Extreme Sports
3–4 hours
Free cancellation
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Recommended by 100% of travellers
100% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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AU$493
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The Cardrona
The Cardrona
5
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Saturday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Sunday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Full view
About
First class scenic horse trekking and quad bike tours of the stunning Cardrona Valley, Wanaka, South Island, New Zealand
Wanaka, New Zealand
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4WD Tours
2 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this booking up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 98% of travellers
98% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
AU$334
per adult
Horseback Riding
2 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this booking up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 100% of travellers
100% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
AU$437
per adult
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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5.0
1,361 reviews
Excellent
1,321
Very good
37
Average
0
Poor
1
Terrible
2
Michelle R
7 contributions
July 2021 • Couples
This by far has been the best organised horse ride I’ve ever had. I first went with a friend who was a beginner rider so did the pub trail. It was so picturesque and mixed with walking and some cantering. I found the staff super professional who really understood their horses. They explained things so well and were extremely helpful esp if you are a beginner. The horses were amazing so perfectly trained. The ride itself was perfection. The scenery and photo opportunities are just amazing. What was great for a small fee they actually take great photos of you and video which makes the ride even better bc you want to capture certain aspects of the trip. I loved it so much I came back 2 days later for a more advanced ride which was also breathtaking a different trail high up the mountain. The girls discuss during the ride the history of the area and on the native fauna and flora. I’ve done many horse rides and this by far has been my best experience on many levels. When we ended the ride I loved that we had to reward the horses with a bucket of food which made me realise the care and love they have for their horses. Definitely the highlight of my New Zealand holiday
Written 3 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Trevor S
Auckland, New Zealand3 contributions
May 2021
As experienced riders we went on the ‘Top of the Beat’ trek which can be quite fast in parts, we were met by a wonderful friendly team at Cardrona Horse Treks Kelly and Sam. Kelly who took the trek is a wonderful trek guide and host, deeply knowledgeable of the history of the area, very skillful rider taking the most breath-taking videos. Stu, Lou and Danny are friendly well-behaved horses, fit and strong and know their job well they set the tone for a most enjoyable ride. Having light snow the night before we had a spectacular 360 degrees landscape the entire ride.
Thank you for a lovely day, I cannot say enough how much we loved our ride, we absolutely recommend this for anyone who wants to take in the beautiful Cardrona area on horseback.
Thank you for a lovely day, I cannot say enough how much we loved our ride, we absolutely recommend this for anyone who wants to take in the beautiful Cardrona area on horseback.
Written 14 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bruce and Ann B
Wellington, New Zealand2 contributions
Sept 2020 • Couples
We thoroughly enjoyed the 3½ hour ride and pub visit with Sam. The route was beautiful and varied, the horses were well cared for and spirited, and Sam was super attentive, careful and informative. This was one of the best backcountry horse rides we’ve been on.
Written 16 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ruth Holmes
5 contributions
Mar 2021
I was lucky enough to ride with Kelly and her super horses on the Top Beat ride [for experienced riders]. Kelly was a great tour guide, who had picked lovely horses for us, I particularly loved the loose rein riding style and the super comfortable saddles. If you want a forward moving riding experience in wonderful country [the views are breathtaking] then this is the one for you.
Written 29 March 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joanna
1 contribution
Jan 2021 • Family
Absolutely hands down the best horse trail riding I’ve ever been on. If you are a capable rider and want a ride with plenty of trotting and cantering - this is for you. My 13 year old daughter came with me - she rode for about 5 years when she was little but hasn’t ridden for a while and managed it just fine. She rode a gentle giant of a horse & had a smile from ear to ear the whole time and in the car home. Spectacular scenery, awesome company with Kelly, and guaranteed sore muscles the next day!! We’ll be back! Kelly also took some fantastic action shots of us and a video that I posted to my personal FB page which has attracted a lot of ‘wow’ Comments. Thanks again.
Written 26 January 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Voyager2020andBeyond
Wanaka, New Zealand34 contributions
Dec 2020 • Family
My niece and nephew loved this so much we (they 😉) did a second day and a longer ride. Samantha our guide was incredible and the whole experience from start to end was as awesome as the mountains we rode through. On a working farm, I do not know how anything gets down with the stunning views. You get paired with a horse for your ability (& ones that actually canter and trot if you like!!) and get shown how to turn and stop. Thank you for both amazing days of riding!
Written 20 December 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jonty
2 contributions
June 2020 • Couples
We had an amazing time on this horse trek. Kelly is an awesome guide who shared with us a lot of history about the Cardrona area while on our trip. On the horse ride we were lucky enough to get to canter a few times, and even though I was just a beginner I was very comfortable. The views on the horse ride are absolutely incredible and we could not recommend this trip enough! So worth it :)
Written 17 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Razzi
5 contributions
Mar 2023 • Family
We did the Cardrona 2 hour gold discovery trail. We loved our sweet horses, Morgan, John and Pat. Kelly, our guide and owner of the company, was very knowledgeable and thorough. She was also very thoughtful with making sure our 8 year old felt comfortable and safe. She also took all of our pictures so we could just enjoy the ride through the breathtaking landscape. This was such a great experience and we will definitely book another tour with Kelly when we return. If you’re looking for the perfect horseback riding experience in NZ, this is it.
Written 18 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Juli P
1 contribution
Nov 2022 • Couples
Highly recommend! We made a short notice reservation for 2 beginner riders on the high country pub trail. Kelly and Laura took excellent care of us and this was by far the best horse riding experience we’ve had. I appreciated the smaller riding groups. Definitely made it a more personable experience. Laura was an excellent guide and we loved listening to the history on our once in a life-time ride. Thank you for the complimentary drink at the hotel.
Kelly if you’re reading this, Danny is the best horse I’ve ridden. I’ve never had a horse I felt so safe on. He’s sweet, surefooted, and listened despite knowing I’m a novice rider. Nothing like the rodeo horses I grew up around, the Arabian horse in Jordan, or the zombie trail horses from my childhood. We had a blast!
Kelly if you’re reading this, Danny is the best horse I’ve ridden. I’ve never had a horse I felt so safe on. He’s sweet, surefooted, and listened despite knowing I’m a novice rider. Nothing like the rodeo horses I grew up around, the Arabian horse in Jordan, or the zombie trail horses from my childhood. We had a blast!
Written 28 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aquagas A
Fairfield, Australia1 contribution
Sept 2022 • Solo
Kelly and her team are professional and fun.
Our horses were responsive and calm unlike other trail rides I've been on.
We were able to trot and canter in certain areas making it perfect for experienced riders.
River crossings were my favourite as was the stop at the Cardrona Pub for a drink.
The scenery here is majestic, snow capped mountains in the background and sheep, cattle and deer throughout the landscape we rode in.
Kelly gives an enthusiastic history of the area as you travel along.
I can't wait to return!
Our horses were responsive and calm unlike other trail rides I've been on.
We were able to trot and canter in certain areas making it perfect for experienced riders.
River crossings were my favourite as was the stop at the Cardrona Pub for a drink.
The scenery here is majestic, snow capped mountains in the background and sheep, cattle and deer throughout the landscape we rode in.
Kelly gives an enthusiastic history of the area as you travel along.
I can't wait to return!
Written 29 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I’m interested in coming with my 3 daughters in july. We’d like to do the quad ride. We did this before in van couver and it was really exciting so i wanted to make sure that your trek will be thrilling too. And do i need to pay for my 11 yr old if she’s just siting in my quad with me? Thanks, Danielle
Written 27 April 2018
Hi Danielle!
Thanks for your enquiry!
We love taking family groups it is our specialty! What we would do is take you exclusively so we can look after you and the girls and have the maximum amount of fun with safety as paramount.
NZ law specifies we cannot allow customers to take pillion passengers, as this is not safe, but the great thing is that we have bikes for kids of various sizes and we provide full instruction before the ride. There are a variety of trails we can choose from depending on the capability of the children.
July can be a bit busier with the ski season just kicking off so you are best to book online on my website look for “The River Run”
Bring plenty of warm clothes, some gloves and a jacket, the views are beautiful but it can be chilly!
Look forward to riding with you soon!
Kind regards,
Kelly
Written 28 April 2018
Hi, how much does it cost if need pick up and drop off from Wanaka? Thank you.
Written 22 February 2018
I’m not sure if there are taxis in Wanaka. If not you will have to hire a car. Note that the Cardrona Hotel that I reviewed is some distance from the snowfields. The hotel is about 20 minutes drive from Wanaka town.
Written 22 February 2018
Family of four interested in riding. Both adults and 9 year old rode before, my question is about our 2 year old. I read in a previous response that the guide maybe able to help with this situation? Thank you!
Written 1 October 2017
Yes the young lady there indicated all ages and experience levels are catered for.
Written 3 October 2017
Hi - is it possible for 5 and 6 year old children without previous experience ?
Written 24 May 2016
Hi There!
Thanks for your enquiry!
I have an age limit of 5 years old as any younger some children's feet cannot reach the stirrups. I give a complete riding lesson before the ride so no experience is necessary, so your children will be fine to join the ride, I can also lead one of the children from my horse too if we need to.
Let me know if you would like to book!
Kind regards,
Kelly
Written 26 May 2016
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.