Sunrise Balloons - A refreshing way to see Queenstown

About Us

Sunrise Balloons is a New Zealand owned and operated company, Hugh and Maureen McLellan founded the company 10 years ago.

Hugh McLellan, the chief pilot and owner of Sunrise Balloons, has over 1000 hours in hot air balloons and over 2000 hours in fixed wing aircraft, he also has experience in parapentes, hang-gliders, gliders, microlights, floatplanes and helicopters. He currently owns and flies a Cessna 180.

Maureen will be your main phone contact and also prepares our delicious breakfast.

The Crew 

Son Carrick provides transport for Sunrise Balloons and also helps out with the balloon occasionally. He also owns and operates Queenstown Paraflights.

Daughter Rachel helps out at the weekends when Grant is home to look after the kids.

Son Graham takes a break from his web design company Swordfox Design to crew sometimes.

Andre, one of our regular crew, also drives a jetboat for Kawarau Jet in the winter and in the summer runs a cycle tour company - Rail Trail Active.

Dave, our bus driver also owns a landscape business - Queenstown Property Maintenance.

Pius flies tandem parapentes as well as crewing for us.