On Saturday and Sunday morning, some of Australia’s most experienced hot air balloonists took the skies for the event hosted by Hunter business Balloon Aloft. 

This was the fourth time that the event had been staged in the region with balloon pilots coming from around the country to take part. 

Organiser Matthew Scaife of Balloon Aloft said the company was overwhelmed by the response to this year’s fiesta and that passengers had thoroughly enjoyed the experience of flying amongst so many balloons. 

“It really is something special,” he said. 

The balloons took off from Old North Road, Rothbury with passengers enjoying a one-hour flight over the vineyards before landing near Bimbadgen Winery, Pokolbin.

On Sunday an early fog cleared just in time for photographers to capture all the glory, which proved a spectacle for many onlookers both on and off the ground.

More than 200 passengers flew on board the balloons over the course of the weekend, reaching heights of up to 2000 feet.

Mr. Scaife said the fiesta had been well received by both pilots and passengers and that the Balloon Aloft team was already looking forward to staging the event again next year.

View more photos from the weekend here.