High country horse treks - Three to five day horse treks on the South Island

Imagine a land of snow-tipped mountains, rolling green hills and river-slashed valleys; of ice cold sapphire lakes, and dense bush ringing with birds under a clear sky. Where the loudest sound you will hear over the tinkle of crystal water dancing over brown stones is that of your horse cropping the grass in the early morning dew.

This is a land that has never heard the roar of traffic, the din of people, or been soiled by the haze of pollution.

It is the high country of North Canterbury on the South Island of New Zealand.

Hurunui Horse Treks will take you there, to live in it, ride through it and experience it.

Based at "The Peaks", among foothill farms, these treks will take you through working sheep stations into isolated back country, where the biggest crowd you will see will be a herd of cattle.

You will experience silence so dense you will feel you can touch it.

The spectacular scenery and tranquility will leave you refreshed in body, mind and spirit.

Station to Station ride

An exclusive ride over high country stations, hosted each night by the Station owners

Many people enjoy the New Zealand high-country all the more when they get a hot shower, a home-cooked meal and a comfortable bed to sleep in.

The "Station to Station" ride offers a unique opportunity to ride through New Zealand's spectacular hill and high country visiting its sheep and cattle stations, interacting with the people of the high country on a very personal level.

The exclusivity of travelling in a small group allows for a more relaxed atmosphere and the ability to appreciate the freedom, nature and the culture of the New Zealand high country in a special way.

It is more than a good horse, more than the spectacular views, more than having a hot shower and a comfortable bed at day's end. It is a total New Zealand high country experience and a rare opportunity to interact on a personal basis with the families who live and work on these unique stations.

The ride leaves our stables at "The Peaks" and crosses sheep country following the old gold trail into the foothills of the New Zealand Southern Alps.

The horses pick their way through the rugged Seaward River Gorge, through beech forest, and over mountain passes on an interesting journey, which crosses some of the biggest stations in the district.

The "Station to Station" is a guided ride and is available in three and five day itineraries.

Your luggage will be transported from station to station by four-wheel drive vehicle.

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The Hurunui

8 Day - 9 Night High Country Adventure riding through the mountains, forest, streams, lakes and rivers of the Hurunui

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.

Your adventure begins with your transfer from Christchurch to a local farmstay where your guides will join you for an evening meal.

From our base at The Peaks we saddle up and follow the Waitohi River to Mt Whitnow Station, ride over a low pass and journey through the valleys and gorges of the Seaward River and both the South and North branches of the Hurunui River to Lake Taylor Station.

We spend several days exploring the incredible beauty of some of New Zealand's most spectacular high country, with an abundance of lakes and mountain scenery that few get to experience. Our accommodation each night is in shearer's quarters, where a hot shower and comfortable bed are very welcome at the end of a day's ride. We also have the opportunity to interact with local farmers and sample their genuine Kiwi hospitality.

At the end of the ride we unsaddle, unpack, and tuck into a well-deserved afternoon tea before transferring back to a local farmstay for an end of trek dinner.

Using a Four-Wheel-Drive vehicle instead of packhorses to transport our gear and equipment 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, with comfortable accommodation, varied and tasty food and a great riding experience

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The Mt Noble

Four day trip over high-country sheep stations

A trip in the true spirit of high country station life, with the spectacular Mt Noble station as a highlight.

This ride uses a Four Wheel Drive support vehicle - our gear and refreshments await us at the end of each day's ride.

Day 1: 9.30am Arrive at our base at The Peaks.
After saddling up we ride out from our base at The Peaks, up through the Waitohi River, stopping for lunch, and then pass Mt.Waitohi over hill country to the Seven Hills homestead and cottage.
Here we enjoy dinner with the family at the homestead and spend our first night in the cottage or in tents. (Rustic cottage, flush toilet)
approx 4.5hrs riding.

Day 2: After a cooked breakfast at the Seven Hills homestead we ride over hill country and meet the Waitohi River again.
We stop for lunch and a swim at the Mt Noble boundary, passing under Mt Noble and Gola Peak we ride on to the Mt Noble station, a high country sheep and cattle station. Here we have a barbeque with the station owners and enjoy a comfortable night in their charming shearers' cottage (bunks, showers, flush toilet, kitchen, optional camping.
(bunks, showers, flush toilet and kitchen)
approx 4.5hrs riding.

Day 3: Venturing further into the lovely Mt Noble station we cross the dramatic Windy Ridge saddle, with awesome views of the mountains in all directions. We spend the night once more in a cottage with a station owner as our host.
approx 5hrs riding.

Day 4: 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.850metres.) 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.4.5hrs riding.

Highlights: scenery, station life, river crossings, mountains

Ability required = Novice / Intermediate
Pace = easy
Average hours riding per day = 4.5
Route can vary slightly due to seasonal conditions

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