We are grateful to the generosity of land owners for opening their properties to the Horse Treks for our enjoyment.
View East to Otanerito
Our Trails are all straight forward and offer us a 360 degree view of sea blue Bays and rising farming country studded with coastal native forest. We see much evidence of the previous volcanic activity typical of this area. We ride through open grassland, and native forest, and are privileged to border the famous Hinewai reserve with its Tall stand of original red beech and magnificent regenerating native forest. It is exciting to see the native bush progressively establishing itself amongst remaining areas of gorse. The native forest we ride through is all coastal varieties, lace bark, pepper tree, manuka, kanuka, kowhai, broadleaf, and matipo. The native bird song prevalent along all the trails is mostly bellbirds and the playful fantail will often follow our horses as they unsettle small flying insects with their hoofs. We see sheep and cattle, Hawks, sea birds and native birds along the trails.
We begin all our rides at the top from Purple Peak Retreat at 1,700 feet. The Banks Peninsula Track crosses our trail just 30 minutes from our start point. Enjoy your ride and learn about this interesting area from your trek guide.
Panaramic Point
One and Half hour ride: Two hour session
This is a popular trail that gives you an hour's trek including the partnering up session at the beginning. We begin by winding through some native forest and coming out onto the grasslands in front of the Purple Peak retreat. Once at our Paramamic View Point of Akaroa Harbour where we take photos and take in the view we meander back down to our partnering up area and home.
Brocheries Pond
Two and half hour ride: Three hour session
Beginning along the same trail as the one half trail we carry on over the edge of the horizon and wind down through farmland and native forest towards Akaroa township and take a loop ride back up and back to our base.
Over the Edge towards Akaroa
The Trail on the Akaroa Side