COAST TO COAST - NEW ZEALAND

more photos | enquiry | availability check | ride reviews

An epic horse riding adventure following the mighty Hoteo River to the black sands and wild seas of the Tasman Sea in the west - over spectacular rugged high country hills and forest from the calm white sands and blue waters of the Pacific Ocean in the east of the northern North Island or vice versa. Your hosts are descendants of the great Ngati Wai Chief Te Kiri and have farmed in this area for the greater part of their lives.

Trip length 7 days / 6 nights / 7 days riding Ride price detailed prices price promise 2012: double pp £2,099/€2,539/$3,239 Departure dates 2012: 18 Jan; 8 Feb; 14 Mar; 18 Apr; 2 May; 7 Nov; 5 Dec 2013: 13 Feb; 6 Mar Approximate riding time per day 4 to 6 hours Riding ability required Intermediate onwards Group size 4-12 Meeting point (getting there) Auckland International Airport (AKL) Transfer Via shuttle bus from Auckland, payable on site. Transfer time is approx 2.5 hours. Flight guide London to Auckland £700 - £1000 Single supplement detailed prices No single rooms available (on some or all nights). Riders must be prepared to share.

SAMPLE ITINERARY - COAST TO COAST

Day 1
Pick up from Auckland City in morning and travel by shuttle bus to meeting point (around a 2 1/2 hour drive). Approximate arrival time 2:30pm. Time for an introductory ride along the beach to get to know your horse. Dinner with your hosts then overnight in the beach house. Approx 2 - 3 hours riding.

Day 2
After a hearty breakfast depart for a full days riding. The rolling surf of the South Pacific Ocean breaks on the unpopulated white sand beach. We ride through the dunes with breath taking views to the islands of Hauturu (Little Barrier) Aotea (Great Barrier) and Taranga (the Hen and Chickens) and in the distance Motuhinau Island and Hawea (Goat Island) Marine Reserve. These you will see as you ride high above the sea over Te Arai Point these are known as the mythical floats on the nets of Toi the discoverer of Aotearoa NZ. We may stop for lunch by the fresh water Tomarata lakes in the pine forest or at the Te Arai beach. You will ride through ancient Pohutukawa groves where in Summer the pohutukawa trees or New Zealand Christmas tree are ablaze with red flowers. This ride shares with you the lands of the Ngati Wai an ancient seafaring Maori tribe who first discovered this land after following the call of the whales through the Pacific. Overnight in beach house at Parkiri. (Approx. 6 hours riding )

Day 3
Today you will ride over green farmland through New Zealand native rain forest. You will follow an old kauri logging track through Whangaripo Valley to the top of the Matakana Hill. You will then pass through beef cattle and sheep farms. Te Whio sheep farm owned by an old farming family. Overnight in home stay "on top of the world" high above the valley with a warm friendly, alternative lifestyle New Zealand family, who live on the edge of the State Forest and the source of the Hoteo River. We stay at a lodge which is part of a bird sanctuary. Here you will meet many rescued birds of all types and enjoy wonderful vegetarian food with your hosts Shaun and Michael and a hot spa. We may change this route if conditions are unfavourable (Approx 6. hours riding) 

Day 4
Sometimes in the early morning we may be able to visit the Matakana Farmers Market before setting off on our ride. You may need to bring pocket money to try some of the yummy things for sale here.
A more leisurely ride through the Dome State Forest - a pine forest and some native bush, following logging roads to Linton Road where we will leave the horses with Patrick and go by our landy limo to Willow lodge where we overnight at Kaipara Flats, once an important small village, and stay with Colin and Vicki. Here we enjoy a BBQ meal with our hosts. (Approx 5 hours riding)


Day 5
Due to the forest being used for recreational motor cycle riding we have found it to be unsafe for our horses and riders and now we do a lovely days ride over Moir’s hill from where there are views of both coasts, through native bush tracks to Puhoi where we spend some interesting hours at the very famous (and infamous ) Puhoi Pub! The horses are trucked back to Patricks and you will overnight at the hotel with Gillian as your hostess.

Day 6
We will need an early start today, we ride over 4 beautiful hill country sheep and beef cattle farms enjoying spectacular views over to both coasts. On our way you will pass an old "wim" used in the pioneer days to haul logs. We stop for lunch at a beautiful secret waterfall, here those who wish can swim in the pool beneath the falling water. We follow the Hoteo River as it continues its path to its mouth in the West. Then we ride over Mt. Taranaki the Sister Mountain to Mt. Auckland or Atuanui, along a remote dirt road through rugged and spectacular hill country with views to the West Coast over the Kaipara Harbour. This is New Zealand's largest water mass and also boasts the most treacherous bar to its entry. From the top of the ridge on a clear day you may be able to see the Sky tower of Auckland city. You are now in Ngati Whatua territory. We ride down steep hillside paths OR due to the difficulties caused by recent logging we may divert through rolling farm country owned by one of the original settler families and ride to the west coast road and then load the horses and truck to the main road. We will then finish the day dining and overnight with Jenny Hood at her charming lodge Mataia, an historic house built in the villa style of the last century (Approx 7 – 8 hrs riding)

Day 7
After breakfast we load the horses on to the truck and drive a short distance to Rimmer Rd Helensville. Maybe stopping at the Arts Café in Helensville for an espresso for those who are hanging out for a coffee hit! Today we ride through the Woodhill Forest where you may see fallow deer or wild pig as you ride to the sea. Muriwai beach…the WEST coast with its black sand and wild seas so different from the East coast we have come from! A gallop down the beach (if the tide's out), lunch in the forest and ride back through the pines along forest tracks to the truck and say goodbye to your horse (Approx 4 - 5 hours ride).
Your riding holiday ends as you are transfered on to Auckland by bus leaving Helensville at either 15:20 or 17:10. The later bus is better to get more time riding). OR if you prefer to return with the horse truck to the West Coast, stopping on the way for a quick beer at the Kaukapakapa Pub and at Wellsford, and then enjoy a last dinner with your hosts.

Please note: This itinerary is given for your guidance only and it may be altered in accordance with the prevailing conditions by the organising team.

NOTES - COAST TO COAST

For this horse riding holiday, riders must be able to mount and dismount unassisted. There will be some walking on foot over rough terrain.

The weight limit for this ride is 15 st/209 lb/95 kg, please enquire if you are an experienced rider exceeding this weight.

FURTHER DETAILS
As we are specialists in our field we have extensive knowledge of all our products from details of accommodation and meals to number/size/type of horses to pace of riding ... and much more.
Should you wish to receive further details of this ride please click here.

WHAT IS INCLUDED
All accommodation in homestay, bunkhouses, beach house cabins etc, all meals, a glass of wine per meal, all activities including riding as described, transfers from and to Wellsford, English speaking guide. Riding helmets are available.

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
Extra wine or drinks (riders are welcome to bring wine to share if they wish or to buy wine en-route), shuttle bus from Auckland, items of a personal nature.


Riders who booked this ride also considered:

Warrior Trail - New Zealand
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!

Bush and Beach New South Wales - Australia
Riders come from all around the world to experience the Australian bushland and beaches on horseback. In New South Wales the landscape is diverse and with undulating hills through eucalypt forests, pockets of rainforest and miles of pacific beaches offering opportunities for long trots and canters in various bush, beach and mountain terrains.

Bali - Indonesia
On this holiday each day is tailor made to your requirements. You can enjoy rides along wide sandy beaches in the morning as well as at sunset, and through the lush rice terraces of local villages.

more photos | enquiry | availability check | ride reviews

conditions of access  booking conditions print  back  top

sitemap