Description
The North Coast Hinterland of New South Wales (NSW) provides fantastic terrain for horse riders - a mixture of hilly eucalyptus forests, gently undulating farmland, forested mountain climbs, rocky escarpments, creek crossings and hidden riding trails with pockets of rainforest. You can also discover one of the fantastic beaches of the Port Macquarie region on horseback.
Kerewong State Forest is located in the beautiful Lorne Valley and your home for the week is the 60-acre farm belonging to your host and guide. The farm has access to trails crossing 50,000 acres of seemingly endless and remote NSW State Forest and Australian National Parks.
A highlight of the ride is the chance to ride high-quality Arabian horses. These intelligent, willing, energetic and sensitive horses are a delight for competent riders who will relish the opportunity to canter on endless forest trails and gallop down long, sandy beaches. All of the horses have been trained for long-distance and endurance riding, with them all having completed 40km endurance rides as part of their training. The horses live out together as a herd and are in excellent condition.
Your guide, Kathy, moved to Australia from the Netherlands in 2000 and set up her equestrian trails business in 2004. In the Netherlands, she competed in Dressage up to Advanced level, show jumping and eventing, later obtaining her Dutch horse driving qualifications too. She now regularly competes in local endurance rides on the horses she uses on these trails. Kathy prepares all your meals as well as guiding you on your adventure, so this is a truly personal experience.
This ride is for competent riders only with long active walks, trots, canters and fast galloping sections of up to 4kms at a time and both include the same beach ride. The programme offers opportunities for fast gallops following forest trails, The ride can be confirmed for one person on payment of a supplement.
Rides are offered during the cooler months of the year, between March and late November. In general, the weather is usually fantastic with even the winter months (June-August) usually being dry and sunny with cold nights. Spring and autumn can bring a variety of different weathers, including sunshine and some rain showers too.
This is a ride for true riders who want to experience authentic, rural Australia on fit and forward-going horses - an ideal rustic thrill to fit into a longer Australian itinerary.
