Reviews of The Cardrona Horse Trekking & Quadbiking. (Travel Agency) in Wānaka (Otago).

The Cardrona Horse Trekking & Quadbiking

431 Reviews

238 Comments

Travel Agency

Sightseeing tour agency

Adventure sports center

ATV rental service

Horseback riding service

Tour operator

Tourist attraction

2125 Cardrona Valley Road, Wānaka 9381, New Zealand

Description

Information of The Cardrona Horse Trekking & Quadbiking, Travel Agency in Wānaka (Otago)

Here you can see the location, open hours, popular times, contact, photos and real reviews done by the users.

This place has good reviews, this means that they treat their customers well and you’ll feel great with their services, recommended 100%!

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Open hours of The Cardrona Horse Trekking & Quadbiking

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Reviews of The Cardrona Horse Trekking & Quadbiking

V. L.

We had a wonderful time riding horses today and everything was great. Kelly was an amazing instructor and she made instructions extremely clear and understandable especially as we had a couple of beginners. The horses were very friendly and it made it a ton easier to ride. The ride itself was beautiful. The scenery and path was great and the instructions given made the slightly difficult parts much more relaxing. Trotting on our horses was literally one of the exhilarating parts of the ride and everything was made easier which was wonderful. I have a brother around 5 and he had the best time ever despite not having ridden a horse before. This was because Kelly was great at leading him on his horse. One of the best parts was that Kelly had actually given us a history talk on our trek as well. It was very clear and informative and I learnt a lot of things that I did not know before. The free photos we got from the horse trek of our family were so gorgeous. We enjoyed feeding the horses after as well. The whole experience was so fun and we loved it so much. 100% recommend as it is a very family friendly activity or just a fun activity to do with friends and others. Will be going again in the winter.

J. H.

First time I've ever been on horse but Kelly and Gina are very knowledgeable and made it so easy to learn. I loved every minute. Great views and a safe environment. Can't rate them enough. Such a special experience.

R. L.

Wow! My two kids (20 & 13) and I (50s) had an amazing time being guided by Kelly on Lou, Pat and Danny on the horse High Country Pub Trail. We are (were?) all total beginners, and all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. It was a blue-bird day, and the trail was a great mix of uphill, flat and downhill. Kelly was excellent at getting us up to speed with the horses, who were all very gentle. It was also nice hearing about the local history, and the stop at the pub just adds to the experience. We went back after the ride for an excellent meal too. Highly recommend Kelly's outfit for horse trekking!

a. m.

Fantastic day horse riding with Kelly and the team! The staff are all very friendly, helpful and experienced and cater to all riding levels. I went with my 5 year old daughter and she had the most amazing day and hasn't stopped talking about the ride. Very scenic also! We will definitely do this ride again but in winter next time and will also try the quad bikes! Highly recommend!!

A. S.

My time with Danny (my horse of the day) was absolutely blissful. The horses carried us confidently up and down into the most beautiful settings. They are so well trained and I barely had to use the rein to guide him. I enjoyed the trot as well. Also, Kelly is an amazing trainer with great stories about Cardrona.

J. W.

We had an incredible ride out with Kelly and her beautiful horses today. The horses were well trained, Kelly was full of enthusiastic knowledge and the views were incredible. We are a family of 4 with very different levels of experience, from nearly novice to horse owner and we all felt safe and comfortable with our mounts. Thank you Kelly and Lou (my horse) for a very memorable day out. Oh and while you are there try a tipple at the distillery next door.

R. C. S.

Kelly is an amazing guide and responds to calls/emails very quickly. We had opted for the twilight ride on boxing day, and all I can say is it was well worth it and we will cherish this forever! Both me and wife are beginners to horse riding and Kelly helped us in learning the basics to riding the beauties (special mention to Patt and John for allowing us to mount them :D). We soon had enough courage, and we were running at speed around the farm. Will definitely recommend, and as promised to Kelly will be trying out quad biking when we are out there during the winter.

J. G.

Great horse trekking experience in a beautiful part of NZ. Beautiful scenery and horses. Plenty of opportunities to trot and canter, and Kelly had awesome and funny stories of the area's history. Got the chance to do abit of everything - whether you're a beginner or more experienced. Thank you Pete, you were a great horse 🐎

C. W.

Fantastic trek with stunning views and very welcoming of all skill levels. Service was professional, photos were fantastic and the horses behaved themselves. Kelly and her team will be sure to give you a trip to remember. Highly recommend.

E. H.

Amazing afternoon ride - beautiful evening light, fantastic horses and Kelly had great knowledge of the local area and it’s history. We would love to come back!

C.

Fabulous horse ride over stunning countryside & had brilliant weather as a bonus. My horse had plenty of get up & go while being very well behaved. Kelly is a fantastic guide & lots of fun. You won’t be disappointed.

N. M.

Amazing Horse Trek, the scenery was breath taking. My Husband & I both really enjoyed it & we were the only two booked for the afternoon trek which made the experience even more memorable. Kelly was really friendly, informative, knowledgeable and took great photos of our experience so we didn’t need to worry about taking our phones. Looking forward to returning in the future.

H. P.

Highly highly recommend the Top Beat ride for experienced riders. Fun, fast paced, interesting terrain, fantastic horses and thoroughly enjoyable. 6 out of 5!!

T. S.

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.

E. T.

Right from the start of the ride it was amazing! Kelly partnered everyone on the tour with a horse which was going to be the perfect match for them (I ended up riding a lovely little gelding named spunky, his name perfectly reflected his personality as he was very fast and cheeky and full of character!) even though I was the only child on the tour that I was on Kelly and the other family that was on the same tour made me feel really welcome. Kelly’s knowledge of the surrounding area was incredible and the scenery was amazing! We were taught all about the gold rush and how it had shaped the local area. My favourite part of the tour was when we galloped along a track towards the hotel (and spunky was enjoying it even more than me!) I would 100% recommenced this tour to anyone, no matter experienced or nervous you are they will always find a horse which will make your tour unforgettable!

S. B.

Kelly was an enthusiastic and fun guide. We had heaps of fun on the quad bike mountain adventure, and got to see the most stunning scenery along the way. Great all round experience - recommended for sure!

G. A.

Such an awesome experience! First time riders and it was perfect. Kelly was an amazing guide and there were stunning views! I would highly recommend this place for anyone visiting Queenstown/Cardrona.

R. D.

I did the top beat trek with Kelly and it was so worth it! Best views and interesting trail up the mountains. Nice fast pace balanced with some time to relax and take it all in. The horses were lovely and Kelly was an excellent guide. Would highly recommend!

A. S.

Amazing experience, would highly recommend! My partner is a complete beginner, I have been riding for over 20 years, both of us thoroughly enjoyed our trek. The horses were impeccably behaved, we had some brilliant canters, water crossings and beautiful views. The stop at the cardrona hotel for a drink was great too. Our guide Sam was very knowledgeable and friendly, we felt in very safe hands. 100% recommend and hope to go back again!

R.

Was an awesome ride suitable for all riders from beginners to experienced. Our tour guide was animated and enthusiastic and taught us heaps about the history of Cardrona while on the trek. The view was also amazing up on the mountains!

L. J.

I have now done both the quadbike tour and horse trek and I will be back again! To premise, I have experience hooning around on both horse and quad back home, so I thought a guided tour may be a bore. BOY WAS I WRONG. I had an incredible experience soaking in the views of the Cardrona valley and learning the history of the land, all while crossing through streams, rivers, mudholes and fields. Kelly was an excellent guide who is clearly passionate about her job and I bet would be great with kids too.

K. S.

This was one of the best treks I've ever done. Kelly matched us up with horses to suit (lovely big Standardbreds) and as an experienced rider it was wonderful to have the opportunity for multiple trots and canters. Kelly kept up an interesting commentary on the local history during the ride, while checking in to make sure we were all feeling confident and safe. The scenery is spectacular and the stop at the pub for a drink is a charming bonus. I would definitely come back for another ride!

T. D.

Absolutely loved the experience. Trot takes a bit of getting used to as a beginner, but canter is exhilarating. Well padded saddles, so quite comfortable. Kelly has a few horses she rotates, all of them know what's expected of them. Each one is full of their unique personality and well defined pecking order, so don't break your formation order (Kelly will remind you not to break this #1 rule at least x10). Highly recommended!

M. a. S. G.

What an amazing experience! I had never ridden a horse before but the guide was really encouraging and thorough. I totally loved the trip as did my husband who had a lot of previous experience riding. The scenery was amazing, the guide really friendly and the horses really well behaved!!

R.

Amazing experience. Worth the time and cost. Quad bike experience is one of the best I have done. You can also enjoy beautiful scenic lookout on the way from Queenstown to Cardino. Make sure you have ample time to enjoy the lookouts.

H. C.

We had an absolute amazing ride and quad experience. Kelly has such an organized and knowledgeable business! As a family of 5 The Cardrona was able to meet all our family wishes for adventure on quads and horse trekking safe for all ages. We met up at different points yet had unique experiences on both horse and quad bikes! Sam as a guide for the horses was amazing , truly knowing each horse and giving my kids the confidence to try trotting yet also the safety to want to do it again! The horses are so well cared for and are extremely well behaved for any level riding! I can not say enough good things about our adventure today and highly Recommend it for all ages!! To top it off they captured some pretty special moments by photo that my kids will treasure! Thanks Kelly and Sam!

A. T.

Quad tours are awesome. Great way to see some fantastic views and have fun at the same time!

A. H.

We had an amazing Quad Biking Experience with Kelly! It was plenty of fun, felt very exciting & of course the scenery was insane. Would definitely recommend to anyone!

C. T.

It was a great experience, Kelly is a great guide! The horses were very gentle with us beginners, we even got to run! We had to be dragged away because we were enjoying all the animals (cats, dog and birds!)

J. H. S.

This was a really fun trip! The views were stunning! We got to learn how to trot and candor as beginners who have only ridden once or twice which was fun. I struggled at controlling my horse at first but figured it out decently quick.

K. W.

Quadbiking was much fun, will ride horse when I m in Cardrona next time. Kelly & guys were so friendly & knowledgeable about local history, it was a safe trip yet full of fun.

P. C.

Three of us including me, 15-year old daughter and 11-year son had a two-hour horse riding activity on 5 Apr. We all first time in horse riding so were a bit nervous and concerned that two-hour would be too long or too difficult, but it turned out to be too short! In just 10 min we realized that this is going to be the best activity in our 9-day trip to NZ and loved every moment of riding, which we all agreed without any hesitation. It was more like a safari exploring the hidden part of the valley in cardrona with lots of thrills (in particular when trotting). We have seen many beautiful places like this but watching such scenery while riding horse makes the experience very special. This was also the only time we saw alive wild rabbits running around! Our guide Ally was very kind and cheerful. Even the two cats in the farm were adorable, which my kids fell in love with. Same price for kids as adult but this is really more than worth the money. Pay extra $20 and you can get nice photos as attached.

T. H.

Had lots of fun on the horses with my family, learnt plenty of new things about the history of Cardrona, went through beautiful rivers and scenic routes of Cardrona. Was great to get back on a horse and explore with Kelly. Cheers

T. A.

Great experience. Did a 3 hour trek through the hills and finished with a welcome drink at the cardona hotel. Everything is so well run, horses are really well cared for and loved by staff. Great care was taken to make sure everyone had a suitable horse to their riding levels and over the 3 hours no one was uncomfortable with anything. Overall a great time, highly recommended

B. M.

An amazing trek with Kelly and her beautiful horses today. She is very knowledgeable about the area and there were stunning panoramic views of the Cardrona valley. Thanks for the great experience! We will be back!

J. H. L.

Was back for another ride, Top Beat for experienced riders, around 2 hours on a different track up higher into the mountains. The canter was more powerful, up hill and with many exciting turns!! Had to hang on for dear life, but all the horses were so well behaved! :) With @thecardrona this was a ride for the Pub Trail, 3.5 hours. Had the most exciting and lovely time with Sam, @thecardrona after the breathtaking ride, trot and cantering up the mountains, we reached @cardronahotel for a drink ☕️ recommended for people who love an energetic ride! #experiencedriders #horsetrekking #experiencenewzealand #queenstown #cardrona

S. J.

I had a wonderful ride to the pub with my partner and the guide. Beautiful views form horse back. Plenty of chances for a good trot and canter to keep the experienced rider entertained but also wonderful quite horses that will listen to less experience riders and stay at the pace they ask. My partner even managed to confidently have his first canter on only his second ride!!!

M. N.

Awesome family activity made even better with our lovely guide Kelly. Stunning scenery up through Cardrona and only a short ride from Queenstown. This activity can be done rain or shine, all you need is a sense of adventure, warm clothing and a big smile! Love it!

L. N.

Such an amazing experience out on the quads. Mountains for days!!! Our tour guide was fantastic. She took to the top in the snow which is all I wanted and she explained where places were etc... I kind of wasn’t listening because I was taken by the view. Totally worth it!

G. M.

Booked this at last minute after other plans fell through. Owner Kelly was quick to reshuffle things and took my partner and I on a quad bike tour of the Cardrona High Country. Brilliant brilliant brilliant. A couple of hairy moments which all added to the experience, but Kelly's deep knowledge of the area meant we were kept abreast of any gnarly parts of the track. The views all along the way were spectacular, and at the top it was just the best.

K.

My partner and I did the pub horsing riding tour and it was great. Amazing views from the mountain and was so much fun to go for a run on the horses. Kelly also had so much knowledge of the area and was happy to answer any questions. Very friendly and welcoming staff. The horses were beginner friendly but also gave the more experienced riders a run for their money. All round a really great experience, would highly recommend it or do it again.

P. F.

What a fantastic day we had riding here. Stunning views, a great guide, and very well cared for horses. We wanted to ride again the next day. Would absolutely recommend to anyone looking for a special way to experience this glorious place.

A. O.

This is an absolutely incredible way to spend the morning!! Val was both helpful and knowledgeable about the area and really made us feel comfortable with the horses. Pat and John did a great job too 🐴 I highly recommend this, it's a great way to see the area. A highlight for us was the cantering - zoom zoom!

c. l.

Kelly amazing tour guide very knowledgeable of history of the area. The most professional outdoor activity I have been too.

R. S.

Great day out. Unusual for us used to English style of riding, and riding ex Trotters and Pacers. Amazing countryside, and a very welcome pint at the Cardrona hotel. Kelly was super keen and wonderfully informative of the local area and history.

N. F.

Wonderful morning ride at The Cordrona with Kelly. The scenery was beautiful and Kelly was great about sharing her local knowledge with us. The horses were friendly and showed us a great time. It was wonderful being out and about again after lockdown. Thanks Kelly! We would highly recommend a visit!

J. E.

We had such a fantastic ride with Kelly this morning, she was organised , professional and very informative throughout the tour about Cardrona and it’s history, the scenery was incredible , The horses were all well trained and safe. She took fantastic photos of us all throughout the trek and gave us a slide show at the end which was a special touch .. followed by sending us the photos ...Such a great value for money Trek will definitely be back again to have another one we had so much fun. Thanks so much Kelly

S. S.

Great quad bike track, wife and I made it to the top and were rewarded with spectacular views. Thanks to our lovely guide and photographer Summer.

S. D.

Had a really great experience with Val and Toby (the Horse). I was lucky enough to be the only person for the 12.30pm tour today and it was just awesome. Val really knew how to make this a fun day, we had great speed with gallop all the time and I learned some more about Cardrona and the surroundings. So really nothing boring about the whole ride. After a 1 year break of riding this was one of the best days here in New Zealand for me. Thanks a lot! :)

C. K.

We had an awesome experience from start to finish. Spoke to Kelly first thing in the morning regards making a booking. She was accommodating and helpful. Sean took us on our tour and was absolutely amazing. Stunning views. Nice long ride. Cheers guys. We had such an awesome time. Cherie and Brad.

K. H.

Highly recommend The Cardrona Horse Trekking. The horses were wonderful, patient, in fantastic condition and obviously well loved and cared for. The stable cats and dog are super friendly too. Kellie was a great guide, so friendly and patient, and shared great stories about the region and it's history. The terrain and views were outstanding, through a sheep station, crossing streams, up into the hills, and plenty of opportunities to pick up some pace if you want to. Stopping off at such an iconic pub was great too, it topped off a fantastic day!

P. M.

Great fun, the quad bike instructor was really good and was more than happy to take us on a more challenging route if we were comfortable. I'd never ridden a quad bike before but the instructor had me up and running in no time at all. Overall loved it and the scenery was amazing! I was lucky enough to have a beautiful sunny day without cloud in the sky in the middle of winter.

S. A.

My daughter and I had the most incredible morning riding. Sam our guide was awesome, my daughter tried her first canter and couldn't wipe the smile from her face. Beautiful surroundings, great knowledge of the area and history. The horses are lovely and safe. Highly recommend their horse treks, we're talking about our next one already.

B. C.

My partner and I did the High Country Pub Trail and it was heaps of fun, we both loved it. Views and guide were both fantastic. Overall a nice leisurely ride with some good spots for trottting and cantering; just remember to enjoy the view!

K. B.

My friend and I booked a horse ride last minute and Kelly was so accommodating and lovely. We were worried that we wouldn’t be able to get here due to the treacherous crown range road but Kelly kindly informed us that we could go the long way round and the road was very safe that way. We are so glad we did make it, it was an amazing ride with some very lovely and well cared for horses. You could tell that they had the very best horsey lives living in one of the most beautiful places in the world. Kelly was so lovely and patient with us beginner riders and took some amazing photos for us. Thanks for the amazing morning!!

p. w.

This was one of a kind ! Beautiful surroundings,lovely gentle horses Canters al over! Loved passing through new sealnds hilly farmland with a view. For once a real trip on horseback,alltough they also provide for beginners on their on trips. Thanks

t.

We were lucky enough to do this tour just after they had a big dump of snow , riding the quads through the snow was an awesome experience and Kelly is a fantastic guide, friendly , informative and would definitely recommend this tour to anyone visiting Cardrona

s. r.

Had an amazing quad bike experience, highly recommend this place. I am a complete beginner. Andy our guide was super patient, friendly and informative. Felt we were in safe hands. Despite the terrain being challenging, we thoroughly enjoyed the experience. We look forward to visiting again.

L.

Just been for the quad bike tour… so much fun! Great hosts and fantastic ride with some amazing views. Would recommend!

H. P.

Such a blast and Kelly was amazing. Beautiful views and freedom to go at our own pace! Bring on winter for some snow riding. Highly recommend.

P. S.

Such a good ride. Stunning country, hills, views, creeks and historic Pubs. Ally our guide was fantastic and the horses were superb. Can't recommend this enough.

E. M.

We did the longer afternoon ride and loved it. Beautiful healthy horses, stunning scenery, fun river crossings and canters, and a bonus stop at the historic pub! Kelly was an amazing guide giving us riding tips and lots of info on the local area. Highly recommended!

G. K. M.

Amazing experience On the horse, absolutely stunning views of Cardronna, riding to the cardronna hotel was very special Thanks Kelly

y. d.

Had an unforgettable experience with cardrona quad biking, its an unique experience and very adventurous, Andy was our guide who was very knowledgeable and helpful from the beginning, we learnt a lot from him about the area. Once we took our bikes to the top the scenery was amazing, the whole 2 hours we spent quad biking was so fun and unforgettable. We are gonna return for another ride.

O. N.

The horses and rlly nice and calm. The mentors are rlly helpful and they will always make sure the horse you are riding will remain calm and listen to your orders.

R. G.

Awesome experienced riding in a quad bike with beautiful sceneries, I really had fun and enjoyed the entire tour... Must do when you visit Queenstown... Guaranteed everyone will enjoy it... 👍👍👍 Thank you also to our lovely tour guide for making sure that we are always safe and for the photos the she took during the tour... Free photographer 🤩

G.

Fantastic afternoon riding ! Lovely horses, people and scenery, Our guide Kelly was super knowledgeable about the area and made sure we were all comfortable the whole ride.

A. C.

Kelly was an awesome host, I would definitely recommend a trek here.

L.

Kerry was brilliant, and the horses were lovely! We had such a good time. So much fun, the beer was a bonus!

M.

Great experience, we were the only ones so lucky to have a private tour!

L. P.

This experience gave myself and my partner a lasting impression of Queenstown/Wanaka/Cardrona for the rest of our trip in NZ. We loved every minute of the Mountain Quads from the moment we walked through the door to the moment we left. The terrain was challenging but we were up for it, our guide was patient and safe. Very informative tour with so much great history of the land and what it is now. 10/10 suggest to do. Who loves to drive through snow, mud, rock, sand, dirt, sludge and grass and be smiling on the other side! Because thats what this adventure is all about!1

D. D.

We all had an awesome time with Cardrona Horse Trekking and Quad bikes. We did the Horse Trekking for the afternoon and Sam our guide, she was really awesome, informative, easy going and friendly. The horse's we had, John, Wholly and Danny were real cool as well. The scenery was beautiful and the ride cater's for all levels of experienced horse riders, even from first time riders to seasoned veterans. We loved it and would definitely go back if we are ever in Queenstown again. Highly recommend to anyone wanting to take in the beautiful scenery on horseback. Worth every cent!!. A+++

J. S.

We went on the two hour horse riding tour as two beginners and were very lucky to have Kelly take us on a private tour around the hills and the old gold mining township. We were well looked after, and felt safe the whole way through. We were given step by step instructions on how to ride the horses and it was very enjoyable, highly recommend giving this a go if you are in the area!

j. d.

We did the pub trail and it was incredible! Kelly was a great tour guide and even let us do some trotting and cantering! It was my first time on a horse and Kelly chose the perfect horse for me so that I wasn't nervous at all! Great experience and would definitely recommend!

L. G.

We went as a couple in October and had Kelly our tour guide all to ourselves. She was an amazing guide, very informative and looked after us very well! As two beginners, we felt very safe with Kelly and her horses were all beautiful. The scenery was spectacular and Kelly took photos for us so we didnt have to worry about our phones on the route. Highly recommend coming here for a great time.

D. K.

Did the quad bike tour with a bunch of mates. Kel was awesome to deal with arranging the group which was more like herding cats. The tour and guide were superb, although the weather didn’t go to plan had a great time and what a way to see the value. Highly recommend will be back.

Y. K.

Everything was perfect - the weather, people and the view!!! Kelly was extremely helpful and took us lots of photos and explained history of Cardrona! We will definitely come back in Winter to experience the snow!

G. B.

Amazing horses and an amazing location for a ride - Kelly was awesome. Definitely recommend!

A. K.

Quad biking was a fantastic experience with friendly, laid back staff and spectacular views.

A. k.

My partner & I did the cardrona pub horse treck with Kelly & we had the best time. My partner had never rode before & Kelly was an excellent teacher & made him feel confident enough to canter around the hills like a pro. Kelly has a wealth of knowledge on the area giving excellent commentary throughout our treck. Would highly recommend & wish to do it again some day. Thank you Kelly!

C. &. D. R.

Had a fabulous time on the quad bike tour with Kelly. Magic views & heaps of fun. Totally worth it!!

A. W.

FREAKING AMAZING! With the weather closing in, Kelly adjusted the route we were riding, and ensured we were comfortable, safe and well prepared for a beautiful ride through a high-country station at Cadrona. Before we got started she discussed the route and what would work best for us, and was super considerate. Not only was Kelly welcoming, but we were joined by (forgive me if I get names wrong!) the cats Ettie and Jimmy for a hello and snuggle, and benny the dog for a scratch and rub, such happy pets speaks a lot to the quality of their owner! With one of us more confident riding, and the other completely incompetent Kelly gave an excellent training session before we went out, she is clearly confident and experienced and had an excellent manner coaching, with many tricks and techniques to make it easier getting going. She picked the right horses for us and our relative experience levels, Danny was perfect for me as a beginner and we quickly got into a rhythm and enabled me to do my first proper canter, we ended up having a proper bromance. Kelly gave us a run down on the local history of the station, Cadrona settlement, and the mountains. She also showed us local flora and fauna, like the rosehip and elderflower... which happen to be ingredients at the distillery next door, which we went to afterward on her recommendation, which turned out to be another amazing experience! Her local knowledge, wit and humour made the ride especially special and memorable. I cannot recommend Kelly, and her animals enough, it was the best part of an amazing South Island trip and I sincerely hope we can go back again soon to try the quad bikes and do another (longer) ride!!

I.

Amazing 2 hours experience, even under the rain. Great route, great guide, definitely must do if you're in the area.

T. P.

Fantastic day! We been on trail rides all around the world and this one is the best I’ve ever been on. The energy and enthusiasm that Kelly and her team bring to their work is truly enjoyable to be around. The horses are as fine as one would expect in a breeders private stable. The equipment is all top shelf and in great shape. The scenery is just gorgeous and the stop at the pub, a great time. Kelly takes people to the top end of their comfort level and helps them get a bit farther. Ready to trot? Then that will work. Just walk? That’s fine. Ready to canter? Get to it! Great day!

E. J.

Amazing experience, I was lucky enough to be the only person on my tour. We went up the range a day after it snowed and the scenery was spectacular. My guide was very friendly and informative and showed me around some of the structures and told me a bit about the history of Cardrona.

k. s.

Such an awesome experience! The scenery was amazing. And the tour guides were super friendly, knowledgeable, and caring. They really made the experience enjoyable. I was especially impressed with how well they knew each of the horses personalities. “Chip might do a little jump here...Danny can eat and walk but don’t let him lag...etc..” It really showed off the horses’ personalities and showcased the guides expertise/experience. Great for all skill levels. I am a super novice but they had me trotting and cantering, all the while making sure I felt safe and comfortable enough to do so. The cherry on top was they took pictures throughout the trek and emailed them to us so we could concentrate on riding and actually experiencing the trek and the views. 100% recommend and 200% want to do it again.

C. N.

Wow what an awesome experience this was for us!! The ride was so scenic and varied , we got to do way more trotting & cantering than any other trail ride I’ve been on. The horses were absolutely beautiful and so well cared for & loved! Our guide Ellie (sorry if not the right spelling) was the best, she was confident, helpful, knowledgeable & super friendly! Thank you so much for creating such a memorable day out for us. Will definitely be back :-)

b. h.

We wanted a intermediate ride with lots of canters and were lucky enough to get a ride with just Kelly and her father. Kelly was so informative about the local history and flora and tells an excellent story. We really enjoyed the ride which took us all over the mountain and to the pub for a beer. I would highly recommend for those wanting a slightly faster advanced ride. 10/10

Y. Z.

The best! ! Very friendly and helpful staff and the view and experience is absolutely fantastic. Highly recommend!

S. U.

We had an amazing day. The horse are fantastic and Kelly is a very nice person. She gave us a very good introduction and we felt safe at any time. The landscape and views are very beautiful. We can absolutely recommend the horse ride.

G. &. T.

Amazing horse riding experience!! I have done a lot of trekking around the world and this was amazing. They treat the horses really well, they can accomodate for all levels even in one ride! We got to canter, and the beginners were at the back trotting easy. I went riding with Kelly, and another time with Ally, both really cool girls. Highly recommend this!

K. Z.

The best experience of our entire 2 weeks in New Zealand. Kelli was kind and knowledgeable, and gave us a twilight tour on a cool December evening. The scenery can not be beat and the horses are so well behaved riding was a breeze. We even got to run the horses which was absolutely amazing!! Cute puppy and two barn cats made this experience a 10/10!!

R.

My wife had a nice ride today, maybe a little too short. Beautiful surrounding and friendly staff.

E.

Was a lovely experience through the track with an amazing tour guide. Lovely time highly recommend.

m. r.

A lovely ride today surrounded by magnificent scenery, on well trained and healthy horses. Kelly is very clear with her instructions about the ride and passes on her knowledge about the history of the area which makes the ride more meaningful for visitors.We were with a more experienced small group, so were able to up the pace a bit and enjoyed a few canters which was fun. A great way to end our trip to NZ. Thanks Kelly, I'll see you next time!

c. i.

Kelly took us out on an awesome ride on her trusty and very well looked after standardbreds. We have horses, but we wanted to see the Cardrona area and take in the awesome country side, so what better way to do this. Kelly is well versed in the history of the area and we learnt alot during our ride. Thank you Toby and Danny our trusty steeds. Just do it !! Thankyou Kelly Carolyn & Michael

P.

Great Quad bike tour this morning with the family, awesome views and good tracks and excellent guide

J.

Quads were so good! The staff were lovely and our guide was amazing, taking photos, telling facts and allowing us to pick the pace we ride at. I definitely suggest going here

T. H.

My partner and I did a quad bike tour with Kelly. Awesome experience with a very friendly and knowledgeable guide! Not only did we get to experience all terrain quad bikes, including the snows, but Kelly ensured we were safe at all times whilst ensuring we got the best experience! The views were fantastic! Could not have asked for a better day and cannot recommend Kelly enough! Thanks for an awesome day!

R. H.

The Top Beat Ride for experienced riders was fantastic, the horses and gear where in top condition our guide Kelly was great and the views are breathtaking.

C. A.

We did the 2 hour horse ride. It was a fantastic trip with great horses & spectacular scenery. They catered to each riders skills and offered great riding tips. And somehow the staff snapped some great action photos of us while they were riding!

J. W.

This is a fantastic place for horse trekking. After I told Kelly what I was looking for, she matched me with a perfect ride and horse. The staff was super friendly and helpful. If you are around Wanaka or Queenstown, set a time with them to explore Cardrona on horseback. You will absolutely love it!

R. I.

Better than what I had expected! Very nicely guided and the best views! We missed out on the snow but it was still worth it! Must try experience

M.

Fantastic way to start the day! Beautiful scenery and horses - Was great to learn about the history of the place from Kelly! Would thoroughly recommend

S.

The pub trek was fantastic. Horses are well looked after and happy.

C.

We absolutely loved our trek on Kelly's lovely horses. We did the High Country Pub Trail and it was awesome. Kelly is a fantastic guide, she has so much passion for what she does, if feels like it is her first day. Thank you so much for this unforgettable experience.

A. G.

Such an amazing morning and a beautiful way to see the views Cardrona has to offer. Val was our horse back guide for the day, she was very kind and patient with everyone in the group despite varying levels of experience with horse riding. She gave lots of information about the Cardrona and the surrounds throughout the trek. This will be an memorable experience I will never forget!

J.

We did the Top Beat ride and it was amazing! Thanks Kelly!

P.

Sam's the best! Excellent tour, great views, awesome place.

P. N.

Kelly was the best and most accommodating, even letting us join the twilight rides at no extra cost because there was a double booking. Appreciated her enthusiasm and the well mannered horses even for us city folks with very minimal riding experience. Wife was hesitant but she was matched with a very sturdy Angus who slowly trotted his way through the trek.

J. B.

We booked this on a whimn on our honeymoon and had a blast. Stunning views, guide gave excellent history and area knowledge. Horses were great with just a bit of cheekiness and were very controllable and comfortable to ride even for a beginner. Highly recommend.

M.

The scenery was breathtaking! We took the quadbike with Kelly and she's really friendly. She shared nuggets of information about the area which are interesting and she constantly reassures us that it's a scenic ride and not a competition. She adjusts her speed to our comfortable pace and has an eye on us when needed.

C. T.

Awesome day out on the quads. Kelly was an amazing guide, made me feel very comfortable for a first time rider and had so much local knowledge. Such a fun tour! 10/10 a must do in the area 👍

K.

We had an excellent trip with Kelly through the back country and saw some amazing sights along the way. Trips available for all levels of riders, and Kelly is very patient with beginners. Very knowledgeable about the history of the area and horses.

I. S.

Kel was open, warm and friendly. Very knowledgeable about the area and really easy to converse with. Happy, healthy horses, too.

J.

We did the quadbiking for our last activity of the south island. Kelly was kind, and provided the warm equipments for us, guide us, also took all the photos. We're so lucky, it was snowing when we almost reached the peak, the view's so incredible!

A. F.

We had a wonderful time on our horse trek. Val our guide was friendly, knowledgable and adjusted perfectly to our riding ability. Chip my horse was a sweety, calm but loved a good canter. All round great experience.

B.

Great ride, Kelly is awesome.

N. M.

We went Quad biking up the Pisa range with a group of 6 guys for a Christmas party. Kelly, Mikey and Tim were awesome, super organised, professional and very knowledgeable. I Highly recommend the quad biking for a super fun day. Cheers Nick

C. B.

What an awesome way to see the Cardrona Valley! Kelly was an amazing tour guide with heaps of local knowledge and great story telling ability. The horses were beautiful, so gentle and calm. Can’t wait to go back!

E.

For the horse riding it's the best organization ever ! Great for beginners and experienced people as well (and trust me it's quite rare). People are very nice and horse friendly. So you can ride safely a reformed racehorse in a magical environment. Thank you guys !!

S. W.

We had an amazing experience horse riding and would like to pass on a special thank you to Ali for being a friendly and supportive guide, also filling us in on the the history that Cardrona has to offer. This was truly a personalised experience and would highly recommend to new and experienced riders who are passing through. 😊 The photos were magical also!

R. O.

Great place, lots do do and see. The hosts go over and beyond to make sure everyone is happy and enjoying the day. I did the horse ride to the pub and the views along the way are breathtakingly amazing and the matched the horses to the rider very well so that every one had some fun. The drink at the pub was a bonus. Thank you for a super fun day

Å.

Had a great experience ! The instructors made me feel safe and comfortable on the horseback. I got to know the horses and their history. I really recommend this place ✨ Also, the instructors took great photos of us

R.

What an experience! The horses also look nice and healthy. It's heartwarming to see how they take care of their animals. And during the walk you get some interesting information about the area around you. Keep it up 😊

D. L.

I did the pub ride at Cadrona Farm last week and really enjoyed the experience! Sam was an excellent tourguide (welcoming, friendly, and very knowledgable about the local area) who is really passionate about horses. As already stated in previous reviews, they really do perfectly match you with a horse based on riding skills. The tour was about 3 hours with a stop at Cadrona Hotel towards the end. Cadrona Hotel has the best pub garden I’ve seen in all of NZ, reminiscent of a classic English beer-garden (minus the rain!). Since I was with a group of other intermediate/experienced riders, there was quite a bit of cantering. All in all a great afternoon spent in a gorgeous part of the country. I highly recommend this tour.

B.

I had an amazing time on the high country pub tour. Ally (hope i spelt that right) was amazing, patient, passionate and knowledgeable about the area and the horses. Each horse had their own quirks and Ally knew them all. The guides match you with a horse depending on your skill level. And they do a great job about it. Even taking photos for you with your group or individually depending who you came with. And even when Ally had first timers who DIDNT speak english at all she managed to make sure they were having fun and were safe. They all had smiles on their faces. I would reccomend this tour to others that have been on a horse before or a newbie. But do remember you could be in a saddle for up to 3 hrs with only one break

T. H.

Recently tried the quad biking experience with these guys. Sam was great in guiding us and we were able to go up the mountain on a beautiful day. Amazing experience!

A. B.

Quad biking was awesome fun and was well organised, would go again!

C.

An amazing experience for riders of all levels. Whether you’re just starting or know how to ride, you’ll have fun regardless. Great guides who are very knowledgeable about the terrain and town history. A must do if you’re in Wanaka or Cardrona!

a. s.

My partner and I had the most amazing ride. This is an absolute must do! The horses, guide and view is outstanding. Highlight of our nz trip!!! Thank you for such a great day!

L.

My partner and I both enjoyed ourselves so much today! Our guide was super fun and caring! We absolutely loved her! We had such a great time, we would deff recommend to our family and friends! Thank you!

H.

Perfect day out on horseback. Wonderful guide, wonderful horses, wonderful landscape. :)

K. F.

Had an amazing day with my girlfriend and sister. Kelly, our instructor, is super nice and spent a lot of time with us, giving some great lessons and nuggets of local information. Would highly recommend. The horses, the location, the staff and the pint in the Cardrona hotel.. All amazing :) Thank you!

B.

Really great experience with a quality operation. Great horses too

B.

Last minute booking, my Partner and I decided to go on a two hour mountain quad bike experience, we have absolute blast, Kelly was awesome and was full of knowledge, we were lucky enough to get snow high up on the mountain which added to experience, highly recommend to all, Thanks again 😄

J. C.

It was a fantastic ride. Val was great, we were trusted to let the horses gain a bit of speed which has been rare over our past treks. Heaps of fun!

R.

Brilliant trek, horses in great condition and Sam was a fab guide. Lots of cantering and trotting for those that wanted to.

R.

Had such a fun day out. Beautiful scenery, great and kind horses and our host Sam was a gem. We had an awesome time!

J. B.

Love majestic views and the outdoors? Want to be shown around by locals with long ties to the area? If this is you and you are anywhere near New Zealand go to The Cadrona. It is a required experience!! We opted for the snowmobiling first. Sean took us up in the high country on a perfect day after a fresh snow fall. It was simply incredible touring the backcountry on top-notch snowmobiles, blazing through fresh powder!!! Hands down the best thing we did during our three weeks in New Zealand. How did we follow that up? A little helicopter tour of the valley and glaciers with Mark the next day. You simply can't go wrong whichever service you opt for with these guys. Happy adventures!!

R. C.

Kelly was fantastic with the horses, I decided to go back with my husband to see Sean and the quad bikes a day later. What a great team. Great views, personalised service will be back for my daughter real soon.

K.

Great friendly staff, Kelly made the tour epic! The horses were super fun to ride, and the Cardrona Valley is amazing to ride through!

L. D.

Great time! Would recommend highly. Good family friendly event.

S. D.

Was met by a very lovely woman who was running the horse trek side but she helped us fill in the forms for the quad side and recommended I put another layer in when I asked and very happy I did. Then we met Sean/Shawn our instructor/guide who was a quality bloke, dead friendly he gave us a talk at the start about the machines and keeping safe. He would stop in areas and let people follow the track at their own pace then when we arrived at the next gate he drove from the back to the front checking we were all ok you could ask for more really. The quads go through many terrains dry dirt, mud, little stream things and last but not least SNOW was soo much fun. Worth every penny if I come back to NZ in future il 100% be back. Do it, you only live once.

H. A. M.

What a great experience! Val was knowledgeable and welcoming and we had the opportunity to see beautiful NZ in a different and unique way. Highly recommended, even on a rainy day.

M.

Great morning ride with our guide Kelly. Beautiful country side and streams. Wally was an easy horse to ride for this beginner. Highly recommend.

a.

A-MAZ-ING. We took the trek from Queenstown (~55m), stopping at Cordrona Hotel for lunch. Well worth getting out of Queenstown for a bit and getting away from the fellow tourists. The views and track were incredible; we ALL have driven quad bikes before, but not all of us on trails. The terrain was fun for all of our experience levels and the tour guide (sp. Ally, Allie?) was great with checking in to make sure everyone was doing ok and continuing to increase the level as we got things going. I can't imagine the views could get any better in Queenstown, and you get 2 hours on the bike vs. 1-1.5 in Queenstown. I recommend taking the drive out to Cordrona, and on your way there or back go see the hotel, the distillery, bra fence, and Arrowtown. Definitely one of the highlights of our trip!

A. P.

Kellie was awesome and we had such a great time, we’d totally recommend it! It was loads of fun and there are loads of spectacular views to take in.

L. M.

Amazing Experience tailored to accommodate our family. Instructor was very focused on safety towards the kids. Stunning views, the whole family had a blast! Highly recommend it!

P.

I really enjoy my ride with my horse Wally! As I'm a beginner, Kelly really took the time to teach me and show me how to control the horse, which i felt more confortable. Thank you so much.

a. c.

Had an amazing experience quad biking, great guide and great views. 10/10 would absolutely do again!

A.

They call Coo, the horse whisperer, but she's also the people whisperer - she paired us with horses that matched our personalities! Thoroughly enjoyed the pub trail. Thanks Coo and Corrine!

B.

I did the Top Beat ride and wow, what an incredible experience. Ride was exactly as described and well worth the money paid. Thanks to Ally for a great morning.

l. W.

What an amazing afternoon. Deb truelly loves her horses and they take great care of you. Highly recommend them as the number 1 company to go with in cardrona.

R. J.

The quad biking at Cardrona is a must!!!!! What a great experience! Travel up to 4500 feet on well maintained quad bikes led by Shaun a very experienced and knowledgeable guide.

D.

Awesome day out with stunning scenery. Good mix of relaxed and adrenaline bursts with s lovely beer at the pub. Will certainly come again.

J. S.

incredible, really lovely horses and the handler was really nice, the view was incredible once you get into the trek.

A. S.

Love the quad bike experience! So much fun and the views were amazing!

L.

I am happy to ride here ! Kelly is very friendly and my horse was so lovely ! Very good moment here, thank you :-)

a.

Really enjoyed this horse trek. Catered for us very well as first time riders. Would highly recommend to others.

K.

Fantastic trek, on lovely safe horses with a great guide, in stunning scenery. What more can you ask for??

E.

A must when you're in Cardrona! Kelly was a great guide and we had a lot of fun riding around the countryside.

R.

By far the most professional horse trek I have ever experienced. Would recommend to others! Definitely worth the money.

A.

Great ride with friendly informative guide and a well earned stop at the pub. One of the best trail rides I have been on.

P.

Great time horse riding through the mountain to the pub "riding my pony!!" Seams a bit pricey at first but is worth the experience and price included a beer would defiantly go again

E. N.

Loved it! Super friendly guides, I can't wait to come again in winter

I. B.

Loved it! Amazing horsetrek in an even more amazing landscape! A must do in Cardrona if you like horseback riding!

J.

An absolutely amazing horseback riding experience, big thanks to instructor Val for being awesome. Highly recommended.

a.

Thank you Sam , Kelly and Simon , we try the horse riding and quad bike , all of us have a great time , highly recommend

F.

Awesome time on the Quad bikes. Great fun, excellent views. Highly recommend!

K. F.

Fantastic ride. They match the perfect horse for you. Gorgeous scenery and lovely staff

D. P.

Took a quick quad tour up the mountain. Had a great time, spectacular views and animated commentary from the guide. Highly recommended!

M.

We had an absolute great morning with very friendly horses and lovely Kelly and Allie as our guides!

M.

Great trek quiet horses and guide very patient with autism grandchild. Fantastic views.

J.

AMAZING! If there’s one thing you need to do in the South Island it’s visit these guys! Most amazing views, great fun and awesome tour guides.

C. H.

Great experience! There’s a reason they are the number 1 outdoor activities in Wanaka area - great tour & experienced guide!

A.

Had a great trip today with Kelly, highly recommend doing this!!!

S.

Had an absolutely amazing experience!!

P.

Amazing ride with Kelly. Horses fit and well cared for. Thanks for a great afternoon x

V. S.

Fantastic guide, horse and scenery!

T.

Great experience, so much fun and such great views. I would definitely recommend taking one of the tours if you get the chance.

K.

Super friendly & helpful. So much fun stopping at the pub for a cheeky beer! A must do when visiting Cardrona

E.

Kelly is the most wonderful human and this is an experience not to be missed!!!

R. C.

Great ride, informative along the trek, will definitely be back!

M. M.

Amazing experience going through the beautiful scenery to the top. Highly recommend.

I.

Nice, just started whsikey distillery. we visit the place and took the tour. worth a detour.

S.

Amazing service and people, great ride.

H.

Was awesome day at the Cardrona excellent guide KELLY made the trip a lot of fun 👍

M.

Awesome n must visit farm Great day Quad biking Thanks Kelly

D.

Awesome tour! I highly recommend it!

K.

We all had a brilliant time and appreciated the professionalism of the whole process. Something for everyone of all abilities.

M.

Great experience trail riding in the hills of Cardrona!

R.

Awesome time even for beginners like me. Highly recommend.

C.

The best way to enjoy the historical Cardrona valley, something for everyone.

E.

Sally was awesome

M.

Sick pub, awesome choice of both food and booze!

J.

Great outdoors fun

L.

Had a great time on the quad bikes this morning.

R.

Amazing fun, great instructor, beautiful views

C.

Great location, amazing way to spend a morning

L.

Our Family had a brilliant day.

K.

The best horse ride ever

A. K.

Great experience, friendly staff.

G.

Outstanding good quality adventure

N.

Great fun, suits all abilities. Really enjoyable family fun.

S. S.

Best horseback riding experience so far for me! Kelly was such a good guide, the horses were suitable for the riding experience. We, as experienced riders, cantered a lot and it was quite fun!!

A.

Really nice morning, thanks Kelly!

J.

Awesome experience thanks

J. J.

Loved this awesome trip

B.

Great tour!

D.

Love it

M. W.

Good fun in wanaka

P. S.

Brilliant

K. M.

Fantastic experience

w.

Good horse ride

J. S.

Brilliant views

M.

Unique atmosphere

A.

Fantastic!

F.

The garden area

M. D.

Amazing family adventure! We had a wonderful day out riding with Kelly. Our 12 year old daughter was apprehensive about riding for the first time. Kelly was super patient & kind - also a informative local guide. Our two children couldn’t stop talking about how much they enjoyed themselves & cannot wait to come back for a more advanced ride! I couldn’t recommend Kellys horse trekking tours more. Fantastic family time!!

P.

(Translated) I came because of the good rating and it was worth it. I took the ride for experienced riders. It is very hard to find a stable that offers not only boring tourist step rides. We are galloping uphill through cow and sheep herds. Upstairs you will be rewarded with a great view. Kelly is a great woman who has filled the ride on the slower passages with great info on Cardrona. The horses all look very healthy. They offer rides for both beginners and experienced riders and I would recommend it anytime! (Original) Ich bin wegen der guten Bewertung gekommen und es hat sich gelohnt. Ich habe den Ritt für erfahrene Reiter genommen. Es ist sehr schwer einen Stall zu finden der nicht nur langweilige Touristen- Schrittausritte anbietet. Wir sind den Berg rauf super viel galoppiert durch Kuh- und Schafsherden. Oben wird man mit einer klasse Aussicht belohnt. Kelly ist eine tolle Frau, die den Ritt auf den langsameren Passagen mit tollen Infos zu Cardrona gefüllt hat. Die Pferde sehen alle sehr gesund aus. Sie bieten sowohl für Anfänger als auch Erfahrene Ritte an und ich würde es jederzeit empfehlen!

L.

(Translated) Very nice ride with Kelly. We gallop a lot which is very pleasant in this magnificent setting. Little more we were a small group which was very cool. The horses were on top and Kelly was very smiling, attentive and giving a lot of information on the history of the region. I recommend (Original) Très belle balade avec Kelly. Nous avons beaucoup galoper ce qui est très agréable dans ce magnifique cadre. Petit plus nous étions un petit groupe ce qui était très cool. Les chevaux étaient au top et Kelly était très souriante, à l’ecoute et donnait beaucoup d’informations sur l’histoire de la région. Je recommande

E.

(Translated) The horses are well trained and easy to ride. The tours lead through a beautiful landscape. On the way you also learn something about the area. It was great fun. (Original) Die Pferde sind super ausgebildet und leicht zu reiten. Die Touren führen durch eine traumhafte Landschaft. Unterwegs erfährt man außerdem auch noch was über die Gegend. Hat Riesenspaß gemacht.

張.

(Translated) Very beautiful place, the coach is very professional (Original) 很美的地方，教練很專業

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