Ballooning through the Hunter Valley

The day of my first balloon trip in the Hunter Valley began this morning with sleepless anticipation. Despite the weather not being as perfect as I had hoped, the subdued excitement was undeniable as we gathered at 5:15 am to prepare for the adventure. Sure, for me, 5:15 am is like a sleep-in, but for some, I think the reality of the day’s unfolding event was yet to arouse from its slumber.

The setup was remarkably swift, and before we knew it, we were gently floating through the sky in our balloon. A slight breeze carried us as we soared through the clouds, ascending to a breathtaking 4,000 feet. The sensation of floating was surreal; without the familiar hum of an engine, it felt like we were drifting effortlessly in the calm morning air. I was hoping that maybe we could be joined by an eagle, but this was not going to be my day.

Breaking through the clouds revealed a serene landscape, with the morning sun illuminating a soft pillow of clouds just below us. The stillness of the morning was occasionally punctuated by the soft bursts of flame, propelling us higher.

As the time came to brace ourselves for landing, I was once again pleasantly surprised by the gentle nature of the experience. I don’t know what I was expecting, but the landing was even gentler than what you would get from the end of a roller coaster. We glided to a stop, unbraced and climbed out of the basket.