Fly With the Fleet – Art of Flight Festival Balloon Experience

This April, the skies above northeast Victoria will come alive with colour as 30 hot air balloons gather for the Art of Flight Festival and the Australian Hot Air Balloon National Championships.

And you can be right there with them.

Join us for a rare “Fly With the Fleet” ballooning experience, where you’ll take part in the mass balloon ascension then drift across the beautiful countryside around Benalla at sunrise, surrounded by a spectacular fleet of balloons. It’s a magical sight as the morning light reveals patchwork farmland, winding watercourses, and views stretching towards Victoria’s High Country.

From the basket of your balloon you’ll see a new perspective as we fly across the countryside of the North East Silo Art Trail from Devenish to Dookie, and Winton Wetlands to Mount Major.

This is more than just a balloon flight — it’s a chance to be part of one of Australia’s most colourful aviation events.

• A spectacular one-hour sunrise hot air balloon flight
• Flying alongside approximately 30 balloons participating in the festival
• In-flight photography to capture the moment
• Friendly hosting from our experienced ballooning team
• Easy parking at Benalla Airport
• Transfers to the launch site and return after landing
• A full passenger safety briefing before take-off

Flights like this rarely happen. Seeing a sky filled with balloons is breathtaking from the ground — but being part of the fleet is unforgettable.

Drifting quietly with dozens of colourful balloons around you creates a scene that feels almost surreal. It’s a photographer’s dream and a once-a-year opportunity to experience ballooning at its most spectacular. 

And once you land, you’ll still have the other Art of Flight Festival experiences to explore including the 

• Balloon Glow and Drone Show 4-9pm Saturday 11th April, Wangaratta Turf Club (Ticketed)
• Fly In - Balloon Key Grab and Aircraft Fly In 7-11am Sunday 12th April Benalla Airport (Free)
• Benalla Aviation Museum open 9am to 3pm Wednesday & Sunday ( Adults $10.00, Concessions $5.00, Children  u12 Free)
• Glider Flights at the Gliding Club of Victoria (purchase from GCV)

Your adventure begins at Benalla Airport before sunrise, when ballooning conditions are at their best. After meeting the crew, we travel to the launch site where you can watch — and even help with — the fascinating process of inflating the balloon.

Once airborne, you’ll float gently with the fleet for about one hour, guided by the morning winds across the countryside surrounding Benalla.

Our ground crew follows your flight and will meet you at the landing site before returning you to Benalla Airport. The full experience takes around 3.5 hours.

Suitable for ages 6 and above.

These limited festival flights operate only during the Art of Flight Festival from 6–12 April 2026.

Availability is limited and early bookings are recommended.

Adult: $395
Child (6–15 years): $375

Payment by bank transfer, Visa, or Mastercard (1% credit card surcharge).

Ballooning is weather dependent. If conditions are unsuitable on your scheduled morning, your flight can be rescheduled or refunded.

Guests may also reschedule with 7 days’ notice. Please see our Terms and Conditions for full details.

By Car:
Benalla is located just off the Hume Highway 2 hours from Melbourne from the Hume Hwy and Metropolitan Ring Road junction at Thomastown, and around one hour from most towns in northeast Victoria and Albury–Wodonga.

By Train:
Direct services run from Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station with travel time of just over two hours. The Sydney to Melbourne XPT stops at Benalla. 

Benalla and the surrounding region offer a wide range of accommodation options. Our team will be happy to provide suggestions to help you make the most of your festival visit