punakaiki horse treks nz

Activities in Punakaiki

Along with walking, surfing, river and sea swimming, fishing, kayaking and general exploring you can learn how to stand up paddle board, help out on a planting project or check out the magical underworld in nearby Charleston.

There’s something here for everyone…

Kayak and stand up paddle board lessons, tours, and gear rental

If you want to kayak or stand up paddle board in Punakaiki check out Waka Puna located right beside the Pororari River bridge. They have a range of kayaks and paddle boards for hire to suit anyone plus wetsuits, wet shoes, shorts and life jackets.  All hires include a briefing which describes the significance of the water way and its features and how to use water craft safely.

Conservation Volunteers

Want to help with our planting restoration projects around the Coast, restoring a native rainforest or wetland?

We have projects underway at Bullock Creek, Punakaiki Coastal Restoration Project and Wadeson Island in Hokitika.

Check out our Facebook Page – PunakaikiCVNZ – for upcoming volunteering activities, which could include seed collection, nursery work and helping to preserve and enhance the breeding habitat of the Tāiko (Westland Petrel).

Underworld Adventures – Underworld Rafting & GlowWorm Cave Tours

Join us on a simply magical journey of discovery in the enormous Nile River GlowWorm Caves amidst a calcitic wonderland of stalactites and stalagmites complete with unbelievable galaxies of GlowWorms.

Whether it be our award winning “Underworld Rafting”, or the more passive “GlowWorm Cave Tour” and “Nile River Rainforest Train” or even the full-on “Adventure Caving” be assured that you are in for and adventure never to be forgotten.

Paparoa Guided Walks

We offer all-inclusive guided trips on the Paparoa Track Great Walk.

Trips include transport to start of track, meals, hut accommodation and a local, knowledgeable, qualified guide. Maxmium group size five people, minimum two. We also have the ability to book out private trips.

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10 Best Horse Riding Tours in New Zealand 🐎 [2024]

Support nz pocket guide and get our huge ebook collection to access our tips on the go, the best places for horseback riding in new zealand.

If Gandalf can use a horse to navigate Middle-earth, why can’t you?! A huge aspect of New Zealand ‘s appeal is indeed the mountains, hills and lakes that were chosen to depict Middle-earth. Getting to view this scenery through fun activities makes them all the more spectacular, and horse trekking is certainly one of those. We’ll go through some awesome horse riding tours in New Zealand in the list below!

Horse riding in New Zealand caters to the abilities of the riders. Even if you are a complete beginner, your guide will teach you the basics and progress with what you are comfortable with. However, if this isn’t your first time on a horse then there’s often the opportunity to gallop and feel the wind through your hair!

1. River Valley Stables

With North Island scenery to die for, the remote River Valley is worth discovering sitting high on a horse. River Valley Stables uses natural horsemanship techniques, helping you build a relationship with your horse before venturing into the hills. River Valley also offers accommodation and white water rafting so you could find yourself lost in this wilderness land for days!  

Location: River Valley Lodge, 266 Mangahoata Road, Taihape, North Island.

2. The Cardrona Hotel

Ride the open plains of gold mining history and breathtaking scenery in the Cardrona Valley . Open plateaus of farmland surrounded by the mountains of the Crown Ranges make this horse trek between Queenstown and Wanaka well worth considering on the South Island. The Cardrona Hotel offers a couple of horse trek tours ranging from 2 hours to 3 hrs 30 mins .

Location: 2125 Cardrona Valley Road, Cardrona, South Island.

3. Rubicon Valley Horse Treks

Located just between Christchurch and the majestic mountains of Arthur’s Pass , Rubicon Valley Horse Treks is a tempting option for many travelling through the South Island . Walk, trot or canter through a high-country sheep farm, past the Waimakariri River Canyon and the Southern Alps. The 2-hour horse trek also includes morning or afternoon tea. For more things to do through Arthur’s Pass, check out the 10 Best Things to Do in Arthur’s Pass National Park .

Location: 534 Rubicon Road, Springfield, South Island.

4. Adventure Playground

Adventure Playground offers guided horse treks on the hills of Mt Ngongotaha where you’ll wind through native forest to open hills overlooking Rotorua . The tour is suitable for beginners to experienced riders. Only lasting around one hour, the trek also makes a great option for those on limited time (probably because they want to fit in  25 Best Things to Do in Rotorua ) or who just want a taste of horse riding in New Zealand.

Location: 451 Ngongotaha Road, Rotorua, North Island.

5. Golden Hills Horse Treks

Escape the chaos of Queenstown with a tranquil horse trek near Cromwell . Enjoy sweeping vistas of Lake Dunstan and the Mt Pisa Range on a small-group horse ride with Golden Hills Horse Treks . The 2-hour experience is suitable for all ages and abilities, with kids being led on the horse if needed. Cover plenty of ground and get amazing photos from various hilltops on this Central Otago ride. For more experiences in the area, take a look at the  10 Best Things to Do in Cromwell .

Location: State Highway 6, Cromwell, North Island.

6. Lighthouse Adventures

Treat yourself to a fantastic horse ride through mountainous valleys awash in braided rivers, no matter what your level of riding experience is. Better yet, feel like you are in Middle-earth, as Lighthouse Adventures  is based in one of the Lord of the Rings filming locations , only 45 minutes away from Queenstown , in Glenorchy . With an emphasis on happy horses by using natural horsemanship techniques, this one can’t help but give you the “feel-good” factor. While you’re in the area, check out the   15 Best Things to Do in Glenorchy .

Location: 2 Swamp Road, Glenorchy, South Island.

7. Blue Duck Station

This almost inaccessible spot near the Whanganui National Park offers a challenging but rewarding horse trek. Go uphill to capture views of the surrounding rainforest at the remote Blue Duck Station . Whether you prefer a half-day ride or a multi-day riding adventure with accommodation and meals provided, you can stay in the wilderness for as long as you like!

Location: 4265 Oio Road, Retaruke, North Island.

8. Cape Farewell Horse Treks

Ride along the rugged clifftops and sweeping beaches of Wharariki Beach with Cape Farewell Horse Treks . The area offers impressive views of Farewell Spit and the surrounding landmarks including Pillar Point . Such landmarks are best enjoyed riding a majestic horse, don’t you agree? Choose from a range of rides, from 1 hr 30 mins to 4 hours. Plus, discover more gems nearby in the 20 Best Things to Do in Golden Bay .

Location: Wharariki Road, Golden Bay , South Island.

9. Ahipara Horse Treks

As one of the longest beaches in New Zealand, there’s lots of room to play around with on Ninety Mile Beach . Start your trek with Ahipara Horse Treks in Ahipara and ride along to the sound of waves crashing. Wade through water and gallop along long stretches of hard sand. Choose from 1-hour, 90-minute and 2-hour treks, rides specially designed for kids, or a sunset ride or swim ride in summer. For more ways to keep the kids happy, check out the 50 Best Things to Do in New Zealand with Kids .

Location: 11 Foreshore Road, Ahipara, North Island.

10. Out on a Lim

For a Maori cultural experience mixed with horse trekking, try Out on a Lim horse trekking near Wairoa . Cross Maori ancestral lands along the coast and listen to Maori legends along the way. Trek over hills, across wetlands and on the beach in this beautiful yet secluded area of Hawke’s Bay .

Location: 109 Iwitea Road, Wairoa, North Island.

More About Horse Riding in New Zealand

That’s it for our list of the best horse riding tours in New Zealand. Combine your time horse riding with some of the best experiences in New Zealand, as listed in these guides:

• 51 Best Things to Do on the North Island
• 51 Best Things to Do on the South Island
• 101 Things to Do in New Zealand : The Ultimate List

Finally, plan your entire trip to New Zealand with ease with help from  The Best Travel Guide to New Zealand .

The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:

• Tourism New Zealand (General travel advice - Updated [2024])
• Adventure Mark (Health and Safety Audit - Updated [2024])
• Work Safe NZ (Adventure Activities Guidelines - Updated [2024])
• Department of Conservation (Tracks, hikes, campsites and more - Updated [2024])
• AdventureSmart (Know before you go - Update [2024])
• NZ Māori Tourism (Official Māori Tourism platform - Updated [2024])
• Tourism Export Council New Zealand (Tourism trade association - Updated [2024])
• TIA (Independent tourism association - Updated [2024])
• Tiaki Promise (Care for people place and culture - Updated [2024])
• Council websites and freedom camping maps (Local travel advice region by region - Updated [2024])

Our editorial standards : At NZ Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.

About The Author

This article has been reviewed and published by Laura, the editor-in-chief and co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. Laura is a first-class honours journalism graduate and a travel journalist with expertise in New Zealand and South Pacific tourism for over 10 years. She also runs travel guides for five of the top destinations in the South Pacific and is the co-host of over 250 episodes of the NZ Travel Show on YouTube.

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