It was an awesome trip. Gary was a great driver picking us up (at 4am!) and giving us a run down of the day's activities and what we could and couldn't take on the balloon. He safely got us up the Kuranda Range as the sun was rising and the first people were climbing in for their balloon ride. We got some excellent photographs in the fresh morning air of the balloons taking off. Then we jumped on the bus and the chase was on.

I had never been ballooning before and it was quite fun once we realized that up and down was the only control the balloonist had. We stopped for a much wanted toilet break and continued the chase. Gary could answer all my questions as to what crops we were driving through, the cost of the balloon etc. The first ride stopped in an open paddock and we jumped on board the trailer to be taken out over the paddock. A normal experience for me having grown up on a farm but obviously a first for some of the tourists!!

Then we were loaded on and we were gently off gliding low over gums spotting roos and kookaburras. We went up high enough with Steve to see Lake Tinaroo, the Walsh's Pyramid, the ocean and Mt Bartle Freer. It was so beautiful being up so high and peaceful seeing farms and crops and horse and farmers. Steve did a great job of explaining how the balloon worked, what we were seeing and how we were manoeuvring through different layers of air. Then it was time to come down - what an experience!! We had to duck down really low as we brushed through gums trees and came to rest on the edge of a swamp. So we got wet feet and we had a good laugh as the look on the tourist's faces was priceless. The landing made the trip most memorable.

It is a good experience for everybody to help pack up the balloon to show just how much work is involved with them. Once we loaded her back on the trailer we took a ‘survivor' photo and headed off for breakfast. I was surprised at the spread and got stuck into eggs, bacon, pancakes champagne and tea. There was something for every one sausages, stir fry, fresh fruit salad, coffee, toast and cereal. The little museum is fun to look around there is a shop for souvenirs and a local shop to buy local produce.

A slight hic up with a flat bus tire but the staff were well organized pulling together to change the tire and put people onto a different bus to get them to their pick up on time and getting base to inform the pickup we were on our way.

So overall I found the staff on this Raging Thunder tour very professional and capable to deal with many and varied situations. The food was excellent and served in a great location. The ballooning much more fun than expected with lovely views of the wonderful Atherton Tablelands.