Pack ready to Ride
As we want you to start your horse holiday as relaxed as possible, without having to worry if you got everything you need, we have some packing must-haves and recommendations for you.
When travelling inside New Zealand, please check your Airline’s luggage restrictions. Usually, it’s check-in baggage of 20 kg and a carry-on-bag.
Adventure Horse Trekking NZ Ltd operates similarly, between airport and trail commencement, over limit baggage cannot be carried. If you have over the limits specified above please contact us prior to your trail commencement. Baggage is at “owner’s risk.” Most airports, hotels and hostels offer storage facilities for additional luggage.
For cloverleaf trails, there are no further restrictions. On the day rides, you will get saddlebags (incl. toilet paper roll and lunch bag) to go in front of your riding horses’ saddle.
If you are going on a pack trail, you’ll get an additional kit bag for your personal belongings that goes on a packhorse. The kit bag should not weight more than 9 kg. It is essential to bring dry bags to put your stuff in, as the kit bags are not waterproof.
The remainder of your baggage will be transported to the end of your trail, waiting for your arrival.
What you should bring on every ride
- Wet weather trousers and jackets (make sure your warm clothing fits under it!)
- 2 changes of clothes (warm woolen/merino clothing, thermal underwear with long sleeves and long johns), undies and socks for each day
- Suitable footwear for riding and walking (we recommend hiking boots, consider to waterproof them before you come on the trail)
- Light footwear to wear in the huts
- Riding helmet (strongly advised for every rider, mandatory for novice riders and children! Can be hired for free)
- Sun protection (sunscreen, glasses, hat), insect repellent, toiletries, hand sanitizer, wet wipes (you’ll get one toilet paper roll with your saddle bags on every trail)
- Dry bags for your belongings, especially on pack trails
- Togs for swimming/washing in the river if on a pack trail
- Micro towel, (head) torch, waterbottle
- Warm clothes, hat, gloves, scarf (even in summer – the weather in the mountains can change quickly!)
- Sleeping bag (except Lake Ohau and Birchwood Rides, can be hired for 15 NZ$)
Optional
- Hot water bottle (if you tend to get cold at night)
- Power banks to charge phones and cameras – we often do not have electricity!
- Earplugs (if you have a light sleep – most times, we have snorers with us ;))
- Personal medication
- Alcohol (please keep our limited space on pack trails in mind!)
- Chocolate, book, music….
Pack trail specific pack list
We are going into remote mountainous environments, far from the tourist routes, and you need to have everything you need to keep you warm and comfortable. Use this as a guide and add your own gear to it. Most pack trails we will be riding the day you arrive on trail, therefore it is helpful if you arrive “ready to ride” if possible.
Saddle Bags/Riding Horse
Kit Bag (~9kg)
- sleeping bag
- 2 changes of clothes in dry bags
- Undies and socks for each day
- toiletries
- Warm socks, light footwear
- head torch, hot water bottle, ear plugs
- Alcohol, chocolate, book, etc.…
- wet weather trousers and jacket
- sun protection
- insect repellent, hand sanitizer, wet wipes
- 1 change of clothes in dry bag
- Warm clothes, hat, gloves, scarf
Individually in saddle or blue bag
- personal medication
- power bank
- togs & towel
Download the packlist as PDF here.
Reminder:
Please check our Risk Disclosure and Terms & Conditions for further information and make sure you are familiar with them.
Should you have allergies, dietary or medical requirements, please inform us straight after booking, as we will need this information for the organization of the trails.
As it is quite hard for us to plan special food requirements, especially on pack trails, please only mention what is REALLY necessary for you, not “I am not a vegetarian, but I prefer vegetarian food” or “I don’t eat x, because I feel a bit tired afterwards.” Or even just “I don’t like y”.
We don’t mean not to accept peoples food habits, but we have very limited space on the pack trails and no chance to buy food along the way, so it’s very hard for the logistics to go with every dietary requirement. If you don’t like the one or other thing, there are usually enough options in every meal to get enough food without having to eat everything served.
So please: only NECESSARY dietary requirements.
If you have health related requirements or allergies, that’s a complete different issue of course, and we will do everything to make the food suitable for you.
We thank you for your understanding.
Also, remember that you need travel insurance and send us the details before your ride.
