Cairns Hot Air Balloon & Jet Boat Ride Combo: Detailed Review

Want to see Cairns from pretty high up, like, super early in the morning, and then get that adrenaline pumping all in the same day? The Cairns Hot Air Balloon Flight plus Jet Boat Ride combo could be just the thing you’re searching for, it’s almost a cool way to check two must-do’s off your list while you’re visiting. I figured I would share my experience and sort of give you the lowdown to decide if it suits your taste. As a matter of fact, there are certain things about this duo that made it pretty memorable.

Up, Up, and Away: Hot Air Ballooning near Cairns

So, rising super early is part of the deal with hot air ballooning. And that pick-up time? Like, woah, it was early, like, before the sun really even thought about coming up. Anyway, after piling into the shuttle, it took about an hour’s drive to get outside Cairns to the launch site. This region has calmer winds and great scenery which really helps makes the experience. Basically, it was interesting watching the balloon get inflated. Then, just a bit later, we were all climbing into the basket. As I was saying, taking off was very smooth. And I think, you will find the scenery really stunning, like, very Australian with lots of green fields and mountains in the distance.

It seems that being that high up gives you this unique feeling of calm, like nothing else matters. Naturally, our pilot seemed very skilled and experienced; I want to say that is a huge comfort when you’re floating around in the air. He shared some facts and points about the area, which was actually a pretty great extra to the trip. The flight went on for about 30 to 60 minutes (which really depends on weather), before we landed smoothly back on solid ground. I guess it is an item to check off on a bucket list. Seriously, it could just take your breath away. After landing, you can help pack the balloon away which might be fun.

Adrenaline Rush: Jet Boating in Cairns

Jet boating might give you that change of pace after floating in the air, almost going from super chill to wildly exciting. Or, put another way, this is your moment if you want some high-speed thrills. As a matter of fact, the jet boat rides usually happen around Trinity Inlet. Anyway, so the spins and slides could have you holding on pretty tightly. Then, what’s really very interesting is how the jet boat captains do cool maneuvers, just almost skimming the water while describing all the landmarks around. This gives you some exciting views and a bit about Cairns’ geography, I guess it can be enjoyable.

You know, a Jet boat might get you wet, very, very wet, depending where you are seated. It’s probably sensible to consider what to wear beforehand – perhaps something that dries fast. You’re very likely to want sunglasses also to protect your eyes from the spray, also sun screen to protect your skin. As I was saying, you want to just hold tight and be ready for some high-speed action, I’d recommend it.

What to Know Before You Book: Useful tips

Alright, to plan this combo, there a few things I really think that people want to think about before booking. Then, thinking about the weather is also essential. Anyway, balloon flights depend on conditions, so they may reschedule, I guess this may be any issue to make sure that your plan allows some flexibility. Basically, the time of year to take advantage of less rainfall is often during the dry season (May to October), typically because conditions are just much better for being airborne.

So, you can think about where things are with transportation to the locations that the tours start at, typically because it might depend on if your package deal provides pickup from your hotel, yet, often, it could be a central meeting place in Cairns, and some prefer driving. So too, when booking, ensure you understand just a little about what’s involved: what’s covered? Is there food/drinks? What is a sensible cancellation policy if your travel plans change? In some respects, it’s often a neat thought to match this combo tour with other cool local experiences such as trips to the Great Barrier Reef, walks inside of the rainforest or visiting waterfalls.

Making the Most of Your Adventure Day

Basically, preparing right will help to make the day more fun. So too it’s often recommended layers of clothing. It can be cool in the morning in the air, so maybe bringing an outer layer is useful that, typically, you may peel off later in the day. Just a bit later, for both activities, applying sunscreen and carrying sun-protection (hat, glasses) may provide extra skin care. Typically, people use water-resistant cameras or cellphone covers: I would be thinking you don’t want the possibility to damage items while getting splashes of water. Now, don’t be worried about just being you. That is, if you’re social, it’s a cool way you can mingle and make small talk with other fellow travelers during ballooning; usually they come from different spots, yet usually they share that interest to adventure.

Is the Cairns Hot Air Balloon & Jet Boat Ride Combo Worth It?

I’d have to say, yes, absolutely. This combination is really something if you like seeing the sunrise from very high above and that thrill of being fast on water, and a way to mix relaxation with adventure all in one day. Of course, the things you see and the enjoyment do turn on what the weather looks like, that is essential. What is key is making sure the operator you use has all the credentials, really cares for customer service and takes safety measures. At the end of the day, the Cairns Hot Air Balloon Flight and Jet Boat Ride Combo is definitely worth a look when setting up that itinerary of things to do when visiting North Queensland.

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