Most stables cater for a range of rider abilities, and can provide a selection of horses varying in temperament and size. All tack, including hard hats, is provided and trekking packages also include the necessary camping equipment. Holiday lodges and farmstays often offer visitors horse riding. Some notable locations include:
Across the highlands of the volcanic plateau in the central North Island
Along the sandy beaches of Pakiri, north of Auckland
Through the tussock grasslands of the South Island's high country
Around the old gold mining settlements of the Otago mountain basins
New Zealand’s awesome landscapes, lush forests, amazing wildlife and pleasant climate make it a haven for many outdoor activities, and a great place to unwind. New Zealand society is diverse, sophisticated, and multicultural, and the honesty, friendliness, and openness of Kiwis will impress you. And the great advantage of New Zealand is that all of its diverse physical, cultural, and artistic landscapes are so close to each other!
Natural Environment
With vast open spaces filled with stunning rugged landscapes, gorgeous beaches, often spectacular geothermal and volcanic activity, a temperate climate and fascinating animal and plant life, and it is no surprise that New Zealand’s pure natural environment is so attractive to visitors from other countries. And the great advantage of New Zealand is there are many different landscapes, environments, and ecosystems so close to each other.
Fauna
About 80-100 million years ago, New Zealand drifted away from the massive super-continent of Gondwanaland into the South Pacific. Since then, a unique flora and fauna has evolved, with a large number of beautiful native birds and plants, as well as direct descendants of prehistoric wildlife, including the tuatara, weta, and giant snail. As Time magazine said, New Zealand is an ‘ultimate storehouse for discontinued zoological models’.
Flora
In spite of around 1000 years of native bush clearance by humans, about a quarter of the country still remains forested - mostly in high country areas. Most of these remaining areas are protected from exploitation in national and forest parks, where they can be enjoyed by all. The characteristic New Zealand forest is a temperate, evergreen rain forest with giant tree ferns, vines and epiphytes - looking a bit like the popular image of a jungle. Whether you spend time in the wilderness areas of National Parks or lovingly manicured private gardens, you'll find an abundance of fascinating native plants found nowhere else on earth but New Zealand.
New Zealand’s high rainfall and many sunshine hours give the country a lush and diverse flora — with 80 percent of the trees, ferns, and flowering plants being native. You’ll be awed by the majestic evergreen native forests that include rimu, totara, many varieties of beech, and the largest native tree of them all, the giant kauri. Underneath the trees you’ll find dense and luxurious undergrowth including countless native shrubs, a variety of ferns, and many mosses and lichens.
Over 20 percent of New Zealand is covered in national parks, forest areas and reserves. The country’s 14 national parks contain an incredible variety of unspoiled landscape and vegetation
Climate and Weather
The north of New Zealand is subtropical and the south temperate. The warmest months are December, January and February, and the coldest June, July and August. In summer, the average maximum temperature ranges between 20-30ºC and in winter between 10-15ºC. New Zealand does not have a large temperature range, lacking the extremes one finds in most continental climates. However, the weather can change unexpectedly, so you should be prepared for sudden changes in weather and temperature if you’re doing outdoor activities.
Geography and Geology
You’ll find a variety of awesome landscapes in New Zealand, all within easy reach of each other. Spectacular glaciers, picturesque fiords, rugged mountains, vast plains, rolling hillsides, subtropical forest, volcanic plateau, miles of coastline with gorgeous sandy beaches.
Lying in the south-west Pacific, New Zealand consists of two main islands — the North Island and the South Island. In addition, Stewart Island and many smaller islands lie offshore. The North Island has a ‘spine’ of mountain ranges running through the middle, with gentle rolling farmland on both sides. The central North Island is dominated by the Volcanic Plateau, an active volcanic and thermal area. The massive Southern Alps form the backbone of the South Island. To the east of the Southern Alps is the rolling farmland of Otago and Southland, and the vast, flat Canterbury Plains.
General information
Population: 4 million
Currency: New Zealand dollar
Time difference: 12 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), or GMT+13 during daylight saving in summer
| Ideas for Horse Riding in New Zealand... |
Horse trek, Glenorchy, Queenstown
The leisurely two hour ride across the river flats at Glenorchy is achievable for most ages, fitness levels and riding abilities. The trail crosses the meandering waterways of the Rees and Dart Rivers. Longer horse treks in the region take you to Paradise, one of the filming locations for Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings. |
Photographer: Miles Holden (www.milesholden.com ) |
Horse trek, Wharariki Beach
Horse trekking is one of the many activities you can enjoy in Golden Bay. At beautiful Wharariki Beach, you’ll notice that the sand is rippled by the action of water and wind. Massive cliffs and sand dune formations give this portion of the coast incredible character. Sometimes you’ll find fur seals sunning themselves on the rocks. |
Photographer: Tony Brunt (www.stockimagegroup.com) |
Oakura Beac, Taranaki
Taranaki’s semi-spherical coast collects 180 degrees of all possible ocean swells, so Highway 45, which hugs the water’s edge, is also known as Surf Highway 45. At Oakura Beach, just a short drive from the city of New Plymouth, a wave break known as the Kumara Patch is spectacular in a southwest swell.
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