Horse trekking in Queenstown: 3 Operators Compared

Quick picks

Lowest price High Country Horses NZ$180 per person for Mid Rivers Ride
Youngest passengers The Cardrona 5+

Every option side by side

Operator	What you get	From	Length	Group	Min age	Weight limit	Cancellation	Book
High Country Horses	Mid Rivers Ride	NZ$180 per person	1 hour; daily at 12:30pm					Check dates
High Country Horses	Ride of the Rings	NZ$279 per person	1 hour; three departures daily					Check dates
RealNZ	Walter Peak Horse TreksIncludes Return cruise on the TSS Earnslaw or Spirit of Queenstown, Guided trek at Walter Peak, Morning or afternoon tea at the Colonel's Homestead Restaurant, Helmets and wet weather clothing	NZ$279 per person	3 hours 45 minutes, including the lake crossing (45 min on the TSS Earnslaw or 35 min on the Spirit of Queenstown)	Small group	7 years; minimum height 120 cm	Maximum 95 kg		Check dates
High Country Horses	Rees River Trail	NZ$300 per person	2 hours (the day-ride listing says 2.5 hours); daily at 9am and 2:30pm		7+; under 16 must be with a parent or guardian	90 kg; guests may be weighed at check-in	Full refund 7 or more days out; 50% refund from 7 days to 24 hours; no refund within 24 hours.	Check dates
The Cardrona	The Gold Discovery TrailIncludes Riding instruction before the ride, Helmet (mandatory)	NZ$449 per adult	Allow 2 hours; meet 9:30am (1pm on request)	Minimum two riders; single riders waitlisted or can ask for a private ride	5+	105 kg, strictly; riders are weighed	Full refund or reschedule with 24 hours' notice; no refund within 24 hours, for late arrivals or no-shows.	Check dates
The Cardrona	The High Country Pub TrailIncludes A drink at the Cardrona Hotel, Helmet (mandatory)	NZ$549 per adult	Allow 3.5 hours; meet 12:30pm	Minimum two riders	Intermediate level and up; not recommended for small children	105 kg, strictly; riders are weighed	Full refund or reschedule with 24 hours' notice; no refund within 24 hours, for late arrivals or no-shows.	Check dates

From each operator's own website, checked October 22, 2026. How we compare.

Glenorchy, Walter Peak and the Cardrona Valley

High Country Horses rides from 243 Priory Road in Glenorchy, the settlement at the northern end of Lake Wakatipu, about 45 km from Queenstown by road. Destination Queenstown calls it a 45-minute lakeside drive; the operator's own page says about an hour. There is no transport from town, and the company points visitors without a car to Ryd, an hourly rental service with cars from NZ$19 an hour. Its Ride of the Rings leaves from a second yard at Paradise, down a gravel road, and the operator says to check with your rental company first. Scenes for The Fellowship of the Ring, including Lothlórien and Orthanc, were shot at Paradise.

RealNZ's Walter Peak treks start at its visitor centre on Steamer Wharf, 88 Beach Street, with a crossing of the lake. That takes 45 minutes on the TSS Earnslaw, a steamship that made its first voyage on October 18, 1912, or 35 minutes on the catamaran Spirit of Queenstown. The ride crosses the farmland of Walter Peak High Country Farm to a lookout over the lake, and the farm's Colonel's Homestead Restaurant serves the morning or afternoon tea. During the Earnslaw's annual maintenance, May 18 to June 26 in 2026, only the Spirit of Queenstown runs to Walter Peak.

The Cardrona is at 2125 Cardrona Valley Road, at the base of Cardrona Alpine Resort and about 20 minutes from Wanaka. From Queenstown the drive goes over the Crown Range Road; the operator's pages give it as 45 minutes in one place and an hour in another. Its rides cross a working sheep and cattle station in a valley that drew several thousand gold prospectors in the 1860s. Destination Queenstown also describes rides in the Remarkables foothills as close as 15 km to downtown, and treks starting 20 minutes from town, without naming an operator for either.

From a 1-hour walk to 7 hours riding

High Country Horses' Mid Rivers Ride is 1 hour at a walk, daily at 12:30 pm. The Rees River Trail leaves at 9 am and 2:30 pm at walk and trot and crosses the Rees River several times; its page says 2 hours in the heading and 2.5 hours in the day-ride list. The operator says the trail passes a bridge seen in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. The Ride of the Rings is 1 hour at a walk from Paradise, three times a day. Rees River Pro adds cantering over 3 hours, and Mountain High, River Deep runs about 7 hours, 5 to 6 of them riding.

RealNZ's Walter Peak trek is listed in this site's data at 3 hours 45 minutes including both crossings, and the trek page itself gives no riding time or departure times. It is a small-group ride over rolling farmland to a lookout above Lake Wakatipu, with the stables, gardens and farmyard on the way. The cruise passes Walter Peak, Cecil Peak and the Remarkables.

The Cardrona's Gold Discovery Trail takes 2 hours from a 9:30 am meeting. It follows the Cardrona River under willows, crosses it and climbs into the station through mobs of Merino sheep, and the guide gets willing riders trotting. The High Country Pub Trail, 3.5 hours from 12:30 pm, climbs into rock and tussock country above the Crown and Pisa ranges. It includes trotting and very likely cantering, and ends with a drink in the garden bar of the Cardrona Hotel. Top Beat is 2.5 hours and, the operator says, New Zealand's highest and fastest guided horse trek. The 2.5-hour Twilight Ride starts after 4:30 pm.

Weigh-ins at 90, 95 and 105 kg

High Country Horses caps riders at 90 kg on the Rees River Trail, may weigh guests at check-in, and cites the World Horse Welfare standard. RealNZ's limit at Walter Peak is 95 kg. The Cardrona allows 105 kg, weighs every rider and refuses anyone heavier without a refund. Minimum ages are 7 on the Rees River Trail, where under-16s ride with a parent or guardian, and 7 with a height of 120 cm at Walter Peak. The Cardrona takes children from 5 and can lead small riders from the guide's horse. High Country Horses requires proficient English and does not refund riders turned away for lack of it.

The Cardrona rides in all weather and may cancel when conditions require. It warns of intense sun and wind in summer and bitter cold in winter, and lends coats, jackets, gloves and a few pairs of gumboots. RealNZ supplies helmets and wet-weather clothing, lists summer days of 19 to 29°C and winter days of 5 to 10°C, and says alpine weather changes quickly. High Country Horses asks for long trousers, sturdy footwear, sunglasses and sunscreen, plus warm layers, socks, gloves and a scarf in winter; its pages publish no weather policy.

Cancellation terms differ. High Country Horses refunds in full 7 or more days out, 50% between 7 days and 24 hours, and nothing within 24 hours. The Cardrona refunds or reschedules with 24 hours' notice, with no refund for late arrivals, no-shows or anyone who decides not to ride. It needs 2 riders for a scheduled trek and may cancel, with a refund or new date, if it does not get them; a solo rider is waitlisted or can book a private ride. RealNZ's Walter Peak page publishes no cancellation terms.

NZ$180 in Glenorchy to NZ$549 at Cardrona

High Country Horses has run from Glenorchy since 1987 and says it has exclusive access to more than 100,000 acres of high country. The Mid Rivers Ride is NZ$180, the Rees River Trail NZ$300, the Ride of the Rings NZ$279, Rees River Pro NZ$360 (phone bookings only) and Mountain High, River Deep NZ$775 with lunch. A private Exclusive Ride is NZ$420 a person an hour. Multi-day rides for strong intermediate riders and up cost NZ$1,350 for 2 days and NZ$3,600 for 4 days. The 3-day Heritage Ride, NZ$2,650, glamps at mustering huts in the Rees and Dart valleys; all include transfers, meals and accommodation.

RealNZ's Walter Peak Horse Treks start at NZ$279 and bundle the return cruise, the guided ride, a morning or afternoon tea of scones, cakes and slices baked at the farm, a helmet and wet-weather clothing. The café on board is extra. RealNZ says the ride suits all abilities but is more suited to first-time or novice riders, and the price is a from price with no separate child fare shown.

The Cardrona charges from NZ$449 for the Gold Discovery Trail, from NZ$549 for the Pub Trail (drink at the Cardrona Hotel included), NZ$549 for the Twilight Ride and NZ$649 for Top Beat. Top Beat is for experienced riders only, and the operator says its Pub Trail is not for small children, nervous beginners or the unfit. Every trek opens with a one-on-one lesson on steering and stopping, and helmets are compulsory. The herd is 11 large bay geldings, all retrained former harness racehorses, ridden in Syd Hill Half Breed saddles with monkey straps for extra grip. Photos cost NZ$25 in cash after the ride.

Before you book

The Cardrona does not wait for latecomers and gives no refund for a late arrival, so leave extra time for the Crown Range Road from Queenstown. Valuables and car keys go in its locked reception.
High Country Horses runs no shuttle from Queenstown. It suggests Ryd hourly rental cars from NZ$19 an hour, and says to ask your rental company before taking the gravel road to the Paradise yard.
Wear long trousers and covered, non-slip shoes for Walter Peak, and bring sunscreen, sunglasses and any medication; RealNZ supplies the helmet and wet-weather gear.
Destination Queenstown's advice is to be honest about your riding experience when booking, since rides range from a walk for first-timers to a canter for experienced riders.

The operators

High Country Horses

from NZ$180 per person

Mid Rivers Ride and 2 more options

Length: 1 hour; daily at 12:30pm

Operating since 1987; describes itself as locally owned

Check dates All details

RealNZ

from NZ$279 per person

Walter Peak Horse Treks

Length: 3 hours 45 minutes, including the lake crossing (45 min on the TSS Earnslaw or 35 min on the Spirit of Queenstown)
Group: Small group
Age: 7 years; minimum height 120 cm
Weight: Maximum 95 kg

Sold on realnz.com as a Walter Peak experience, not under its own website

Check dates All details

The Cardrona

from NZ$449 per adult

The Gold Discovery Trail and 1 more option

Length: Allow 2 hours; meet 9:30am (1pm on request)
Group: Minimum two riders; single riders waitlisted or can ask for a private ride
Age: 5+
Weight: 105 kg, strictly; riders are weighed

Trading name on Tourism New Zealand: The Cardrona Horse Treks & Quad Bike Tours

Check dates All details

Horse trekking questions

How much is horse trekking in Queenstown?

High Country Horses in Glenorchy charges NZ$180 for one hour and NZ$300 for its two-hour Rees River Trail. RealNZ's Walter Peak treks start at NZ$279 including the lake crossing, and The Cardrona's two-hour Gold Discovery Trail starts at NZ$449.

Do I need riding experience for a horse trek near Queenstown?

Not for the beginner rides. RealNZ says its Walter Peak trek suits first-time riders, The Cardrona's Gold Discovery Trail needs no experience, and High Country Horses' Mid Rivers Ride is walk-only. High Country Horses' seven-hour Mountain High, River Deep ride is for experienced riders only, and The Cardrona's Pub Trail asks for riders comfortable at a trot.

Head to head

Sources

Prices and policies come from each operator's own pages, read on October 22, 2026. Seasons, rules and local details come from the pages below.