Hot Air Ballooning is a magical experience and a flight with Ballooning Canterbury offers panoramic views across the fertile Canterbury Plains to the Southern Alps.
There is nothing quite so romantic and exciting as floating effortlessly over an ever changing landscape. Top 5 bookme.co.nz reviewed products in the South Island!
Why fly with Ballooning Canterbury? Ballooning Canterbury is a New Zealand family owned and operated business situated just outside of Christchurch.
We are passionate about flying. Michael Oakley is one of New Zealand's top balloonists. He has been flying since 1987, winning 10 national ballooning events throughout New Zealand and representing New Zealand at World Hot Air Balloon Championships.
Michael is also a keen glider pilot having represented New Zealand at World Gliding Competitions and has held New Zealand and World gliding records. Michael also holds a private pilot’s licence. Nicholas has been flying in balloons since he was 4 years old. He had his first solo flight in a balloon at 12, solo glider flight at 14 and solo power plane flight at 16 years of age. He won his first Balloon Fiesta at 14. At 22 he gained his Commercial Hot Air Balloon License and started flying for the family business. Nicholas is also a keen glider pilot, having won National Titles in New Zealand and representing New Zealand at junior and senior World Gliding Championships in Australia and Europe.
We are passionate about Canterbury. Michael and Nicholas were born and raised in the area and are also 5th and 6th generation Canterbury farmers. Their experience with flying and Canterbury's unique weather patterns gives him a wealth of knowledge to guide you through the elements you’re flying in, as well as providing insight into the fertile Canterbury Plains, river gorges and mountains passing below.
We are only 30 minutes’ drive west of Christchurch Airport. In-flight photos of your balloon flight are given to you for free by way of Facebook. We hold the Hall of Fame Certificate for 5 consecutive years of Excellence.
All prices are shown in NZD ($)
This adventure was to celebrate a birthday and Anniversary. There were 5 of us and we ALL thoroughly enjoyed it. What a spectacular country we all live in! The adventure was probably topped off by the commentary and the whole process of us all helping to get the balloon into the air and packing up. highly enjoyable and totally recommended! Sunrise - what a way to see it!
Was a fantastic morning.
Wonderful experience. Great guides. Couldn't recommend it more to everyone.
Was the best day ever and the experience to balloon over Canterbury was amazing. The balloon pilot was fantastic and lots of history of ballooning.
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hannelieb from New Zealand wrote on 23 March 2025
Absolutely Unforgettable!
Absolutely Unforgettable! Ballooning early in the morning was nothing short of spectacular—one of the best experiences of my life! From start to finish, everything was seamless. The staff were incredibly welcoming and professional, ensuring a safe and enjoyable trip. Our pilot was not only skilled but also informative, sharing insights about the ballooning process, the breathtaking landscape, and even a bit of history. The views were simply stunning, and the early wake-up was well worth it for the incredible sunrise photos. If you have the chance to do this, don’t hesitate—it’s an experience you’ll never forget!