Turning Xl Inwards A Hot Air Balloon Over Yarra Valley

As I plough some other yr older, I must tell that celebrating a four-decade milestone was much to a greater extent than fun, exciting as well as emotional. Now, I’m but some other yr older. Blah!

Weeks earlier nosotros left Australia, I wanted to produce something exceptional for my 40^th birthday. I did all the planning as well as decided that floating over the beautiful Yarra Valley as well as drinking local Aussie wines sounded similar a perfect fit. But thus on the nighttime earlier my birthday, the hot air balloon society called to tell the weather condition were equally good windy to larn upward early on the side past times side day. (Hubby consoled me with a vino dinner at a winery thus I can’t complain equally good much.) Then, nosotros rescheduled for some other weekend, which also was cancelled due to wind. Finally, the 3rd fourth dimension was a charm for us as well as upward nosotros went into a misty autumn morning.

The Yarra Valley is located almost an sixty minutes from Melbourne’s CBD area. Previously, nosotros already had taken 2 wine tours inwards the valley and ane DIY winery tour. I had fallen inwards honey with Australian as well as Kiwi wines as well as the valley happens to last the closest wine-producing portion to the city. Wine + beautiful landscapes = ane happy girl.

A Equus caballus as well as its shadow alongside the autumn-hued vineyards inwards the Yarra Valley.

On the large divergence day, nosotros opted for the gratis shuttle omnibus ride via Global Ballooning from Melbourne to the valley’s coming together point. We arrived a petty later five a.m. The heaven was withal pitch dark as well as nosotros were surrounded past times a depression misty fog. I was worried the balloon ride would last cancelled yet again!

After driving to an appropriate landing site, our grouping got out to assist ready the hot air balloon. Three other balloons took off from the same site, thus it was fun to picket everyone prep the balloons. I mainly stood dorsum as well as took photos. Ha!

Hubby as well as me earlier nosotros took off on our Global Ballooning adventure.

I should cite that I’m a teensy flake afraid of heights, as well as I started to mildly panic in ane trial I hopped into the balloon’s basket. However, in ane trial nosotros got upward inwards the air, the feeling was magical. Any fearfulness subsided as well as all I did was admire the beautiful scenery but about us as well as accept to a greater extent than photos. We literally floated through as well as higher upward the clouds! What a delight!

Admiring the Landscapes

We silently floated over Victorian farms, apple tree orchards, wineries, emerald-green pastures filled with cows as well as horses as well as fifty-fifty a duo of kangaroos. Seriously, the views could non conduct maintain been to a greater extent than perfect!

Why had I waited forty years to accept this thrilling balloon ride? When nosotros lived inwards Turkey, nosotros almost did a balloon ride over Cappadocia, but opted non to because of the expense. Now, nosotros were paying nearly twice equally much inwards Australia, but the terms was sure enough justified inwards the end.

After an sixty minutes or thus upward inwards the air, nosotros landed inwards the middle of a pasture filled with cows who didn’t look to heed our intrusion whatsoever. The society has partnerships with several local farmers who permit the balloon companies to state there. Then, nosotros all helped coil upward the balloon as well as get together the supplies thus nosotros could caput to breakfast.

Time for Bubbles

Our balloon packet included a fantastic brunch at Rochford Winery with lots of sparkling Aussie wine. Hooray! Plus, nosotros had a skilful fourth dimension chatting with our Aussie neighbors who were planning a large trip to the USA I was to a greater extent than than happy to supply my foodie recommendations for NYC.

All inwards all, turning forty wasn’t equally good bad. I may conduct maintain shed a few tears, but inwards the end, I made truthful memories to final a lifetime past times floating over the amazing Aussie landscape.