About Balloons Over Waikato

Since 1999

Aotearoa’s premier hot air ballooning festival for families

The Balloons Over Waikato Trust is a non-profit organisation and has been successfully running this event since 1999. The Festival is a major iconic event for the general public on the annual calendar in both Hamilton and the Waikato Region. Six times voted Best Waikato Event by the public of Hamilton, this event is a Must Do in the Waikato events calendar. We were lucky enough in 2015 to win the Best Established Community Event in New Zealand at the NZAEP Awards. The Festival was also awarded the Best Not for Profit at the Westpac Business Excellence Awards in 2008.

Balloons Over Waikato is New Zealand’s premier hot air balloon festival. Held annually, this five-day iconic event is arguably the most popular event in the city. It attracts balloonists from all over New Zealand and around the world who come to experience the fun, friendship and warmth that this balloon-friendly city provides and to demonstrate their skills in a range of competitive activities.

Over 100,000 spectators enjoy the unique site of balloons ascending through the Waikato each year, from 7.00 am every morning to Hamilton’s biggest night out at The ZURU Nightglow, where the balloons glow to orchestrated music finishing with the best fireworks display in town, the SkyCity Hamilton Fireworks Extravaganza!

Award Winning Festival

Our Charity Partners

Waikato Sunrise Rotary

Once again, our nominated charity for 2024 is the fantastic Waikato Sunrise Rotary Club. Waikato Sunrise Rotary is one of five Rotary clubs in Hamilton, all committed to supporting the communities we live in.

Rotarians are business, professional and community people applying their time and talents to addressing some of the toughest challenges in our communities. The 45 members of Waikato Sunrise Rotary volunteer in “hands on” roles working positively to raise funds to support people and organisations in our own neighbourhood and also neighbourhoods around the world.

As Rotarians they understand that each community has its own unique needs and concerns. Through our network of resources and partners, we focus our service efforts in promoting peace, fighting disease, providing clean water, supporting children and youth in need, supporting education, and health.

Waikato Sunrise Rotary is excited about the opportunity of working with Balloons Over Waikato to raise money for their nominated cause, Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter.

We are delighted to be partnering with Waikato Sunrise Rotary who will provide in excess of 80 volunteers for the event.

The Trust is Extremely Grateful for the Support of Our Partners & Sponsors

The Event is New Zealand’s premier hot air ballooning event and one of the biggest in Asia/Australasia. It attracts balloonists from around the world, spectators from all over the North Island, and national and international media exposure.

Through the generosity of our Strategic Partners WEL Energy Trust, ZURU, Hamilton City Council & Grassroots Trust, plus the many other major and supporting sponsors featured below, the Balloons over Waikato Trust is able to provide this fabulous community event, to which admission is free!

Volunteer