The view from up top

By Bobbi Lee Hitchon // 27 May 2010 // Comments: 0 // Related Categories: adventure, cairns, hot air balloon, Things to do

The pickup time is not ideal (4:15 a.m.), but it's worth it to be up in the air before dawn. Raging Thunder offers hot air balloon rides over the Atherton Tablelands, QLD daily. During the ride guests float up and down the morning sky for 30 minutes, taking in breath-taking views to the left, right, front, back and below.

But hot air ballooning isn't just about the sights, it's the entire experience.

After an early pickup and 45-minute shuttle to a take off point in the Atherton Tablelands, passengers on Raging Thunder's hot air balloon watch the team prepare for their upcoming flight. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

About 16 passengers loaded in the hot air balloon watch as their pilot prepares for take off. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

The hot air balloon lifts above fog floating over the Atherton Tablelands, QLD. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

Clouds catch light of the sun just below the horizon, setting the sky on fire. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

From a hefty brown wicker basket, passengers snap photos and point out to different sights in the sky. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

Silence. The pilot stops igniting the flame for a few minutes and there's nothing. The wind stops as the basket slowly floats above a layer of clouds. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

Not the only people in the sky, two other hot air balloons float above residential farms. Photos by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

The inside of the balloon above matches the view outside. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

The final act, sunrise. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

The hot air ballon lands in someone's backyard. It's a hard vessel to steer, so landing is always random. The next group of passengers chase the balloon in a bus below, waiting for it to land. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

The sun warms the field below. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

A Raging Thunder hot air balloon crew member prepares for another flight. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

The next hot air balloon ride takes off. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

After two hot air balloon rides, passengers help put the balloon away and take a group photo. They are then shuttled to Mareeba Heritage Centre for a buffet breakfast. The centre houses local historic items, including and old railway cart.