Barossa Balloon Adventures invites you to come and share in our passion for hot air ballooning over the Barossa Valley.  We have been operating since 1986. Our pilot, Justin, is very experienced. His whole flying career has been flying in the Barossa region.

Our reputation for professionalism, excellence and above all, safety are at the heart of our operation. Your safety and enjoyment is our priority. That’s why we’ve been inducted into TripAdvisor’s Hall of Fame. Come and experience the magic and wonder for yourself. We love what we do and we’re sure you’ll love it too!

Tour departs:

5.30am daily - please check the calendar for available dates during the year

Tour Includes:

• Introduction and safety briefing
• Approx. 1 hour Sunrise Balloon Flight
• Pilot commentary
• Delicious Barossa breakfast after the flight
• Barossa Coffee Roasters coffee
• Sparkling wine
• Photos & Souvenirs for purchase
• Balloonatics Certificate Presentation
• Approx. 5 hours total time needed

Children are between 6-16 years. We cannot fly children under 6 years of age.

What to wear:

Ballooning is an outdoor activity. Dress in comfortable clothing for the season, and for the overnight minimum temperature. It will be no colder in the balloon than on the ground. Flat soled walking shoes are best, NO HIGH HEELS or sandals please. In cooler months a change of shoes may be needed due to wet dewy grass. A hat is recommended as the burner gives off considerable heat. If you do not have a hat you may purchase a Balloon Adventures hat at our reception centre. Bring your reading glasses if you require them.

What happens on the day:

Pre-Flight Check-In Ballooning is very weather dependent and your flight may be cancelled due to unsuitable weather conditions. Please call our office on (08) 8562 3111 between 5.00 and 5.30pm the evening before your scheduled flight to check if the weather is OK and to confirm the meeting time.  If you have any last minute questions about your hot air ballooning experience before you go, now is the time to ask.

Next Morning Meeting Place Your pilot and crew will meet you approximately 2 hours before sunrise (The time varies throughout the year) at Barossa Balloon Adventures reception centre. The address is 71 Stonewell Road, Nuriootpa which is approximately 75km north east of Adelaide, South Australia. More information and directions here. If you’re coming from Adelaide, it’s just off the highway and very easy to find. Adelaide CBD is about 75 Km away – allow 50 – 60 minutes drive. (Take the Northern Expressway then straight up the Sturt Highway and take the Nuriootpa exit) 

Once everybody is assembled and signed in, your pilot will give you a briefing before you board our comfortable 4WDs – all with forward facing seats and air-conditioning throughout.

Let’s Go Now the adventure really begins. We will drive to a strategic spot to check the wind to see which launch site will be the best one to use for the day. The launch site is chosen according to the wind speed and direction. We have a dozen different launch sites around the region available to use. The decision on which one to launch from will be made on site taking into consideration the localised surface winds and the upper gradient winds. The topography of the landscape also affects the lower level surface winds. This means we may drive as little as 2kms or up to as much as 65km to find a suitable launch site. Plan A is to fly over the Barossa, but sometimes the weather conditions don’t allow that to happen, but we do have a Plan B, which is to fly over the Murray River. We know it’s early but now is a good opportunity to get to know your pilot and crew and ask any questions you may have.

Inflate the Balloon Once we arrive at the launch site your pilot and crew will inflate the balloon ready for take off. You are welcome to join in with the preparation and discover how we get these huge balloons in the air. This whole process takes about 40 minutes.

We Launch! At about sunrise the balloon will be fully inflated and ready for flight.Jump on board, one last briefing and then it’s up, up and away! Wave goodbye to the crew, they will follow on the ground and meet you when you land. Time to relax and take in the amazing 360⁰ views. Experience the peace and beauty of floating over the countryside as the sun is rising. You will fly for about an hour before landing somewhere down wind.

Landing and Pack-up Once you have landed your crew will meet you and it’s time to pack the balloon away. This takes about half an hour or so to pack away back on to the trailer. Feel free to join in the fun, or stand back and take the opportunity to take a few more photos. Hop back in our comfy vehicles and it’s back to the reception centre for breakfast.

Barossa Breakfast We return to our reception centre about 4 hours after we have left. The morning ends with a delicious Barossa breakfast back at the reception centre. It is for our own private use with a view over Penfolds Stonewell vineyards. Relax and chat with your fellow passengers and pilot about the mornings events, whilst sipping sparkling wine and indulging in the best Barossa produce.

Cater for gluten free, vegetarian and vegans is available - just let us know at the time of booking if there are any dietary requirements.

Lastly about the company and your Pilot:

This is one of Australia’s longest running and most experienced hot air ballooning companies who have been flying over the Barossa Valley region since 1986. Justin Stein, your pilot, has the most experience of flying the Barossa Valley region than any pilot in Australia. His in-depth knowledge of the topography and localised weather means he can skilfully choose your flight path to capture the best views the Barossa has to offer.

Your safety is the number one priority the pilot is very proud of his safety record, having flown thousands of passengers over the Barossa many, many years. Justin Stein is a second generation balloon pilot. His father did it before him. He has over 3000 flights logged over the past 31 years. He has an outstanding safety record, and a sense of humour too!  He is the Chief pilot and as the owner of the company has a vested interest in giving you the best possible experience. With Justin you will be safe, you will have fun and you may even become as passionate about ballooning as he is.