Welcome to Wairarapa, New Zealand: land of glistening waters, internationally renowned wine region, farming community and balloonists’ dream.

The 2013 Trust House Balloons Over Wairarapa will be the 15th major festival in as many years to be held in the Wairarapa region, a beautiful part of New Zealand, with a population of 38,000, an hour’s drive from the capital city of Wellington.

The region’s patchwork landscape of large open paddocks, good road network and welcoming landowners help make life easy for the balloonists, crews and spectators.

Uncontrolled airspace and absence of a major airport in the Wairarapa gives balloon pilots more freedom than at many other events. They have been able to enjoy flights up to 9,500 feet, with stunning views of New Zealand’s snow-capped Southern Alps to the south, and the Pacific Ocean over mountains to the west and hills to the east.

To find out more about Wairarapa, visit www.wairarapanz.com.