Day 1 - Arrival
Riding: No riding.
You will arrive at Kerewong Lodge in the late afternoon after your transfer from Port Macquarie or Kendall. Over dinner with your guide and fellow riders you can discuss the programme for the week ahead.
Day 2 - Kerewong State Forest Horse Ride
Riding: 3 hours
Your introductory ride takes you through the hilly terrain of Kerewong State Forest with tall eucalyptus trees and pockets of rainforest. Stop at a creek-side picnic ground in the middle of the forest for lunch. You may spot some of the local wildlife such as wallabies, "goannas" and many birds like the Black Cockatoo.
Today's ride is shorter than usual with an easy-going pace, to enable riders to get accustomed to the terrain and horses and settle international riders into Australian time and climate zones.
Riding distance: 20km
Day 3 - Mountain Top Horse Ride
Riding: 4 - 5 hours
Ride to the impressive Comboyne Mountain (670m), whose peak can be seen from the lodge. There are magnificent 360-degree views from the top - lookout over the expanding eucalyptus NSW State Forests landscape, regional farm properties, NSW Mid North Coast coastline, Bago Bluff National Park, Comboyne Plateau and the start of the Great Dividing Range.
Horses and riders enjoy a well-deserved lunch break at the peak before descending back home at an easy walking pace.
This is the most strenuous day ride for the horses with long steep up and downhill sections and some rough terrain. Riders will need to lead the horses on the first section of the descent.
Riding distance: 30kms
Day 4 - Winery Horse Ride
Riding: 5 - 6 hours
Today is a longer riding day along remote forest trails to local Bago Maze and Winery, a small family-owned and operated vineyards and winery located in a stunning valley in the middle of the forest in the Port Macquarie-Hastings region of NSW.
You will have an early start, riding through a beautiful neighbouring property, then cross scenic Upsalls Creek (if you are lucky you may see a platypus here but sightings are rare) and a steep climb up to a forest ridge. Adventurous remoteness and some of the forest trails offer great opportunities for fantastic long trots and slow or fast canters.
Enjoy a saddle bag sandwich lunch while sitting in the shade of tall eucalypt trees and rest for a while.
After lunch you leave the forest and with a spectacular view to see the vineyards as a green valley open up into the distance. On the final stretch of the ride, you may have the opportunity to move some cattle.
You arrive at the unique little winery and perhaps enjoy a tasting ($10), or reward yourself with a barista coffee, and enjoy a gourmet local cheese platter, while looking over the vineyards, hedge maze and the horses resting and eating hay. For those riders with still some energy left, explore the award-winning hedge maze ($12).
You can taste, drink and buy as much as you wish because transfer back to the farm is by car & horse transport (45 minutes drive).
If you visit from late October to early December, you'll be able to see the stunning purple blossoming Jacaranda Trees on the extensive winery grounds and a perhaps take a group photo with the horses under the purple trees.
Riding distance: 35kms
Day 5 - Beach Ride
Riding: 2 hours
Today is your opportunity to experience the beach with a fantastic ride galloping alongside the Pacific Ocean. Watch out for dolphins in the waves or a close encounter with Eastern Grey Kangaroos.
After the Beach Ride you will enjoy a true Aussie Fish & Chip lunch at a the local Fish Co-Op (payable locally) where they serve locally caught fresh fish.
Transfer back to the farm by car and horse trailer (40 minute drive each way).
Riding distance: 16kms
Day 6 - Comboyne Plateau
Riding: 5 - 6 hours
Enjoy this forest and farmland ride to the beautiful green rolling farmland of the Comboyne Plateau. Comboyne is a volcanic plateau with a unique topography and fertile red soil. It is known for dairy farming and in more recent years has become one of Australia's premier avocado producing areas.
This long day ride takes you up into some remote forest areas with breathtaking old eucalyptus trees and lush rainforest. You will have several rest stop opportunities during the day: the picturesque Waitui Waterfalls, at a peaceful creek on private farmland and a lunch stop at a rocky cliff top lookout.
If the group perfers there is also a shorter route option to Comboyne. The shorter ride (3.5 hours; 23 km) takes us past dairy farms, avocado orchards and panoramic views to the landmark of Dooragan, Mooragan and Booragan, the Three Brother Mountains. These 3 mountains have enduring cultural significance to the local Biripi Aboriginal people. On clear days the view goes all the way to the Pacific Ocean.
There are many great cantering sections as well as long walks to take in the beautiful scenery.
In the evening enjoy a farewell dinner.
Riding distance: 40kms
Day 7
Riding: No riding.
Depart after breakfast.
Please note that the itinerary is subject to forestry activities and weather/terrain conditions but always with your best interests at heart.
Note: All programmes and itineraries are weather dependent; in the face of adverse, or unexpected, weather conditions reasonable attempts will be made to provide equivalent riding. All programmes are accurate at the time of writing. However, the team may adapt or modify details, whilst aiming to provide a similar experience.
