Joy Flights., Gold Coast

We booked a balloon ride with Hot Air. We awoke at 3:30 am, and arrived at the meeting place on time by 4:40 am. We waited an hour and no one showed. The reception was calling the entire time without answer. Finally, they reached someone, who did not know what was going on, but promised to get back with us, so we waited another hour to hear from him. He informed us that the ride had been canceled and he would get us a discount on a flight tomorrow. He promised to call us back after 9:00am. He never did. Instead someone else called to let us know that there would be no discount to book another tour. They claimed that they called us and left a message. There was no message. In fact, our hotel receptionist had specifically requested that she call back if she did not speak with us directly. She never spoke with us or left a message. We waited for two hours in the early morning for nothing! Turns out, Hot Air is full of hot air. Needless to say, we picked a different company two days later, and had a great time.

Balloon Aloft showed promptly, were professional, and provided an amazing tour of the Gold Coast. A Champaign buffet breakfast was optional. Both 30 min. and 1 hour tours are offered. The views were spectacular.

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There is no better way to see the whole of the Gold Coast than from a helicopter. I took a 30-minute helicopter ride from Seaworld which took me over the whole of Surfers Paradise, pass the towering hotels and condominiums.

So we go to the south in de direction of Rockhampton and Bundaberg. Time for us to take a few days rest, we have discovvered that the time was not good for swim in the ocean because there are the dangerous Yellifish. So we diseded to visit one of the islands in the Great Barrier Reef. We make our choice for the most soutern island from the Great Barrier Reef, Lady Elliott.
We go with an small airplane from Bundaberg for a fligt from ca 45 min.
It was a very small 6 persons airplane for us 5 and the pilot, i was sit beside the pilot and can make som pictures from the island.

There are Helicoptor Flights available, and well worth doing. The views of the Gold Coast are spectacular from the air.
You get to see just how much water is in and around this place. A lot more than I ever thought.

I am sitting beside the pilot so I can take some good pictures.

The skyline of the Coald Coast.