General Info

Award-winning riding vacation on the Noosa Trail Network, the beach at Noosa North Shore and the best trails of the Sunshine Coast.

Established in 2005 by triple Olympian, Alex Watson, who completed at the 1984, 1988, and 1992 Olympic Games, these equestrian vacations feature beautifully trained and presented Australian Stock Horses. Tours may include personal instruction from Alex Watson and are designed for all levels of riders.

Horseback riding on the beach! Canter along the beach, ride through tropical rainforest trails, and into the wonderful Australian bush to muster cattle. You will be amazed at the scenery and wildlife – kangaroos, koalas, hundreds of native Australian birds including many species of colourful parrots. And, you’ll fall in love with the Australian Stock Horse, famous for their ability and temperament.

The horses, accommodations, scenery, and fun loving guides make these riding holidays beyond expectations…a “rip-snorter” in Aussie lingo. All guests on the full six night ride itinerary spend two nights each in quality comfort at Noosa Springs Resort and Spa, Amamoor Lodge B & B in the beautiful Mary River Valley and The Left Bank B & B in historic Kilkivan.

In addition, there are numerous non-riding activities available throughout the trip. These include swimming, surfing, fishing, SCUBA diving, golf, sightseeing, dining and exploring local markets, plus opportunities for massages and first-class spa treatments. There are also optional visits to Hastings Street, Noosa’s glamorous “main strip,” Eumundi Markets (every Wednesday and Saturday), Fraser Island, the world’s largest sand island, and the Australia Zoo, founded by the late Steve Irwin, television’s famed “Crocodile Hunter.”

Accolades & Awards
• 2008 – Judges Commendation – Queensland Tourism Awards
• 2009 – Adventure Tour Operator of the Year (Fraser Coast South Burnett Tourism Awards)
• 2009 – Finalist- Adventure Tourism – Queensland Tourism Awards
• 2010 – Adventure Tour Operator of the Year (Fraser Coast South Burnett Tourism Awards)
• 2010 – Best Tourism Operator (across all categories) - (Fraser Coast South Burnett Tourism Awards)

Alex Watson- Owner & Guide
Alex Watson has been involved in Olympic sports as both a competitor and organizer. During Alex’s career as a pentathlete he was Australian national champion a record number of eight times and selected for four consecutive Olympic Games – 1980 Moscow, 1984 Los Angeles, 1988 Seoul and 1992 Barcelona. Alex ultimately represented Australia at three Olympic Games and ten World Championships finishing in the World’s top ten and achieving a silver medal at the 1982 “Champion of Champions” and a teams gold at the 1988 “Champion of Champions”.

 

Packing

Packing for Horse Riding in Australia

Bring clothes suitable for a temperate to sub-tropical climate. In the warmer months light, cotton style or breathable fabrics are best which offer sun protection and can be easily washed and dried.

In the cooler months a light jacket, pullover, light gloves and warm headgear are advisable. Headwear such as an Akubra style wide brim hat, comfortable cap or similar is a good idea.

Expect to get dirty, dusty or wet when horse riding! We recommend the wearing of long-sleeved collared shirts for protection from the sun and bushes, and good fitting riding pants and heeled boots. At least two sets of riding clothing are essential. Washing of clothes at our accommodation facilities is possible but you will need a second set of riding clothing to cover you whilst washing or drying your initial set. Light-weight (not too hot) wet-weather gear is very advisable. A swimming suit should be packed for use of pool facilities or the beach.

Even in winter you can get badly sunburnt. Wear sun protective clothing and carry a good quality 30+ protection factor sunscreen and protective headwear.

This outfitter recommends that all guests wear an internationally approved (must meet current Australian safety standards) riding helmet. It is recommended that you bring your own suitable approved helmet or you may borrow one from this outfitter.

There are laundry facilities at one of the Bed & Breakfasts and at the resort on the final two nights.

Essential Items to Pack
Robust luggage – easy to transport 
(2 smaller bags better than one huge one) 
Wet gear/laundry bag
2 sets of riding clothes 
Sunscreen lotion factor 30+ 
Light weight rain jacket/gear
Riding boots (short or long) 
Headwear for sun protection 
Light weight jacket or pullover (winter) 

Other things to consider
Flip flops or sandals
Swimming suit
Small back-pack or carry bag
Flashlight
Light weight riding gloves
Insect repellent
long-sleeved riding tops/shirts
Walking shoes or sneakers
Proof case
Personal riding helmet
Half chaps or chapettes
Light weight digital camera in w/shock

Please visit Equitrekking Travel's packing list for other riding vacation packing suggestions.

About the Horses

You'll have the chance to ride well-bred, well trained and well mannered Australian Stock Horses. The outfitter also has a few discipline-specialist horses and cross breeds with Clydesdale and Quarter Horse bloodlines. The Australian Stock Horse is called “the breed for every need." Known as a performance animal, this breed is renowned for its endurance, resilience and strength. 

Ride on quality Australian stock and English saddles. There will usually be an opportunity to visit some saddleries, tack supply stores and a saddle maker. Guests will have the chance to purchase goods at reasonable prices.

Activities/Events

These Australia riding vacations are different from most because of the amazing diversity of the rides. Guests stay in three different locations for two nights each while horse riding Australia and are able to see many scenic areas and experience the true Australian way of life. Mobs of grey kangaroos are often seen on rides. Also in the bush you might see rock wallabies, koalas, pythons, goannas, kookaburras, platypus, dingoes, echidna, wedge tailed eagles, a variety of beautiful parrots, honey bee- eaters, finches and wrens and water birds.

Non-riders are able to take advantage of the area, where there is surfing, golf, tennis, scuba diving, fishing, hiking, and shopping. The Australia Zoo “home of the Crocodile Hunter” is a popular local attraction. For those who like to shop, visit the Sunshine Coast’s famous Eumundi Markets, which are open every Wednesday and Saturday and Hastings Street in Noosa. To experience wonderful hiking, the coastal beauty of the Noosa National Park featuring secluded beaches and stunning lookouts is hard to beat.

Side trips that can be added to the riding vacation (before or after) include Fraser Island tours, Australia Zoo, Deep Sea fishing, and Eumundi Markets. We're happy to help you with these plans or arrange them for you. Contact us for more information.

Accommodations/Food

Guests stay in three different locations during their six night tour. The first two nights, guests stay at The Left Bank in Kilkivan which is a B & B that was converted from a historic bank. Guests are accommodated in both single and double rooms with shared bathrooms at this location.

The second accommodation is Amamoor Lodge B & B in the beautiful Mary Valley. All of the rooms are en suite with their own bathrooms. The last two nights are at a resort in Noosa that features en suite bathrooms and laundry facilities. The resort has a spa and pool for relaxation at the end of the tour.

All of the accommodations are uniquely selected 4 star plus, bed and breakfast or resort style rooms or apartments set up for double or twin share occupancy. A single room occupancy charge will apply for single guest bookings.

Food

Experience great Australian cuisine. From home cooked meals at the Bed and Breakfasts to authentic pub lunches and award winning restaurants, you will not go hungry!  Dietary requests can be accommodated with advanced notice. All meals and non-alcoholic beverages are included. Guests will have numerous opportunities to purchase their favorite alcoholic beverages and wonderful Australian wines along the way. Beer and wine can also be purchased at the B & Bs.

The Ideal Traveler

All levels of rider from beginner to advanced who want to experience the diversity of horse riding in Australia. Opportunities for canters when horseback riding on the beach, rides through tropical rainforest trails and into the wonderful Australian bush to muster cattle.

Australia Bush & Beach 7 Days

Canter along the beach, ride through tropical rainforest trails and into the wonderful Australian bush to muster cattle with your guide, Australian Olympian Alex Watson. You will be amazed at the scenery and wildlife – kangaroos, koalas, hundreds of native Australian birds including many species of colourful parrots. Pulitzer Prize winning author Jane Smiley is just one of numerous travel writers who have submitted feature articles to popular magazines include Outside Magazines about Australia’s amazing “Bush and Beach Ride”.

2012 Dates for 7 days/ 6 nights
March 4-10, March 18-24, April 15-21, April 29-May 5, June 3-9, June 17-23, July 8-14, July 22-28, Aug 19-25, Sept 2-8, Sept 16-22, Oct 14-20, Nov 15-Dec 1

$3,058 USD* per person twin share ($2905 AUD).
Single room supplement $364 USD* ($343 AUD)

Ask us about the special ride Oct 30- Nov 7 for the Melbourne Cup/ Snowy River Tour. This 8 night / 8 day tour is priced at $5,727 USD* ($5395 AUD)

* Prices are subject to change based on currency conversions. Pricing is based on Australian Dollars and includes the Australian Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 10%. 

Includes:
Australian Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 10%.
Six nights/Seven days hotel/bed & breakfast accommodations
Five days of guided trail riding
All meals
Horse, saddlery, tack and safety helmets – choice of English saddles or Australian stock saddles (western style saddle)
Airport and hotel transfers available to/from Noosa, Sunshine Coast Airport and Brisbane Airport (cost of transfers will be quoted at time of booking).

Riding Level
Beginner to Advanced level. Advanced level riders should be comfortable at both trot and canter in a variety of terrain. Where there is a variance in the riding ability of the group, the trip leader will usually divide the group with separate guides so that all riders can enjoy the experience at their appropriate skill level. Most rides range from 2 hours to 4.5 hours depending on the trail, time of year, weather and any other relevant conditions. Longer or shorter rides can be arranged where possible.

Itinerary

Day 1 – Sunday

Upon your arrival, you will be taken to Noosa North Shore Equestrian Centre to be introduced to the Australian Stock Horses. This introduction will include a familiarization session on basic horsemanship and caring for your horse. It will be followed by a short “getting to know you” orientation ride, if time permits.

If your arrival time is after 12:00 noon, you will travel directly to Kilkivan where you will be introduced to your horse.

Late Afternoon - Arrive at The Left Bank at Kilkivan where you’ll stay for the next two nights.

Kilkivan is the place where gold was first discovered in Queensland and led to a gold-rush in the area, which finally centered itself around the historic town of Gympie (today the regional center for the district).

The Left Bank is a historic building, which once housed the Union Bank in Kilkivan. Today it’s an award winning bed and breakfast with a café / restaurant owned and operated by your charming hosts, Bruce and Rae Hurley. Pre dinner drinks will be served in the lounge followed by dinner.

Day 2 – Monday

8am- Breakfast.
9am - Start the Wongella Trail Ride – part of the trails make up the annual Great Kilkivan Horse Ride. During this ride, you will pass through a variety of open range country and what is called the Valley of the Grasstrees. Ride duration will be 4 hours approximately.

12:00pm – Sit-down BBQ Lunch served by Bruce Hurley at the Mudlo National Park entrance. Local historian and bush poet, Mike Webb may entertain you with some of his talents.
3pm - Transfer back to The Left Bank. Freshen up & explore the town or just relax.
6:30pm – Pre-dinner drinks.
7pm – Dinner.

Day 3 – Tuesday

7:30am – Breakfast and get dressed to ride.
8:30am – Depart for Jaylyn Downs an Australian Stock Horse Stud of over 10,000 acres and nearly 200 horses and quite a few cattle. Justin and Lyndal Hafey are your hosts today.
9:00am – Mount up and ride through the property looking for herds of cattle or horses to be mustered or gathered.
1pm – Depart for a visit to Goomeri and the Emporium (riding store) and the Goomeri Pub for lunch.

You will then be transferred to beautiful Amamoor Lodge in the heart of the Mary River Valley and introduced to our hosts for the next two days, Cynthia and John Hayes.

Amamoor Lodge is nestled on 50 picturesque acres with mountain views. The facilities include ensuite bedrooms opening onto wide verandas, a lounge area with open fireplace and a large resort style swimming pool. Amamoor Lodge has a working Cobb & Co. Coach, sulky and carriage and resident harness horses driven by host, John. There are also resident wildlife – wallabies, koalas, echidnas, possums and birdlife.
6pm - Pre-dinner nibbles
7pm – Dinner

Day 4 -- Wednesday

8:30am - Breakfast
9:30am – Saddle up for a ride through the Amamoor State Forest, which is full of Bunya Pines and amazing vistas, including Skyring Lookout. You will truly enjoy the experience.
1:30pm – Picnic lunch at Amama Park followed by a ride back to Amamoor Lodge
6pm – Pre-dinner nibbles / drinks.
7pm – Dinner.

Day 5 -- Thursday

7am – Breakfast. Have bags packed and ready to go. Also, be dressed ready for riding.
8am – Depart a ride on the Noosa Trail Network.
1:30pm – Lunch location dependent upon the trail that has been chosen for the day.
4pm – Depart for Noosa and check into your luxury accommodation for the next two nights.
7pm – Dinner at the resort or one of Noosa‟s exclusive restaurants.

Day 6 -- Friday

7:30am – Breakfast.
8:30am – Depart for Noosa North Shore.
9am – Prepare the horses.
9:30am – Mount up and ride through the bush to the spectacular Laguna Bay and Teewah Beach for a memorable ride along the pristine Noosa North Shore.
1 pm – Return to Noosa for a light lunch.
2pm – Return to your luxury accommodation and spend the afternoon chilling out with massage, spa treatments or explore Noosa‟s famous Hastings Street, beach or National Parks.
6:30pm – Your host Alex will arrive to settle any extra accounts (airport transfers and product purchases, if any) and then transport you to Rasas Restaurant on Gympie Terrace along the Noosa River precinct for a memorable dinner to complement a wonderful week of riding.

Day 7 -- Saturday

Departures. Depending on your flight departure times you may have time to fit in a visit to the Eumundi Markets or the Aussie Zoo.

* This itinerary is flexible and subject to changes based on the weather, trip guide's discretion or other factors. 

Related Travel Articles

Traveler Reviews

The trip is extraordinary. You ride on a beautiful beach in Noosa along Australia’s best coastline in sub-tropical southeast Queensland. The horses, accommodations, scenery, and fun loving guides combine to make this trip beyond expectations…a “rip-snorter” in Aussie lingo.

-- Jane Smiley, Pulitzer Prize winning author of “A Thousand Acres” and “Horse Heaven”
 

I have been riding for over 20 years while my husband has just started riding less than 1 year ago. We both had the experience of a lifetime even though we were at different levels of riding ability. For our weeklong trip (day trips and shorter 2-3 day trips also available), I was given a horse with lots of spunk and great jumping ability (which I enjoyed immensely) while my husband was given a gentle novice horse who minded him nicely. We traveled with 4 others who also enjoyed their mounts just as much as we did so the guides ability to pair horse and rider is obviously excellent.

We spent 5 days traveling all around Noosa Heads area and beyond, riding in forests, open plains, among cattle ranches, hilly trails, and finally open pristene white beaches. The lodging was top notch, especially at Amamoor Lodge and in Noosa. But the highlight of our trip was definitely the guides! Alex and Rebecca went far and away to make our trip with them as perfect as possible - the whole week! Even things that were not on our itinerary were made a priority to accomplish if the guests wanted to (i.e souvenir shopping in Noosa, buying opals at the most reliable-yet cost effective store in town - after they themselves researched which one it would be, to taking my husband surfing on his last morning in Noosa - just because it's his hobby!).

We both felt like we were treated like royalty from these two and we are definitely spoiled for life because i'm not sure another tour could match their warmth, personality, hospitality, and expertise at what they do. 

--Christina Rumayor, Hawaii

I would like to thank you for the time and trouble you both took to ensure that I had an unforgettable week on horseback with you. The riding was always varied, the scenery outstanding and every day was different. Kabi, my horse for the week was a dream to ride and he certainly enabled me to improve my riding which has been lacking lately. The beach rides were certainly the very best I have ever had. All the hospitality shown to me at my various stays throughout the tour was exemplary and special mention goes to Mike for his humour and demonstration of stock handling skills and to Bruce and Rae at the Left Bank for a very special B&B experience. The cooking there was delicious, the morning coffees outstanding and Bruce and Rae’s own special brand of hospitality was a delight. I don’t think I have ever felt quite so relaxed, comfortable and “at home” in a B&B anywhere.

All the people I met throughout the week were, without exception, charming, interesting, fun and kind. A wonderful advertisement for Australia. Our evening meals were fun and full of laughter.

Of course none of this would have been possible without your enthusiasm, kindness, flexibility, hard work, professionalism, generosity, organisational skills and sense of fun!

I will be unreservedly recommending Equathon to all my horse riding friends. Once again, my thanks to you both for a very special week on horseback. I will certainly be coming back for more!

--Andrew Hillier, United Kingdom

 

Reading List

Frommer's Australia Guidebook
 Completely updated every year, Frommer's Australia features gorgeous full-color photos of the Outback vistas, curious wildlife, and white-sand beaches that await you. Our authors have lived in and written about Australia for years, so they?re able to provide valuable insights and advice. They'll steer you away from the touristy and the inauthentic and show you the real heart of the land Down Under. Let them take you to exciting cities, Aboriginal homesteads, Barossa Valley vineyards, and natural wonders, from the Wet Tropics Rainforest to Uluru to the Great Barrier Reef. You'll travel Australia like a pro using their candid advice and in-depth knowledge of the culture.

Also included are accurate regional and town maps, up-to-date advice on finding the best package deals, a free color fold-out map, and an online directory that makes trip-planning a snap!

Beach Reading
In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson
Nothing seems to deter the intrepid, ever-resourceful Bill Bryson -- and all the better for his many readers. Here he revels in Australia's eccentric characters, dangerous flora and fauna, and other oddities. As has become his custom, he also effortlessly imparts much history in this wildly funny book. Included at the end is a short bibliography. 



Equitrekking Coffee Table Companion Book & DVD

Equitrekking Travel Adventures on Horseback by Darley Newman with Photographs by Chip Ward available at Amazon.com
This companion to the PBS TV series, Equitrekking, proves that the world's most beautiful views are often best seen from atop a horse. This gorgeous book features dozens of scenic rides in the U.S. and around the globe. Denver Post review: For horse folk and dreamers, as well as fans of the show, it's a beautiful trip through stunning equestrian-friendly possibilities.   "



Equitrekking DVD's featuring Emmy winning PBS episodes, available in the Shop section of Equitrekking.com 

Get off the beaten path to see some of the world's most beautiful horses and classic riding destinations with host and equestrian travel expert Darley Newman with Emmy Award-winning Equitrekking, the horseback riding travel series on PBS. 

Season One: Vermont, the Carolinas, Georgia Coast, Wyoming, Colorado and Spain.

Season Two: Iceland, Coastal Ireland, Hawaii's Big Island, Irish Countryside, Maui, Virginia Hunt Country and California Wine Country.

Season Three: Arizona, Belize, Costa Rica, Kentucky, Quebec, Texas and Utah.

Season Four: Southern Spain, Alaska, Central Turkey, Quebec City and Beyond, Scotland and Wales.

    

Good Books for Horse Lovers and Equestrians

Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior (Paperback) by Temple Grandin
Philosophers and scientists have long wondered what goes on in the minds of animals, and this fascinating study gives a wealth of illuminating insights into that mystery. ---Publishers Weekly

The Horse: A Miscellany of Equine Knowledge (Hardcover) by Julie Whitaker with Ian Whitelaw
The Horse is an informative gallop through everything to do with the horse:  evolution, history, biology, breeds, behavior, training, competition, health, and care—all gathered into an accessible gallery of solid information, essential facts, and fascinating trivia.                                                           

Hunter Seat Equitation (Hardcover) by George H. Morris
A classic by a world-renowned teacher and master equestrian--the definitive work on the art of teaching and riding the hunter seat, now updated to include refinements in Morris's insightful program of riding instruction.

The New Encyclopedia of the Horse (Hardcover) by Elwyn Hartley Edwards
Chronicling the history of the horse, this guide encompasses the early domestication of the horse, classical riding styles, as well as a survey of the great stud farms and current international sporting events.