Glenorchy Back Country Ride

5 Day, 4 nights

Experience the quintessential back country adventure in Glenorchy with a 5-day, 4-night trek. Ride through stunning landscapes and explore iconic scenery. Book with Globetrotting for an unforgettable experience.

Experience

Strong Intermediate & Experienced

Duration

5 Days, 4 Night

Minimum Age

10 years old

Weight Limit

95kg

The Quintessential Back Country Experience

Please book directly through Globe Trottersour trusted boutique equestrian travel agents and administrator for this fabulous Glenorchy back country 5-days, 4-night trek.  

With five days of unrestricted hours in the saddle, this ride has it all – from exhilarating canters through untouched land, swimming horses through glacial fed streams, wandering through native beech forest, ride amongst the snow capped mountain ranges and explore the fantasy based landscapes that have inspired some of New Zealand’s biggest Hollywood blockbuster films. 

High Country Horses have exclusive access to some of Glenorchy’s most Iconic scenery, stretching over 100,000 acres of pristine back country, from the Dart Valley, Paradise through to the Rees Valley with Mount Alfred sitting in the middle.

Day One, guests will stay at Rees Valley Station’s shearer’s quarters on day one. Rees Valley Station is a 37,000 acre working Merino sheep, and Hereford beef station that borders World Heritage listed Mt Aspiring National Park.

On Day Two and Three, we explore the Rees Valley with its glacial fed rivers and wild, untamed beauty. Accommodation is beside Arthurs Creek Musterer’s Hut, where it’s back country camping at its best. Think waterfalls, starry nights and silence.

On Day Four, cruise through enchanted landscapes made world-famous from blockbuster movies like The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, Mission Impossible and The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe. The last night is at Miller’s House, a historic, bespoke guest house set within Paradise (quite literally)!

Day Five, the final day of your riding holiday where you’ll venture from Paradise through the mouth of Lake Diamond and ascend the southern side of Mount Alfred. At the top of the track you’ll be able to take a moment and contemplate where and what you have just experienced in the last few days. As far as the eye can see and further is where you have traversed from your sure-footed station horse. Your ride will pass the Dart Bride featured in the recent NZ drama One Lane Bridge before heading back to base for a welcome cold drink.

The Glenorchy Back Country ride typifies everything we love about New Zealand.

All you need to do is get yourself to Queenstown, in the South Island of New Zealand and we’ll take care of the rest! 

Testimonials

Affectionately known as "pride rock", how beautiful is this spot from our 5 day glenorchy back country ride!?
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Rees valley at its best 👌🏻 
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#horses #adventure #wild #nzmustdo #nature #beauty #mountains #highcountryhorses #newzealand #freedom #glenorchybackcountry
Affectionately known as "the gallop hill" how good does this look!? 
Day 4 on the #glenorchybackcountry ride 
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#highcountryhorses #gallop #adventure #horsesofinstagram #horses #wonderlust #mountains #scenery #nzmustdo #glenorchynz glenorchynz
we only regret the rides we didn't take 
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#highcountryhorses #adventure #freedom #glenorchybackcountry #mountains #wild #horse #riding #beauty #newzealand #nzmustdo
With spring well on the way we will be kicking off our Multiday rides next month! 
Ranging from 1 day up to 5 days by horseback through the stunning NZ backcountry. 
Get in touch for details! 
Info@highcountryhorses.nz 
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#highcountryhorses #multiday #horse #adventure #glenorchy #queenstown #nzmustdo #camping #backcountry #glenorchybackcountry
📍Glenorchy boat shed

#glenorchywharf #glenorchy #weekendadventures #southisland #newzealand #glenorchybackcountry
Tales to Inspire: 'This was the trip of a lifetime for me and something I have been working towards for the last five years in line with my riding goals, in order to be able to ride through the beautiful Lord of the Rings high country. What I didn’t realise was just how breathtaking the setting would be in real life, and how outstanding the horses would be. Casey and Deana really have put together an amazing troop of horses that can cater to all manner of riders - we had a broad spectrum of abilities and experience in our group but it didn’t feel like that once we were out in the wilderness. I loved this ride - five days was a long time to be in the saddle, but every day there was something new and different to see and experience. To anyone thinking of doing this trip - stop thinking and just do it!'
- The Glenorchy Back Country Ride in New Zealand was a real-life fantasy ride for Jen Dalitz!
On the Glenorchy Back Country Ride you’ll explore the Rees Valley with its glacial fed rivers and wild, untamed beauty.

Music: Valleys by Pete James Johnson
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Interactive Trail Map

*Please note trails are subject to change and the interactive map is only a rough guide to one of our potential trails. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Please contact our awesome equine travel agent Globetrotting directly to book your spot on this world famous ride. You won’t regret it!

In order to fully enjoy the magic of this overnight ride you will need to be either an intermediate or an experienced rider with a high level of riding fitness. This means you need to be able to confidently trot and canter over uneven terrain whilst maintaining control of your horse. 

If you used to ride regularly but have not for a few years we strongly recommend building up some saddle hours before the ride. Your bum will thank you later!

For the first night guests stay in bunk bed rooms with a hot shower and flushing toilets a short 1min walk away in a separate building. The next two nights guests will stay in tents with camp stretcher and swag) beside a station muster hut where there is a camp shower and a long-drop toilet. The last night guests stay at Paradise Homestead which is a historic, bespoke accommodation house with laze-about beds, hot showers, flushing toilets and kitchen.

Please check with Globetrotting directly for age requirements on this ride.

All children under 18 years old and MUST be accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

The well being and safety of our horses is of the utmost importance to our team and weight limits are put in place to ensure their welfare is kept in accordance to the world horse welfare tourism standard. We are strict on this policy.

Please note that guests may be weighed at check in and then introduced to the horse that best suits your riding ability and weight.

  • A few sets of riding clothes (depending on the length of trip)– we love our riding tights here – light and comfy (long riding pants are a MUST)!
  • One or two sets of normal clothes (track pants/jeans/yoga pants etc).
  • 3 EXTRA pairs of socks/undies (better over packing then under 😉)
  • Riding boots and an extra pair of runners/hiking boots to wear around the camp sites (Jandles also recommended – that’s thongs for you Aussies!)
  • Short sleeve top
  • Long sleeve top
  • Thermals
  • Jersey/jumper
  • Swimming clothes/togs
  • Waterproof /Wind breaker Jacket
  • Gloves (riding)
  • Camera or phone to capture your memories (and a portable charger – there are very limited charging opportunities on our multiday treks)
  • Sunglasses
  • Sun block/Sand-fly repellent
  • Toiletries and medical drugs that you may require (Panadol, antihistamines etc.)
  • Warm PJ’s
  • Drink bottle (re-usable) we do not supply bottles as we are trying to lower our plastic use, but water is plentiful for you to refill your own bottles from
  • Extra snacks and alcohol (BYO) if you wish – No alcohol is supplied on this trip but you are more than welcome to bring your own

Please check with Globetrotting directly for their cancellation and refund policy. 

If you are a movie lover, this is the ride for you!

The back drop of this ride has been featured in numerous Hollywood blockbuster films over the years. It’s not hard to see why, as you ride through fantasy based landscapes, mystical beech forests and around towering snow capped mountain ranges. 

You’ll be riding beneath the famous “misty mountains” in The Lord of The Rings looking up at the Dart Valley that was the epic location of the tower of Isengard. 

Rees Valley Station played host to Mission Impossible 6: Fallout, Walking with dinosaurs and Netflix’s hit ‘Sweet Tooth’ TV series, just to name a few.

Paradise is New Zealand’s most formidable and famous filming location. You’ll be able to get an exclusive up close and personal experience riding amongst scenes from Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The chronicles of Narnia, X-men Origins: Wolverine, Taylor Swifts “out of the woods’ Music video and many many more.

Most importantly… this ride will leave you feeling like you’re the star in your own movie!

Ready for the experience of a lifetime?