This great partnership has seen the launch of the Hunter Valley’s largest hot air balloon capable of carrying 24 passengers and allowing the best panoramic views of the Hunter Valley wine region.

The hot air balloon has been a work in progress since February 2019 which involved designing the balloon envelope colours and Spicers Retreats artwork with Spicers Guesthouse, General Manager Mark Whitnell.  Once approved the task was handed to Kavanagh Balloons the only Australia commercial hot air balloon manufacturer to bring the vision to life.

The new balloon is 525,000 cubic foot in volume and has an incredible lift capability of 4300 kilograms. The basket carries a pilot and 24 passengers with unobstructed views of the Hunter Valley while in flight and at 5.6 metres in length is the biggest basket available in Australia.

Building a hot air balloon generally takes 1 to 3 months to complete depending on the size and detail of the design. A talented team at the Kavanagh Balloons factory hand cut and sew all the components together ensuring the finished product is perfect and ready for hours of enjoyment by its passengers and on lookers.

On the 9th December the Spicers Retreats balloon took flight over the Hunter Valley for the first time. The balloon will now be operated as part of the Beyond Ballooning fleet and be a highlight in the Hunter Valley skies over the next few years.

Enjoy a Sense of Relaxed Luxury

Stay a night at the 5 star Spicers Guesthouse and enjoy a sense of relaxed luxury. The Guesthouse has been an iconic destination within the Hunter Valley for 35 years (circa 1984). Having undergone an 18 month revitalisation the retreat has an inviting, homely feel that envelopes guests once inside. The upgrade reflects a fresh contemporary uplift while the welcoming spirit of the original Guest House has been preserved. Éremo Restaurant with its modern Italian cuisine is a centre piece of the retreat, led by multi-hatted Executive Chef Cameron Matthews, the experience is exceptional.

Satisfy that Sweet Tooth

Enjoy a relaxed atmosphere and indulge in desserts, coffee, tea and matching wines, not to mention (again) the breath taking views of the vineyard below as well as Brokenback Mountain Range.

Sabor Dessert Bar is home to over 50 different desserts, each one created individually as nothing is served by the slice. Indulge in multi-award winning Portuguese Chocolate Mousse, decadent cakes, pastries, hand-made chocolates, Portuguese tarts and gourmet ice-cream. A large range of gluten free desserts, barista-made Glinelli coffee and a selection of teas are available to enjoy in the fully air-conditioned dessert bar or to take away and savour in your home or hotel.

Pedal through the Vines

Grapemobile Bicycle Hire is situated on their vineyard, Pokolbin Brothers Wines, centrally located in the premium wine region of Pokolbin. From there it is easy cycling distance to a host of boutique wineries & sumptuous restaurants along Palmers Lane.

Whether your desire is a romantic experience, a jolly jaunt with friends, or a pedal power mission, Grapemobile Bicycle Hire have your cycling needs covered.

Match your Wines

Drop on in to Glandore Estate at the base of the Brokenback Mountain Range.

Boasting a new state of the art winery, all Glandore Estate wines are handpicked and selected from only the very best parcels of fruit. Basket pressed, they are by nature handmade and deliver both intensity of flavour and complexity with rare finesse.

Enjoy a sumptuous Wine & Chocolate Experience beautifully matched to their range of wines. Hand crafted chocolates by Adora make for the ultimate indulgence when paired with wine. Using vibrant and fresh ingredients Adora creates high quality and unique handmade chocolates, that compliment an unforgettable Hunter experience.

Wine House

The best type of house is a Wine House, are we right? Drop into the Wine House Hunter Valley with an assortment of small local wines and food on offer. Join one of the various wine and food pairing sessions or just sit down for a relaxed lunch at the Wine House Kitchen. This is one house that is worth walking through the door.

1. Stable Winds

Flying our hot air balloons in the morning ensure good use of the stable winds which are associated with colder air present just after sunrise. This means that flights launch right at sunrise at 4:30am to 6:00am depending on the time of year. While temperatures can be colder during the winter months the large burner on the balloon provides lots of nice warmth as your lift off from the ground.

2. See the Local Wildlife

During dawn we are fortunate enough to see most of our local wildlife including kangaroos, birds, rabbits and foxes more actively moving around as they take this time to feed in open before resting during the day as the temperature rises. Every flight is unique so make sure to keep your eyes peeled for animals below as we fly over the Hunter Valley. If you’re lucky you may even spot one of the few Wedge Tail Eagles that call the vineyards home!

3. Amazing Sunrise Views

Sunrise is truly the best time of day. Every morning is unique and it’s always worth having your camera handy to grab a photo of what may be produced. We are often treated to wonderful colours in the sky and even rainbows at times if rain has been falling prior to the flight. Watching other balloons rise into the sky gives amazing silhouettes as the light breaches the horizon.

4. Early Start, Early Finish

Flying early means that our session is also finished early. With a start time of approximately 5:00am our tours are normally completed by 9:00am meaning you have the whole day ahead of you to explore the Hunter Valley Wine Region and its surrounds. Whilst enjoying breakfast at the Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley our pilots will offer a map of local shops and experiences to help complete your day. Be sure to ask for any recommendations of wine, food or cafes and our team can help guide you to the most suitable local hotspots for your needs.

The best way to remember your Hunter Valley hot air balloon experience and to share with friends and family is the Beyond Ballooning photo package. The digital photo package includes a collection of images from your flight date although we also encourage you to bring your own camera to capture the experience as well.

Photos are available for download following your flight from www.beyondballooning.photos

* Breakfast location and offering subject to change at anytime as per terms and conditions.

Jump aboard your transfer vehicle at Four Points by Sheraton Sydney, Central Park and arrive in the Hunter Valley ready to take flight over the wine region in a hot air balloon. Enjoy spectacular views flight high over the Hunter Valley Wine Region. After enjoying a delicious post flight breakfast before returning home with your transfer driver to Sydney. Book now for a limited time only!

Fly Midweek (Mon-Fri) with Beyond Ballooning from just $249pp this Autumn.  Enjoy 1 hour of spectacular views flight high over the Hunter Valley Wine Region. Choose to enjoy a delicious buffet breakfast or head straight out to explore the rest of the region. Book now for a limited time only!

Beyond Ballooning can assist you in the design and manufacture of a balloon envelope which when completed to your specifications will be flown as part of our regular passenger joy flight operations above the Hunter Valley wine region & various other locations upon request.

Hot air balloons can be a cost effective way of creating an eye catching outdoor branding message. The balloon envelopes last around 3-5 years and can be purchased under a sponsorship arrangement.