‘This was my first multi-day ride and it was outstanding! I had minimal experience (riding friends’ horses as a child, trail rides on holidays and several lessons/rides in the lead-up to this trip). I highly recommend this holiday for riders of all levels. The guides were outstanding and split the group up according to ability so that everyone could maximise their experience. They were encouraging and easy to follow, and took great care to check on the horses and the tack, as well as helping advise on skill improvement. By the last day I had gained the skills to canter with confidence. The food, accommodation, horses, supplies and scenery were top notch! They didn’t miss a thing.’

‘I loved this ride. The scenery was genuinely breathtaking at every turn and it is an experience that will last a lifetime. I would actually go back and do it again. It was very well run and organised by the team in Glenorchy. Their local knowledge was great and their horsemanship was exceptional. It was great to see that the staff had a genuine love for the animals in their care. The horses were incredibly fit, well looked after, and well-matched to their riders. They were all cool, calm and collected and had plenty of ‘go’ when asked. Each day I enjoyed a great ride, lovely healthy fresh food, stunning scenery, a nice glass of local wine, great company and a few creature comforts. Who could complain about that? I made a few lovely new friends and had a great time. I would happily book a trip through Globetrotting again.’

‘Amazing ride, horses, food, experience! Top notch. Our horses, Doobie and Jungle, were amazing. They were paired as best friends and perfect for our needs. We wanted to bring them home! Jess was amazing and great to chat to, and Shaun was very knowledgeable on the region, flora and fauna, etc. I loved the food sooo much and it was lovely to have such varied accommodation. This ride was worth every penny.’

‘This was a fantastic week and I met some great people and made new friends. Deana, Jess and Bijmin were amazing and the scenery in Glenorchy was breathtaking. Riding the horses through the lake was awesome. It was well worth the money, I loved every minute and would definitely go back in a heartbeat! If you’re sitting on the fence about this ride, it’s time to jump off! Don’t miss this amazing experience.’

‘Well, what a week! I had been looking forward to this ride for almost a year and have probably bored my friends silly with the excitement I had leading up to it. It did not disappoint. The staff, especially our guides for the week, Nat and Shawn, were fantastic. Nat and Shawn excelled at looking after our group of ten riders and horses, and their knowledge of the areas we rode through was fantastic. I tried some native berries, was informed about native flora and experienced some of the most beautiful countryside in the world. I was matched to the best horse I could imagine. His name was Cruise and what a wonderful boy he was. I felt completely at ease riding him for the five days. One word of advice: beware the sand flies and cover up everything. But in all honesty, if I could do it all again I would not hesitate – sandflies and all.’

‘I had that best time! What a beautiful place to visit – I honestly think I could live there. We had the best guides, Jess and Shaun, and a huge thanks to Deana and Casey. The horses were in terrific condition. I rode a horse called Jungle, who was an absolute gentleman – kind and responsive and did everything I asked of him, a pleasure to ride. The meals were terrific. We certainly had plenty to eat and Jess and Shaun did a fantastic job serving as both guides and chefs, hats off to them. I couldn’t have asked for nicer people to go away with than the group of girls on the ride. I’d just like to thank all of you at Globetrotting for the fantastic opportunity to go away and do something that I love. The whole trip was fantastic.’

‘This was the trip of a lifetime for me and something I have been working towards for the last five years in line with my riding goals, in order to be able to ride through the beautiful Lord of the Rings high country. What I didn’t realise was just how breathtaking the setting would be in real life, and how outstanding the horses would be. Casey and Deana really have put together an amazing troop of horses that can cater to all manner of riders – we had a broad spectrum of abilities and experience in our group but it didn’t feel like that once we were out in the wilderness. I loved this ride – five days was a long time to be in the saddle, but every day there was something new and different to see and experience. To anyone thinking of doing this trip – stop thinking and just do it!’

‘The Glenorchy Back Country Ride was an amazing experience. We rode on well cared-for and capable horses that were more than willing to go out each day. I was a little nervous about the type of horse I’d have for the week, but needn’t have worried, as my horse Jungle was simply adorable! He looked after me so well and built up my confidence, even jumping a few logs. He was never silly or spooky, just a solid mount. Each day the was scenery was different; beautiful forests, river crossings and riding through long-grassed, open fields with mountains either side – it was fairy tale stuff! The guides were very knowledgeable about the countryside, horses and all the movies that had been filmed along the way. The food was plentiful; my daughter and I have dietary issues and we were catered for flawlessly at each meal, often with multiple options. I can’t thank Deana and Casey’s team enough for putting on such a great week for us. We will remember it fondly for many years.’

‘It’s been a hot minute since I got back from Glenorchy in February. The memories are still making the days at the office tough to take. There was no way to prepare for the epicness and truly unique experiences that bound together our group of intrepid Globetrotters.
We arrived after over half a metre of rain had fallen. Nonetheless, as rain threatened to drown out Deana’s voice in the tack shed, she offered us two options. Option A was to ride. I guess we’ll never know what Option B was. If we were allowed on horses, we were getting on horses! The next several hours were spent trekking along the edges of the swollen Rees River. Our guides, Jess and Shaun, never wavered and our horses never put a hoof wrong. My fellow globetrotters also deserve a round of applause. My trusty steed, Beer, who is famous among globetrotters, never hesitated, even when the water rose midway up his shoulders. We were kept super comfortable at Camp Glenorchy as the weather set in that night. The next day was wet and flooded, with some of the houses in Glenorchy being evacuated, but day 3 dawned bright and beautiful, as though the rain had never happened. We rode 21 kilometres and climbed the equivalent of 250 flights of stairs, and the horses got a well-deserved massage when we arrived at the shearing shed bunkhouse.
Day 4 had a lot of river crossings, with Shaun and Jess carefully picking our path. We got a real indication of the extent of the floods, looking at grass and sticks caught in fences far from the river. We rode into stunning Paradise in the afternoon and explored the trust’s property before dinner, gazing down the valley to some recognisable landscapes from many movies.
Day 5 was the one day when we were able to stick to the itinerary. We rode past several new landslips on the Dart River side of Mt Albert before an amazing long canter along the flat by the river.
This trip was unique and unrepeatable. I loved every minute and I’d love to do it again.’