WARRIOR TRAIL - NEW ZEALAND

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Just two hours' drive from Auckland is a land of spectacular views, amazing beaches and the source of Maori culture. The perfect place to start a trail ride! Pakiri Beach is a 17 km long, wide sandy beach complete with surf and the occasional dolphin, a fabulous place to ride and swim. The Warrior Trail a cultural and historical ride following ancient Maori warrior trails through coastal bush and high country. This is a based ride with a one night stay out at a traditional Maori meeting place. This is a spectacularly beautiful part of New Zealand - a wonderful place for a horse riding holiday. The rides are easy to combine with additional itineraries and will round off your experience of the country.

Trip length 5 days / 4 nights Ride only price 2008; £1,185 Departure dates 2008; Jan 23-30, Feb 25-29, Mar 3-7, May 12-16, June 16-20, July 7-11, Aug 4-8, Sept 8-12, Oct 6-10, Nov 3-7, Dec 1-5 Approximate riding time per day 4 - 6 hours per day Riding ability required All levels, experienced riders separated. Min age 15. Group size min 4 - max 12 Meeting point Auckland International Airport. Transfer Transfer is via shuttle from Auckland. The shuttle can be contacted on shar.impress@xtra.co.nz Their number is 021 707 443 which can be phoned on arrival in Auckland . Flight guide London to Auckland £550 - £800 Single supplement None if willing to share

SAMPLE ITINERARY - WARRIOR TRAIL

Arrive Pakiri at approx. midday 2 pm. Introductory ride along beautiful Pakiri beach for approximately 2 hrs. Dinner with your hosts and over night at the farm house or in the beach house.

Day 2
Depart Pakiri at 10 am. 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 can't 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. 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 are spectacular. Return along the beach to your farm accommodation at Pakiri and a hearty dinner. Approx. 5 hours riding.

Day 3
Today you will ride over coastal farm country through paddocks of sheep and cattle, then through native New Zealand rain forest where you will follow an old Kauri logging trail used many years ago by bushmen felling the ancient kauri trees. From here you will ride on to recently cleared land at Whangaripo , picnic lunch and then return through the native bush and a rare wetland forest to your accommodation at Pakiri. 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 lookout fortress of the paramount chief Te Kiri the ancestor of your hosts. Here you will be able to look out over the ocean to the Little Barrier Hauturu and Great Barrier Aotea islands and the Hen and Chickens Taranga Islands and Coromandel and also to Rangitoto and Auckland city in the distance. You will travel over beautiful farmland down to the little fishing township of Leigh where we stop for lunch at the Seafriends Café and aquarium. 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 Whare nui 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. 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 to your accommodation. An afternoon tea or a cool beer rounds off your riding holiday before your departure to Pakiri. Approx. 5 hours riding

NOTES - WARRIOR TRAIL

These departures depend on there being a minimum of 2 riders on the ride (6 to stay at the marae) and on the availability of the services we require to use for the ride. If for any reason (eg. Flooding or washouts etc.) we consider the ride to be unsafe we reserve the right to cancel and refund your payments, or if the Marae is not available because it is being used by the people for a Tangi or other sacred service we reserve the right to find alternative accommodation at either the Sawmill Motel or Goat Island Outlook and leave the Marae component out of the tour. This will not affect the enjoyment of this wonderful horse riding holiday. We will do this tour on demand for groups of 3 people or more.

The weight limit for this ride is 16 st/220 lb/100 kg, please enquire if you are an experienced rider exceeding this weight.

WHAT IS INCLUDED
All accommodation, meals, all activities including riding as described, English speaking guide.

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
Travel to and from Warkworth or Wellsford, items of a personal nature. Transfers can be arranged from Auckland city for a charge.

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