This 7 days/6 nights riding holiday offers a unique blend of experiences only available in the sub-tropical climate and topography of South-East Queensland's Sunshine Coast. It is possible to ride on a 70 kilometre long pristine beach, rainforest trails and over green rolling farmland on Australian Stock horses famous for their ability and temperament. Day 1: On arrival you will be transferred to a beautiful lodge in the heart of the Mary River Valley and introduced to your hosts for the next two days. The Lodge is nestled on 50 picturesque acres with mountain views. The facilities include queen-size bedrooms opening onto wide verandas, a lounge area with open fireplace and a large resort style swimming pool. The lodge has a working Cobb & Co. Coach, sulky and carriage and resident harness horses driven by your host John. There are also resident wildlife - wallabies, koalas, echidnas, possums and a great variety of birdlife. Lunch (depending on your arrival time) includes a ride itinerary orientation. You will then be introduced to the wonderful Australian Stock horses. This introduction includes a short familiarisation session on basic horsemanship and caring for your horse (of course many guests may not need this session!). Pre-dinner drinks will be served in the lounge and dinner will then be served in the beautifully appointed dining room or, weather permitting, alfresco.

Day 2: After a delicious breakfast at around 7.30 am, you will prepare the horses for departure. Today you will ride through beautiful state forest and rainforest country west of Kenilworth. The ride duration will be 3.5 to 4 hrs. Lunch will either be eaten at the lodge or a Cafe in Kenilworth. After this you will assemble for travel to towns high on the Blackall Range.  Early evening you will return to your Lodge to prepare for pre-dinner drinks and then dinner.

Day 3: After breakfast you depart for your next two nights in the place where gold was first discovered in Queensland and led to a gold-rush in the area which finally centred itself around the historic town of Gympie. Your accommodation is an historic building in Kilkivan being the former Union Bank and today it is an award-winning bed and breakfast with cafe/restaurant facilities operated by charming hosts. After being shown to your room you can enjoy a delicious traditional morning tea then start the Wongella Trail ride, part of the trails which make up the annual Great Kilkivan Horse Ride. During this ride you will pass through a variety of open range country and what the locals call the Valley of the Grasstrees. The ride duration will be approx 4 hrs. This is followed by a sit-down BBQ lunch served usually by Bruce at the Mudlo National Park entrance which may include being entertained by a local historian and bush poet. Transport is then provided back to your accommodation with time to relax or explore the town followed by dinner. The town may be seem quiet but there is much to do and see.

Day 4: Following breakfast you depart for an Australian Stock Horse stud of over 10,000 acres and nearly 200 horses plus quite a few cattle. You then mount up and ride through the property looking for herds of cattle or horses to be mustered - this is a fantastic experience and you will appreciate your stock horse at this time.  After lunch you depart for a visit to an equestrian store and if time permits, a visit to a local saddler and a pub. You are then able to enjoy pre-dinner drinks on the balcony before dinner.

Day 5: After breakfast depart for Kin Kin in the heart of the Noosa Trail Network for your next part of the journey - this will take an hour and a half.  You will prepare your horse and mount up to ride the Noosa Trail Network, usually starting with Trail no 1 - the Kin Kin Countryside Loop complete with ocean and hinterland views. This ride is 3.5 hours. Then after a light lunch and welcome drink at the Kin Kin pub you depart for Noosa and check into your luxury accommodation for the next two nights. Accommodation will either be at the Noose Springs Resort and Spa or the Noosa Blue or Montepellier aparments. The accommodation will have a swimming pool and pampering facilities. Dinner is either at the resort or in one of Noosa's exclusive restaurants.

Day 6: Breakfast is followed by departure for Noosa North Shore. Horses are prepared and then you commence a ride through the bush to the spectacular Laguna Bay and Teewah Beach for a memorable trip along the pristine Noosa North Shore.   Return to Noosa for a light lunch then return to your luxury accommodation and spend the afternoon chilling out with massage, spa treatments or explore Noosa's famous Hastings Street, beach or National Parks.

The day will end with your host transferring you to Rasa's restaurant along the Noosa river precinct for a memorable dinner to complement a wonderful week of riding.

Day 7: Breakfast then time to return home.  Depending on your flight departure, you may have time to fit in a visit to the Eumundi Markets or the Aussie Zoo. A sad farewell after a fabulous trip.

A riding tour in combination with attendance at the 150th running of the famous Melbourne Cup Race. Tour 1 begins with riding in the Snowy Mountains followed by attendance at the cup race and Tour 2 starts with the race and then moves on to the mountain riding. Your hosts will be working in combination with a well established riding company in Victoria and attendance at the race is with tickets for a premium marquee package. This involves reserve lawn stand seating.

TOUR 1:

Day 1 

Arrive Melbourne - travel to Snowy Mountain ride location. You arrive at the celebrated “Riverhouse at Howqua Dale”, a magnificent country house hotel on the banks of the Howqua River. The 6 double rooms with ensuites all have beautiful views of the garden or countryside.

Enjoy a relaxing hot shower before a riverside BBQ dinner in one of Victoria’s prettiest valleys.

Day 2 

You arrive at the high country farming property that has been in the Watson family for many generations.

After saddling up, you set off on our ‘Man from Snowy River’ experience on horseback. You ride up to spectacular 360 degree views and along the way, watch out for the wildlife that often takes a look at us, including kangaroos, wallabies and Australia’s largest bird of flight, the wedge tail eagle.

You stop at “Dungeon Hut” for lunch and enjoy a gourmet hamper lunch and then in the afternoon you traverse the bridle tracks through quiet valleys and points of rich historical interest to the “Riverhouse at Howqua Dale” for the evening.

Day 3 

The next morning you enjoy an early hearty country breakfast and start your journey up the majestic Howqua River along the high track towards “Stockyard Creek”. It is a challenging days riding with spectacular views over the river, tree fern gullies and long cantering sections. You stop for a pack lunch on the river bank surrounded by just mountains.

After lunch you ride through Wares Flat, Whisky Flat and Tobacco Flat and into Stockyard Creek to the Stoney family’s Pioneering Homestead. Here you are greeted with a cool drink and warm hospitality by Wendy Jubb Stoney. Enjoy a sumptuous traditional Australian dinner at the homestead with all the trimmings and then retire to your room furnished with original pioneer relics and sun kissed sheets.

Day 4 

A relaxing sleep-in then an indulgent breakfast awaits you. This is a day of relaxation where we ride to explore the historic Howqua Hills area including ‘Picture Point’, and ‘The Chinese Gold Diggings’, ‘Mad Professors Hut’, ‘Fred Fry’s Hut’ and ‘Tunnel Bend’.

Tonight’s dinner is a special affair at “Greenstone” the Stoney family house where we will enjoy a wonderful degustation dinner.

Day 5 

An early rise followed by a sumptuous breakfast. Today you return via the river track to the Riverhouse with long cantering flats and 30 river crossing. Lunch today is at the “Hideout” with much memorabilia from the “Man from Snowy River” movie.

Tonight we take a drive to the historic Kevington Hotel on the banks of the Goulburn River for dinner. This is one of the longest continually licensed hotels in Victoria dating back to the Gold Rush era.

Day 6

Next morning you enjoy a hearty country breakfast that gives you a big energy boost before you set off for “Kate Cameron’s Peak” where you see the perilously steep hill where the famous jump scene from the movie was filmed.

Your wind your way back down to Kinloch Winery for lunch to complete our ride.

Depart for Melbourne:

Accommodation will be at Melbourne Citygate Hotel. All of the guests will be staying in deluxe rooms with water views. The hotel is located directly across from the historic Flinders Street Train Station.

Day 7: Melbourne Cup Parade

Guests will have a special meet-and-greet breakfast with Melbourne Cup winning jockey John Marshall. John rode for 12 time Melbourne Cup winning trainer Bart Cummings.

Guests will enjoy a leisurely day exploring the city of Melbourne with an opportunity to watch the traditional Melbourne Cup city parade featuring legendary past jockeys and horses that competed for The Cup taking part in the procession. Dinner tonight will be at Melbourne’s iconic Italian restaurant E Cucina.

Day 8: 150th Melbourne Cup Day!

It is time for the fancy hats and frocks for the historic 150th running of the

Melbourne Cup! It is “The race that stops the nation” and a once in a lifetime

opportunity.

Guests will be located in a premium private marquee that includes a plated entree and buffet lunch, complimentary beer and wine, with light entertainment in the courtyard between the races.

Guests will be seated in the reserved section of the Lawn Stand to watch the races.

Day 9: Depart after a true Australian Adventure!

TOUR 2:

Practically the same but the other way around, beginning with arrival in Melbourne and then moving on to riding in the mountains after the cup race. Please contact office to see it exactly.