Waikato
Horse Riding around Waikato
Glen Murray - Tuakau
Tuakau Domain
Alexander Redoubt Reserve has over 14 hectares of mature native bush with developed walking tracks throughout. It is a historic redoubt with war graves, trenches and preserved parade area.
This reserve has been the base for rugby league for several years. It has two league fields and a clubroom. An underutilised league field houses the model aero club's runway.
A fourth league field has been developed into an equestrian/dressage area. A large passive area is used for equestrian cross country.
*IMPORTANT NOTE* It is very hard to find information on this, so please update this info if it is incorrect.
Marshall Equine Park
36 Marshall Rd, Glen Murray 2695
Phone or txt 0274530128
380 acres of farmland offering a variety of trails and terrain. Large stands of native bush, lowland flood plains, sedgelands, and open farmland. Lowland stream side trails through easy rolling country and onto medium hill country the trails are constantly being improved to provide greater enjoyment for horse and rider.
Experienced horses ,and riders only as many trails are challenging.
$25.00 per day, per person
Weekends only
Paddock parking .all participants must sign a horse riding agreement upon arrival at gate house
NO DOGS ALLOWED
Hamilton
37 Smith Road, Karamu* 3285 *If using GPS to get to this address, DO NOT enter "Hamilton" as this will take you to the wrong Smith Rd..
Phone : 027 228 8008 or (07) 825 9809
Email : bookings@ktt.co.nz
15 minutes west of Hamilton. 600 acres of farmland, and native bush. Gentle rolling countryside or take on more challending trails.
On your own horse $15 per rider per day
Bookings are required, explore on your own or join one of the treks.
Raglan
Wainui Reserve - Ngarunui Beach
Wainui Reserve is a Waikato District Council owned 140 hectare farm park. Horse riding is permitted along marked tracks on the reserve, and horse riding along heavily utilised pedestrian tracks is discouraged. Horse riding is not allowed within Wainui Reserve Bush Park. Horse riding is also permitted on the reserve along the track from Wainui Road passing though the pine plantation to Ngarunui Beach.
Please leave gates as you find them.
Horses are NOT allowed on the emergency access road between Surf Club and beach!
Ruapuke Beach
Swann Access Rd
West coast beach access to the south of Raglan, inland from Pirongia. Good beachside parking area, but turning can be tight if you have a float or large truck.
Well maintained public toilet.
Approx 1 hour (60km) from Hamilton on SH23.
Dotterel nesting area - always ride below the high tide mark.
Kawhia
Township and Beach ride
Park on the side of Te Puia Rd (also known locally signposted as Ocean Beach Rd ), and then ride down through town toward Kawhia st\Kaora St where the boat ramp will provide access to the beach at low tide.
This will give your horse plenty of new sights and sounds.
Hot Water Beach
On the western coast of the peninsular, hot water beach is one of the black sand beaches of the west coast, with a twist. Unfortunately the gated access, via Tainui Kawhia Forest prevents horse access.
Horse Riding at Putaruru, Tokoroa, Kinleith
Waikato Endurance Club Website
Taumatua Plantations manage the forestry blocks around Tokoroa and Putaruru - approx 1500 acres. Their management require anyone looking to ride in their forests to be get a permit from the Waikato Endurance Club (WEC). All riders must complete an induction before getting a permit issued, and this is arranged with WEC. All information is provided through a private Facebook page which you will get access to after joining.
If you want more info before getting a permit tokoroa.districts.forestryriders@outlook.com
Sainsbury Rd Reserve, Waipa
The Sainsbury reserve can be accessed at 205 Sainsbury Road, Pirongia, approximately 2 km up Sainsbury Road on the left. There is a number on the gate. You can access the main farm track via the timber gate that is off to the right towards the orchard. It will take you down the hill and onto the farm track network to explore the farming block.
40ha of riding on steep farm grazing block. No signage on tracks. Can be slippery \ boggy in wet weather.
Includes a washdown, safe parking area, shade, good phone coverage, flush toilet and a map at parking lot (see copy below)
Riders must wear hi-viz
No dogs
Metal parking lot with plenty of space, easy turn around loop for trucks and floats. 5-10 parking spaces.
Gates and Access
You can ride through paddocks with sheeps or cattle - shut all gates behind you.
DO NOT ride through paddocks with horses. The road gate must stay shut at all times and locked again when you leave.
Gates can be hard to open, and there are no mounting blocks.
Gate code for main gate is 19720
Keep in touch with Pirongia Horse Club Facebook group or Waipa District Council for developments or code changes.
Sainsbury Forest - Pirongia Forest
Access at the end of Sainsbury Rd, ride down on the road from Sainsbury Reserve parking area.
2021 Council will be developing horse trails, maps and signage. Until then ride only on the forest roads.
All trails are currently part of the mountain bike park (created by the mtb riders themselves), so please respect these and stay off trails that are not marked for horse riders.
Check here for updatesThompsons Track
This track straddles both Western BOP and Waikato regions.
It is an unformed road used by 4WDs and trailbikes, which can make it very muddy and rutted (see photo for damage created on this track)
Beware, there are reports of both irresponsible 4WDs and\or hunters crashing their way through the native bush regardless of the tracks.
Access and Parking
Car parking area is at the end of Thompson’s track road.
NOTE: Google Streeview only goes as far as the end of the formed road. But it gives an idea of the standard of the road, if you do decide to go.
Beware, there are reports of both irresponsible 4WDs and\or hunters crashing their way through the native bush regardless of the tracks.
The eastern side is clay based, and therefore can be very wet, the western side has large bogs and can be largely unrideable/ unsafe due to the destruction created by some of these morons.
Kaimai Ranges DC3 crash memorial
One of the side tracks will take you past\near one of New Zealand's largest air crashes. Memorials and crash wreckage exist, as do unrecovered bodies.
Please treat the place with utmost respect. It is both a crash site and a last resting place!
