Hot air balloon ride over Atherton Tablelands from Cairns

You pack up the balloon yourself after landing.

A hot air balloon flight over the Atherton Tablelands departing from Cairns with hotel pickup and drop-off included. You fly at dawn—the best time to spot wallabies, kangaroos and native birds—over fruit and vegetable crops, then help your pilot and crew pack the balloon before returning to your accommodation. The experience runs 4 to 6 hours and includes a commemorative certificate, a glass of bubbly or juice, and a digital photo package.

Step-by-step itinerary

Hot air balloon flight over Atherton Tablelands

• Pickup from Cairns or nearby hotels
• Transfer to hot air balloon launch site
• Hot air balloon flight at dawn
• Observe wildlife and crops from balloon
• Land and pack up hot air balloon
• Return to Cairns accommodation or chosen drop-off

The Experience

Your driver picks you up from your Cairns, Northern Beaches or Palm Cove hotel and drives you to the launch site. Once there, you board the balloon basket and lift off at dawn, when the Atherton Tablelands are most alive with wildlife. From above, you'll spot wallabies and kangaroos moving across the landscape, along with many bird species. The Tablelands are also known for their crops—mangoes, bananas, lychees, avocados, pineapples and limes spread across the plateau—and you'll see those too as you drift overhead. The flight itself runs a minimum of 40 minutes.

After landing, the real fun begins: you help your pilot and crew pack up the balloon, which is part of the experience rather than something done for you. It's hands-on and often filled with laughter. Once everything is stowed, your driver returns you to your hotel, or if you'd prefer, can drop you at the Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal, Skyrail, Tjapukai or a local café for breakfast on your own time. The whole outing takes 4 to 6 hours from pickup to drop-off.

Your package includes the air-conditioned vehicle, hotel pickup and return, insurance, a commemorative flight certificate, a glass of bubbly or juice after landing, and digital photos from the flight. A live English-speaking guide is with you throughout. Minimum passenger numbers apply, and if the flight doesn't meet requirements after confirmation, you'll be offered an alternative date or a full refund.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from Cairns, Northern Beaches or Palm Cove.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• the hot air balloon flight with a minimum 40-minute flight time.
• help packing up the balloon after landing.
• a commemorative flight certificate.
• a glass of bubbly or juice.
• digital photo package.
• insurance and GST.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Hot Air Balloon Cairns

Is this one for you?Rise over the Atherton Tablelands at dawn when wildlife stirs, with hotel pickup and drop-off included so you can focus on the views.

Traveler reviews

4.76★★★★★★★★★★

605 verified traveler reviews

5 ★512

4 ★66

3 ★10

2 ★9

1 ★8

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What wildlife will I actually see from the balloon over the Atherton Tablelands?

At dawn, when the flight departs, you'll spot wallabies, kangaroos and many different bird species moving across the plateau. The Tablelands are also home to a range of crops—mangoes, bananas, lychees, avocados, pineapples and limes—which you'll see laid out below as you fly.

Does the price include getting to the balloon from my Cairns hotel?

Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included whether you're staying in Cairns, the Northern Beaches or Palm Cove. Your driver collects you, takes you to the launch site, and returns you afterward—or can drop you at the Cairns Reef Fleet Terminal, Skyrail, Tjapukai or a café if you'd prefer.

How long is the actual flight in the air?

The flight time is a minimum of 40 minutes. The entire experience, including pickup, the flight, packing up the balloon and return to your hotel, runs 4 to 6 hours depending on the season.

What happens after we land—do I just get out?

No. After landing, you help your pilot and crew pack up the balloon. It's part of the experience and usually involves games and plenty of laughs. Once everything is packed away, your driver takes you back to your accommodation.

Can children go on this balloon flight?

Children are welcome from age 3 and up. Children aged 3 and under are not permitted to fly. All passengers must be able to get into the balloon basket unaided to the pilot's satisfaction.

What's included in the price?

The package includes hotel pickup and drop-off, the balloon flight, a commemorative certificate, a glass of bubbly or juice after landing, digital photos from your flight, insurance, and GST. A live English-speaking guide is with you throughout the experience.