Waikato New Zealand hot air balloons

06/03/2023

Keep an eye on the skies on Tuesday 14 March as the iconic Balloons over Waikato festival 🎈 kicks off with a fantastic line-up of events planned. There will be plenty of activities and entertainment for all ages, including the Hamilton CBD Walk Thru Balloon, the Hamilton City Council Opening Fiesta, the Base Basket Burn and much more.

For more information and the event schedule, click here:

Enjoy the amazing site of balloons ascending through Hamilton from 7.00am 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.

02/01/2023

One, two, three.🎈
That time of the year when the days are all merging into one!

24/08/2022

ANNOUNCEMENT 📢
New location for the Zuru Nightglow!

You've read it here first! That's right, the ZURU Toys Nightshow is MOVING to a new location in 2023. ✨🌠

Balloons over Waikato will return Tuesday 14th - Saturday 18th March, and we are excited to share the news that Saturday's Zuru Nightshow will be at the Claudelands Oval.

We’ve loved our time at the University, but the new location will provide us with a more covid proof option and a safe and secure environment for families, who will be able to grab free entry tickets through Ticketek.

08/07/2022

Balloons over Waikato is New Zealand's premier hot air balloon festival. Held annually, in Hamilton, this five-day icon event it is arguably the most popular...

16/04/2022

16/04/2022

03/04/2022

✨Appreciation Post ✨
A huge thank you to all our pilots and their crew who participated in Balloons over Waikato 2022.

Our pilots joined us from all over New Zealand to showcase their beautiful balloons and put on a show for us in the mighty Waikato.

Join us in thanking them below! ⤵

25/03/2022

Wow this is amazing

22/03/2022

I know many of people who wanted to come to this event but instead during the red setting that why we deside to post it on the Facebook if anyone saw the video of the hot air balloons glowing in the night

This year's public spectator-free event is now over and the organisers are ready for 2023.

20/03/2022

19/03/2022

Here the interesting hot air balloons glowing in the night.

19/03/2022

Popcorn at the ready! This is your 30-minute curtain call!🍿📺
The Special Edition Virtual ZURU Nightglow starts at 8pm.

The official links will be posted right here on our social channels!

Reminder: The Nightglow will be broadcast and shared completely FREE of charge. Beware of scams asking for payment and only go through the official links that we will share when they're live.

19/03/2022

18/03/2022

Virtual Nightglow This year looks a little different, but we will still be filling the skies with colour. Head to our 'What's On' tab and follow us on Facebook for all the latest updates. Don't forget to tune in on Facebook at 8pm Saturday 19th of March for our ZURU Nightglow Virtual Edition! Tuesda...

18/03/2022

Our beautiful hot air balloons. How many balloons fly over your way this morning

16/03/2022

Beautiful photo

15/03/2022

15/03/2022

Wow look at this beautiful to be back in the air again

15/03/2022

14/03/2022

2022 FESTIVAL INFO

🔸Morning Flyovers🔸
Balloons will take off at 7 am daily and their flying direction is weather and wind dependent. Their flight direction across the city will be shared daily on our social media, so keep an eye out here for the official morning takeoff report at approx 6.30am.

Just remember there are no physical public events to attend this year, BUT whether you are on your morning commute to work, on the way to school or still at home in your PJs, just look up and enjoy the magical sight.

🔸Zuru Nightglow Virtual Edition🔸
Join us at 8 pm on Saturday 19th March for The ZURU Nightglow – Virtual Edition! Note we will NEVER ask you to pay to watch the virtual Nightglow.

The Nightglow will be broadcast and shared completely FREE of charge and we will post the official links to this page and our official channels on Saturday 19 March. Please be wary of clicking on any other pages and events as they are likely to be scams.

09/03/2022

Hey Balloonists👋
Here is some key info for next week's daily flights over the city. 📣

Just a reminder that there are no physical public events to attend this year, BUT we will still be filling the skies with Balloons every morning!

Balloons will take off around 7 am daily (weather depending). 🌅
Their direction will be determined on the day and their flying direction is weather and wind dependent. Their flight direction across the city will be shared daily on our social media, so keep an eye out here for the official morning takeoff report.

So whether you are on your morning commute to work, on the way to school or still at home in your PJs, just look up and enjoy the magical sight.

07/03/2022

Bennie Eimers is organizing places to stay for Ukrainian balloonists and their families and is collecting money to get to the balloonists. Donations can be made here:

Paypal: [email protected]
German Ballooning Academy e.V.

Bankverbindung: DE97 8306 5408 0004 2933 63

If you will use the IBAN from the us, the address is

Ellinghorster Str. 135
45964 Gladbeck

BIC: GENODEF1SLR

It will be used for transport of goods, aid material, refugees etc

21/02/2022

Covid restrictions have changed the shape of Balloons over Waikato in 2022, as red level rules challenge the events sector.