Welcome 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.

Your 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.

This 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.

Rising 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.

After 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.