Hot Air Balloon Flight Ipswich: 1-Hour Sunrise with Breakfast
Rise at dawn and drift over heritage Ipswich, mountain ranges and river valleys from inside a wicker basket.
A 1-hour hot air balloon flight over Ipswich and the Greater Brisbane region, departing from the Ipswich Visitor Centre with a professional Chief Pilot who has over 33 years of ballooning experience. The full program runs 3 to 4 hours and includes transport to the launch site, optional participation in balloon inflation, an in-flight guide commentary, and a sit-down restaurant breakfast afterward. Small groups of 10 passengers maximum keep the experience personal and unhurried.
4h
Step-by-step itinerary
Hot air balloon flight and breakfast
- Meet at Ipswich VIC
- Drive to launch site
- Assist or watch balloon inflation
- Enjoy 1-hour hot air balloon flight
- View Greater Brisbane and countryside
- Land and pack up balloon
- Return to Ipswich VIC
- Have breakfast at Fourth Child Restaurant
The Experience
You meet at the Ipswich Visitor Centre in the early morning, then drive a short distance to the launch site—the exact location depends on wind speed and direction that day. Once there, you can help inflate the balloon if you want to, or simply watch and take photos while the crew prepares. The whole setup gives you a real sense of what goes into getting airborne, and the Chief Pilot walks you through what to expect before you step into the basket.
The flight itself lasts about an hour, and from the basket you see almost all of the Greater Brisbane region at once: the heritage buildings and parks of Ipswich (Queensland's oldest provincial city), the Brisbane skyline and Mt Coot-tha, the peaks of the Great Dividing Range, Mount Tamborine and Cunningham's Gap, the Bremer and Brisbane Rivers, Wivenhoe Dam, and the agricultural valleys of Somerset and the Scenic Rim with their quiet country towns. The Chief Pilot points out landmarks and details as you drift, so you know what you're looking at. There's no engine noise—just the sound of wind and the occasional burner flame—which is what makes hot air ballooning different from any other way to see the landscape.
After landing, the crew packs up the balloon and you head back to Ipswich. The program finishes with a sit-down breakfast at Fourth Child Restaurant, where you can decompress and talk through what you saw. You'll also receive a commemorative flight certificate to take home.
What’s included
- Approximately 1-hour hot air balloon flight with scenic views of Ipswich, Greater Brisbane, Scenic Rim and Somerset countryside.
- professional Chief Pilot with over 33 years of experience and in-flight guide commentary.
- transport in air-conditioned vehicles to and from the launch site.
- optional participation in balloon inflation and deflation.
- sit-down restaurant breakfast at Fourth Child Restaurant after the flight.
- commemorative flight certificate.
Operated by Floating Images Hot Air Balloon Flights
Is this one for you?Small groups of 10 or fewer mean you're not packed in with strangers, and the owner-pilot flying every departure keeps the experience consistent and personal rather than industrial.
Traveler reviews
Top questions
How long is the actual balloon flight?
The flight itself lasts approximately 1 hour. The full program from meeting point to restaurant breakfast takes 3 to 4 hours.
What will I see from the balloon over Ipswich and Brisbane?
From the basket you see the heritage city of Ipswich with its old buildings and parks, the Brisbane skyline, the peaks of the Great Dividing Range, Mount Tamborine, Cunningham's Gap, the Bremer and Brisbane Rivers, Wivenhoe Dam, and the agricultural valleys of Somerset and the Scenic Rim.
Can I help set up the balloon before we fly?
Yes, you can assist in the inflation process if you wish, or you can stand back and watch while the crew prepares. Either way, you'll see firsthand what goes into launching the balloon.
Is breakfast included, and where do we eat?
Yes, a sit-down restaurant breakfast at Fourth Child Restaurant is included after the flight as part of the program.
What's the group size on these flights?
Groups are kept to a maximum of 10 passengers, so the experience stays personal and professional for everyone involved.
Who is flying the balloon?
The Chief Pilot and owner operates each flight and has over 33 years of ballooning experience. An in-flight guide provides commentary throughout the flight.
Hot Air Balloon Flight Ipswich: 1-Hour Sunrise with Breakfast
4h · EN · FR
from AU$ 495 per person
★★★★★★★★★★4.94269 reviews
