Musterers’ Mountain Pack Trail

Riding Day 1

Our trail taxi picks you up between 12:30pm >13:00

2 hours riding St. Bathan’s Station, Central Otago  

Meet at 2:30pm St. Bathan’s Station, Central Otago – 2 hours riding 

Your exhilarating boutique horseback holiday begins at the picturesque St. Bathan’s Station at the foot of the mountain ranges. Here you will meet your adventure horse team mate and guides.

Note: Come dressed ready to ride as we are heading straight out on the trail.

2 hours riding_ Your luggage will be taken to our accommodation for the evening. We will then introduce you to your adventure horse that will be saddled and ready for the afternoons ride at the beautiful St Bathan’s Station. This is to ensure that we have a happy relationship between horse and rider.

We explore the beautiful St Bathan’s Station, often the shepherds are working flocks of sheep with their dogs. It is great to peep through the window of high country life and we are ever grateful to Don for sharing his amazing location with us. High Country people are so welcoming even though they are very busy people.

Riding Day 2

6 hours riding

River, how I love to ride beside you.

Saddle up our horses and enjoy a spectacular views from horseback as we crisscross the Dunstan River 24 times.

See the water races that gold miners constructed in the 1800’s when this historic gold mining area was filled with hopeful prospectors.

Like 100’s of musterers’ before us we ride our horses through 2 iconic high country stations today.

St. Bathan’s Station and Dunstan Downs Station.

As we ride up the valley the majestic mountain they call “Old Man’s peak” stands before us (waiting for us to conquer the following day) “Aotearoa” New Zealand’s highest stock route at just under 6000 feet above sea

Riding Day 3

8 hours riding

Horse, Let’s Summit those mountains together

8 hours riding_ Horse, Let’s Summit those mountains together

Today we summit our first mountain on horseback, like a horse rider in “Lord of the Rings” or “Mulan” our horses carry us to 6000 feet above seas.

From the summit of the highest stock pass in New Zealand, on a clear day you see the four of the highest Mountains in New Zealand’s South Island.

Aorangi (Mount Cook), Mount Aspiring, Mount St. Bathan’s and Mount Tutoko

The vista includes lakes Dunstan & Pukaki, weather permitting.

Today you will feel like a rider in “Middle Earth” on your own quest. This is just the beginning of the incredible sights we will share with our adventure horse team mates.

Riding Day 4

4 hours riding

Mountains, you are the magic my soul is made of

4 hours riding_ Mountains, you are the magic my soul is made of

After yesterdays long day in the saddle, this is a shorter days riding to enable the riders and horses to rest before tomorrow’s stunning and dramatic ascent to the top of Mount Prospect.

Today begins with an hours walk descending from the Lindis Ridge. Lunchtime sees us at the side of the Lindis River where the horses enjoy a good graze and nourishing drink from the cool glacial waters.

This afternoon’s ride is through farmed New Zealand high country with Merino sheep, wild deer, and native falcons.

Riding Day 5

5 hours riding

Nature, my senses are alive with your beauty

The scenery today is outstanding, mountains spread out before us we can see the St Bathan’s ranges that we rode only a few short days prior. You will be amazed at the distances we cover on horseback. This is where our adventure horses come into their own; sure footed and kind they dig into the mountain passes carrying you into dream locations others rarely see. For those riders who enjoy walking and observing Alpine plant life, this is a great opportunity to do so. This location is filled with unique New Zealand flora and fauna, flanked by the Southern Alps

Riding Day 6

4 hours riding_ Horse, with you by my side I know I can achieve my dreams

4 hours riding

Horse, with you by my side I know I can achieve my dreams

Today is one of the trail bosses favorite days riding; enjoy a day filled with mountain scenery on horseback, second to none in the world. Our global riders have told us this far surpasses anything they have ridden in the world (without the worry of grizzly bears or mountain lions).

Riding Day 7

5 hours riding_ River, your braids of beauty play my heart strings

5 hours riding

River, your braids of beauty play my heart strings

Today we will enjoy views of the Ahuriri conservation park riding close to the Ahuriri River crossing many small streams. This is Merino sheep country whose fine wool has made New Zealand famous. Often the station is mustering the sheep whilst we ride through which a wonderful site to see, shepherd and his dog is working together.

Tonight we are staying in a beautifully restored historic homestead deep in the heart of the Ahuriri conservation park. We celebrate our final evening together, share a farm house dinner and the stories from the trails we have ridden. Sing to the ukulele around the fire in the lounge snug or simply snuggle up with the book.

Riding Day 8

4 hours riding

Rest or Ride the choice is yours today

4 hours riding_ Rest or Ride the choice is yours today

Today you can choose what you would like to do.

1. Enjoy a lovely relaxing day enveloped in the magic of the mountains you have been riding over the last week. Sleep late in soft beds enjoys a full farmhouse brunch. There are some lovely walks, some great swimming holes in the river, an amazing catch and release river for fly fishing river or a wonderful warm lounge snug and a good book _or
2. Ride up Mount Gladwish _4 hours riding

A stunning days riding high into the mountains affording 360 degree views

Day 9

Final day: May the memory of the mountains and the love of your adventure horse ever be in your heart

Final day, May the memory of the mountains and the love of your adventure horse ever be in your heart

after breakfast you will be picked up by our bus and returned to Queenstown Airport or your accommodation.

Pick up 9:30 am reaching Queenstown Airport 1 >1:30pm depending on traffic/weather