About Us

Flying over Australia’s most beautiful landscapes since 1980

In 1980 Balloon Aloft offered the very first commercial passenger balloon flights in Australia. More than 45 years and 700,000 passengers later, we remain the country’s most experienced and highly awarded hot air balloon operator.

What began as a pioneering adventure has grown into a multi-generational family business. In 2007 Graeme Scaife took ownership of Balloon Aloft, building on the company he had already established in the Hunter Valley. Today Graeme and his son Matt (a four-time Australian Ballooning Champion) lead the team, with the next generation already showing a passion for the sky.

Since commencing operations, Balloon Aloft has expanded from our home in the Hunter Valley to four other locations including Mudgee, the rolling countryside of Camden Valley near Sydney, the coastal beauty of Byron Bay, and the extraordinary salt plains of Burketown (Moungibi) in partnership with the Gangalidda and Garawa People.

Every flight is still guided by the same principles that launched us: absolute safety, genuine care for our guests, deep respect for the landscapes we fly over, and the belief that the unique experience of ballooning should be available to as many people as possible.

Graeme Scaife – Owner

Graeme earned his balloon licence in 1986 and has spent a lifetime perfecting the art of flight. After building a successful operation in the UK, he turned his focus to Australia, purchasing Hunter Valley Ballooning and later Balloon Aloft itself. His quiet determination and commitment to excellence still shape every aspect of the business.

Matt Scaife – Director & Pilot

Matt grew up watching his father fly. He took his first flight at eight, gained his commercial licence at a young age, and went on to become a four-time Australian Ballooning Champion and is also currently ranked 10th in the World Balloonist standings. As Director, he combines championship-level skill with a deep passion for sharing the experience with guests.

Our Pilots

Alongside the Scaife family we are proud to fly with some of Australia’s finest pilots, including three-time Women’s World Champion Nicola Cronin.Our team’s expertise and calm professionalism are the reason so many guests tell us they felt completely safe from the moment they stepped into the basket.

Meet the team

Experience You Can Trust

As Australia’s longest-running commercial balloon operator, we have refined the experience over four and a half decades by setting the standard in aviation safety, championing eco-friendly innovation with carbon-offset flights, pioneering fully accessible ballooning, and delivering unforgettable sunrise journeys guided by our world-class pilots.

Truly Accessible Adventure

In 2023 we introduced New South Wales’ first purpose-built accessible hot air balloon basket. Guests with limited mobility, including wheelchair users, can now enjoy the same breathtaking sunrise views as everyone else, with dignity and full support. We are the only operator in the state offering this experience and one of only a handful in Australia.

Carbon Neutral by Design

Every single Balloon Aloft flight is carbon neutral. We partner with Greenfleet so that the emissions from your transfer and flight are offset through native forest restoration. Our Hunter Valley base runs on solar power and rainwater. In 2024 we became the first balloon operator in Australia to achieve Ecotourism Australia’s Sustainable Tourism Certification.

A Meaningful Partnership with Country

In Burketown (Moungibi), we supported the Gangalidda and Garawa People’s Yagurli Tours, operators of Australia’s first wholly Indigenous-owned hot air balloon. More than a scenic experience, flights here are an invitation to see Country through the eyes of its Traditional Owners.

Award-Winning Excellence

We are dual Gold winners at the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards (Adventure Tourism and Excellence in Accessible Tourism), multiple Gold and Hall of Fame inductees at the NSW Tourism Awards, and members of the TripAdvisor Hall of Fame. These recognitions reflect consistent guest feedback and our refusal to compromise on quality or inclusion.

Qantas Australian Tourism Awards

• Gold – Adventure Tourism (2024/2025)
• Gold – Excellence in Accessible Tourism (2024/2025)

NSW Tourism Awards

• Gold – Adventure Tourism (multiple consecutive years)
• Hall of Fame – Adventure Tourism
• Gold – Excellence in Accessible Tourism

Other Recognition

• TripAdvisor Hall of Fame (multiple consecutive Travelers’ Choice Awards)
• Quality Tourism Accredited Business (10+ years)
• Ecotourism Australia – Sustainable Tourism Certification (first balloon operator in Australia)

We offer the widest choice of flight regions of any Australian balloon operator:

Hunter Valley – Vineyards, rolling hills and our home base. Also the location of our accessible flights.

Mudgee – Quiet country landscapes and award-winning wine country.

Camden (Sydney) – The closest balloon flights to Sydney City, over the beautiful Camden Valley, located in the Macarthur Region of Greater Sydney.

Byron Bay – Coastal hinterland, rainforest and the iconic northern NSW coastline.

Burketown (Moungibi) – Seasonal flights over Australia’s largest salt pan in partnership with Traditional Owners – a truly unique cultural and landscape experience.

Whether you are celebrating a special occasion, seeking a unique adventure, or simply want to see Australia from a new perspective, a hot air balloon flight with Balloon Aloft is a memorable way to do it.

Find out more about our flights here.