Hot Air Balloon Flight Canterbury Plains: Views to the Southern Alps

Rise above the foothills of Mount Hutt and watch the Canterbury Plains unfold below.

A hot air balloon flight from Methven takes you to 9,500 feet above the Canterbury Plains, with a live pilot guiding the ascent and descent. You'll see the snow-capped Southern Alps to the west, Mount Cook in the distance, and the patchwork landscape rolling east to the Pacific Ocean. The flight lasts three to four hours total, including a 20-minute drive to the launch site, safety briefing, flight time, and a champagne or juice toast in the landing field before the return to Methven.

Step-by-step itinerary

Hot air balloon flight over Canterbury Plains

• Meet in Methven center
• Travel to launch site by 4X4 vehicle
• Safety briefing and balloon inflation
• Take off and ascend for panoramic views
• Descend to lower altitude for ground views
• Land and enjoy celebration drink
• Return to Methven by chase vehicle

The experience

What makes a hot air balloon flight over the Canterbury Plains different from other regions is the geography itself. You launch from the foothills of Mount Hutt, where the mountains shelter the balloons from prevailing winds and give you unlimited airspace up to 9,500 feet. That altitude and that shelter are what make the panoramic views possible: looking west across the Southern Alps as far as Mount Cook and Mount Aspiring, then turning east to watch the patchwork of farmland and forest drop away toward the Pacific coast. The mountains frame the whole landscape.

The day starts in the center of Methven, where you meet your pilot and the chase team. A 4x4 vehicle takes you to the launch site (about 20 minutes depending on wind direction that day), and from there you'll see the balloon inflated on the ground before you climb into the basket. Once airborne, the flight splits into two halves: you climb to altitude first, where the camera mounted on the balloon captures photographs of the view, and then descend lower for the second half so you can see details on the ground. Forests, rivers, the contours of the land itself. The whole flight unfolds at the pace of the wind.

After landing in the field, the chase vehicle that has been following you throughout the flight arrives, and you'll share a glass of sparkling wine or fruit juice to mark the landing. Then it's the drive back to Methven. Children from age five are welcome on the flight, and you'll need at least a moderate level of fitness for getting in and out of the basket and standing during the flight. Photos from the flight are posted on the operator's Facebook page or sent on request.

What’s included

• Round-trip transport from Methven in the 4x4 chase vehicle.
• safety briefing and balloon inflation.
• flight time with the pilot.
• photographs taken during the flight.
• sparkling wine or fruit juice toast in the landing field after landing.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 06:00 and 07:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (14 and older) · Child (5 to 13 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Adventure Balloons NZ

Is this one for you?Book this flight if you're spending a few days in the Methven area and want to see the Canterbury Plains and Southern Alps from altitude: the small group size and the shelter of Mount Hutt's foothills make the flight possible on more days than most balloon operations elsewhere.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 13 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How high does the balloon go on this flight from Methven?

The balloon climbs to 9,500 feet, which is the maximum altitude allowed in the airspace above the Canterbury Plains. That height gives you the panoramic views across the Southern Alps to Mount Cook and Mount Aspiring in the west, and across the patchwork plains to the Pacific coast in the east.

What happens after we land? Do we just get driven back to Methven?

After landing, you'll have a celebration drink in the landing field itself (a glass of sparkling wine or fruit juice), before the chase vehicle takes you back to Methven. The whole experience, from meeting in town to returning, takes three to four hours.

Is Mount Sunday visible from the balloon?

Mount Sunday is one of the attractions in the Methven area and is mentioned as a Lord of the Rings filming location worth visiting while you're in the region, though the balloon flight focuses on the broader views of the Canterbury Plains, the Southern Alps, and the Pacific coast.

What if the weather doesn't cooperate on the day of my flight?

The flight depends on wind conditions, which is why the launch site is chosen on the day based on wind direction. The operator will advise if conditions aren't suitable, though specific rebooking or cancellation terms are not detailed in the flight information.