This gem of a five day, four night itinerary is situated one hour from Queenstown in the cute-as-a-button lakeside community of Glenorchy. With five days of unrestricted hours in the saddle, this ride has it all: wet and wild canters along riverbanks, wandering through native beech forests, circumnavigating a mountain and exploring a quintessential High Country property.
Your hosts, mother and daughter Deana and Casey, have exclusive access to over 100,000 acres of pristine back country stretching from the Dart Valley through to the Rees Valley, with Mount Alfred smack bang in the middle.
On day one you’ll stay at Rees Valley Station’s shearers quarters. Rees Valley Station is a 37,000 acre working sheep station that borders World Heritage-listed Mount Aspiring National Park. On days two and three, globetrotters explore the Rees Valley with its glacial fed rivers and wild, untamed beauty. Your accommodation is beside Arthurs Creek Musterers Hut – back country camping at its best. Think waterfalls, starry nights and silence. On day four, you’ll cruise through enchanted landscapes made world-famous by blockbuster movies like The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, Mission Impossible and The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe. And the last night is at Miller’s House, a historic, bespoke guesthouse set within Paradise (literally)!
Seriously, the Glenorchy Back Country Ride typifies everything we love about New Zealand. All you need to do is get yourself on a plane to Queenstown, in the South Island of New Zealand, and we’ll take care of the rest!
Fast Facts
- Horse Breed:NZ Stationbred, Quarter Horse and first cross, Percheron and Clydie first cross.
- Pace:This will vary depending on the terrain and weather conditions. Some days are more mountainous than others. When terrain permits, there will be opportunities to trot and canter.
- Weight Limit:A maximum of 95kg / 210lbs.
- Type of tack:English all-purpose saddles which are all correctly fitted to the horses. *Please be advised, a select few horses are ridden in Western saddles simply because they provide a better fit for that specific horse, but we will not accommodate saddle requests. It is much preferred to match horse to rider based upon ability. Thanks for your understanding.
- Seasons:October to March.
- Group size:A minimum of 6 and a maximum of 10 guests.
- Time in Saddle:On average between 5 to 6 hours, depending on the distance needed to be travelled, which will be between 15 and 25km per day.
- Riding Ability:Suitable for intermediate to experienced riders. All riders MUST be confident riding outside an arena at all paces over uneven ground. Not sure what your riding experience is? Watch THIS video to find out.
- Accommodation:For the first night guests stay in bunk bed rooms with a hot shower and flushing toilets a 1 minute walk away in a separate building. The next 2 nights guests will stay in tents with camp stretchers and swags beside a station muster hut, where there is a camp shower and a long-drop toilet. On the last night guests stay at Paradise Homestead, a historic, bespoke accommodation house with laze-about beds, hot showers, flushing toilets and a kitchen.
- Ride Length:5 days, 4 nights.
- Inclusions:
The price includes twin share accommodation, transfers to and from Queenstown, meals and riding.
- Exclusions:
The price does not include international or regional flights, travel insurance (compulsory) or alcohol throughout the trip.
DEPARTURE DATES & RATES
NEW! Secure your saddle seat NOW with a 10% deposit - as part of our 10x 10% payment plan!WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE?
The price includes twin share accommodation, transfers to and from Queenstown, meals and riding.
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE?
The price does not include international or regional flights, travel insurance (compulsory) or alcohol throughout the trip.
Accepted payment is by credit or debit card only. There is a 2% surcharge on all card payments. Click HERE to read our recommendations on which cards are best to use to avoid international transaction fees.
WHY IS THE PRICE QUOTED IN NZD?
With our riding destinations, the currency is dictated by our ride partner in that country. Therefore due to fluctuating exchange rates we have to quote in the same currency.
Itinerary
Expand AllCollapse All*Please note, this is a suggested itinerary only and subject to change at the discretion of your guides due to weather and other influencing factors.

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Day 1
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Day 2
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Day 3
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Day 4
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Day 5
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Transfer Information
What our valued Globetrotters say about The Glenorchy Back Country Ride

Meegan Bartell
‘This was my second Globetrotting experience and just like the first (Canada), I was blown away. My wonderful mount Gizzy was perfectly matched to my style and experience. The two guides, Jess and Bijmin, were beyond exceptional; they worked so incredibly hard to please all of us and always carried a smile even in the toughest situations. Deana and Casey were also fabulous and I thoroughly enjoyed riding with them and learning about the history of their business. All the horses were loved and well looked after, which is a big tick and must.
I give this trip a 10/10 – loved every minute. Be prepared to fall in love with this wonderful country!’

Jacqui Best
‘This experience was a dream come true and I wish it never ended. I had to pinch myself repeatedly to see if it was a dream. Truly amazing views, guides I feel are one of a kind, high quality horses and spectacular accommodation and catering. I will definitely be heading back.
Globetrotting was amazing in every way: responsive, lovely, really helpful and understanding. I was very impressed with the whole process and the lovely staff I was corresponding with. Thank you again to the Glenorchy team and Globetrotting for a truly amazing experience and adventure. This was my first trip to another country and I don’t think I could top it – unless I went on another Globetrotting trip, which I’ll definitely be doing in the future. 1000/1000.’

Jan Garrett
‘The Glenorchy ride was fantastic! The horses, accommodation, food and guides are amazing. Not to mention the scenery. I rode Cashout and he was a complete sweetheart. He was surefooted, respectful and happy to break from the group when asked. His canter was lovely, too. I was also lucky enough to ride JT for a day and he was super. Our guides worked so hard to have everything ready and perfect for us and their level of horsemanship was beyond what I had expected. They were very skilled in communicating with each and every one of us.
This trip was great value for money, as it’s hard to put a price on my level of enjoyment and that spectacular scenery. Well worth it!’

Raewyn Beale
‘The Glenorchy Back Country Ride totally exceeded my expectations. My fellow companions became friends and our guide Shaun looked after us and our horses extremely well: a great cook with an extensive knowledge of the local environment and rivers we crossed, as well as the wildlife we saw. My horse Gizzy was a real star, honest and keen, exactly the type of horse I love to ride. A perfect match for me and probably one of the best horses I have ever ridden. The scenery was spectacular and we had great weather all the way. Thank you to everyone who makes these rides possible.’

Caroline Holm
‘The Glenorchy Back Country Ride gives you breathtaking views while riding great horses. Scenic snow-capped mountains, epic waterfalls, forests, canters along valleys while admiring glacial rivers. Our guides Shaun and Nat were very helpful and full of knowledge. They worked hard to take care of the horses and riders and prepare yummy food for all of us. I rode Tonto and he was such a star! Forward and calm with the sweetest personality. I will definitely choose him again if I have the opportunity to come back. I would do this ride every year if I could! It is fantastic and every day is magical, truly a memory for life. I wish everyone could have the opportunity to discover the beauty of Glenorchy.’

Jackie Cooke
‘This was a fabulous trip and all of the ladies in my group were lovely. I just want to thank everyone who works for Deana. The lovely lady who picked us up, the lovely lady who prepped all our food, our amazing guides. The whole experience from my first point of contact at Globetrotting was amazing! The food, accommodation and organisation were incredible. My horse, Kale, was just beautiful. Jess and Bijimin are an amazing team. They know how to provide incredible customer service and are so committed and passionate about what they do. I cannot recommend this trip highly enough. Just hit the BOOK NOW button.’

Lyndal Mellefont
‘The High Country of New Zealand, you have delivered! I genuinely enjoyed each day. We crossed glacial rivers, rode through riverside lupins and ancient beech forests, marveled at the magnificent high country landscape and even found our way to ‘Paradise’. The ‘Good Ship Buddy’ saw me safely through the river crossings and he was such a comfortable ride. Our guides guides Bijmin, Jess and Casey were the bomb. It was truly special to witness people with such natural horsemanship skills who have genuine love and care for their charges. Their thoughtfulness and care extended to the whole group and they made everyone’s trip as enjoyable as possible.’

Lisa Matthews
‘This trip is awesome! Lakes, mountains, waterfalls and wildlife, all experienced from the backs of amazing horses with the most caring guides. It feels like a cross between a point-to-point trip and a lodge-based trip, which is a great middle ground for anyone not really wanting to go the whole hog with camping and packhorses, but still wanting that sense of rawness. I rode Cashout and was really happy with how he went. I really loved the opportunity to do some exploring off the horses, too – hiking up to the waterfall was really fabulous. It is always hard to put a value on these types of trips, but I LOVED this ride and would have to say it is great value for money.’

Joanne Agostinelli
‘The Glenorchy Back Country Ride was my first Globetrotting experience, and I can’t wait for the next one! Our wonderful guides, Jess and Bijmin, were the perfect combination – warm human beings who totally cared about our safety and comfort, and that of our horses. They were totally dedicated to the mission of making this the best experience ever for each and every of one us. And boy can they cook!! The horses were sound, well cared-for and ready and willing to be full participants in our adventure. The trip was laid out wonderfully with awe-inspiring landscapes and special adventures each day. The stand-out experience was when we got to swim our horses in the river and later play in the spray of an amazing waterfall. Deana and Casey run a wonderful outfit and I would totally recommend them to anyone who loves to ride. This has been an experience of a lifetime!’
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