Lunar New Year from Above: Melbourne Celebrations in the Sky
Melbourne celebrates Lunar New Year with colour, music, and community spirit — from dragon dances in Chinatown to lanterns glowing across the city.
And while the streets are alive with celebration, there’s another way to welcome the new year: from the sky.
A hot air balloon flight at sunrise offers a peaceful, breathtaking way to begin the year with joy, gratitude, and new perspective — just as the first light touches the city below.
1. A Sunrise Symbol of New Beginnings
In many cultures, sunrise represents renewal — a fresh start filled with hope.
Flying in a hot air balloon during Lunar New Year week captures that same feeling.
As your balloon lifts into the cool morning air, you’ll watch the city glow in gold and red tones — colours that symbolise luck, happiness, and prosperity.
It’s quiet, calm, and deeply symbolic — a moment to reflect on the year that’s passed and everything still to come.
2. Melbourne’s Festive Energy from the Sky
From above, you can see Melbourne in full celebration:
Chinatown buzzing with decorations and lion dance banners
Southbank and Federation Square lit with red lanterns
Royal Botanic Gardens and Yarra River glowing under the morning sun
The city feels alive with joy, yet your view from the sky is peaceful — a gentle contrast to the energy below.
3. Perfect Timing for Visitors
Lunar New Year usually falls between late January and mid-February, when Melbourne’s weather is warm and clear — ideal for ballooning.
Flights depart before sunrise, so you can:
Celebrate the first light of the new year in the sky
Enjoy an optional champagne breakfast after landing
Still have the full day ahead for festivities and family gatherings
4. Make It a Family or Group Celebration
Ballooning is a wonderful shared experience for families or friends celebrating together.
You can book a group basket or even a private flight to make the morning more personal.
Many families choose to fly together as a way of welcoming luck and happiness for the year ahead — a beautiful modern twist on a long-standing tradition of renewal and togetherness.
5. Dress & Travel Tips
Wear red or gold — festive colours for good luck (and great photos!)
Bring a camera — sunrise reflections across the skyline are spectacular.
Book early: Lunar New Year week is a busy time for both tourism and local celebrations.
Stay nearby: If you’re flying from Melbourne, the meeting point is Sofitel Melbourne on Collins; for Yarra Valley flights, meet at Yarra Valley Lodge.
6. After the Flight — Celebrate on the Ground
Once you’ve landed and toasted the morning with breakfast, you can continue your day by joining the festivities around the city:
Chinatown Lunar Festival: Street performances, traditional food, and lion dances
Queen Victoria Market: Special Lunar New Year market days
Docklands Fireworks: Evening light shows reflecting across the harbour
It’s a full day of celebration — beginning with the peace of dawn and ending with the lights of night.
A Celebration Above the City
From the gentle lift of the balloon to the first sunrise of the Lunar New Year, every moment feels symbolic — a reminder of gratitude, luck, and new beginnings.
It’s Melbourne at its most vibrant, and a sunrise that carries all the hope of the year ahead.
✨ Celebrate Lunar New Year from above!
Book your Hot Air Balloon Flight over Melbourne or the Yarra Valley, and welcome the new year in the most uplifting way possible — high above the city, filled with light and possibility.