The horse treks here are not to be missed. Gate and length of time are geared to your desire and ability at $20 per hour. Half-day trips are $100 and $150 for a full day. The half-day trip I spent with the owner’s wife while riding the owner’s horse. The advantage to this set up was an excellent horse with absolutely incredible power and speed going up the side of hills and being able to sustain a gallop for extended periods of time. The one and only disadvantage was the lack of ability on my part to continue to hold him back behind the "guide". Realizing this she told me to go ahead. We left her so far behind that I finally stopped at a closed gate for her to catch up to us.
The terrain and lush surroundings were so surreal. An interesting combination of Australian tree ferns close to the ground with towering pine trees above them provided the setting for the narrowly carved out trails. The ground was damp and laden with pine needles beneath the horses’ hooves, but it didn’t slow them down a bit. A variety of purple flowers, among them vinca and butterfly bushes, provided additional color.
The term rolling hills seems to fit perfectly here. Green pastures complete with herds of cows, sheep and even deer make you feel like you are miles away from the ranch which was coincidentally a stones throw from the lodge I was staying at.
The full day trek was at the owner’s other ranch about a 40-minute drive away with even more beautiful scenery if possible and more vertical hillsides. On this ride I let the owner ride his horse while I rode his wife’s horse Bonanza that could have a mind of her own. Returning through a river we had just crossed she made an attempt to jump at the last minute. Silly girl! It was just too wide. She even jumped some of the larger divot-like holes created by pigs scrounging for food. By the time we returned, it was my turn to scrounge for food and retire to bed early for the next day’s adventure.
NZ300 full day, 180 half day