Glenorchy Back Country Ride

After enjoying the scenic transfer from Queenstown to the Glenorchy stables, you’ll be introduced to your knowledgable back country guides. The staff will help sort your baggage and gear before introducing you to your horse for the trip. Gear checked, you’ll ride alongside the pristine Rees River flats and enjoy a lunchtime picnic on the tip of Lake Wakatipu with views across the water to the local township of Glenorchy. After lunch you’ll head to the opening of the Rees Valley.

Your first night’s accommodation will be at the Rees Valley Station shearers’ quarters. The woolshed here is still the hub of the station and is worth a peek. Panels of photographs and information inside the woolshed explain some of the history of the station and the people who work it. The shearers’ quarters has bunk bedrooms, flushing toilets, showers and electricity. Keep in mind, in summer the sun doesn’t set until around 11pm, so you’ll have plenty of daylight hours to roam around on foot after dinner.

After a leisurely breakfast, you’ll start your journey into the dramatic, pristine environment of Rees Valley. Rees Valley Station is rated one of the area’s most scenic places to ride. This 37,000 acre sheep station borders the World Heritage-listed Mount Aspiring National Park. You and your fellow globetrotters will travel through virgin native rainforest (NZ beech), crossing over a glacier-fed river many times. This is a shorter day, but it’s a challenge for both horse and rider. Enjoy the climb up glacial terraces with snow-capped mountains looming high above.

Tonight you will camp at Arthurs Creek musterers hut for a night under the stars. This is camping in its simplest form: there is a musterers hut (the main hub of the campsite) and inside your tents you’ll find a camp stretcher and swag for you to sleep in. There is a long-drop toilet, glacer-fed waterfall (freezing, but oh so good for the skin) and a hot camp shower.

Today is spent exploring the very top of the valley, which borders Mount Aspiring National Park. You’ll visit 25 Mile Creek and the rock chasm within, swim the horses in glacier-fed Hunter Creek (weather permitting), stand at the foot of the gorgeous Lennox Falls and enjoy a saddlebag-packed lunch at the grassy base of the Falls. There will be time to explore here by foot before riding back to your base camp at Arthurs Creek musterers hut.

It’s time to leave the Rees Valley, riding into Paradise Valley. You’ll wander through native beech forest towards the opening of Paradise Valley, which is better known as Heaven’s Gate. From here you’ll traverse the north shores of Diamond Lake, and there may be the possibility of swimming the horses again if you wish.

Coming into Paradise Valley, you are entering LORD OF THE RINGS COUNTRY! This is Isengard and Middle Earth. Your guides will take you through scenes and places used in many movies including The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, Vertical Limit, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Lovely Bones, Mission Impossible, Wolverine and more. This is some of the most pristine back country you could ever hope to travel through.

On your last night you’ll stay in Millers House, which is a beautiful, turn-of-the-century house within the Paradise Foundation. After bush camping for the last two nights, you’ll love the hot showers, flushing toilets, electricity and freshly made beds.

On the final day of your riding holiday, you’ll venture through the mouth of Lake Diamond and ascend the southern side of Mount Alfred. At the top of the track, you’ll be able to take a moment and contemplate where and what you have just experienced over the last few days. As far as the eye can see – and further – is where you have travelled astride your surefooted station horse. Finally, you’ll creep down the mountain and back onto your hosts’ farm to finish the trip with a welcome hot drink or cold beverage.

*Depending on the weather, you might instead venture into the Dart Valley today – the views and scenery are equally rewarding.