The Hurunui Ride

Day 1

On arrival in in Christchurch you will need to make your way to Cathedral Square where you will be met and transferred to Hurunui Cottage at the Hurunui Horsetrek's base for overnight accommodation. Your guides will join you for dinner.

Day 2 (B,L,D)

After introduction to your horse and equipment and a safety briefing it is time to saddle up and ride alongside the Waitohi River, under the shady willows, stopping for lunch and a swim along the way. Continue along the old gold trail to the West Coast, riding through steep hilly country before heading down to a local homestead. You will dine with the farm owner and spend the night in his comfortable cottage.

Day 3 (B,L,D)

After breakfast continue through spectacular countryside to Mt Mason station, a High Country sheep and cattle station. Arriving late afternoon, take care of the horses, before enjoying some cool refreshments and a barbeque dinner with the station owners. Accommodation is in a small cottage with optional camping in tents. The ride today is about 7 hours.

Day 4 (B,L,D)

After a hearty breakfast saddle the horses and continue through Mt Noble station, rising up and over the spectacular Windy Ridge with magnificent views of the mountains in all directions. Then after following the road for a short way to the junction of the North and South branches of the Hurunui River, ride through the bush in Boulder Gully and on to Lake Taylor Station where the night is spent in the shearers quarters. Dinner tonight is with the family who own Lake Taylor Station.

Day 5 (B,L,D)

Ride out past Lake Taylor and over the Munro Saddle back into the wide, tussock-terraced upper valley of the Hurunui's South Branch. Follow the South branch up as far as the Mason Stream and ride up over the terraces to Lake Mason, secluded amid native beech forest, where you have lunch. Leaving Lake Mason behind ride through an old beech forest, around a swamp and up over the Catherine saddle to the top of Lake Sumner, where there are spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. Continue on past Loch Katrine and Lake Shepherd to your home for the night, the shearers quarters at The Lakes Station.

Day 6 (B,L,D)

After the long day yesterday, today is restful with just a short ride around the picturesque Lake Shepherd. There may be an opportunity here for a swim.

Day 7 (B,L,D)

Ride around the Three Sisters hills and visit the outfall of Lake Sumner into the Hurunui River before returning to Lake Taylor Station and the hospitality of David and Rosemary Gunn.

Day 8 (B,L,D)

After leaving Lake Taylor Station ride through Starvation Gully, with its sub-alpine vegetation to the Eskhead Saddle on the Oronoko Range. Stop for a while to take in the breathtaking views, then lead the horses down a tussock ridge for lunch beside the South Branch of the Hurunui River. Crossing the South Branch and Seaward River once again, ride down through the Hurunui's scenic gorge to the Seven Hills woolshed above the Hurunui River. From here you will are transferred to your night's accommodation in a comfortable cottage.

Day 9 (B,L,D)

Return to the horses at the woolshed, and after saddling up, ride along the banks of the Hurunui River, under the impressive Hooligan Range with Mt. Mizar, Ben Cliberick, Phyllis Fell and Mount Catherine on the opposite side of the river. Lunch below Mt. Self, before heading across country and up and over the Kanuku Saddle with its panoramic views of the Amuri Basin. On reaching the base untack, unpack and wash the horses down after before transferring to the cottage.

Day 10 (B)

Morning transfer to Christchurch.