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 ($)
An absolutely amazing experience. Truly magical!!!! Thanks so much to Mike & Dean. 100% would recommend to anyone.
My third balloon ride with this company was as spectacular as the first two. Nature displays different colours daily so it's always a new adventure!
No better way to celebrate a triple birthday than a third ride with Ballooning Canterbury on a gorgeous frosty morning!
Great experience. It was good to help sett up and put the balloon away. Best part of course was floating above the ground. The pilot had lots of knowledge and gave us all an experience we will never forget. Sensational
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Hannah Cahill from New Zealand wrote on 26 April 2025
**An Unforgettable Hot Air Balloon Adventure!**
From start to finish, this was an absolutely amazing experience! The opportunity to be involved in setting up the balloon made it even more immersive, adding to the excitement of watching it come to life before taking off. Once in the air, the ride was nothing short of magical—calm, peaceful, and breathtakingly beautiful. Hearing about the rich history of the lands below while floating effortlessly above them created a unique and enriching perspective. Unlike adrenaline-fueled activities, this experience is wonderfully serene, making it perfect even for those who might be wary of heights. The landing was smooth, and being part of the pack-up process added an extra layer of connection to the journey. A few tips: dress warmly—a puffer jacket, gloves, and a beanie will be your best friends, especially in the cooler air up high. Another fantastic touch was the photography—throughout the trip, they captured incredible shots using our own cameras, ensuring we had lasting memories of this phenomenal adventure. I highly recommend this experience to anyone looking for something truly special!