I had never seen so many hot air balloons at once or been so close before so that in itself was interesting. Over 130,000 spectators over 5 days will enjoy the amazing site of over 20 balloons ascending through the Waikato sunrise at 7.00am every morning and Hamilton's biggest night out at the Zuru Nightglow, where the balloons glow to orchestrated music finishing with the best fireworks display in town, creating the perfect family outing! When we arrived at about 6:30 pm, the event was already in full swing. They stay grounded while inflated and then use their fire in sync with music being played. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. The Zuru Nightglow is the most popular event of the Hamilton Hot Air Balloons Festival. This event is officially called “Balloons over Waikato.” In 2020 the festival starts on the 17th and runs to the 21st. Besides watching the balloons glow and the fireworks, beforehand there are musical performers and lots of rides to entertain the kids. If you are visiting Hamilton for the hot air balloons then booking somewhere to stay nearby to void having to find parking is a great idea! Your email address will not be published. Balloons over Waikato is New Zealand's premier hot air balloon festival. There was a band playing music and people dancing. The Zuru Nightglow is an outdoor event in which the main attraction is all of the balloons inflating and then lighting up in the dark sky to music. There are often performers, tons of food trucks, as well as some carnival-style rides for the kids. Check out some of our other blogs about our favorite places! Date: From 20 March 2019 to 24 March 2019. The event is held at Hamilton University and is completely free of charge.
The Zuru Nightglow is usually held on the last night of the Hamilton Hot Air Balloons Festival which is Sunday. To our surprise, the balloons don’t actually go into the air for this show. In fact, attending any of the events is free. Disclosure: This blog may contain affiliate links. It is a 5-day long event that offers a variety of activities involving hot air balloons. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. So many beautiful places and things to do and see! The festival runs for five days, ending on Sunday.
Held annually in March, in Hamilton, this five-day iconic event is arguably the most popular event in the city. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.
We had a good time seeing the balloons take flight during the day and then got some great pictures of the night show.
However, this year it was changed to Saturday evening due to bad weather predictions for Sunday. Balloons over Waikato is New Zealand's premier hot air balloon festival. We are Dan and Bailey, just your typical thrill-seeking travelers! In fact, many tourists skip Hamilton altogether or simply use it as a base for exploring Hobbiton or the Waitomo Caves. At the Hamilton Hot Air Balloons, there are also many other things for people to do and see. Related Read: An Auckland Day Trip to the West Coast. Balloons over Waikato is New Zealand's premier hot air balloon festival. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Ultimate Guide to New Zealand's Whanganui Journey. Some great accommodation options are: Overall, the Hamilton Hot Air Balloons were pretty cool.
Why BalloonEvents.info | Terms & Conditions | Report This Page | Link Exchange | Contact us, © 2015 www.balloonevents.info - Balloon Events all over the World. In fact, this event attracts more people than any other event in Hamilton. After the “glow show” there is a firework presentation. It attracts balloonists from all over New Zealand and around the world, who come to experience the fun, friendship and warmth this balloon friendly city provides and to demonstrate their skills in a range of competitive activities. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. While it was neat to watch, it wasn’t astounding and somewhat underwhelming that the balloons don’t actually take flight. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. You will likely find us hiking, scuba diving, catching public transport, or just drinking beer at a hostel. The first activity we saw was the Cash Grab Competition. At the Hamilton Hot Air Balloons, there are also many other things for people to do and see. No. There is lots of food options and even a pop-up bar. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. This is our opinion of what the Hamilton Hot Air Balloons Festival was really like, what there was to do, and if it is worth a visit. The Hamilton Hot Air Balloons Festival happens every year in March.