Who didn’t have dreams of being a cowboy, or getting a pony, as a child? Horse riding just has a taste of adventure about it, even for adults. Plus, with classic Australian movies such as ‘The Man from Snowy River’, is your East Coast road trip really complete without jumping (or clambering, depending on your experience) onto a horse’s back?

To help you get your Outback fix, we’ve collected the three best spots to try a different mode of transport out while on your road trip. Grab your hire car and get ready to saddle up!

 

1. Thredbo Valley Horse Riding

After mentioning ‘The Man From Snowy River’ it only makes sense that our first option includes brumbies. Brumbies, which is the name given to free-ranging feral horses in Australia, have become a part of the country’s cultural heritage. They’ve roamed the land for almost 200 years and are a strong part of folklore – despite note being native to Australia.

Thredbo Valley Horse Riding acknowledges and embraces that history. Among the horses available to ride are their own tamed Snowy Mountain brumbies. Taking trail rides through the high country, they offer a true taste of the Aussie bush as well as the scenery that comes along with it. Head out in the snow or choose a day that’s a bit warmer and experience what makes Australia’s brumbies so special.

2. Glenworth Valley Outdoor Adventures

An hour out of Sydney and just in from the coast is Glenworth Valley Outdoor Adventures, which is home to approximately 200 horses as well as some impressive scenery for you to explore. Here, you have a range of options for your ride to choose from, including:

  • Guided tours through the valley.
  • Horse riding lessons.
  • Free-ranging options for those with more experience and who wish to go their own way.

Our favourite is definitely the option to take part in a cattle drive. Let your inner child out, and see what life as a cowboy or drover really would have been like!

Horse riding isn’t the only adventure on offer either. Kayaking, abseiling, quad biking and laser skirmishes are all up for grabs in this beautiful location.

3. Horse riding along Cape Tribulation

Cape Tribulation is a spot like no other on Earth, where two UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites meet. Daintree, the world’s oldest surviving rainforest, spills onto a beach that borders the Great Barrier Reef.

Join a horse riding tour along the golden sands of Myall Beach which mark the divide between them. These tours generally last about two hours, and you’ll wander through the rainforest, paddocks, and riverbeds, as well as the beach itself.

With options for all different riding levels, explore the spectacular rainforest on horseback and gaze out over the reef. Most days you’ll even get to take your horse out into the ocean to give them (and you) a chance to cool off!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Sep 29, 2017 at 3:21am PDT

If horse riding in Australia sounds like the perfect way to top off your road trip, book your hire car today to go visit these great options! With so much to explore and do along the East Coast, there’s no time to waste.