5 great horseback holidays in Australia

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Time to saddle up for your next riding adventure? Here are five of the great horseback experiences around Australia.

1. Horseback Winery Tours, VIC

Length: one day
 
Vino and ponies; is there a happier match? Based in Red Hill on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, Horseback Winery Tour s has been taking travellers to wineries on horseback for 15 years, with plans to open a new five-million-dollar equestrian centre and cellar door.

 
Weaving through farmland, down picturesque country roads and across rolling hills overlooking the sea, the tours then stop at cellar doors such as Red Hill Estate , Olive Grove and T’Gallant Winemakers . Pick up a bottle (or box), which you collect at the end of your ride. Among the packages is a three- and five-hour option (from $160 and $250 per person, respectively).

2. Snowy River Horseback Adventures, NSW

Length: 2–5 days

 
The Man from Snowy River meets a touch of luxe with Snowy River Horseback Adventures. Designed for experienced riders, the two-to-five-day treks meander along tracks used by wild brumbies in Kosciuszko National Park, through snowgum forests, along crystal clear streams and up peaks with postcard-perfect valley views.

Horse riding Jindabyne Snowy Mountains
Outdoor more: Horse riding in the Snowy Mountains.

Then after a day of spectacular scenery, retreat to the grand Old Ingebirah Homestead for a hot shower (or spa bath), a sumptuous three-course meal and relax on the verandah or in front of a cosy log fire.

3. Kelly’s Ranch Riding School, NT

Length: 2.5 hours
 
Run by long-time stockman Jerry Kelly, a traditional owner of the region in Tennant Creek, these tours are a lesson in both horse riding and local bush tucker. From private riding lessons ($50 per adult) to scenic trail rides through the surrounding wilderness ($150 per person), all options cater to various skill levels and ages.
 
Along the way, Kelly also points out native food sources and tells tales from the ‘good ol’ days’, topped off with a cup of billy tea and a slice of damper cooked on an open fire.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

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4. Jillaroo training at Home Valley Station, WA

Length: one day
 
Set alongside the spectacular Cockburn Ranges in WA’s iconic Kimberley region, this once-thriving cattle station now hosts a range of horse riding experiences for guests.
 
There’s childrens’ pony rides ($15 per child) to guided trail rides along the Pentecost River ($120 per person), but it is the Mini Cattle Muster option (from $290 per person) that’s the most unique. That is, with the help of Home Valley’s resident ringers, guests (regardless of riding ability) can learn how to ride for a real cattle muster in true jillaroo/jackaroo fashion.

5. Uluru Camel Tours, NT

Length: one day
 
OK, we admit it, this isn’t strictly a horse-riding experience, but it’s still an unforgettable outback experience on a four-legged steed. Set in Australia’s most iconic outback location, with Uluru and Kata Tjuta as memorable backdrops, there’s a number of rides available including Camel Express tours during the day (from $75), as well as sunrise and sunset tours (from $119).

Uluru Camel Tour NT
Camel-back trekking: Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park.

But the ultimate ride is arriving by camel to a Sounds of Silence dinner – a bush-tucker inspired buffet under the stars, enhanced by a traditional dance performance and a talk from the resident ‘star talker’ (from $275). See ayersrockresort.com.au

Did you know?

You can catch a game of ‘horse soccer’ in Queensland’s outback town of Hughenden – about 350 kilometres north of Longreach. It’s one of 20 sporting events at the biennial Great Western Games, held in July 2015. see flinders.qld.gov.au

 

MORE: Want more adventure ideas? 

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Discovering East Arnhem: Australia’s most unique and rewarding corner

    Joanne Millares Joanne Millares
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    Hard to reach and harder to forget, East Arnhem offers something rare in modern travel: the chance to slow down and experience Country on its own terms.

    The sky feels bigger in East Arnhem . It stretches wide and uninterrupted above rouged earth, stringybark woodland and beaches so empty they seem to belong to another era. The coastline curves for kilometres without a footprint and the horizon runs on forever.

    For comedian Lou Wall, the scale of the place was the first thing that hit them.

    “The sheer openness,” they say. “The sky feels infinite and the land stretches out endlessly. It’s pretty breathtaking visually.”

    But the physical landscape is only part of the story. The real reward isn’t only the scenery but the shift in perspective the journey brings. Visitors stop trying to tick off the destination and a real engagement takes over.

    “It made me never want to travel again,” Wall jokes. “In that I never wanted to leave East Arnhem.”

    Getting there

    Aerial shot of East Arnhem’s coastline as cars trace the curve of the shore.
    Sail along the remote coastline on an expedition cruise.

    Reaching East Arnhem is part of the adventure. Travellers typically fly into Gove Airport near Nhulunbuy via Darwin or Cairns, or arrive by expedition cruise along the remote coastline. Others make the journey overland along rutted dirt roads that cut through East Arnhem’s small pockets of monsoon forest.

    However you arrive, there’s a distinct feeling of crossing into somewhere different. Permits are required to visit the region, reflecting the fact that this is Yolŋu land where communities and traditional owners maintain deep cultural connections to Country.

    The extra planning becomes part of the experience. By the time visitors arrive, they understand they’re entering a place not just of respect, but also patience and curiosity.

    At one with nature

    East Arnhem’s  landscapes leave a strong imprint. For Wall, one place in particular still lingers in their memory: Ngalarrkpuy , also known as Lonely Beach, near Bawaka Homeland.

    “I genuinely felt like I was living inside an Instagram filter,” they say. “One of the most stunning feats of nature I’ve ever seen. The water was so clear I swear I could see even the fish smiling.”

    Across the region, natural experiences unfold at a slower pace. Fishing, beachcombing and island hopping reveal the rhythm of the coastline. The tides shape daily life and the vastness of the landscape makes even simple moments feel downright cinematic.

    For visitors with limited time, Wall says the Bawaka Homeland experience is unmissable.

    “I just left and I’m already planning when I can get back there.”

    The sense of remoteness is part of the appeal. In a country where many beaches are crowded and well-trodden, East Arnhem’s coastline still feels wonderfully wild.

    Immersing in local culture

    A visitor spends a meaningful moment alongside Yolŋu guides, gaining insight into their deep cultural knowledge and connection to the land.
    Experience authentic moments with the locals.

    Culture is woven through every experience in East Arnhem. Visitors have the opportunity to spend time on Country with Yolŋu guides and knowledge holders who share stories and traditions that have been passed down for generations.

    For Wall, one of the most powerful moments came during a conversation with a Yolŋu elder.

    “I got to meet a traditional elder, Mayalil, in Nhulunbuy,” they say. “Listening to her talk about her home made the land feel alive in ways I couldn’t have imagined.”

    The region is also home to internationally recognised Aboriginal art centres where artists shape works deeply connected to land and family knowledge.

    Music carries the same cultural energy. East Arnhem has produced globally recognised artists such as King Stingray and Baker Boy, blending Yolŋu language, storytelling and contemporary sound.

    Wall experienced this musical spirit first-hand.

    “A jam session around the fire was it for me,” they say. “Letting the deep joy and history of their music wash over me…  and meeting a few of the King Stingray musicians was unreal.”

    These moments of human connection often become the most memorable part of a visit.

    Spotting local wildlife

    An aerial view of the beach shows tiny figures lined up across the white sand, moving as if in a rhythmic dance.
    Step into a world where nature reigns.

    The wildlife of East Arnhem adds another layer to the experience. The region is home to an extraordinary range of animals, from waterbirds and turtles to dugongs, dolphins and the formidable saltwater crocodile.

    Wall admits they didn’t actually spot a croc during their visit.

    “Devastatingly, I didn’t see one,” they laugh. “But with all the stories from the locals I definitely gained a healthy respect for caution.”

    Some of the most memorable wildlife encounters can be surprisingly small., At Banubanu Beach Retreat on Bremer Island, Wall remembers walking along the beach one morning and watching it come alive.

    “As you walk through the sand you see hundreds of crabs scurrying into their holes as you pass by,” they say. “Such a small thing, but it was completely magical.”

    Moments like this reveal the quieter rhythms of East Arnhem, where even the smallest creatures seem to play a part in the landscape.

    Visitors who make the journey soon learn the most important travel tip of all.

    “Go in open-minded with a sense of curiosity,” Wall says. “Be prepared to ditch your plans. The land and the locals will guide you on an adventure no spreadsheets could ever compete with.”

    And most importantly, they add, don’t rush.

    “The land and people deserve your time and attention. You’ll be all the better for slowing down.”

    For more information on visiting East Arnhem, head to eastarnhem.com.au .