This package is a 6 day riding adventure with accommodation at privately owned campsites on your hosts' property. Your guide will take you through these beautiful landscapes, imparting to you their wonderful knowledge of the area which is drawn from generations of High Country horsemen. Brumby spotting is an additional treat and the meals are of a gourmet level and eaten around the campfire. Your hosts, Justin and Delia are experienced and friendly.

Arrival Day:

Pick up by 4WD or coach from Canberra Airport with a stop for shopping in Cooma, the gateway to Australia’s Snowy Mountains. During this first night you will be accommodated in Justin and Delia's house on the lake at Jindabyne. You then head to the start point of the ride the next day. 

Day 1:

Breakfast at 8:30AM. Arrive at approx 9:30AM at the Wool Shed to prepare for your riding adventure. The ride departs from here at around 10.00am. It begins with riding through undulating, open pastures and there is the opportunity to view some Snowy Mountains brumby mobs, which often have mares with foals at foot. The ride then continues through more dense wilderness of gum trees and black sally’s, along scenic spurs and through gullies brimming with wildlife such as pretty faced wallabies, eastern grey kangaroos and the odd echidna or wombat. Following the Sheep Station creek north, the country becomes gradually steeper until the ride drops down to an emerald green grassy clearing on the creek, where lunch is scheduled.

After lunch, the ride continues to the base of the western mountain range. From there, it is a relatively steep climb to the top of Snowy Wilderness. Once at the top, it is a short ride to “Lake Bella Vista Camp Site” which is the location of the first night’s camp. From the woolshed to the campsite, the ride will have travelled over 450 vertical meters. The afternoon is very scenic, with mountain gullies filled with ferns and native flowers and plenty of wild life including deer. Arrival at the camp is usually 4:00PM and preparations for the evening meal including a large camp fire are well under way by the support group. Hot water is ready for the bush showers and tea/coffee, and of course your favourite mountain brew. Drinks and appetisers at 5:00PM and Dinner at 7:00PM.

Day 2:

Day 2 is set aside to explore the top acreage of the property and is a an easier day’s riding. Firstly, the ride visits a panoramic lookout point called Rocky Top Lookout and at approximately 1350m there is a brilliant view of the destination's backyard and a view of things to come! The view takes in Mt Carlisle, Sheep Station Creek, Reedy Creek and Gully Creek valleys, and 3 volcanic peaks named the Tubbits.

From the lookout, the ride explores the sub-alpine plateau and 4 mobs of brumbies including the Waler brumbies which were relocated here 5 years ago. Waler brumbies are from the north of Australia and hold a unique position in Australia’s history as they are descended from horses of the 1st fleet and bred for Australia’s light horse cavalry. They are magnificent to see and you can get reasonably close to them.

As the ride progresses, you visit your hosts' truffle acreage... yes they are growing truffles just like France and Italy! There are also sweeping views across the top of Australia’s main range, which quite often has snow on it. Landmarks that can be seen here include Mt Kosciusko (Australia’s highest mountain at 2228m), Ramshead Range, and Mt Perisher.

After this, the ride moves on to “Powers Hut”, typical of wilderness huts found in Australia's national parks and constructed in the early 1900’s. Power’s hut is 103 years old and the heritage of the area is reflected in this building.

A lunch site is chosen and there is opportunity to relax and take in the majestic surroundings.

After lunch, the ride sets off in search of the Silver Brumby Mob. Led by a silver grey Waler stallion, this mob has mares who are different shades of grey and can be quite elusive, weaving through the grey snow gum trees. The Silver Brumby is a majestic horse and there is a series of children’s books in Australia called the Silver Brumby.

Following this, the ride moves through slightly thicker bush to a vantage point locally known as the “Devils Marbles”, another wonderful lookout point over the eastern parts of the property. The ride follows the ridge south to another site called Glenview. From here, there is a short ride home to the Lake Bella Vista campsite.

Arrival at the camp is usually 4:00PM and preparations for the evening meal including a large camp fire are well under way by the support group. Hot water is ready for the bush showers and tea/coffee. Drinks and snacks at 5:00PM and dinner at 7:00PM.

Day 3 - The Northern Loop Ride:

Today the ride moves down past Hidden Lake which helps irrigate the oak/truffle trees, and begins a steep descent through a beautiful glade then onto a steep spur back down towards Sheep Station Creek. Once again, commanding views impress upon you as you ride down the trail. Sheep Station Creek is crossed, and a steady climb out of Sheep Station Creek valley onto a scenic track along a ridge which weaves down to the northern boundary of the wilderness. From here, it is trail riding at its best, across spurs and gullies with awesome "Man from Snowy River" views including a particularly steep cliff like view onto a distant Reedy Creek. Then it is riding further down the spur to find an easier descent into Reedy Creek, where you find a lush green area to have lunch on the creek's scenic banks. 

After lunch the ride continues crossing Reedy Creek and proceeds up a steep spur, then descending into Tin Mine Creek gully. You then climb up a ridge, over the top and down the other side back into the banks of Reedy Creek.

This is the start of your 'beach ride' which is great fun and nice easy riding. You meander along the sandy sides of the creek, sometimes with steep banks on each side, perfect for an ambush! Just when you thought you were having real fun, you come to the last part of the ride just before Reedy Creek campsite where the backup team have set up a beach umbrella and are serving your favourite cocktail... what a great way to finish the day's ride. Reedy Creek campsite is really idyllic - the creek does a U turn and the camp is sited on the spit formed by the U. It is one of your hosts' favourite sites. Drinks and snacks, followed by dinner at about 7:00PM.

Day 4:

Day 4 is an easy day in the saddle. You mount up and head out closer to the property's eastern boundary where you will climb Mount Carlisle and walk out to a rock near the top which has incredible views south into the state of Victoria. You see Mt Pinnacle, My Ingebyra, Bear Mountain and can look down into the Snowy River Valley in the distance.You mount up again and descend a gentle spur until you arrive at Gully Lake - an oval shaped arena where there is a campsite. Sometimes you might have a bit of fun and have races around the lake or sometimes a game of cricket or soccer!After lunch you ride out to our north east boundary to Gully Creek and then you ride along Tin Mine Gully for more "beach riding" all the way back to Reedy Creek campsite. 

Day 5 - The Great Southern Loop:

Today you head towards the property's South Eastern border, where you meander past the ruin of a small stone cottage where a lady used to live 180 years ago. She traded with the cattle drovers - milk and cream in return for flour, sugar and salt. 

You then cross Reedy Creek a couple of times and ride up along one of the biggest “wash outs” which your hosts call their Grand Canyon, an amazing sight to see. You ride up over a ridge and down to another formation of vertical rock face which they call AJ Falls. Then it is up and along the Yellow Box Gum ride and down a very long spot which drops down into Reedy Creek where you cross at a picturesque point. This is followed by a very long climb up a spur where you can see the Snowy River Valley and Mt Pinnacle. You pass by two of Bruv McGufficke's huts... Bruv was a lone horseman who lived out in the wilderness in various huts that he established. Bruv has passed away now but his legend still lives on. You stop for lunch along the way up the spur. Once at the top you cut across the side of a few hills and descend into a small dam area which offers awesome views across the eastern part of the property. Then there is a small climb and a steep descent into a small water hole. This small climb is followed by a long climb of up to 1100m to one of the best lookouts where you can see across most of the 7500 acres of the property. From here you enjoy a gentle descent to the Homestead Campsite. The fire is underway and dinner is being prepared after your long day. 

Day 6 - The Ingebyra Loop:

The ride begins with a long climb west across spurs and through a beautiful valley of tall gum trees which your hosts call the "Big Trees" and up to the top of a fire trail. This is quite steep riding but the views at the top of Round Flat (1600m) are stunning. The ride then continues down a gentle slope called Long Plain which provides access to the Little Boggy - an alpine frost plain of beautiful open meadows and fast running creeks. Today you eat lunch at another of Bruv McGufficke's camps. After lunch is it off again with some gentle riding up the Little Boggy on it's northern flak, past old gold diggings, then into the woods where you come across a huge gold stamping machine or ore crusher. How they got it there in the 1800s is just amazing!The next bit of riding is through awesome valleys and spurs past the "bark huts" and down to Dan Kelly's hideout where he finally passed away. Dan was Ned Kelly's (a famous Australian bushranger) brother and hid out in these mountains after they were defeated at Glenrowan. Then it is a gentle but long ride home to the Woolshed/reception for your connections home.