Around the Mountain

For Intermediate to Experienced Riders

This is the only place in the world where you can ride the full circumference of a mountain. This ride has it all – river-crossings, native beech forest areas, glacial fed lakes, the highest elevation ride in the Queenstown basin and to finish – true authentic locations from The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Hobbit, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Vertical Limit, and many other movies. We can also offer up to a 3 Day / 2 Night ride for those that wish to extend their experience. We have up to 150,000 acres of pristine country to ride on, in the most beautiful part of New Zealand.

Package includes: transfers, horses, guide, extra gear, accommodation and all meals.

Dates Available
2023 – 2024

Availability is subject to change and so it’s best to contact the team at High Country Horses to make sure your dates are still available.

October 2023

3 – 4 October
24 – 25 October
31 Oct – 1 Nov

November 2023 14 – 15 November
28 – 29 November
December 2023 12 – 13 December
January 2024 9 – 10 January
23 – 24 January
February 2024 13 – 14 February
27 – 28 February
March 2024 12 – 13 March

Trek Information

Season: 1 October – 31 March.  We are closed all public holidays
Duration: 2 Days, 1 Night.  Our overnight treks are available every Tuesday – Wednesday or Wednesday – Thursday through the season
Min Age: 10 years old. All children 14 years old and under MUST be accompanied by a parent or guardian
Max Weight:

95kg

The well being of our horses is important and so all clients will be weighed at check in and then you will be introduced to the horse that best suits your riding ability and weight.

We Provide: Helmets and wet weather gear if required
Please Bring: One set of riding clothes, one set of fresh clothes while you are at the cabin. Comfort and warm. Extra pairs of socks, warm jacket, and fully charged cameras
Rider Level: Intermediate and Experienced – (Click here to find out what rider level best describes you.)
Cost: $945 per person 
All children 14 years old and under MUST be accompanied by a parent or guardian
Departures:

9:00 am – 243 Priory Road, Glenorchy

Please check in 15 minutes before departure

Information: Allow 1 hour travel time from Queenstown – Glenorchy
Base: 243 Priory Road, Glenorchy
Booking Cancellation Policy All booking cancellations 30 days prior to your trek date will be refunded in full.  50% of the booking cost will be refunded between 30 days and 14 days to your trek date.  No refund is available within 14 days of your departure date

Please contact us direct.
Email us on: info@highcountryhorses.nz or hit the BOOK NOW button below to go to our contact from.

“Thank you for everything! It was a great weekend, with a great horse (thanks donut) great weather and beautiful scenery plus awesome staff and people. I will never forget this experience”
Zena Grempel

Germany

“I really wanted to thank you for the whole experience and let you know how absolutely amazing it was. From your helpful e-mail exchanges to arriving at the ranch and getting geared up to being introduced to our lovely horses. You must be so proud to have such a great, down to earth place with healthy, happy horses who very clearly love their jobs and are well taken care of. I was riding Duby (not sure how you spell it) and he was such a sweetheart, but they still all have character, you can tell they’re most definitely not worn out or sick of what they do. And last but definitely not least, we had the most amazing guide ever! Maxence was an absolute treat, so full of life and fun facts about the trek and NZ in general. And my husband who’s French loved to be able to speak in French again after three full weeks of English! Max was not only completely professional and on the ball, she was also so genuinely friendly and fun that it made the trek all the more special. She obviously loves what she does and is very proud to be part of High Country Horses. We had amazing sunny weather and despite the very cool night, we were nice and warm in the comfy cabin, after a huge meal! I was expecting soup or something very simple and to have such a wonderful barbecue, great quality meats and delicious food in general was a real surprise and treat! I can’t remember her name, but the lady who dropped off our bags was lovely too. Everyone was! So thanks a million for making our trip so special, the trek was the best part of our NZ honeymoon and now I want to horse trek all over the world! Thanks Deana, thanks to everyone and a special thanks to Maxence, she’s a gem.”

Our Rides

Half Day

For Beginner – Experienced Riders

For Beginner – Experienced Riders

For Experienced Riders

Full Day

Intermediate – Experienced Riders

Over Night

For Intermediate – Experienced Riders

Multi Day

For Intermediate – Experienced Riders

For Intermediate – Experienced Riders

High Country Specials

For those who can’t get here at the moment!

What they say

RIDING LEVELS

WE LOVE OUR HORSES AND WE WANT YOU TO LOVE THEM TOO!

SAFETY:  The safety of our horses, staff and clients are paramount.  While every effort is taken to match one of our horses temperaments with the riders ability,  it is important to remember that a horse has a mind of its own and so a good account of your riding experience and ability is imperative to ensure you have an enjoyable time.  We have a variety of horses that are suited to different riding levels, please consider the guide below before selecting your riding level.

What Rider Level Best Describes You?

(A) EXPERIENCED  Someone who has ridden for a number of years and is confident on any horses with any temperaments.  A person who will enjoy a forward responsive horse.
(B) INTERMEDIATE  Someone who can rise to the trot and sit to a canter comfortably, and can control their horse within, and independently, of the group.  A person who will enjoy a more responsive horse.
(C&D) BEGINNER  Someone who has never ridden before or has only ridden a few times in a controlled environment.  Or someone who has lost their nerve and just wants to go quietly to enjoy the view and be with their quiet natured horse.

ALL CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 14 YEARS OLD AND UNDER MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A PARENT OR GUARDIAN.

TRACK AND RIVER CONDITIONS:  Weather in the high country can be extremely changeable and therefore cause river and track conditions to become dangerous to ride across or to ride at a faster pace.  Therefore it is imperative each rider adheres to the direction of our qualified guide during the trek.  While every effort is made to accommodate the intermediate and experienced rider's wishes we must consider yours and our horse's safety first.

Terms & Conditions Apply. Please click here for more information. 条款和条件 .