The Lakes Horse Trek

Begin the day at 9:30am at The Peaks base between Hurunui and Waitohi Rivers in North Canterbury, receive a short introduction on how to handle your horses, and how to ride safely. Once confident you'll set off on our first 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 will take a swim in one of the swimming holes on the river. After lunch we move on following the beginning part of the historic gold trail reaching the final destination of the day: the lower paddocks of Seven Hills station. After a long day we will feed, water and clean down our horses and turn them out into the paddock for the night.

Transfers back to base is provided where you will be spoilt for choice - take a hot shower, have a soak and pressure massage in the new hydro-therapy spa, and just enjoy the tranquility of their garden in a relaxation hammock chairs with a chilled Sangria or wine to drink. Dinner is served 'al fresco' beside a pit fire.

After a big hearty breakfast with your bags packed you'll be taken out back to Saddle Stations to catch and saddle your horse. Today we ride through Mt Mason Station following the Waitohi Gorge climbing up over a high saddle, stopping for lunch enjoying the spectacular views of the South Island. After lunch climbing higher, we will walk down the other side meandering through the valleys of the Virginia area to our final destination, Double Tops Station where your horse will stay for the next two nights. (approx 5.5 hours riding)

Transfers back to The Peaks base

On the third day we ride through Double Tops Station, stopping at Tommy's Cabin under the willows through Tommy's Creek into the valley with the refreshing scent of the native bush. Climbing high onto the Double Tops ride you will be rewarded with an amazing view of the sea and Christchurch Bay; here we enjoy our picnic lunch. Returning downwards we travel through another valley, then climb up and over another ridge returning to the wooldshed at Double Tops. After grooming, untacking and feeding your horse you will be greeted with a cold beer or beverage and be driven back to your accommodation at the Peaks again for the night.

After a delicious and hearty breakfast served with great coffee, and everything packed you'll be taken back out to Seven Hills Station where you catch and saddle your horses. Leaving the valley of Virginia, following the trail through the bottom end of Mt Mason and cross the Waitohi River into Mt Noble Station. Here we have our delicious packed lunch by the river and if hot, we revive our feed in the cold spring water. The afternoon we climb up onto Windy Ridge witnessing your first glimpse of the Hurunui River and follow the trail down through the native bush to the Lake Sumner Road. Horses will spend the night at the lower paddocks at 7 Hills Station.

Today we journey into the high country traveling on horseback along the historic gold trail to the West coast through the Hurunui gorge. We drop down into the gorge and c ross the fast flowing South branch of the Hurunui River. Stopping for lunch on the other side of the river bank enjoying the view in which we crossed. After lunch we get back on our horses and climb up the track onto the terraces and enter Lake Taylor Station, riding through Boudler Gully in its virgin Beech forest with its magical stream that we will cross over and over as we head up to the banks, weaving in and around the trees. After breaking through the forest we arrive into Starvation Valley following the trail to the shearer's quarters which will be your accommodation for the next two nights. (Approx 7 hours riding)

Enjoy your early cooked  breakfast with your hosts and return to the shearers quarters, saddle up your horses and set off before the sun is too hot towards the Hurunui Valley. Exploring the beauty of some of New Zealand's most spectacular high country, with an abundance of lakes and mountain scenery that few get to experience. Ride alongside alpine lakes of the Hurunui Valley, this includes Lake Taylor, Lake Sheppard, Lock Katrina and Lake Sumner. We arrive at the Catherine saddle for lunch and then clumb down the otherwise weaving our way through to Lake Mason. We eventually arive back at the shearer's quarters for another enjoyable evening. (Approx 8 hours riding)

Today we leave these magical lakes and start making our way home, up ontop of the Orinoko Range looking down onto the Esk Valley sporting fantastic views. We walk down the Orinoko's leading our horses then mount up again to follow the South branch of the Hurunui River stopping for lunch and taking a swim. After lunch we travel down the historic gold trail through the Hurunui gorge and follow the river back to the lower end of Seven hills station. We wash, feed and unsaddle our horses for the night and then get transferred to The Peaks for the night in a 4 wheel drive vehicle. (approx 5.5 hours riding)

Our last day we head back to the Peaks Base riding along the banks of the Hurunui River, and under the impressive mountain ranges where we have lunch and have the option to take a swim in the swimming hole. After lunch we carry on through the country up and over the Kanuku Saddle with its panoramic views, and back down to our destination.