Up, up and away in a sky stretching into the blue

Passengers on this hot-air balloon enjoyed a bird's-eye view of the Sky Tower yesterday morning.

The balloon, operated by the Balloon Expedition Company, and sponsored by American Express, later landed at a primary school sports ground in Ponsonby after running out of wind.

Pilot Daryl McKee said the balloon took off from Okahu Bay at 8.30 am but was unable to make its Te Atatu destination.

"Once we got airborne the wind slowed down so we didn't get as far as we intended.

"That's one thing absolutely guaranteed in a balloon ... once you've taken off you are guaranteed to land, somewhere, some time."