Today you’ll either self-drive to Andrew McCarthy’s family property, COD-N-UP, or arrive at Sunshine Coast Airport in Maroochydore before midday and be collected by your hosts, with a small detour to purchase alcohol on the way out to the property – if required. After you arrive in the early afternoon, Andrew will give a liberty riding demonstration with one of his prized horses. Then you and your luggage will be driven to the top of Mount Goomboorian, your home for the next five nights. It’s hard to explain the vista until you see it with your own eyes, but let me try: it boasts 360-degree views stretching to the west and to the east, where you can see the sand dunes near Noosa. It’s an incredible campsite where you’ll enjoy true bush comforts, including a tent large enough to swing a cat in, stretcher bed with all linen provided, and a bedside table.

Tonight’s meal will be one you’ll remember for months to come, and whilst it will set the bar very high for the remainder of your ride, we know our chef Amie will continue to surprise and delight you with what she dishes up throughout the ride.

After waking to a spectacular sunrise over the Pacific Ocean and enjoying the first of many delicious, restaurant-quality breakfasts, you’ll be transported off the mountain and introduced to your horse. Once everyone is comfortable in the swinging fender stock saddle, you’ll commence your riding adventure. With a handful of opportunities to trot and canter if you wish, you will traverse open cattle grazing country, creek crossings, and a stand of eucalypt timber where you might even be lucky enough to spot a koala (trust me – your chances are good!).

At the end of the morning’s ride, you will arrive at Sublime Brewery. Here you’ll step off your horse and walk straight into a professionally run, rustic country pub dining experience. Now you’re in for a real treat here, globetrotters, because at Sublime Brewery you will be given the opportunity to have a photo of yourself on a horse IN A BAR (yes, you read that correctly!). An awesome keepsake of your riding adventure to take home and cherish, and more importantly, social media bragging rights!
Once all the modelling contracts have been fulfilled, you’ll sit down to enjoy a hearty lunch. In the afternoon you’ll get lost in pristine scrub, virgin forest and a lime farm, eventually summiting Mount Goomboorian to reach your campsite for sundowners.

After a fulfilling day in the saddle and with your bellies full from another sumptuous dinner, you’ll retire to the blazing warmth of the campfire and view the photos from your day’s modelling before falling into a peaceful slumber.

Today you’ll mount up and ride carefully down the mountain, gaping at the views as you go. Once you’re on level ground, you’ll be able to change up the pace, pausing while your guides open and close gates. Arriving at Andrew’s original family homestead, you’ll have a lavish lunch in the magnificent gardens. Then it’s time for some cattle mustering! Andrew has previously run about 17,000 head of stock on a cattle station in WA that was almost half a million acres, so throughout the trip he’ll be able to demonstrate the skills and procedures used in daily life on the stations. This is dinky-di, real life cattle work, globetrotters, dirt moustaches included! There will also be more beautiful scenery on the cards as you muster the cattle back to the farm. After settling the cattle into their yards for the night, you’ll head back up the mountain to enjoy more breathtaking views, campfire yarns and delicious food.
There is also the opportunity to brand your name into a piece of rough-sawn timber with fire brands to help you remember the occasion (at an additional cost of $50 to $100, depending on the piece of timber you choose).

After another stomach-filling breakfast, you’ll head down the mountain and load the horses into the truck for a trip to Rainbow Beach! Here you’ll mount up for an absolutely glorious beach ride. At the end of this magical experience, those riders who are confident and capable will have the opportunity to unsaddle their horse for a bareback ride in the ocean! This is serious pinch-me-now stuff, globetrotters. Then, having worked up an appetite, you’ll devour a tasty lunch at the family owned beach house, where you can also shower and change into fresh clothes if you like.

Finally, with salt in your hair and a HUGE smile on your face, you’ll be transported back to the top of the mountain for another beautiful night at your Goomboorian campsite.

Rejuvenated after your cruisey day yesterday, you’ll be raring to go this morning! After breakfast you’ll mount up for a choose-your-own-adventure style day with Andrew and his special guest, campdrafting royalty Rod Cotter. You can choose to participate in cattle work or expand your riding skills with one-on-one lessons. You’ll spend the entire day grinning from ear to ear as you learn new tricks on board your knowledgeable steed. When you’re not in the ring, Andrew will be more than happy to explain the ins and outs of cattle work, horsemanship and station life in as much detail as you desire!

With a full day’s learning under your belt and another tasty meal in your belly, you’ll collapse gratefully into your tent tonight.

Your final day’s ride begins with mustering the cattle back down the road to their paddock. Then you’ll continue to an al fresco cafe specialising in barbeque-style dishes using top quality local ingredients. After lunch, you will ride back to the farm. There will be chances to let your horse stretch out into a canter, if you wish to.

Finally, in the early afternoon, you’ll bid farewell to the team and either drive home or be transported back to Sunshine Coast Airport, arriving in time for flights departing after 6pm.

Round trip transfers from Sunshine Coast Airport (Maroochydore) are available for $250 AUD per person on arrival and departure days only (minimum 2 guests required). Guests need to arrive no later than 12pm on day one, and departing flights are to be booked after 6pm on the final day.

Self drive is also an option.

Please note, due to varying arrival times, lunch is not included on arrival day.