Twin Lakes Pure Kiwi Adventure

Day 1

4.5 hours riding

Team Up with your Adventure Horse

Imagine riding a beautiful horse into stunning views of the enchanting Lake Wanaka, Mount Aspiring, Hunter Valley and the surrounding mountain ranges.

Exclusive access
To 4 privately owned iconic high country stations.

Important Note: This trail is unique in that at times we utilise pack horses and others the trail is serviced with a 4 wheel drive vehicle. In both cases we will be utilising the “blue bags” for the three out of the 9 days riding.

Pick up in Queenstown is between 9> 9:30 am 

Arriving at West Wanaka Station 12 > 1230 pm start – 4 .5 hours riding (this may vary depending on weather or station activities (mustering cattle or sheep)

Lake Wānaka, weave your magic

Our adventure begins at West Wanaka Station wool shed.

You will be introduced to your adventure horse team mate, this afternoon. Horses are saddled and ready to go, we are fitting equipment to your needs, adjusting stirrups, attaching saddle bags, 

Listen carefully to our trail boss/ head wrangler at this time as they will give you tips about your specific horse. Our horses live and work in a herd environment and it is important to observe the herd hierarchy. (Learn more about our horses)

This is an important time, ensuring that everyone’s riding abilities match that of their adventure horse team mate. 

This is a good time to raise any questions you may have about your gear or your horse team mate. 

Each of our horses has a unique personality that I am sure you will fall in love with.

We pack our blue bags, load the pack horses and saddle up to ride beside the picturesque Lake Wanaka to our accommodation for the evening.

Tucker boxes packed, horses saddled and pack horses at the ready. We will ride through deer paddocks climbing up onto the top tracks of the West Wanaka deer farm. This particular piece of the ride has been voted the most scenic four wheel drive journey in New Zealand for several years by New Zealand Tourism Board. Here we enjoy views of Lake Wanaka, Wanaka and Hawea Basin and Mount Aspiring National Park. 
Our destination for the night is the simplistic and rustic Minaret Hut. Minaret hut is basic Musterer’s accommodation with 8 bunks and a long drop toilet. You can choose to sleep in the hut alternatively; we carry tents for those who want more privacy.

We will enjoy a hearty meal and relax overlooking the lake from the banks of West Wanaka Station. From high in the hills the lights of Wanaka Township are visible under cover of darkness.

Friendly K’ak’ap’o (wild colourful Alpine parrots) usually join us in the camp. We are so close to civilisation and yet so far away.

Day 2

5 hours riding

Horse, the unknown is waiting, lets go….

_{Riding to Minaret station}

This morning we enjoy a continental breakfast, as we are up and on the move early.

Packing our saddle bags after a continental breakfast, we say goodbye to our lovely old hut as we are heading to Minaret Station today.

This morning’s ride is one of the trail bosses favourite as the scenery is so dramatic and breath-taking.

The trail leads around rocky bluffs and thick native bush as we drop down into the Minaret River where we will enjoy a cup of tea and lunch. 
Then we will head off climbing out of the Minaret River through the boundary between these two iconic stations.

Keen eyes will spot wild deer in their natural habitat and native falcons. We will ride for approximately an hour before we reach the lush green paddocks of Minaret Station. Here we are riding along the side of Lake Wanaka with its stunningly clear glacial waters acting like a mirror reflecting the imposing mountain ranges. 
We are very lucky to have permission to ride through these farms on the banks of Lake Wanaka. There is no vehicle access through this area, Minaret utilises a barge, boat or air transportation. This is why we utilise pack horses preserving the traditional method of transportation for all of these stations.
Our accommodation for the night is the recently, revamped shearer’s quarters, with hot showers, flushing toilets, soft beds and electricity is provided by the station generator.

Our evening meal is being prepared by either the station owner or the station managers Wife at Minaret. This is a great opportunity to chat to those who live and work at Minaret station. The Wallis family are famous in Aoteroa NZ for the live capture of deer which marked the beginning of deer farming in NZ.

We can relax and enjoy the beauty of this isolated environment.

Day 3

5 hours riding

Sailing into new tomorrows, my horse and I…

This morning we are up very early to catch horses and saddle up, we have a boat to catch. After a continental breakfast we ride out to meet the barge (horses) boat (humans)

Packing our saddle bags we say goodbye to Minaret Station quarters. Today we sail across Lake Wanaka and it is a stunning sight. The mountains generally have a dusting of snow and Lake Wanaka changes colours like a camelion. Your camera will be exhausted after this part of the trail.

We sail towards the neck which is the shortest distance between Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea. This is a very historic sight as Maori fought a fierce battle here.

Once we alight off the boats / barge respectively we will be walking up hill for around 15 mins with our horses. Then we duck onto an old pack trail high above Lake Wanaka and ride towards Lake Hawea. At one point in the ride we can see both Lakes. We stop for lunch beside the stunning Lake Hawea before riding through native beech forests and into Hunter Valley Station.

Tonights accommodation is shearers quarters with hot showers, flushing toilets, washing machine, wifi. It is lovely to relax at the quarters which overlook Lake Hawea, you can enjoy an icy swim in the Lake, take a wine on the deck and read a book, enjoy a lovely walk beside the lake.
The Cochrans’ who live and work at the station are lovely welcoming people. Most of the time our guests have the opportunity to chat to them about station life and share some stories.

Day 4

6 hours riding

Hello Lake Hawea goodbye heart

This morning we enjoy a continental breakfast as we are up and on the move early.

Packing our saddle bags after a lovely breakfast, we say goodbye to Hunter
Valley Station quarters. Today we ride through native Beech forests and water falls.
Travelling alongside this imposingly beautiful lake side we head towards Hunter
Valley.

Today we will see Hereford cattle and Merino sheep roaming, this is a working station and at times we enjoy seeing the shepherds mustering with their dogs and horses.
We will stop along the way for photo opportunities.

We will be crossing the Hunter River to reach our destination for the evening, Green bush hut.

Tonight’s accommodation has a long drop toilet, we will be utilising tents for our accommodation, although we are cooking in a small private hut.

We will enjoy nibbles and dinner in this stunning mountain backdrop.

Day 5

6 hours riding

or

rest day

Lets Explore More of that Valley

Today it’s your day, your way.

• Fly fishing, Hunter river is a world renowned fly fishing river and this is your chance to enjoy that opportunity, a (catch and release river, you will need a license)
• Enjoy a rest day at the hut reading your book, walking, swimming in the icey waters
• Ride deep into the Hunter Valley

_{Crossing the stunning Hunter River}

After we enjoy a hearty farmhouse breakfast and pack our lunches (those who are riding saddle up and ride deep into the Hunter Valley)

For riders, this trail meanders through an ice blue glacial river flanked by magnificent mountain ranges. Riders enjoy seeing trout playing in the river or rare New Zealand falcons flying high overhead. This is a ride you will not forget for a long time as the incredible isolation and beauty is overwhelming.   

Returning to our camp at Green Bush hut for the evening where dinner has been cooking on the fire all day.

We enjoy wine and nibbles before dinner.

There is no electricity in this hut but we do have limited solar lighting.

We enjoy an evening singing around the fire to the ukulele, telling stories of the trails and laughter.

Day 6

6 hours riding

Hunter River, your beauty will forever flow through my memories

_{Riding that valley}

After breakfast, tucker boxes packed we head towards our accommodation for the next two nights, Dingleburn station.

The day is spent feeling as though we are riding in a postcard as the views throughout the day are spectacular and day dreamy.

The lake acts as a mirror reflecting the stunning views futhermore, changing colours from the deepest blue to icy turquoise. We will be looking back across the lake at Hunter Valley Station and Lake Hawea that we rode around the previously.

Our accommodation for the evening is the Dingleburn shearers quarters, located in an amazing mountain setting. Dingleburn station is known for its production of some of the finest merino wool in the world.

Here we have hot showers, flushing toilets, a wonderful cook shop where we will enjoy a farm cooked meal and relaxing evening together.

Sustainable Station:

This station is completely off grid and self-sufficient, electricity is generated by hydro power/ solar power and generator.

There is a washing machine at the station for those who wish to catch up on some washing.

We often enjoy watching station life, as shepherds muster sheep (often on horseback) with their dogs at this iconic station. The stock managers and owners of this station are Nikki and Bridget Meads. They often drop in for a chat if they are not too busy.

It is wonderful opportunity to hear the stories about station life.

Day 8

6 hours riding

Number 8 Wire Kiwi Engineering, Riding the Bluff

This is a relaxing morning at the station, enjoying a full farmhouse breakfast in the cookhouse.

Today we ride out along the bluff towards our destination the Hawea Hotel. you will be amazed at the pioneering Kiwi ingenuity that constructed this access way into such a stunning and remote station. We will pass the waterfall that provides the hydro power for the station.

A wonderful picturesque gentle days riding. 

En-route we will ride up onto the peninsular and look back up through the Hunter Valley.

Keep the camera handy as views of Mount Aspiring, Lake Hawea and the bluff will take your breath away. 

Weather permitting; we enjoy lunch on the reserve at the base of the mountains.

Our Taxi meets us at Dingleburn Cattle yards. The horses have a night on the hay the humans are transported to the Lake Hawea Hotel for our nights’ accommodation and evening meal.  We arrive at the Hawea Hotel around 4pm.

There is a laundry at the hotel for those who wish to do some washing.

This Hotel overlooks Lake Hawea and we can enjoy the luxury of dinner looking out over the lake. Dinner is a set menu

(you will need to bring your wallet for alcohol which is not included)

Day 9

none riding day

Saying Goodbye to the Mountains that have been our Home for 9 days

After breakfast, our taxi drivers Mike and Hele will pick us up and deliver us back to Queenstown (airport or Hotel)

Hold the memories of the mountains forever in your heart.

Time to plan your next trail