr deluxe float with champagne brekkie

Bought this for my wife for her 30th birthday. Pick up from our hotel was smooth and swift. Driver was very friendly and helpful and multi-lingual. From our hotel it was a short 15min drive to the take off location and then we were off. The pilot was very funny and also pointed out a lot of things to look at. Once we landed we were given the opportunity to help pack up the balloon which I thought was great fun, almost like a kid on a jumping castle. Then we made a quick drive back to our champagne breakfast which rounded off the morning beautifully.

Please refund my money

The trip was cancelled by you because of bad weather, then you changed the trips of air ballon 2 days later while i was already in Melbourne, please refund my money as in your policy, if you are such as a professional and trusted travel company

Drifting aloft

Amazing experience of a lifetime....drifting lazily across the dawn sky over the Gold Coast rural and mountain hinterland is an experience not to be missed! Safety first is Balloons Aloft’s first priority and the crew are experienced friendly and the fact that they live and breathe hot air ballooning is so very evident! The sense of peace and serenity I felt will be with me as a lasting reminder of this time spent suspended above the earth.

Stunning!! Stunning!! Stunning!! Giant bucket list tick

I’ve climbed the Eiffel Tower We’ve seen the sunset at Uluru The London Eye has an amazing view Gazed from the tallest building in New York City We’ve stood on the steps of the Colleseum Travelled through the Rocky Mountains I've seen enough of the world to know that the very best part Is right here in our own backyard....... And the flight over the Gold Coast, ( which is part of our back yard) Has left us stunned and amazed.... Balloons Aloft Gold Coast, you’ve done us proud!

Fantastic Experience

I received a gift certificate from my wonderful kids and thoroughly enjoyed the exciting adventure. The crew, I remember Bill he was hilarious and there was Reece and the pilot Chris was very professional he made it look so easy. They worked together as a well-oiled team to make a memorable experience and one I will never forget even though I dread getting up before the sun. It really was just like floating you could almost touch the clouds. Breakfast at the hotel was delicious and my champagne glass was topped up way too much (lol) A fantastic morning so well done everyone and thanks to my daughters Alana Kia and India xxx

Deflated Experience

What a horror trek to celebrate our anniversary. Arrived at the collection point to be "greeted" by a highly disgruntled staff member who was stressed about the morning logistics. After witnessing a number of tourists be "told" how things are going to work and in a manner which was culturally insensitive, the journey only got rockier. The bus driver tried to make up for lost time by thinking the bus was a v8 racecar, and several passengers were unwell. The return trip was even worse and I was so ill I had to miss the breakfast. Tried to email them for a credit or a response but couldn't even get a reply.

Flying High in the Sky

A day to remember. Through minor weather delays the crew were diligent in ensuring our flight experience was incredible. At the end of our flight we were even and able to participate in the pack up of the balloon before driving back to an excellent buffet breakfast.

Balloon ride and brekky

Bucket List item ✔ Wonderful experience shared with my teenage children. We all loved watching the sunrise over the ocean from the balloon, magical!

A con and a scam!

This is a $300 scam booked through Adrenalin. Be warned! All the advertising photos show the balloon flying over the Gold Coast. That is false advertising! Yes, the departure point, by bus, is from the Gold Coast and an hour later you arrive after driving through the country town of Beaudesert over 100ks away. Beaudesert is where the balloon flight takes place which is NOWHERE NEAR the Gold Coast but in the “sticks” of the countryside. Secondly, there is no assistance into a very tall basket. So customers must be youthful and agile. No help if you’re older. And no prior warning of what to expect if you’re older and disabled in any way. What a scam! What a con! Shame on you Balloon Aloft and Adrenalin. I’ve reported you to the watchdogs.

Fun Time

Enjoyed our morning sunrise hot air balloon! Was a little nervous after reading so many of the reviews but we didn't have any issues at all. Blake and his crew were awesome, we got up and into the air as the sun was rising, and the whole experience was exactly what we were looking for. The wind was really strong that morning so they said they were taking up in land around the mountains. Didn't see the ocean but it was still really beautiful. The landing was entertaining but still very safe. Blake talked us through it the whole time and it was much smoother than expected. Had a group of ladies who freaked out about the basket turning sideways but the safety instructions you're supposed to read before clearly state that that often happens. We had a good laugh but I felt for the crew. So glad we checked this off our bucket list!

Disappointed

I was so looking forward to this Hot Air Balloon experience, but I have to say that I was bitterly disappointed. 1) We were NOT in the air before sunrise - which is what they prefer to do, so that you can be IN the air when the sun rises - but we were still on their mini bus traveling to the departure spot when the sun rose. :( 2) My daughter had been on two HAB experiences and she had told me that I would love it when you go up past the clouds and come back down through the clouds again. The Yellow balloon that I was on that day - one of 3 Balloons - was the only one that did NOT go up into the clouds. The Purple one did, the Red one did, but not the Yellow one. The Red one also went low (from what I could see from my balloon, it looked like they could touch the tops of the trees, but maybe it just looked that way). I even asked my 'Pilot' why the red balloon was so low and he basically told me it didn't mater - just to focus on my own balloon ride. Both the other balloons went low and up high past the clouds, the yellow balloon reached a certain altitude and remained at that until we descended. After the breakfast and the Certificates were handed out, I started to leave, but I decided to turn around and ask "why did the Yellow balloon NOT go into the clouds & past the clouds?". I was told that it's actually illegal to do so, that the Pilot has to be able to "see the ground below him at all times". OK, fair enough, but WHY then did the other 2 Pilots - who work for the same company : Balloon Aloft - go into the clouds, why ? That does not seem fair to me. They either should all be allowed to do it, or none of them allowed do it (if it's supposedly illegal to do so) ! I was also told several times that my Pilot was the most experienced Pilot of the 3 - so even more reason to know that he had the 'ability' to go into the clouds if he had of wanted to. Side note : There were a few people late to the Mercure Hotel, where the mini buses were departing from. This was NOT the actual reason we were late into the air - after sunrise - though. We were late into the air, because the drivers were waiting to hear from the Pilots as to which 'take off' spot we were to head to. In the end, they started driving, and they got word on their two-way whilst we were on our way. My point is, IF everyone had of been there on time, maybe we could have left earlier and maybe that would have put us in the air before sunrise, as the drivers still would have been told which 'take off' spot whilst enroute. So when going on a HAB experience, please make sure to arrive on time, for everyone's sake. Arriving well after the given time is just plain rude.

Awful experience

Similar to others feedback, this was terrible. Up at 2.30am to only drive for 2hrs and Not see sunrise. Crew was rude and they packed us like sardines in the basket. Couldn’t enjoy it. Landed in the middle of nowhere to again drive back to breakfast. Would not recommend this. Should have read the reviews myself prior to booking the tour. Very disappointing experience.

A great experiment. <br/> But I am...

<p>A great experiment. <br/> But I am very disappointed for the team photo compare because the camera is not in level. I remembered that is the setup problem on the cord hanging the camera box on the balloon on the day. Camera face to one side and not in level, then you can imagine the photo is on side, not in level. <br/> Visitors next to me said that Air balloon is their bucket list, Some visitors face never be seems, I see my half face too. <br/> You can see the photo on their website, my date is 28-Jan.</p>

The hot air balloon is a definite...

<p>The hot air balloon is a definite must go!<br/> It's the best time for one to relax and gather thoughts and the view was amazing.<br/> Booking was easy, pick up was on time and the tour operator staff were friendly and fun.<br/> Would recommend going for the 60 min tour to savour the moment.<br/> Do bring a cap or wear a hooded jacket as the heat could get really strong.</p> <p>Breakfast selection and location was great but our mood were dampened as we were not informed of the short time limit. As it was a buffet breakfast and we were expecting a relaxing meal, we did not get to enjoy our breakfast when we had to leave around an hour later. We felt pressure as the other guests had already finished and were waiting for us for the transport back.<br/> It would be good to indicate the breakfast duration in the site description/ confirmation email.</p>

A very well organised and safe trip...

<p>A very well organised and safe trip over the Gold Coast. It was an early start to get to watch the sun rise up, unfortunately we didn't get to see the sun rise up as it was a cloudy morning, but the whole experience was well worth the trip, the breakfast after was awesome</p>