Dawn Flight, 30 Or 60 Minutes

Alice Springs Early Morning Hot Air Balloon Flight

★ 4.9 288 reviews

from AU$380 per adult, operator price, AU$340 per child

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Duration: About 4 hours door to door (30 or 60 minute flight)
Meeting point: Alice Springs accommodation pickup
Meals: Light individually wrapped snacks after landing
Run by: Outback Ballooning

Overview

This Outback Ballooning flight starts with a pickup from Alice Springs accommodation while it is still dark, well before sunrise. The drive out to the desert launch site takes a while, and the crew use that time to run final weather checks and talk everyone through the morning's routine. On arrival, gas burners inflate the balloons as the first light hits the MacDonnell Ranges, and then the basket lifts off for either a 30 or a 60 minute float over the Central Australian outback. The whole outing runs about four hours door to door.

From the air, passengers scan the ground for native wildlife, red kangaroos included, and get a real sense of how empty the country around Alice Springs is. Reviewers single out the sunrise and the scenery, and one traveller who wished the balloon had flown higher still called the experience fantastic. After the balloon is down, everyone can help the crew pack the nylon envelope away, and some travellers described that as an unexpected highlight rather than a chore.

Ground crew preparing a balloon envelope on red sand in pre-dawn darkness

The morning finishes with light refreshments in the bush, sparkling wine and fruit juice among them, plus a commemorative flight certificate for each passenger. Children aged six and over can fly when accompanied by an adult, and one traveller marking a 70th birthday reported a complimentary bottle of champagne. It is an early, weather-dependent start, so it fits travellers who can move their plans if the crew needs to reschedule.

DurationAbout 4 hours door to door (30 or 60 minute flight)

Rating4.9 from 288 reviews

What's Included

Included

Return transfers
Balloon flight
Light refreshments with sparkling wine
Commemorative flight certificate

Run byOutback Ballooning

Itinerary

Pre-dawn hotel pickupPassengers are collected from their Alice Springs accommodation in the dark, roughly four hours before the outing ends door to door. Stays outside the pickup zone may be asked to meet at Crowne Plaza Lasseters, 93 Barrett Drive.
Drive to launch siteDuring the drive into the desert the crew explain the morning routine and complete final weather checks.
Balloon inflationGas burners inflate the balloon at the launch site as the sun lights up the MacDonnell Ranges.
Hot air balloon flightThe flight itself is 30 or 60 minutes, depending on the option booked, drifting over the outback with a lookout for red kangaroos and other wildlife.
Landing and pack-upAfter landing, passengers can either help the crew pack the balloon away or stand back and take photographs. Several reviews describe the pack-up as a fun part of the morning.
Refreshments and certificateLight refreshments with Australian sparkling wine and fruit juice are served at the landing site, and every passenger receives a commemorative flight certificate. Souvenirs are available to purchase, at extra cost.
Return transferPassengers are transferred back to Alice Springs. Total duration is about four hours door to door.

Town ShuttleIncluded

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will make the early start and the desert conditions easier to handle on the day.

Dress for before sunrise. The listing says it is no colder in the balloon than on the ground, but the wait before sunrise can be chilly. Enclosed shoes, a hat and clothing that is not white are recommended. A light jacket works from April to October, and very warm clothes may be needed in mid winter.
Very early start. Pickup happens in pre-dawn darkness, since the whole outing is built around dawn light. The operator notes that depending on each day's operational factors, passengers may be on the ground or in the air when the sun crests the horizon, and either way there is still a dawn worth seeing.
Hands-on pack-up. Helping the crew pack the nylon balloon away is optional. Some reviewers described it as a great experience, so it can be a fun way to finish the morning.
Sparkling wine finish. Refreshments after landing include Australian sparkling wine and fruit juice in the bush. One traveller celebrating a birthday also received a bottle of champagne, though that should be treated as a one-off gesture rather than a guarantee.

AU$380Adult starting price

60 minutesLongest flight duration

30 minuteShorter flight option

Wildlife watching. Keep an eye on the ground during the flight for native wildlife, including the red kangaroo. One reviewer was surprised by how green the country looked after a lot of rain, so what you see below depends on recent conditions.
Weather flexibility. The flight depends on weather, and the crew run checks before and during the drive out. A reviewer whose original flight was cancelled for weather praised the team's communication and was rebooked to the following day, so keeping a spare morning in Alice Springs helps.

Rating4.9 from 288 reviews

AvailabilityCheck availability →

Common issues. The main downside is weather dependence: flights can be called off, and a full refund applies if a passenger cannot fly because of conditions. Rebooking to a following day is sometimes possible, as one traveller described, but it means the outing can spill into another morning of the trip. One reviewer wished the balloon had flown a bit higher, though they still rated the experience highly. Children under six cannot fly, and anyone outside the pickup zone may need to make their own way to the central meeting point at Crowne Plaza Lasseters. Souvenirs cost extra.

Common Questions

How Long Is The Hot Air Balloon Flight?

You choose between a 30 minute and a 60 minute flight. Either way, the whole outing including transfers lasts about four hours door to door.

Is Hotel Pickup Included?

Yes, return transfers from Alice Springs accommodation are included. If you stay at a private address or rural location outside the pickup zone, you may be asked to meet at Crowne Plaza Lasseters, 93 Barrett Drive. Contact the operator to check whether your address is inside the zone.

What Is Included In The Price?

Return transfers, the balloon flight, light refreshments with sparkling wine, and a commemorative flight certificate. Souvenirs at the landing site cost extra.

Can Children Take The Flight?

Children must be six years or older and accompanied by an adult. The listing does not state any other age or mobility restrictions, so travellers with specific accessibility concerns should raise them with the operator before booking.

What Is The Cancellation Policy?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If weather prevents a passenger from flying on the day, a full refund also applies.

What Should I Wear And Bring?

Wear enclosed shoes and a hat, and avoid white clothing. It is no colder in the balloon than on the ground, but it can be chilly before sunrise, so take a light jacket from April to October and very warm clothes in mid winter.