Hot air balloon rides - Queensland's Gold Coast

We are the Gold Coast’s and Queensland’s longest operating balloon business and one of the oldest in Australia.

Awarded the Hospitality Award for Outstanding Courtesy & Service to the Gold Coast Tourist Industry.

Award Winner

Balloon Down Under is the only ballooning business on the Gold Coast to be acknowledged by the tourism industry for excellence. A finalist in the Supreme Hospitality Awards, Balloon Down Under was awarded the Hospitality Award for "Outstanding Courtesy and Service to the Gold Coast Tourist Industry".

Our mission is to provide all our passengers with the safest & very best ballooning experience they can have.

Family Owned & Operated

Family owned and operated for over 20 years, Balloon Down Under was started by David Parkes as one of the first hot air ballooning businesses in the country. In 2005 David’s brother Tony and wife Vivienne took over the business and Tony became Chief Pilot.

With 15 years flying experience Tony has flown balloons all over the country and has participated in numerous ballooning championship events, including various Australian Hot Air Balloon Championships. As organiser and "Balloonmeister" he has assisted in arranging balloon events all over the country, with his pet project now being the annual Dalby Balloon Fiesta.

Tony delights in showing the wonder of a hot air balloon flight experience over the Gold Coast to all our local, interstate and overseas visitors and he enjoys it as much today as he ever did.  Much of this can be attributed to the obvious enjoyment his passengers get from the flight.  Tony’s relaxed, easy manner and professionalism will calm even the most nervous first timers as he points out the interesting features along the way and guides the balloon with the early morning Gold Coast breezes.

Throughout our years of flying over the Gold Coast we have an impeccable safety record. All our pilots are among the best commercial balloon pilots in the country – highly trained, CASA licensed Commercial Balloon Pilots. We operate under Air Operators Certificate number 1-LRUD-03 issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and all passengers are covered by compulsory Civil Aviation (Carriers Liability) and ground risks insurances.

All our balloons are the latest designs and use the most recent satellite GPS & radio technology to ensure safe and accurate flight.

Our sponsored balloons feature Remax, gotalk, Sirromet and other corporate advertisers. If you would like your name up there talk to us.