Venture Into the Heart of Australia’s Outback
Australia’s Northern Territory is a world of its own, with nation-sized stations and wild characters aplenty. And The Top End Ride gives you the keys to the kingdom: sleek Australian Stock Horses, wide open plains, and an outback crew who’ll show you the ropes of real Aussie horsemanship.
Trip Highlights
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Testing the paces of your athletic Australian Stock Horse on a soft red-dirt track
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Spotting saltwater crocodiles in the Mary River
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Riding up to a hilltop at day’s end for a cold drink overlooking the floodplains
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Rubbing shoulders with Aussie bush characters
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Hearing the dawn chorus of untold thousands of birds
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Learning how to work cattle in the yards
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Mustering buffalo across the station
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Exploring a landscape few people ever see
Details
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Riding levels
This ride is suitable for confident beginner (maximum of 4 per departure) to advanced riders. You must be able to manage a horse independently in open country at all paces, and be fit enough to post to the trot for several minutes at a time, multiple times per day.
Not sure what your riding ability is? See the definitions below.
- Type of tack
Hybrid
- Horse breed
Australian Stock Horses
- Accommodation
You will have your own private motel-style room at the iconic Bark Hut Inn, a 15-minute drive from the station.
- Pace
The pace varies depending on the terrain – primarily walking, with stretches of trotting and cantering where suitable.
- Weight limit
A maximum of 100kg /220lbs.
It is VERY important that you provide your current weight accurately when booking. If your weight is not accurate, we cannot guarantee that your hosts will have a horse for you to ride.
- Group size
A minimum of 4 and a maximum of 8 guests.
- Minimum age
16 years of age
- Time in Saddle
On average, 4 to 8 hours per day.
- When to go
June, July, August.
- Languages
Guides speak English.
What’s included (and what’s not)
Included
- Own room accommodation
- All meals outlined in the itinerary
- Day 1 beer
- Transfers (from a set meeting location)
- All riding activities outlined in the itinerary
Excluded
- International or regional flights
- Travel insurance (compulsory)
- Alcohol (except day 1 beer)
- Transport to and from the pick-up and drop-off point near Darwin
Departure dates and prices
Ride length
5 days, 4 nights
Riding level
Beginner • Intermediate • Strong Intermediate • Advanced
Booking fee
A fixed Booking Fee of $150 AUD
Payment plans
Lock in your ride with a 10% deposit and pay the rest over time – interest-free in 10 easy payments. Learn more.
Accommodation types
Single
Private accommodation for one guest (room, tent, or similar). A supplement may apply on departures where a sharing option is available.
Share
Willing to room share with the same gender or travelling with a companion.
Couple share
Sharing a bed with companion.
Non-rider
Sharing a room with a riding companion.
Per person
2026
June 1 to 5, 2026
June 15 to 19, 2026
June 29 to July 3, 2026
July 13 to 17, 2026
July 27 to 31, 2026
August 10 to 14, 2026
August 24 to 28, 2026
The fun bits
Payment details
- A fixed Booking Fee of $150 AUD
- All bookings are charged in the local currency of the ride destination.
- Accepted payment method is by credit or debit card only.
Cancellation policy
We understand that plans can change. If you need to cancel your ride, please let us know as soon as possible. Cancellation fees apply based on how close your departure date is, and deposits are non-refundable. We strongly recommend travel insurance to protect your booking. Read our full cancellation policy.
International fees
If you're paying in a currency different from your own, your bank may charge a conversion or international transaction fee.
Itinerary
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: Arrival
4 hours in the saddleWelcome to the Top End, globetrotters! Having arrived in Darwin yesterday, you’ll take a 30-minute taxi to your host Marc’s property, arriving by 8:30am. Here, the horses will be loaded up, then everyone will climb aboard for the hour-long drive into the heart of Top End station country.
Your first stop is Annaburroo Station, where you’ll be paired with one of Marc’s stunning Australian Stock Horses, fitted with your saddle, and given a short test ride in the yards, along with a full safety briefing to prepare you for the adventure ahead. Then it’s a short drive to Bark Hut Inn, where you’ll check into your room and enjoy a relaxed lunch.
In the afternoon, you’ll ride out across the station’s holding paddocks and plains towards Mount Goyder, a forested knoll where you’ll be able to see the true scale of the land, and some interesting features that Marc will point out. By the time you return to the homestead, you’ll be feeling comfortable and connected with both your horse and the land itself.
After sharing a beer with the station manager and crew, it’s time to head back to Bark Hut Inn for a relaxed dinner.
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Day 2: Mary River
5 to 7 hours in the saddleYour first morning in the outback begins with a filling breakfast: continental and cooked options will be served at Bark Hut Inn. This is also your chance to build your own wrap for a saddlebag-packed lunch.
Once everyone is ready, Marc will lead a ride through paperbark forests and floodplain trails, then along the Mary River, famous for having the world’s highest concentration of crocodiles! While you’re perfectly safe on the trail, the suspense of watching for movement in the water definitely adds a thrill! You may also see wallabies darting through the bush, jabirus stalking the wetlands, and wild buffalo ambling through the forest.
After lunch on the trail, you’ll ride on to a secluded billabong with abundant birdlife. From here, the horses are trucked home while you return to Bark Hut Inn for a relaxed evening meal and classic Territory hospitality at this outback landmark.
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Day 3: Annaburroo Station
6 to 8 hours in the saddleThis morning you’re joining the crew for a mustering experience, and it’s an early start to keep up with these station boys! Annaburroo runs buffalo and cattle, and the work will depend on what needs doing on the day. Marc is a skilled teacher and you can get as involved as you like, from riding on the tail to chasing runaways, learning the skills and rhythms of the job.
Lunch is served at the yards or in the paddock, before saddling up again in the afternoon to tail out the mob. No two muster days are the same – you might be educating young animals, shifting cattle, or working the yards – but no matter what the day brings, it promises to be an addictive taste of real station life on horseback.
In the evening, you will return to Bark Hut for dinner and a well-earned wind-down.
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Day 4: Donkey Hill
6 to 8 hours in the saddleRising early for breakfast at 7am, you’ll mount up for a full-day ride along the Mary River delta. The ride crosses wetlands, flats and water channels, with a picnic lunch overlooking a stunning billabong on the rich green floodplain.
In the afternoon, you’ll traverse rough ridge country, discover an abandoned gold mine, and ride to the top of Donkey Hill. Here, the horses will load onto the truck while you watch the sunset, savour a cold drink, and enjoy a hearty cooked dinner with one of the best views in the Territory.
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Day 5: Departure
4 to 5 hours in the saddleAfter breakfast, you’ll ride to a quiet, scenic spot for a picnic-style morning tea, listening to the birds and reflecting on your journey.
Returning to the station, you’ll say goodbye to your trusty horse and the wonderful crew, and be transferred back to Marc’s property near Darwin, arriving at around 3pm. Please ensure your flight departs no earlier than 5:30pm.
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Non-riders
Non-riding friends and family members are most welcome to join you in the Top End, provided they are happy to organise their own adventures during the day. A hire car is absolutely essential for non-riders so they can explore independently.
Local attractions and tours include:
- Mary River National Park & Litchfield National Park.
- Barra or Blue Fishing Charters (specializing in barramundi fishing in the Mary River region).
- Reel Screamin Barra Fishing (guided fishing tours targeting barramundi and other local species).
- HeliFish (helicopter-accessed fishing adventures).
- Mary River Wetlands Cruises (wildlife-focused boat tours).
- Corroboree Billabong Tours (wildlife cruises featuring crocodiles, birds, and other fauna).
- Airboat tours on the Mary River.
- Guided nature tours.
- Scenic helicopter flights over Kakadu and surrounds.
The non-rider price includes shared accommodation, breakfast and dinner only.
Transfer information
Transfers throughout the ride are included in the price; however, you will need to make your own way to/from the meeting point in Darwin on the first and last days.
On day 1, you will need to make your own way to your host Marc’s property just outside of Darwin, arriving at 8:30am (the address is provided to guests after booking). It’s about a 30-minute drive, and taxis and Ubers are very readily available in Darwin.
On day 5, you will return to Marc’s property at around 3pm. Please ensure your flight departs no earlier than 5:30pm.
Please note
You will need to fly into Darwin the day before the ride begins to ensure you are on time for the transfer the following morning. Accommodation for this night is at your own expense.
Accommodation
You will have your own private motel-style room at the iconic Bark Hut Inn, a 15-minute drive from the station. Rooms are air-conditioned with private ensuites, and the Inn offers a bar, pool, dining facilities, and communal lounge areas. Bark Hut has countless tales to tell, a friendly team, and a tasty menu, too.
Food
All meals throughout the itinerary are included and feature hearty Territory-style cuisine. Breakfast offers both cooked and continental options, while lunches are picnic-style affairs enjoyed on the trail, with wraps, cold meats, salads and fresh fruit. Evenings bring generous pub-style meals – think steak, burgers, barramundi, roast veg and crisp salads. A special bush banquet under the stars is a true highlight of the week. Most dietary requirements can be catered for with advance notice, so please let us know when booking.
What's my riding level?
Not sure what your riding level is? Watch our videos to see all our levels.
Beginner
Reasonably confident riding a horse at a walk, a rising trot, and learning to canter.
Intermediate
Confident and in control riding at all paces outside an arena, but not riding regularly. Comfortable and competent using aids {the language of your leg, seat and hands} to communicate with your horse.
Strong Intermediate
An intermediate rider who is currently riding regularly outside of an arena and is fit enough to ride for at least six hours per day. Strong intermediate riders are comfortable and competent in all three gaits; able to post or sit to the trot; have an independent seat while cantering (don’t hold onto the saddle); and can pick up the correct canter lead. They can also navigate more complex terrain, including asking a horse to sidestep and jump over a small obstacle.
Advanced
A frequent rider who is very fit, comfortable in the saddle for at least six hours per day, and has an independent seat and soft hands. Advanced riders are confident on a forward-moving horse at all paces over rough and variable ground on open terrain. They can ride over small jumps and know the techniques used to collect a horse
Not sure? Contact our team to help you figure out your riding ability.
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