Template:Item-infobox Golden Balloons are shiny balloons that appear in Diddy Kong Racing and its Nintendo DS remake, Diddy Kong Racing DS. These items are the game's equivalent to Power Stars from Super Mario 64. Golden Balloons are required to access all five worlds and their race courses. Each of them has its own minimum requirement for entry, which increases for the later courses and worlds.
The game features 47 Golden Balloons, 43 of which are awarded by Taj for either winning at a race, its Silver Coin Challenge (or Balloon Touch Challenge in the DS version), and the three vehicle races against him, either involving a Car, Hovercraft, or Plane.
Timber's Island locations
The remaining four Golden Balloons are scattered in specific locations of Timber's Island. They can be collected in no specific order, and usually require a specific vehicle to reach. The Plane can reach every Golden Balloon.
| Image | Location | Vehicle(s) |
|---|---|---|
|
Located on the bridge that leads to the Dino Domain hub. | Car, Hovercraft, Plane |
|
On a grassy ledge to the left of the stone Wizpig's head. | Plane |
|
Hidden in the far left end of the ocean surrounding Sherbet Island's entrance. | Car, Hovercraft, Plane |
|
Located between two pine trees behind the log bridge. It is reachable from the river connecting Snowflake Mountain and Sherbet Island. | Hovercraft, Plane |
Race Courses
The Golden Balloons are needed to unlock the worlds and race courses throughout the game. Unlocking a world automatically unlocks the first course of that world. The list of the worlds and their courses and the amount needed to unlock them is listed as follows:
| World and Amount Needed | Course and Amount Needed | Vehicles |
|---|---|---|
 Dino Domain Template:DKRbln | ||
 Ancient Lake Template:DKRbln (first race) Template:DKRbln (Silver Coin/Balloon Pop Challenge) |
Car Hovercraft Plane | |
 Fossil Canyon Template:DKRbln (first race) Template:DKRbln (Silver Coin/Balloon Pop Challenge) |
Car Hovercraft Plane | |
 Jungle Falls Template:DKRbln (first race) Template:DKRbln (Silver Coin/Balloon Pop Challenge) |
Car Hovercraft Plane | |
 Hot Top Volcano Template:DKRbln (first race) Template:DKRbln (Silver Coin/Balloon Pop Challenge) |
Hovercraft Plane | |
 Snowflake Mountain Template:DKRbln | ||
 Everfrost Peak Template:DKRbln (first race) Template:DKRbln (Silver Coin/Balloon Pop Challenge) |
Car (N64 only) Hovercraft Plane | |
 Walrus Cove Template:DKRbln (first race) Template:DKRbln (Silver Coin/Balloon Pop Challenge) |
Car Hovercraft | |
 Snowball Valley Template:DKRbln (first race) Template:DKRbln (Silver Coin/Balloon Pop Challenge) |
Car Hovercraft Plane | |
 Frosty Village Template:DKRbln (first race) Template:DKRbln (Silver Coin/Balloon Pop Challenge) |
Car Hovercraft Plane | |
 Sherbet Island Template:DKRbln | ||
 Whale Bay Template:DKRbln (first race) Template:DKRbln (Silver Coin/Balloon Pop Challenge) |
Hovercraft | |
 Crescent Island Template:DKRbln (first race) Template:DKRbln (Silver Coin/Balloon Pop Challenge) |
Car Hovercraft | |
 Pirate Lagoon Template:DKRbln (first race) Template:DKRbln (Silver Coin/Balloon Pop Challenge) |
Hovercraft | |
 Treasure Caves Template:DKRbln (first race) Template:DKRbln (Silver Coin/Balloon Pop Challenge) |
Car Hovercraft Plane | |
 Dragon Forest Template:DKRbln | ||
 Windmill Plains Template:DKRbln (first race) Template:DKRbln (Silver Coin/Balloon Pop Challenge) |
Car, Hovercraft, Plane | |
 Greenwood Village Template:DKRbln (first race) Template:DKRbln (Silver Coin/Balloon Pop Challenge) |
Car Hovercraft | |
 Boulder Canyon Template:DKRbln (first race) Template:DKRbln (Silver Coin/Balloon Pop Challenge) |
Hovercraft | |
 Haunted Woods Template:DKRbln (first race) Template:DKRbln (Silver Coin/Balloon Pop Challenge) |
Car Hovercraft | |
 Future Fun Land Template:DKRbln | ||
 Spacedust Alley Template:DKRbln (first race) Template:DKRbln (Silver Coin/Balloon Pop Challenge) |
Car Hovercraft Plane | |
 Darkmoon Caverns Template:DKRbln (first race) Template:DKRbln (Silver Coin/Balloon Pop Challenge) |
Car Hovercraft | |
 Spaceport Alpha Template:DKRbln (first race) Template:DKRbln (Silver Coin/Balloon Pop Challenge) |
Car Hovercraft Plane | |
 Star City Template:DKRbln (first race) Template:DKRbln (Silver Coin/Balloon Pop Challenge) |
Car Hovercraft Plane |
Gallery
Diddy Kong Racing sprite
Diddy Kong Racing artwork of Conker reaching for a Golden Balloon
Taj gives a Golden Balloon to Conker
