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Discover an Australia
unseen by many... in a manner experienced
by few!
... on horseback in a remote part of
Victoria ... It’s an ancient
landscape, some 400million years old with lines
of pink granite boulders trickling out of the
dominant Mt. Ned, along grassy ridge lines
sprinkled with snowy white gums down to the
river flats. Indigenous history says that the
Bundarrah Valley was a woman’s place. White man
history was of cattlemen. Gold was never found
in this valley but a short ride over a ridge
line takes you along the Mitta Mitta river where
there was apparently plenty. Omeo is the closest
town having a chequered history of lawlessness
being so far away from any major city. Gold
miners and followers came in search of gold as
cattlemen looked for greener pastures.
The
riding country is varied as we ride up onto the
Bogong High Plains which were once dotted with
the brown and white Herefords, and at one stage
sheep. The Bogong High Plains at about 4,800 ft
elevation are a large expanse of alpine grasses
and heaths dotted with color during the
wildflower season. On a clear day you can see
forever, across the plains towards the Mt.’s
Feathertop, Bogong, Fainters, Niggerheads, Cope
and Jim and way into the distant ridge lines of
the NSW Alps . In winter it’s covered by metres
of snow though heavy snowfalls do fall
unexpectedly in summer months. And that makes a
riding trip interesting.
 IT-AURT14
Rates include 6 nights with 2 nights
in a mountain lodge and 4 nights camping, meals,
5 riding days (5-6 hrs each)
7
days/ 6 nights $ 1,695
-- Single for first and last night $150
based on AUS$ 1850 / 160
2008 Dates:
01/04-01/10 01/11-01/17
01/25-01/31
02/02-02/08 02/13-02/19
02/26-03/03
03/14-03/20 03/21-03/27
03/29-04/04
04/17-04/23 04/25-05/01
... other dates
are available for groups of 3+
availability
& reservation
Meeting: Anglers Rest
Airport: Melbourne
/ Albury
Transfer: Available upon request from
Omeo
bus or train station
Level:
Intermediate
Tack:
Australian Stock
Saddles
and English tack
Horses:
Australian stock
horses and Brumbies, Thouroughbred, Clydesdale
and Quarter cross
Min/Max: 2-12 riders
Note: A
good 5 1/2hr drive from Melbourne, it’s a remote
part of Victoria reached by roads weaving
through river valleys and mountains.
Helmets
are mandatory.
Accommodations
First and last
nights are spent at the O'Connells Mountain Hut
near Angler's Rest, built in the 1940s. This
350acre high country farm is nestled amongst
farm lands and National Park in the hidden
Bundarrah Valley of the Omeo region in East
Gippsland, Victoria. The farmhouse with large
open decks, overlooks the Bundarrah River which
winds it’s way through river flats, boulder
strewn rapids into the Mitta Mitta River and
onwards in a very roundabout way to the Murray
River and the South Australian sea. Due to the
remote location there’s no mains power. So no
hairdryers!
There’s easy private access to
the river for fishing or swimming. The Blue Duck
Inn and its great country pub grub is 3km away.
The area is steeped in history of the mountain
cattlemen, aborigines, gold miners, fishermen
and travelers.
Ride details
The rides
include itineraries as per below. The itinerary
will be subject to change such as reversing the
days, depending on rider ability and weather
conditions at the time.
DAY 1 Arrive at
the Mountain Chalet. Meet your host and
riding crew. Settle in with a drink on the
deck overlooking the valley where horses
graze amongst wild kangaroos. During dinner
we’ll chat about the horses and days riding
to follow.
RIDE A After a hearty
breakfast, pack your gear ready to be taken
ahead to camp. Horse selection at the yards
then head off. The ride will pass through
forests and clear mountain rivers before
selecting a scenic spot for lunch. Days end
will be a camp alongside Big River and dine
under the stars.
RIDE B Today’s
ride will head up from the valley floor
following a track cut into the side of a
mountain about 140yrs ago. Expect to see
some superb views as we rise out of the
forest onto snow plains. Once above the tree
line we’ll be on top of the Bogong High
Plains. Camp fire dinner and tent
accommodation.
RIDE C A day of
riding out across the High Plains where
brumbies can be seen. The ride will go to
some of the cattleman’s huts, following
along small mountain streams taking in the
many varied wildflowers and other alpine
vegetation. Camping out in tents and a
sumptuous camp fire dinner.
RIDE D
A long day in the saddle with a ride across
the High Plains towards Youngs Tops before
heading to McNamaras Hut and the downward
track home along McCoys track back to The
Willows. Expect to see brumbies running
free. Open plains give way to views of
distant mountains
RIDE E Riding
back to The Willows via Trapyard Gap.
There’s much variation in the forests, some
easy going open tracks and bush riding
before coming out into the open farmland of
the Bundarrah Valley. Once home the horses
will be given a good wash down before we
adjourn to the deck and have a final dinner
at the long table.
RIDE F Riding
across the Bogong High Plains, descending
down into the West Kiewa River then
following the Cobungra River downstream
before rising up again towards Dinner Plain
Village. The night will be spent in one of
the lodges with time for a hot shower before
dining out at one of the local restaurants.
RIDE G An interesting ride from
Dinner Plain back to The Willows. We’ll
follow old stock tracks through the bush
before crossing the Cobungra River and
heading back into the Bundarrah Valley.
LAST DAY After breakfast, time for
last photos and packing of bags before
heading onwards
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