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New Zealand's Ultimate Horse Riding Experience

 

There is no place in the world like New Zealand. People come here by the millions to experience what we take for granted.

Now two iconic world-renowned horse trekking operations have joined forces to give you a fantastic coastal and alpine adventure on two very different islands in the South Pacific.

Hurunui Trails & Adventures and Pakiri Beach are world-renowned and have cracked the Top 20 Worldwide for Horse Trekking experiences. The testimonials from happy trekkers from around the globe say it all.

The scenery is spectacular and the focus is firmly on a quality, liberating experience. New Zealand is a country of huge geographical differences and what better way to experience these two extremes than on horseback; lead by the rural people of this country…practical, generous, adventurous and hospitable. With expertly trained guides and horses you're in knowledgeable and safe hands.

 

Highlights

 

You can choose to fly into Christchurch or Queenstown in the southern island and drive yourself/taxi/shuttle to Hurunui Trails & Adventures where Heather and Pete will give you a well trained horse specifically for riding in mountainous terrain. Here for 5 wonderful days you will enjoy the majesty of the Southern Alps, the splendour of the lakes and powerful rivers of the South Island or Te Wai Pounamu as it is known by the indigenous Maori people.

After your five days experiencing the South you can then fly north from Christchurch to Auckland in the North Island for a five day ride along the eastern coast north Auckland.

Here after a 1 ½ hour drive north the Pacific ocean breaks on the unpopulated white sand beach of Pakiri, 14 miles of an unbroken sweep of sand and dunes and a tropical climate. Here Sharley and her team will show you this beautiful riding country.

The contrast between the scenery of the North Island and the South Island is amazing. Coastal tropical rain forests and rolling hills overlook the islands of the Pacific Ocean which the Maoris call the floats in the net of Toi. During the summer you will ride through groves of our famous native Christmas tree…the Pohutukawa, aflame with red blossom. You may have the opportunity to spend a night on a genuine Maori marae and meet with the people and admire their carved house.

After your last ride along the beach you will depart for the airport in Auckland and your flight … alternatively you may choose to fly into Auckland International Airport and ride at Pakiri beach horse rides first and finish your adventure with your ride at Hurunui Trails in the South, flying out from Christchurch. Another option is to add days for other sightseeing in between.

We are offering this experience on request so you can enjoy it the way you want to, when you want to.

 

See the itineraries of both treks below:

 

Price

There are two pricing components to the New Zealand Ultimate Horse Riding Experience as this ride it split between both islands, with two seperate horse trekking companies.

 

The Adventurer - South Island with Hurunui Trails & Adventures

NZ$2995.00 per person

 

The Warrior - North Island with Pakiri Beach Horse Rides

NZ$2999.00 per person

 

the adventurer - south island the warrior - north island

 

 

The Adventurer

 

Novice Intermediate Advanced View Schedule Enquire/Book

The Adventurer includes four nights' luxury accommodation with owners, 3 course dinner with wine, bed, breakfast, packed lunch and five days trekking in the high country.

A unique opportunity to meet the people who own the sheep and cattle stations along the way and experience the culture of the New Zealand high country.

Under the Rainbow

"Under the Rainbow"

 

Itinerary

image - Lunch Break

"Lunch Break"

 

image - Rising Up

"Rising Up"

 

image - Pete looking over Esk Head

"Pete looking over Esk Head"

 

image - On top of the world

"On top of the world"

 

 

Day 1:

We begin all of our treks with a short introduction on how we handle our horses on the ground, this is done individually in our round pen where you experience “Join Up” with your mount and understand how we ride our horses, so you can ride safely, enjoying good communication and leadership with your horse; we train our horses through respect and trust.

When everyone is happy we leave our base at The Peaks on our first day´s adventure following the Waitohi River we stop in the shade of the willows by the river and enjoy our picnic lunch. If the weather is suitable we take a swim in one of the swimming holes on the river. Then we move on following the beginning part of the historic gold trail over to the West Coast to Seven Hills Station. At the end of the ride we clean down our horses, feed, water and turn them out into a paddock at Seven Hills for the night.

You can enjoy a cold beer (or your favourite drink) whilst your horse munches its much earned feed before being turned out into the paddock for the night. Then you will be transported back to our base where you are spoilt for choice – take a hot shower, have a soak and pressure massage in our new hydro-therapy spa, just enjoy the tranquillity of our garden, and relax in one of the hammock chairs with a chilled Sangria or wine to drink on the deck with views of the mountains all around you. Presently, your dinner is served ‘al fresco’ beside the pit fire in our river stone walled garden, the delicate scent of the herb garden permeating the air.

 

Day 2:

After a hearty breakfast, great coffee and your saddle bags packed with a tasty lunch you are taken out to Seven Hills Station where we catch and saddle our horses. Today we ride through Mt Mason Station following the Waitohi gorge climbing up over a high saddle, stopping for lunch and enjoying the spectacular views. After lunch we climb a little higher over the saddle and then walk down the other side meandering through the valleys of the Virginia area, to Double Tops Station and your horse´s accommodation for the next two nights. (approx. 5.5 hrs riding)

At the end of your days ride you can enjoy a cold beer (or your favourite drink) whilst your horse munches its much earned feed before being turned out into the paddock for the night. Then you will be transported back to our base where you are spoilt for choice – take a hot shower, have a soak and pressure massage in our new hydro-therapy spa, just enjoy the tranquillity of our garden, and relax in one of the hammock chairs with a chilled Sangria or wine to drink on the deck with views of the mountains all around you. Presently, your dinner is served ‘al fresco’ beside the pit fire in our river stone walled garden, the delicate scent of the herb garden permeating the air.

 

Day 3:

The third day we ride through Double Tops station, stopping at the quaint Tommy’s Cabin under the willows and then following Tommy’s Creek through the valley with the delicate scent of the native bush. We climb high onto the Double Top ridge where if the weather is kind we have an amazing view of the sea and Christchurch Bay and surrounding area; whilst we enjoy our picnic lunch. On the long trip down we travel through another valley, then climbing up and over another ridge returning to the woolshed at Double Tops. You are greeted with a cold beer or beverage, after you have untacked, groomed and fed your horse they are turned out into the paddock for a well earned rest and you are driven back to your accommodation at the Peaks again for the night. Where; you can look forward to a soak in our Hydro-therapy Spa pool before your evening meal. (approx.7 hrs riding)

 

Day 4:

After breakfast and your saddle bags packed with another tasty lunch you are taken out to Double Tops Station where we catch and saddle our horses. We go through the Virginia valley following a trail through the bottom end of Mt Mason Station, with beautiful creeks and pine trees. We cross the Waitohi River into Mt Noble Station, where we stop for lunch by the babbling river and if it´s hot we can revive our feet in the cold spring water. In the afternoon we climb up onto Windy Ridge where you get your first glimpse of the Hurunui River and follow the trail down through the native bush to the Lake Sumner Road. The horses spend the night in the lower paddocks at 7 Hills Station.

Then you will be transported back to our base where for the last time you are spoilt for choice – take a hot shower, have a soak and pressure massage in our new hydro-therapy spa, just enjoy the tranquillity of our garden, and relax in one of the hammock chairs with a chilled Sangria or wine to drink on the deck with views of the mountains all around you. Presently, your dinner is served ‘al fresco’ beside the pit fire in our river stone walled garden, the delicate scent of the herb garden permeating the air.

 

Day 5:

On our last day we ride along the banks of the tranquil Hurunui River, under the impressive Hooligan Range with Mt. Mizar, Ben Cliberick, Phyllis Fell and Mount Catherine on the opposite side of the river. We lunch below Mt. Self beside the Hurunui, after which we ride across country again, up and over the Kanuku Saddle (approx. 850m) with its panoramic views of the Amuri Basin, down to our base where we unsaddle, unpack, wash the horses down and then enjoy afternoon tea. (approx. 5.5 hrs riding)

 

We generally arrive back at approx 3.30 pm giving you plenty of time to either return to Christchurch or carry on with your journey North.

We use a Four-Wheel-Drive vehicle to transport our gear, which allows for a ride with a more varied pace and in which you can experience the true freedom of the high country on horseback.

Our gear and refreshments await us after the horses are taken care of at the end of each day's ride. The emphasis throughout is on quality, in luxury accommodation, open fires, terrace, good food, wine and a great riding experience with very knowledgeable guides.

 

Ride includes:

Approximate average of six hours

 

Tips for riders

 

Key :: Beginners: Beginners Novice: Novice Intermediate: Intermediate Advanced: Advanced

 

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The Warrior Trail

 

Novice Intermediate Advanced Enquire/Book

Ride the trails of the ancestors, enjoy the outlook of a paramount Maori chief and visit his ancient Pa site high above the Pacific ocean. Tread the paths of his people and sleep in their sacred house. Enjoy the company of his descendents and the stories and food they share with you. Most of all enjoy the freedom of travelling on horseback in this special place.

Itinerary

 

Day 1:

Arrive Pakiri at approx 2pm. Introductory ride along Pakiri beach. Dinner with your hosts descendants of Te Kiri paramount chief of Ngati Wai and his daughter Rahui, and who have lived their lives farming this land. Over night at the beach house, or in a beach cabin.

Approx. 2 hours riding

 

Day 2:

Depart Pakiri at 10.00am for a days riding on the beautiful white sand Pacific surf beach. Here you may be lucky enough to see wild dolphins playing in the surf and indeed ride in and swim with them.this of course cant be guaranteed but we do this occasionally! You will ride along trails in the pine forest once used by Maori warriors in ancient times as they protected their territory here from visiting tribes.This is the trail run by the legendary runner Tau Kokopu who was as famous for his skill with the taiaha as he was for his speed running.

Lunch at the freshwater Lake Tomarata ..if the weather is fine you might like to swim your horse and cool off. Then up over Te Arai Point where the views over the beach and out to the islands Te Moana nui O Toi O tuatahi ( The floats of the net of Toi in the great sea) Hauturu (Little Barrier) Aotea (Great Barrier) Mokohinau and the Taranga (Hen and Chickens) are spectacular Overnight at the lovely Lakeview Chalets overlooking Lake Spectacle.

Approx. 5 hours riding

 

Day 3:

Full day ride along the long white sand Te Arai beach much loved by surfers for its left hand break, ride over Te Arai Point and through the forest . Finish your day riding along Pakiri beach and through an ancient pohutukawa glade ( if you are riding in early December these gorgeous old trees will be covered in bright red blossom hence the name NZ Christmas tree) to your accommodation at Pakiri and a hearty dinner.

Approx. 5 hours riding

 

Day 4:

Depart Pakiri for the Maori Marae at Leigh. We climb high above the white sands of Pakiri beach to the Pa (the lookout fortress) of the paramount chief Te Kiri the ancestor of your hosts Laly and Sharley Haddon. Here you will be able to look out over the ocean to the Barrier islands and the Hen and Chickens and Coromandel and also to Rangitoto and Auckland city in the distance.

We will travel over beautiful farmland down to the little fishing township of Leigh. A short ride from there to Omaha Marae, a genuine Maori marae still run on the traditions of the past. You will all sleep the night together in the meeting house on mattresses on the floor as is the custom. You will be able to talk with the people and learn something of their history and their lives today.

If there are less than 6 people in the group we will be staying at Molly hawk Cottage a delightful bed and breakfast lodge where you may soak in a hot outdoor bath. BBQ meal.

Approx. 5 hours riding

 

Day 5:

After a hearty breakfast you will return to Pakiri stopping for lunch at Te Kiri's Pa high above the sea. From here a steep descent to the beach where you can enjoy a brisk gallop along the sand and then ride through the dunes and along the estuary where you can see a wonderful variety of birds, up over some hilly farmland and return to Pakiri. Afternoon tea or a cool beer and depart Pakiri.

Approx. 4 hours riding

 

Rider Information

Suitable for groups. Minimum 1 person. Minimum 6 people to stay on Marae. If group is too small we may alternatively stay at Mollyhawk Cottage or the Sawmill.

 

Ride includes:

 

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'BEYOND NATURAL HORSEMANSHIP' - Successful training through respect, compassion, wisdom, skill and trust

 

hydrospa EAGALA Endorsed WIFI Hotspots available