Transfer and Other Charges:

5-day Warrior Trail Sample Itinerary - Subject to changes

Day 1
Arrive by midday. The introductory ride starts around 2:00pm along the beautiful beach (approx. 2 hrs). Enjoy dinner with your hosts, descendants of Te Kiri paramount chief of Ngati Wai and his daughter Rahui, and who have lived their entire lives farming this land. Over night stay at the farm house or in the beach house.

Day 2
We start at 10 am for a day's riding on the beautiful white sand Pacific surf beach. Here you may be lucky enough to see wild dolphins playing in the surf and indeed ride in and swim with them.this of course cant be guaranteed but we do this occasionally! You will ride along trails in the pine forest once used by Maori warriors in ancient times as they protected their territory here from visiting tribes.This is the trail run by the legendary runner Tau Kokopu who was as famous for his skill with the taiaha as he was for his speed running.
Lunch at the freshwater Lake Tomarata - if the weather is warm you might like to swim your horse and cool off. Then up over Te Arai Point where the views over the beach and out to the islands Te Moana nui O Toi O tuatahi ( The floats of the net of Toi in the great sea) Hauturu (Little Barrier) Aotea (Great Barrier) Mokohinau and the Taranga (Hen and Chickens) are spectacular Overnight at the lovely Lakeview Chalets overlooking Lake Spectacle. Approx 5 hours riding.

Day 3
Full day ride along the long white sand Te Arai beach much loved by surfers for its left hand break, ride over Te Arai Point and through the forest  Finish your day riding along Pakiri beach and through an ancient pohutukawa glade (if you are riding in early December these gorgeous old trees will be covered in bright red blossom hence the name NZ Christmas tree) to your accommodation and a hearty dinner. Approx 5 hours riding

Day 4
Depart for the Maori Marae at Leigh. We climb high above the white sands of the beach to the Pa (the lookout fortress) of the paramount chief Te Kiri the ancestor of your hosts Laly and Sharley. Here you will be able to look out over the ocean to the Barrier islands and the Hen and Chickens and Coromandel and also to Rangitoto and Auckland city in the distance. We will travel over beautiful farmland down to the little fishing township of Leigh. A short ride from there to Omaha Marae, a genuine Maori marae still run on the traditions of the past. Overnight at Leigh Sawmill. Approx 5 hours riding.

Day 5
After a hearty breakfast you will begin your return trip stopping for lunch at Te Kiri’s Pa high above the sea. From here a steep descent to the beach where you can enjoy a brisk gallop along the sand and then ride through the dunes and along the estuary where you can see a wonderful variety of birds, up over some hilly farmland and return to Pakiri. Enjoy an afternoon tea or a cool beer. Departure in the afternoon or we can extend your stay with an overnight with dinner (extra). Approx 4 hours riding

----------------------

3-day Rahui's Ride Sample Itinerary - Subject to changes

Day 1
Arrive at the farm at 10.00am. 10.00 am departure on a full day ride to Te Arai Point riding along beautiful Pakiri  Beach, through white sand dunes, pine forest and native New Zealand rainforest. We stop for lunch at the fresh water lakes where weather permitting you may like to swim with your horse. Then we ride on over Te Arai Point offering magnificent views out to the Hen and Chickens Islands (Taranga) Moko Hinau and the Barrier Islands. Approx. 5 hours riding.
Overnight at Lakeview Chalets or Beach Cabin.

Day 2
Ride along the beach and through forest and dunes after riding through forest at Te Arai . Overnight at beach house or beach cabin depending on numbers. Approx. 5 hours riding.

Day 3
After  breakfast depart on a full day ride up to the Pa site of Te Kiri high above the sea over looking the islands to the East. Lunch there high above the Pacific ocean, then return to the beach and ride along the estuary and over farmland. Depart the farm after a cold drink or a tea or coffee with your guide or your hosts. Approx. 4.5  hours riding.

--The above sample itinerary is subject to changes at the tour operator's discretion.--

Auckland area

Seasons
Because New Zealand lies in the Southern Hemisphere, the average temperature decreases as you travel south. The north of New Zealand is subtropical and the south temperate. The Auckland region enjoys a warm, coastal climate without any extremes of temperature.
Summers in Auckland are generally warm with high humidity, while winters are mild and damp. Plenty of rain is experienced throughout the year, but mainly in winter (June, July, August).

Keep in mind that the weather here can change unexpectedly—as cold fronts or tropical storms quickly blow in. Because of this, you should be prepared for sudden changes in weather and temperature.

However, the weather here is usually fine and lovely when it is wet elsewhere in the country...
Auckland is one of New Zealand sunniest regions with 2060 annual sunshine hours. The region is also very lush, with a mean annual rainfall of 1240mm.

Special note – strong UV
New Zealand experiences relatively little air pollution compared to many other countries, which makes the UV rays in our sunlight very strong.
The sunlight here can quickly burn skin from September to April, especially between 10am and 4pm, even on cloudy days. Be 'SunSmart' by using these three simple steps when you go outdoors: stay in the shade whenever possible, wear a shirt, hat and sunglasses, use SPF 30+ sunscreen and reapply every 2 hours.

What we supply:
Oilskin raincoat, Saddlebags, Riding helmets

Avoiding aches and pains:
Wear panty hose, tights or lycra bike pants under your riding pants to help reduce chafing.
Avoid wearing new or freshly starched jeans; those seams can be a killer.
Lengthen stirrup leathers a notch or two to reduce stress on knee joints.
Protect all exposed skin from the sun.
Take the opportunity to walk when possible.
Do some simple stretching exercises before mounting.
Bring some Vaseline or similar for chafed bits
A small cotton neckerchief can helf keep sunburn at bay when you have an open neck shirt.
We recommend half chaps.

Safety helmets are mandatory and will be provided.

Accommodations
5-day Warrior Trail: This is a progressive ride, so nights will be spent in different locations. You will stay in 3 different locations total.
3-day Rahui's Ride: This is a stationary ride, so all nights will be spent at the same location.

Description
You will be staying in carefully selected accommodations that compliment and show off the beauty of New Zealand. Bathrooms are shared on Night 2 and Night 4. WIFI is available at all locations. Laundry is not available for this trip.

5-day Warrior Trail
Night 1 & 3: Beach house on Pakiri Beach
The farm is only a 1½-hour drive from Auckland through farmland and native bush with extraordinary coastal views. Experience authentic farm life with your friendly hosts - descendants of the area's first Maori rangitira (chief). Their farm is on lands that have been handed down for generations, covering 2000 acres of coastal hill country in lower Northland, carrying 200 beef and breeding cattle, 200 Merino and some Perendale sheep and 60 horses some of which make up our much loved trekking herd. Fifteen of these horses comprise the well established Arabian horse stud Taurere Park Arabians. Pakiri Beach is a 15 km long private white sandy beach. Stay in attractive and comfortable chalets and enjoy real farmhouse cooking. Wake up to the sound of waves crashing onto a deserted surf beach. One 4-bedroom cabin and two rustic queen bed cabins with private bathrooms, all peacefully located on the dunes above Pakiri Beach.

Night 2: Lakeview chalets or Casa di Lana at Te Arai
Located in the private Spectacle & Slipper Lake Valley. Our Chalets are nestled in park-like grounds with superb views over the lakes, forest and countryside. Our chalet residents have exclusive access to the lake for water activities and walking and relaxing. All our fully serviced chalets enjoy a setting amongst native trees with spectacular views of the lakes and beyond. Each chalet has decks opening onto our extensive gardens with barbecues. Enjoy the fabulous sunrise and sunsets with the peace and quite of our private lakes surrounded by the beauty of our local fauna and flora. 3 chalets each with shared bathroom, 2 bedrooms.

Casa Di Lana is a modern conversion of an old authentic wool shearing shed offering funky and comfortable accommodation on a coastal farm. Located 2 km from Te Arai beach, this property includes a living room with a TV. There is a dining area and a kitchen. The Renovated Woolshed offers a barbecue, a large deck and a grassed area. If you would like to discover the area, fishing and hiking are possible in the surroundings. 3 separate apartments with king bed and private bathroom in each.

Night 4: The Leigh Sawmill
With our Modern Apartment (first choice), and in our Accommodation Lodge, we have 5 spacious Double Suites (second choice) that offer a great place to enjoy a goodnight’s sleep. The accommodation lodge also features a large kitchen, dining room and shared bathroom facilities.

3-day Rahui's Ride
The farm is only a 1½-hour drive from Auckland through farmland and native bush with extraordinary coastal views. Experience authentic farm life with your friendly hosts - descendants of the area's first Maori rangitira (chief). Their farm is on lands that have been handed down for generations, covering 2000 acres of coastal hill country in lower Northland, carrying 200 beef and breeding cattle, 200 Merino and some Perendale sheep and 60 horses some of which make up our much loved trekking herd. Fifteen of these horses comprise the well established Arabian horse stud Taurere Park Arabians. Pakiri Beach is a 15 km long private white sandy beach. Stay in attractive and comfortable chalets and enjoy real farmhouse cooking. Wake up to the sound of waves crashing onto a deserted surf beach. One 4-bedroom cabin and two rustic queen bed cabins with private bathrooms, all peacefully located on the dunes above Pakiri Beach.

Room Occupancy
There is no single supplement fee for those willing to share.


Meals
All meals are included from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on your last day. Wholesome hearty home cooked food throughout stay is served with New Zealand wine and beer at dinner. Breakfast and dinner is enjoyed at the accommodations while lunch is had on trail.

Menu Example
Breakfast: cereal and fruit, toast, cooked eggs of riders choosing, tea, coffee, fruit juice
Packed lunch: filled roll, fruit, muesli bar, sweet cake / slice, fruit juice, bottled water
Evening Meal: depends on riders preferences determined at booking but typically includes a fish, lamb, beef or chicken dish with seasonal vegetables and salad, rolls, home cooked / prepared desert, NZ wine or beer. 

Dietary Restrictions
We can cater to dietary restrictions with prior notice.

This trip includes some wine with dinner and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Passports

Passport valid for at least one month beyond the intended period of stay required by all nationals referred to in the chart.



Visas

Not required by nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to three months except:

1. nationals of the UK who may stay for up to six months;

2. nationals of Australia who may stay indefinitely.

Visa Note

Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact their nearest New Zealand Immigration Service to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).

3. Visa waiver does not apply to people travelling on alien (non-citizen) passports issued by Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.