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This trip has been designed specifically for the
confident rider with some previous experience.
Riding out from Hanmer Springs, an alpine
spa, you will cross the Manmer Range over Jolies
Pass, cross the mighty Clarence River, visit the
historic Acheron accommodation house used by
pioneer travelers and ride over part of
Molesworth, New Zealand’s largest cattle
station. Crossing the Clarence again and on to
Cloudy Range Station, you will follow the river
between the Inland Kaikoura Range to the west
and Mount Alarm (7,755 ft), Mount Tapuaenuku
(8,655 ft) and the Seaward Kaikoura Range to the
east.
Passing through the Clarence Reserve
you will arrive at Quail Flat, from where you
can take a day ride to the remote Muzzle
Station. Continuing east, you will cross the
Seaward Range enjoying spectacular panoramic
views of the Inland Kaikoura and Clarence
Valley, and the Seaward Kaikouras as they
descend into the Pacific Ocean.
Riding down
the Kahutara River you will reach the coast and
ride along the beach to Kaikoura.
 IT-NZRT03 
Rates: All inclusive from Christchurch,
meals, accommodations in tents, farms and huts,
8 riding days, 5-7 hours per day.
10
days/ 9 nights $ 2,125
-- based on NZ$ 2,875
2006:
NO LONGER BEING OFFERD
Meeting:
Hanmer
Airport: Christchurch
Transfer: included around 3:30 PM
Level:
Intermediate +
difficult riding country,
physically demanding ride with long hours in the
saddle
Tack:
Australian Stock
saddles
Horses:
Thoroughbred/Clydesdale cross
Pace:
Slow, some trots and optional canters
Min/Max Riders: 1-7
Weight Limit:
220 lbs.
Note: You will be traveling with
packhorses, camping in rustic huts and tents.
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Nancy, a nine year-old part-bred Connemara, is
one of
the best riding
horses.
|
 Itinerary
Day 1. P.M. Transfer from Christ Church
to Hanmer Springs for overnight at the farm
(Dinner)
Day 2. After a hearty
breakfast we saddle up and familiarize ourselves
with our mounts. We then load the packhorses and
set off from Hanmer and over the Hanmer Range
via Jollies Pass into the Clarence River Valley.
After lunch we travel on down the valley,
through the River to our camp at the historic
Acheron accommodation house. (Tent camp)
Approx.5 hours riding.
Day 3. An
early start is called for today and after
breakfast we break camp and follow the
Molesworth cattle track down the Clarence River,
crossing the river twice. We ride on to the
Dillon River and over a low pass into Stoat
Creek. We lunch at Stoat Creek and then it's a
steep pull out of Stoat Creek and through
Bullen's Hills across the Clarence again to the
Cloudy Range hut and our camp for the night. (Musterers
hut / tents) Approx. 6.5 hours
Day 4. Another early start and after
a cooked breakfast we load up the packhorses for
the Ride to Willows Hut on Clarence reserve. We
cross the Clarence up to four times today and
stop for lunch and a swim at Rough Creek. After
lunch we cross the Clarence again and ride on to
the Palmer Stream where we take a break. We then
ride on, eventually leaving the Clarence,
climbing up through a pass and dropping down
into the Gore Stream and the Willows Hut. (Musterer's
hut / tents) Approx. 6.5 hours
Day 5. From the Willows we climb up
around 900 metres onto the Fells, a vast area of
elevated rolling country, gullies full of sweet
briar. Remnants of Kanuka and scrub give the
traveller an indication of the impact that
extreme farming practices of the past have had
on this country. Dropping down into the Herring
Stream we stop for lunch, after which we ride up
over the Beaumont saddle and down to Quail Flat
where we join the Clarence again and visit the
old Quail Flat homestead built in about 1860.
Then it is on through Horse Flat to the
Limestone Stream and another short break before
we cross the Clarence River once again at the
Tytler and ride on to the remote Muzzle
Homestead, our home for 2 nights. (Muzzle
Station, bunkhouse accommodation/showers-2
nights) Approx. 7 hours
Day 6.
Optional day for washing clothes, exploring,
walking or short ride from Muzzle Station
homestead or just relaxing in a truly remote,
tranquil setting.
Day 7. Today we
retrace our tracks back to the crossing at the
Tytler which, during the 1800s, was a run in its
own right running some 14000 sheep, and on to
Quail Flat for lunch. On reaching the Herring
Stream we follow the river upstream into the
Seaward Kaikoura Range between awesome rock
formations to the Bluff Dump Hut (alt. 610m).
The Bluff Dump Hut was an old packhorse depot
where supplies destined for the Bluff Station
(now The Muzzle) pack team to pick up. These
supplies were packed in over the Seaward
Kaikoura Range by a Kaikoura packhorse team.
(Tents) Approx. 6 hours.
Day
8. After an early start we head up past the
Tent Poles Hut and Split Rock onto the Kahutara
Saddle on the rugged Seaward Kaikoura Range.
We are rewarded with awesome panoramic views of
the Clarence Valley, the Inland Kaikoura Ranges
to the West and looking East down the Kahutara
River to the sea -- and a hint of civilization.
We walk from the Kahutara Saddle following the
steep winding track with sheer drops to the side
of us. Here the Kaikoura Peninsula comes into
view and beckons us down through Dead Horse
Gully to Bushy Saddle where we stop for lunch.
After lunch its down the Kahutara River onto the
road for a short time then back into the
Kahutara River until we come to the home of
Nicky and John Smith's Kahutara Farm, nestled in
a sunny valley beside the river. Our home for
the night. (Farmstay D.B.B) Approx. 8
hours .
Day 9. After a good nights
rest and a hearty breakfast we ride out
following the historic mail trek onto the
tussock tops of John and Nicky,s farm. At a
lookout point about 475metres above the ocean we
have lunch and enjoy the panoramic views. Whales
are sometimes visible from this point when they
are in close and we have favourable conditions.
After lunch we wander back down from the hills
to John and Nickys Kahutara homestead for one
last night of real kiwi hospitality.
Day
10.Transfer to Hawarden, Ch.Ch.or stay on in
Kaikoura.
Return Trip Itinerary
Day 1.
Transfer from Christchurch to John and Nicky
Smiths Kahutara Homestead (PM) (Farmstay)
Day 2.
After a hearty breakfast we saddle up and
familiarise ourselves with our mounts then ride
out following the historic mail trek onto the
tussock tops of John and Nicky,s farm. At a
lookout point about 475metres above the ocean we
have lunch and enjoy the panoramic views.
Whales are sometimes visible from this point
when they are in close and we have favorable
conditions.
After lunch we wander back down from the hills
to John and Nickys Kahutara Homestead for one
last night of real kiwi hospitality and comfort
before we ride over the Seaward Kaikoura Range
into the remote Clarence valley. Approx. 4 hours
riding (Farmstay)
Day 3.
An early start, we load up the pack horses and
ride further up the Kahutara to the track that
takes us up through Deadhorse Gully, through
Blind Saddle and over 4000 ft as the track leads
over the Seaward Kaikoura range. We ride down
through Split Rock, past Tent Poles on to our
campsite at Black Rock Creek on the Clarence
Reserve. There are spectacular views of the
Kaikoura Peninsula , the Seaward Kaikoura and
Inland Kaikoura Ranges. Tent Camp Approx. 7
hours riding
Day 4.
Dropping down into the Herring Stream we stop
for lunch after which we ride up over the
Beaumont saddle from where we see Mt Tapeunuku
in the distance beckoning us toward her and The
Muzzle Station. We carry on down to Quail Flat
where we join the Clarence River and visit the
old Quail Flat homestead built around 1860. Then
it is on through Horse Flat to the Limestone
Stream with and another short break before we
cross the Clarence River at the Tytler and ride
on to the remote Muzzle Homestead, our home for
2 nights. (Muzzle Station bunkhouse accomodation/showers-2
nights) Approx. 7 hours
Day 5.
Optional day for washing clothes, exploring,
swimming or walking around Muzzle Station
homestead or just relaxing in a truly remote,
tranquil setting.
Day 6.
Today we retrace our tracks back to the crossing
at the Tytler which was at one time in the
1800's a run in it's own right running some
14000 sheep, and on to Quail Flat for lunch . On
reaching the Herring Stream we climb up around
900mtres onto the Fells, a vast area of elevated
rolling country, gullies full of sweet briar,
remnants of Kanuka and scrub giving the
traveller an indication of the impact that
extreme farming practice's of the past have had
on this country. Our camp for the night is at
Willows Hut at the confluence of the Gore and
Alfred Streams. Approx.7.5 hours (Hut /
tents)
Day 7.
Leaving The Willows we climb out over a low
saddle and drop down to follow the Clarence
River again passing the Palmer Stream and
Winterburn to Rough Creek where we stop for
lunch and a swim. After lunch we cross the
Clarence again and ride on past Soldiers Whare
to the Cloudy Range Station hut where camp for
the night. (Musterers hut / tents) Approx. 6.5
hours
Day 8.
Once again an early start and we cross the
Clarence River onto Molesworth Station. After
following a steep cattle track through Bullens
Hills, before we drop down into Stoat Creek for
lunch we have a final view of Mt. Alarm and
Mt.tap. From Stoat Creek we ride out over
another low saddle into the Dillon Stream then
along the tussock covered river flats to where
we cross the river. We ride on to the abandoned
Acheron Accomodation House just above the
confluence of the Clarence and Acheron rivers.
This is our camp for the night. (Tents) Approx.
7 hours .
Day 9
From the Acheron we ride alongside the Clarence,
turning away from it to cross Jollies Pass and
ride on into Hanmer Springs, an alpine village
renown for its hot pools. After we take care of
the horses it is off to a Bed & Breakfast for
the night and a soak in the hot pools. (Bed &
Breakfast D.B.B) Approx 5.5 hours.
Day 10..
AM Transfer from B & B, Hanmer Springs to
Christchurch.
Note: This journey is a pack trip
through remote country and is suitable only for
competent riders with a high standard of fitness
and a willingness to participate. It is not a
ride for passengers.
We travel light and have to be prepared to sleep
rough. Long days, a big river, limited access
through difficult country, heavily laden
packhorses, this is a ride for people who are
comfortable in the saddle and know how to look
after themselves and their horse. A high
standard of fitness and a willingness to
participate is essential, it is not a ride for
passengers.
If you do not have a healthy dose of the
pioneering spirit this is not the ride for you.
If you prefer a bit more comfort and a shower
each day the “Station to Station” or
“The Hurunui” ride should be your choice.
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