Dingleburn Station Ride
Short and pure New Zealand. Explore historical Dingleburn Station on 3 dayrides. An adventurous in- and outride along the old Dingleburn Peninsula Track, stunning lake views, bushy tracks and a lot of cattle and sheep. Stay in cosy shearer’s quarters for the nights.
Details
Duration
3 days
2
nights
Riding
3 x
3-5 h
all
levels
Price (NZ$)
1.900
Payment Plan
yes
10
staged
Available Dates
19. – 21.
Apr
2027
Pick Up & Drop Off
Pick Up: 9.30am, Camp Street QT
https://maps.app.goo.gl/qps9WrVCi3gtjQw76
One taxi for all guests –
so please be on time!
Drop Off in Queenstown
after trail: 5 – 5.30 pm
Riding Location
Lake Hawea/
Dingleburn Station
Included
transfer (Queenstown
to location & back)
2 nights accommodation
full catering
trekking horse incl.
tack and saddlebags
first aid kit
hard hat (as required)
Excluded
flight/travel to
and from Queenstown
travel insurance (mandatory!)
sleeping bag (hire 15 NZ$)
alcohol
personal riding & travel gear
personal medication
Summary
Simple and simply stunning, this out-and-back trail is based around Dingleburn Station; a high-country station situated on the shores of Lake Hawea and accessible only by air or 4WD. Dingleburn has featured as part of our Hunter Valley and Twin Lakes trips for several years but we felt that this remote and breathtakingly beautiful property deserved a deep dive. Brand new for our 2026-27 season, this trail is the perfect short break for anyone wanting a true taste of the high-country way of life.
Accommodation
Dingleburn Shearers’ Quarters has such a special feel to it; accommodation is simple, cosy, and full of character. Bedrooms are on a twin or small group share basis; there are hot showers, a separate cookhouse / dining room filled with comfortable seating options, and a hot tub on the large lawn. The property is entirely off-grid and powered by solar.
Food
You will be treated to high-quality home-cooked meals on this trail, prepared primarily with home-grown or local ingredients. We will share cooked breakfasts, two-course dinners, and afternoon tea together in the quarters’ kitchen / dining room. Packed lunches will be provided to take with you in your saddlebags.
Adventure Level
2/5 – this trail is suitable for all levels of rider including beginners with an outdoorsy outlook and a good sense of adventure. Although the accommodation is comfortable and the riding is generally very easy-going, there are a few sections of more challenging terrain on the final day.
We ride only at a walk on all our trails, as is traditional throughout most of New Zealand.
Ride Itinerary
Day 1
Approx three hours in the saddle.
Your trip begins with collection from Queenstown Airport and transfer to Lake Hawea, enjoying a journey through Central Otago’s world-famous alpine scenery.
We will meet at Dingleburn’s cattle yards just outside the Hawea Township, sharing a picnic lunch whilst we have our pre-trail briefing, before mounting up and heading out. As road access to the station is steep and narrow, all stock must be transported in and out on foot or by horseback, and it is this route that we will take for our first afternoon’s ride.
Riding up above Lake Hawea is a truly spectacular experience; snow-capped peaks frame the shimmering turquoise water as we wind our way around the track cut into the hillside. Pass Rocky Point, and as we near the station, look out for tiny Silver Island. On a clear day, you will have a beautiful view of Aoraki Mount Cook throughout the ride.
An afternoon tea of home baked scones will be waiting for us upon arrival at the quarters, and your luggage will meet you there.
Day 2
Approx three hours in the saddle.
On our middle day, we will take a relaxed and scenic ride around the farm, exploring its rolling pastures, enjoying lovely views of the lake, and stopping off at a gorge for our lunch break.
In the afternoon, there will be plenty of time to head down to the river for a swim, explore the station on foot on one of the well-marked walking trails, or simply relax at the quarters with a book, a game of cards or a jigsaw.
In the evening, the hot tub is the perfect spot for some stargazing. The Mead family, the owners of Dingleburn, are very welcoming and love sharing their insights into high country farming with visitors.
This trail takes quite a different pace from many of our others, but we believe that this remote and spectacular station deserves to be explored slowly.
Approx four hours in the saddle.
On our final day on trail, we will ride out of Dingleburn Station and back to Hawea. In the morning, we will take a different route to the one we used on our ride in, heading out around the peninsula. The peninsula track is narrow but sturdy and makes for an absolutely gorgeous section of trail and a completely new way to experience the popular Lake Hawea.
We will stop for a picnic lunch alongside the lake – a great opportunity to get some scenic photos with your horse – before rejoining the main track to Dingleburn Station and retracing our steps back out to the cattle yards, enjoying our last few hours immersed in the mountain surrounds before heading back to civilisation.
Your return transfer will collect you from Dingleburn’s cattle yards and drop you back off at Queenstown.
Day 3
Trail Gallery
