Picture This Ballooning

Picture This Ballooning gives guests staying at Yarra Valley Lodge the chance to see the Yarra Valley at its quietest, lifting into the sky just before sunrise.

This is one of the region’s most memorable experiences for couples, special occasions and romantic Yarra Valley escapes. The morning begins early, when the estate is still quiet and kangaroos are often moving across the fairways. From there, guests meet before first light before being taken to the launch site for a sunrise flight over rolling hills, vineyards, farms and open countryside.

Why choose a Yarra Valley balloon flight

A hot air balloon flight gives a different view of the Valley. Instead of moving between cellar doors or scenic drives, you see the region from above as the light changes across the vines, paddocks and ranges.

Picture This Ballooning flights last approximately one hour, with the full morning experience shaped around the weather, launch location and landing site. For guests booking the flight and breakfast option, the morning continues back at Yarra Valley Lodge with breakfast at Bella Restaurant, giving the experience a soft landing after such an early start.

This is a natural fit for couples celebrating an anniversary, birthday, proposal, honeymoon or slow weekend away. It also works well for guests who want to pair one unforgettable experience with the rest of what the Yarra Valley does so well, from wineries and long lunches to nearby golf courses and quiet time back on the estate.

How to get there

For Yarra Valley flights with Picture This Ballooning, guests meet onsite at Yarra Valley Lodge before being transferred to the launch location. Because the experience begins around one hour before sunrise, the hotel meeting point makes the morning feel much easier, with no need to navigate the Valley before dawn.

Meeting times vary throughout the year based on sunrise, and guests are returned to the Lodge after the flight.

Good to know

• Flight time: Approximately one hour in the air.
• Meeting point: Yarra Valley Lodge, around one hour before sunrise.
• Bookings: Advance bookings are essential.
• Weather: Ballooning is weather dependent, so guests should keep plans flexible.
• Best for: Couples, romantic escapes, special occasions, wine-country weekends and visitors wanting a memorable Yarra Valley experience.
• Allow: Around 4 to 5 hours for the full ballooning and breakfast experience.
• What to wear: Comfortable clothes and enclosed shoes are recommended.

Make it part of your stay

A ballooning morning is best enjoyed when the rest of the day is left open. Return to Yarra Valley Lodge for breakfast at Bella Restaurant, then slow things down with time in your room, a walk through the estate or a quiet drink later in the day at Lodge Bar.

For couples, a Golf View Room or a room with a private balcony or terrace gives the morning somewhere to settle. After sunrise in the sky, spend the afternoon visiting nearby wineries, booking a round of golf, or returning with a bottle of regional wine to enjoy as the estate moves into evening.

For the easiest way to plan the experience, explore Yarra Valley Lodge’s Up, Up & A Stay package, which includes overnight accommodation, buffet breakfast, a bottle of regional wine on arrival, a one-hour sunrise hot air balloon flight with Picture This Ballooning, and transfers to and from the launch and landing sites.