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This Indigenous-Led Tour Company Is Flying Hot Air Balloons Over Australia’s Largest Salt Plains

This Indigenous-Led Tour Company Is Flying Hot Air Balloons Over Australia’s Largest Salt Plains

Between high school, road trips to visit family and friends, and general exploration, I consider myself a bit of an expert on Queensland. Or I should say, on the Queensland east coast. What I’ve been desperate to get to, however, is the more uncharted territories of the state that lie closer to the borders with the Northern Territory. Now, there’s a whole new way to do that.

Indigenous-owned and operated Yagurli Tours have just launched a brand new cultural experience in partnership with Balloon Aloft, and it will take you sky-high: a casual hot air balloon ride over Australia’s largest salt pans during sunrise.

 

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Nestled up in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Burketown presents some pretty spectacular aerial views. Why? Because while the town itself is tiny (only 238 residents), it’s surrounded by pretty much every type of terrain: vast salt pans, the flowing Albert River, wetlands, grass plains and out to the ocean.

What’s best about this particular tour, however, is that you’ll actually get a deeper understanding of the land you’re serving, as well as its rich cultural heritage, thanks to your local Indigenous guides.

 

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“This is an incredibly unique area of Australia and not many people know about these salt pans, the largest in Australia, that lie just over a kilometre outside of Burketown,” said tourism Operations Manager at Yagurli Tours, Peter Ridley.

“The new hot air balloon tour is a phenomenal experience that showcases the extraordinary Gulf Country from a completely new perspective. After the sunrise scenic flight, guests learn about the significance of this land to the Gangalidda People from a local Yagurli Guide while sipping on a celebratory flute of bubbly, what a way to start the morning”.

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Abel Tasman, New Zealand

 

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For $289 per person (for the adults), you get a 30 to 40-minute balloon ride in a group of no more than eight, commentary from local Yargurli Guides, champers upon landing, a keepsake photo.

It’s only operating during July though, so you better get onto it. You can book here. And feel free to take me with you, please and thank you.


(Lead image: provided / @PhlipVids)

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