Not sure if I should be publicising this or I might make the queues too long but have checked with Questacon marketing who said the minimum age is 3yo!

Questacon Balloon Spectaular program

We went to Questacon yesterday and it was being advertised "hidden away" on the back of the show guide. Sounds great. We will try to be there. On the Tues we have someone arriving at the airport at 8am.

I just realised that I forgot to ask if there was a charge

I got the impression it was free.

Thanks for the info!

Thanks for the info!!We'll be there ready and waiting!

Anyone else go today? It was free. I think I recognised one or two people there from here. It turned out to be a brilliant morning after a very cold start!

After the debacle when they moved the queue starting point by telling the people at the end of the original queue before those of us who'd been standing near the basket for 30 minutes already (I was first in the original queue but nearly missed out on a ride when they nearly ran out of gas before getting through everyone in the moved queue!), the organiser has told me that tomorrow there will be a "queue starts here" sign about 100m away from the balloon.

There was a jumping castle, food, milo the clown entertained the kids in the queue, as well as the science shows and free balloons, and questacon 2 for 1 vouchers. There must have been at least 30 balloons taking off between 6:30 and 7am, then they started setting up the Questacon balloon that took 10 people at a time, and a slightly smaller one that could only take 2 kids at a time. The Questacon one went a lot higher than the small one, and I think the queue moved a lot quicker as more went at once. I think we went about 30m up but it was hard to judge. There was a tyre in the base so Shea could just see over the edge of the basket safely, and I was allowed to put Talon on the divider in the middle of the basket so he could see. His head got a bit hot near the gas burner though. Glad he had a beanie on.

We all got cold feet while standing in the queue in sneakers and I'd forgotten my jacket (took the boys). Breakfast was great.

As it's DS's birthday tomorrow, we are hoping to take advantage of this then ... especially seeing as DS loves all things that fly (technologically speaking that is, not the natural ones IYGWIM, lol).

Given he was the last one out of bed this morning though we might have a little challenge on our hands.

We are thinking about going in tomorrow morning. What time would you need to arrive, 6/6:30? Also what food is there? Is that and the jumping castle free or are there charges for that?
thanks
Leanne

It depends a bit on the wind but we got there at 6:45am and about half the balloons had taken off, but we were able to see the rest up really close.

They started getting the Questacon balloon ready about 7am (it takes about half an hour), were ready between 7:30 and 7:45, but had to wait for the wind to abate a bit before they could take the kids up, so was close to 8am before they started the rides, but people arriving after that risked missing out as they only had enouhg gas to go to about 9am. Just look for the sign for the start of the queue by 7am or ask where the queue will start!

The jumping castle was ready by 7am, and was free and still going when we finally left about 10am.

Breakfast was available the whole time. The usual Dutch pancakes, a coffee cart with muffins, or the main Lions club tent with big breakfast $8, light breakfast $4 or 3 stack of pancakes $5. They also had espresso coffee, tea and juice. Big breakfast was 2 eggs, bacon or sausage and 2 pieces of toast. Light breakfast was 1 toast, 1 egg and bacon or sausage.

I think it was really worth it as the kids usually have to wait until they're 12 for a commercial ride!

Sounds great but tomorrow we are picking up someone from airport at 8am. I was hoping to take kids to balloons at 6:30am and go to airport after. Questacon flier said kids balloon rides from 7am but if they have to wait until 8am to go up I don't think we will make it. I was planning to go again to the balloons later in the week anyway to take our visitor but we will have to miss the Q balloons.

Jill - depends on the winds. I think they were delayed quiet a bit today from plans.

we were hoping to go this morning but didn't get organised. wish i'd read this thread though, we could have made it if i'd realised it wasn't as early a start as i'd imagined

Our airport trip was quick and we arrived there by 8:30am. Hopped in line by 8:40am but unfortunately after 35 minutes wait, we missed out. Due to safety reasons they had to stop the rides as the winds were picking up and they were starting to lose control over the balloon.

I spoke to the organiser who said that tomorrow at least there will be a RAAF balloon also giving rides though it will be smaller.

Nevertheless, the kids had a great morning, with the jumping castle, questacon shows, clown and roving science demos!

Sorry you missed a ride but glad you enjoyed it anyway!