Lake Hawea Hunter River Ride
- Продолжительность: 5 дн. (прибл.)
- Место встречи: Hawea Lake, Central Otago
- Код предложения: LHHRR
Imagine riding a beautiful horse into stunning views of the
enchanting Lake Hawea, Mount Aspiring, Hunter Valley, Ahuriri Conservation
Park and surrounding mountain ranges.
Exclusive access
To 2 privately owned iconic high country stations.
Important Note: This trail is unique in that at times we utilise pack horses and others the trail is
serviced with a 4 wheel drive vehicle. In both cases we will be utilising the “blue bags” for the three out of the 5
days trail.
Pick up in Queenstown is between 1pm & 1:30pm
Arriving at Hunter Valley for 3:30 pm start – 2 > 2.5 hours riding (this may vary depending on weather or station activities
(mustering cattle or sheep)
Our adventure begins at Hunter Valley shearer’s quarters.
You will be introduced to your adventure horse team mate, this afternoon. Horses
are saddled and ready to go, we are fitting equipment to your needs, adjusting
stirrups, attaching saddle bags,
Listen carefully to our trail boss/ head wrangler at this time as they will give you
tips about your specific horse. Our horses live and work in a herd environment
and it is important to observe the herd hierarchy. (Learn more about
our horses)
This is an important time, ensuring that everyone's riding abilities match that of their adventure horse team
mate. There are no silly questions here please feel free to raise any questions you may have about your gear or your horse
team mate.
Each of our horses has a unique personality that I am sure you will fall in love with.
We enjoy and afternoons ride beside the picturesque Lake Hawea.
Returning to the shearer’s quarters for our evening meal and overnight stay. The
quarters enjoy hot showers, flushing toilets, TV room and electricity with comfy beds.
The deck looks out of the picturesque lake and old rustic farm buildings. This
is a great opportunity to get to know one
another before our adventure begins.
There are some lovely walks around the lake if you so desire
after dinner or you could just enjoy a wine sitting on the deck soaking up the
view. There is an opportunity to chat to those who live and work on
Hunter Valley station
We will be utilizing the "blue pack bags"
on this trail so this afternoon you will be packing your gear into the blue bag
and we will transport your suitcases to the Lake Hawea Hotel to meet you at the end of your trail.
Riding
day 2 - 5 hours riding - riding out 9:30 am
This morning we enjoy a continental breakfast as we are up and on the move early.
Packing our saddle bags after a lovely breakfast, we say goodbye to Hunter
Valley Station quarters. Today we ride through native Beech forests and water
falls. Travelling alongside this imposingly beautiful lake side we head towards Hunter
Valley Boundary Hut. Today we will see Hereford cattle and Merino sheep roaming, this is a working station
and at times we enjoy seeing the shepherds mustering with their dogs and horses.
We will stop along the way for photo opportunities.
Tonight’s accommodation has a long drop toilet, two separate bunk rooms, solar lighting
and a wonderful horse paddock with stables and tack room. The hut enjoys
spectacular views of the Hunter Valley and delightful sense of isolation.
We will enjoy nibbles and dinner on the expansive decking with a stunning mountain
backdrop.
There is an opportunity to sleep out under the stars tonight if you so wish.
We carry tents if riders want more privacy.
Riding day 3 – 9:30 am start – 6 hours riding
Your day , your way…
Here riders can either enjoy a rest day at Boundary Hut
or
ride into the magnificent Hunter Valley, this is one of New Zealand’s best
fly fishing rivers, those fly fisher people among us may wish to spend the day out on the river
After we enjoy a hearty farmhouse breakfast and pack our lunches we
saddle up and ride deep into the Hunter Valley. This trail meanders through an
ice blue glacial river flanked by magnificent mountain ranges. Riders can enjoy
seeing trout playing in the river or rare New Zealand Falcons flying high
overhead. In the Autumn we hear the stags roaring in the valley.
This is
a ride you will not forget for a long time as the incredible
isolation and beauty is overwhelming.
Riding day 4 – 9:30 am – 6 hours riding
Tummies full of breakfast, tucker boxes packed we head out
to cross the crystal-clear Hunter river into the Dingleburn station. We will
spend the day feeling as though we are riding in a postcard as the views
throughout the day are spectacular and day dreamy.
At times
the lake acts as a mirror, reflecting the stunning mountain views.
We will
be looking back across the lake at Hunter Valley Station amazing ourselves how
far we have travelled.
Lake Hawea changes colour so many times today there are so many shades of turquoise.
Our accommodation for the evening is the Dingleburn shearers
quarters, located in an amazing setting. Here we have hot showers flushing
toilets.
This station is completely off grid and self sufficient, electricity is generated by
hydro power/ solar power and generator.
There is a wonderful cookhouse where we will enjoy a farm cooked meal and relaxing
evening.
This station is run by two amazing Women, Nicki and Bridget Mead. We often enjoy
seeing them working stock on horseback with their dogs, shearers working in the
wool shed and we have also been privileged enough to join their autumn muster
through the bluff.
Riding day 5– 10:00 m start – 4 hours riding
No pressure this morning we enjoy a full farmhouse breakfast in the
cookhouse.
Saddle up and head for the Hawea Hotel. We ride along the Dingleburn track;
you will be amazed at the pioneering Kiwi ingenuity that constructed this access way into such a stunning
and remote station. At times we will pass the waterfall that provides the
hydro power for the station. This is a wonderful picturesque gentle days riding
to end our adventure. Keep the camera handy.
We leave the horses in the Dingleburn Cattle yards for the night. The
horses will enjoy a good night on the hay whilst we will be transported to the
Hawea Hotel for our nights’ accommodation and evening meal. This Hotel
overlooks Lake Hawea and we can enjoy the luxury of dinner looking out over the
lake.
Please note: Dinner is a set menu (you will need to bring your wallet for alcohol
which is not included tonight)
Day 6 – Relaxing morning homeward bound:
A continental breakfast is provided by the Lake Hawea Hotel.
After breakfast, Mike will arrive to take you back to
Queenstown airport by 1:30pm
Or
Queenstown accommodation by 2pmfter breakfast, you will be transported
to Wanaka by the Lake Hawea Hotel staff to enjoy a relaxing morning exploring
Wanaka township and the beautiful Wanaka Lake.