Rates Note:

Transfer and Other Options:

Best time for riding is April to November. December-March is very hot and often humid (sub-tropical).

We will supply your horse and the necessary riding equipment for the horse.
Your guides will care for the horses and riding equipment during your trip!

Tack:		English style light weight endurance and general purpose saddles and snaffle bridles
Horses:		Australian bred purebred and part bred Arabians, Arab-Quarter crosses.
Pace:		4-6 hours in the saddle, except beach ride 2-3 hours some long trots and canters
Level:		(3.5 to 4 out of 5)    Good Intermediate
Age:		Min 18
Weight:		Max 180 lbs
Riders:		Min 2 riders	Max 4 riders

Expertly Trained Long Distance Trail Riding Horses...

We use well schooled, Australian pure and part bred Arabian horses, including Arab-Quarter horse crosses, carefully selected and trained for long distance trail riding. Many of the horses were bred specifically for endurance riding and complete endurance rides regularly.

The horses stand between 14.2 and 15.3 hands (145 and 157 cm) and are sure-footed, good-natured and in excellent condition. The horses are kept in groupings on large paddocks on the 60 acres property in Lorne on the Mid North Coast of NSW east coast Australia.

The Arabian horses' agility, great stamina, adaptability to the Australian climate conditions and excellent people- and work- friendly temperament make them ideal horses for multi-day long distance trail riding through challenging terrain.

The horses are trained to be ridden on a loose rein in English style. We ride with English Style lightweight endurance or all purpose saddles and use snaffle or bitless bridles.

Western Riders must have basic training in English riding and be comfortable in posting to the trot and a two point canter.
The horses' well being and safety is our main concern and riders can be assured that all trail riding horses are maintained and cared for to the highest standards. 

Your Host and Guide...

The riding center  is operated by Kathy Holtrust & her equestrian farm & riding team. Wanting a change in lifestyle, Kathy migrated to Australia from The Netherlands in 2000 with the plan to start a horse riding holiday establishment.

Kathy found the perfect property for the purpose on the NSW Mid North Coast Hinterland near Port Macquarie, where she opened for business in January 2004.

Your trail guide Kathy has a diverse equestrian background. Starting riding lessons at the age of 6, her first own horse at the age of 12 and extensive competing in her teenage years. She was a successful Dressage rider competing at Advanced level in The Netherlands and also competed in Show jumping and Cross Country (Eventing).

She later obtained her Dutch horse driving qualifications and drove the Cobb & Co Stage Coach in Echuca, Victoria, during her 1993 working holiday in Australia.

She now enjoys taking her Arabian horses to local endurance rides.

Having been on many trail riding holidays and treks throughout Europe and Canada, your trail guide knows what makes a great horse-riding holiday.

Kathy and her team are also responsible for the gourmet side of the business, from cooking breakfast to your request, bringing lunch to the riders in the Australian bush or preparing a sumptuous evening dinner meal or barbecue. Riders are well looked after when they are not on the horses!

Passports
Valid passport required by all nationals referred to in chart.

Visas
Required by all nationals referred to in the chart above except:
(a) those continuing their journey to a third country (who hold confirmation of booking and documentation to enter country) within eight hours of arriving in Australia.

All other nationals must obtain a transit visa before travel if intending to remain in Australia no longer than 72 hours and a stopover is intended. Transit visas are free of charge.
Note: (a) Not all airports remain open all night; travellers should check with the airline. (b) Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the Department of Immigration at the high commission to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).
Visa Note
Australian visa regulations (including visa application charges) change from time to time. The information provided here is valid at the time of publication, but visitors should check that this information is still current by visiting the Department of Immigration online (website: www.immi.gov.au) or by calling the Australian Immigration and Citizenship 24-hour Information Service (tel: 0906 550 8900, in the UK; calls cost £1 per minute).

Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) visas
The ETA is an electronically stored authority for travel to Australia for tourism, short-term business or elective study purposes, that allows multiple entries for stays of up to three months for people from certain countries (see below). The ETA is valid for 12 months from date of issue, or for the life of the passport if it is less than 12 months. An ETA is invisible and therefore will not show up in your passport.

All nationals referred to in the chart are eligible for an ETA except: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovak Republic and Slovenia.

There are also student visas, employers' visas for overseas workers and sponsored family visitor visas available; enquire at the Australian high commission.
Types of Visa and Cost
ETAs: Visitor/Short Validity Business: Free of charge. Business Visitor (Long Validity): A$75.

Note: A service fee of A$20 is charged when applying for an ETA online through the DIMIA ETA website. Some travel agents and airlines issuing ETAs also charge a processing fee.

Non-ETAs: Tourist and Business Short-stay visas: A$75.

Visa fees are generally adjusted on 1 July each year.
Validity
Visitor ETAs are valid for 12 months from date of issue (or until the passport expires, whichever comes first) and permit multiple entries into Australia for a stay of up to three months on each visit. Short Validity Business ETAs are valid for 12 months from date of issue (or until the passport expires, whichever comes first) with stays of up to three months on each visit and can be used for single or multiple entry travel. Business Visitor (Long Validity) ETAs are valid for 10 years (or the life of the passport) and permit multiple entries for a stay of up to three months for each visit.

For non-ETA visas, the validity varies according to the type of visa, the purpose of the trip and the validity of the passport. Visas are usually valid from three to 12 months. The validity will be stated on the visa label in your passport.
Applications to:
ETA: Authorised travel agents or airlines; by telephone; some nationals may apply online through the main Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) (website: www.eta.immi.gov.au) (Visitor and Short Validity Business ETAs only).

Non-ETA: Australian embassies, high commissions and consulates; see Contact Addresses.

There is a Tourist Short-Stay visa available online (website: www.eta.immi.gov.au) for all nationals referred to in chart above.
Working Days Required
ETA: When issued through DIMIA’s ETA website, or through travel agents or airline offices, usually processed and valid immediately or within three working days.
Non-ETA: 10-15 working days.