Private Rides
& Packages
Your adventure, your rules. Our private rides are fully customisable experiences designed around you—whether it’s a romantic ride for two, an advanced trek for seasoned riders, or something totally unique you’ve dreamed up.
Private Rides
& Packages
If you can dream it, we can create it!
Your private Adventure
No Sharing the Reins…
Forget the group ride. This is your adventure, your way. Our private experiences are completely tailored to you—whether that’s an intimate ride for two, an adrenaline-fueled gallop for experienced riders, or that once-in-a-lifetime proposal moment you’ve been planning. The Dart Valley becomes your private playground, the itinerary is yours to design, and our expert guides are here to bring your dream ride to life.
Private 1.5 Hour Trek | Full focus
A 1.5-hour ride through Glenorchy’s stunning landscape, tailored to your experience level. First time in the saddle or seasoned rider—we’ve got you covered, it’s pure magic.
A trail ride for everybody, even the kids! This is a relaxing, slow paced trek that allows you to explore the coveted landscapes of the Glenorchy river systems with its dramatic mountain backdrop.
Once you arrive our friendly, experienced team will get you “geared up” and take you through an introduction to our horses and how we communicate with them. You’ll have a chance to meet and bond with your horse before heading out for the easy ride along the valley and river systems. There’s no more magical experience than venturing through the wilderness with you and your horse in harmony together!
As this is an education based adventure, at least one rider in your group must have sufficient English and be able and willing to translate all instructions and exchanges between the Guides and other members of their group.
Please contact our team prior to booking if you require special assistance. We require a minimum of 24 hours notice for bookings that require special assistance including disabilities.
Private 2.5 Hour Trek | Explorers Dream
A custom or private 2.5 hour adventure through the Glenorchy wilderness on beautifully trained horses that is completely catered to you or your group’s needs.
A beautiful private experience, where all the focus is on you at the head of Lake Wakatipu, New Zealand’s longest lake. Riding alongside braided, glacial fed rivers. This adventure offers river crossings and spectacular scenery, including views of The Misty Mountains, The Wizard’s Vale and The Mighty Methedras. An unforgettable experience for all levels of rider and a great option for mixed ability couples and groups.
Before you head out, our friendly, experienced guides will take you through an intro session on horsemanship and you’ll get a chance to bond with your horse on the ground and then in the saddle. This session will set you up for a fun, harmonious ride and you’ll feel like a horseman (or horsewoman) as you venture through the coveted landscapes of the Glenorchy river systems with its dramatic mountain backdrop. An experience you won’t forget!
*Faster paces are dependent on rider abilities and environmental factors and are not guaranteed on any ride.
As this is an education based adventure, at least one rider in your group must have sufficient English and be able and willing to translate all instructions and exchanges between the Guides and other members of their group.
Please contact our team prior to booking if you require special assistance. We require a minimum of 24 hours notice for bookings that require special assistance including disabilities.
Private 3.5 Hour Trek | Deep Dive
A 3.5-hour adventure through diverse terrain—cross rivers*, canter through lupin fields**, and wind through forests. We mix up the pace to keep things interesting, plus a relaxing picnic lunch* option with views that’ll make you want to stay forever.
Build your own experience! This ride will not be open to the public, we will tailor this ride to your group’s needs*. Spend the entire ride in the saddle or have a picnic lunch stop added and enjoy grazing by the river with your horse. Picnic lunches can be brought with you, or ordered through us.
*River crossings subject to conditions
**Lupins bloom November-January
*While we endeavour to tailor this ride to each group’s specific requirements, our guides will have discretion over appropriate paces and behaviour used with our horses in the environmental conditions present on the day and the group’s riding capabilities.
As this is an education based adventure, at least one rider in your group must have sufficient English and be able and willing to translate all instructions and exchanges between the Guides and other members of their group.
Please contact our team prior to booking if you require special assistance. We require a minimum of 24 hours notice for bookings that require special assistance including disabilities.
Custom Packages | Where dreams come true
Your vision, our expertise = pure magic. Whether it’s a proposal beneath the alpine peaks, a cinematic photo shoot, an anniversary escape, or your personal Middle-Earth pilgrimage—we craft bespoke experiences that exist nowhere else.
Got something extra special in mind? We’re talking surprise proposals with mountain backdrops that’ll make them cry, anniversary rides through Middle-Earth that put your relationship goals on full display, private photo shoots where you and your horse look like you walked straight out of a fantasy novel, or full-blown LOTR pilgrimages for the superfans who know exactly which scenes were filmed where.
This is your blank canvas—tell us your wildest idea and we’ll wrangle the horses, scout the perfect locations, and make it happen. Whether you want to gallop through glacial rivers at golden hour or recreate that iconic Arwen river scene (minus the Nazgûl, obviously), we’re here for it. Dream big, because the Dart Valley can handle it.
As this is an education based experience, at least one person present or rider in your group must have sufficient English and be able and willing to translate all instructions and exchanges between the Guides and other members of their group.
Please contact our team prior to booking if you require special assistance. We require a minimum of 24 hours notice for bookings that require special assistance including disabilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
We are located in the Dart Valley, Glenorchy.
You will need to allow 1 hour to drive from Queenstown.
We’ve partnered with Evolve Rentals to offer an exclusive offer. Simply mention Lighthorse Adventures when booking with them directly via email and you’ll get a flat rate of $100 per day with any hatchback vehicle booking with them!
Yes! Say cheese! 📸 We’ve got photo packages at checkout because let’s be honest—your phone’s gonna be in your bag while you’re having too much fun. Our photographers know all the best spots to capture your victory poses, mid-gallop action shots, and those pure joy moments. Grab a package and turn your Lighthorse adventure into frame-worthy memories
We use high-quality western saddles from Natural Horseman Saddles, specifically designed for both rider comfort and horse performance. Our fleet includes a variety of models—Easy Rider, Deep Seats, Litita Wade, and Roper saddles—each carefully selected to suit different riders and horses.
These aren’t your typical saddles.
They’re custom-made with features that make a real difference on the trail:
– Horn for security – Something solid to hold onto when you need it, giving you confidence and stability.
– Padded seats – Designed for comfort on longer rides so you can focus on the experience, not saddle soreness.
– Flexible tree design – Moves naturally with your horse’s body, allowing them to perform at their best while keeping you balanced and secure
.
The difference is noticeable. These saddles are purpose-built for trekking—giving you the security and comfort you need to relax and enjoy the ride, while ensuring your horse can move freely and comfortably beneath you. When both horse and rider are comfortable, that’s when the real magic happens.
You’ll feel better, ride better, and connect better in quality equipment designed with both you and your horse in mind.
Yes, our rider weight limit is 105kg, allowances for riders outside of this weight limit may be granted for experienced riders or for shorter rides, depending on the riders’ weight. Any allowances made by Lighthorse must be granted in writing and will be checked on the day.
We have different sized horses for different sized people. But at the end of the day, horse riding is still an athletic activity and you need to be able to get on and get off safely without hurting yourself or the horse. Please be honest about your weight and ability as there will be no refunds if you’re turned away from your ride because inaccurate information was provided. If in doubt (call us) to discuss your needs prior to booking.
We endeavour to make Lighthorse experiences accessible to everyone. Please contact our team prior to booking so we can discuss your specific needs and determine how we can best accommodate you. We require a minimum of 24 hours notice for bookings requiring special assistance or disability accommodations. Every rider and every need is different, so reach out and let’s have a conversation about what’s possible for your visit.
Cancellations must be made with a minimum of 48 hours notice prior to the day of your booked ride to qualify for a booking re-schedule or refund. Cancellations and booking changes made after 30 days, but prior to 48 hours will incur a 10% of the total booking fee, cancellations and changes made within 48 hours of the day of your booked ride are non-refundable.
All terms and conditions can be found here: www.lighthorseadventures.com/terms-conditions
EXCELLENTTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had an amazing time. The coaching was very thorough, the horses were great and the ladies who took us out were amazing. It was a cold and wet day jackets, boots and gloves were provided. Highly recommend ✨⭐️🌟Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Beautiful scenery, friendly staff, and adorable horses.Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 良い経験が出来ました！Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Most magical day of my life! Honestly, I can’t even find the right words to describe how incredible this experience was. I booked a custom tour for my girlfriend and me and it’s where I proposed to her. I truly could not have imagined a more perfect way to do it. From start to finish, everything felt absolutely perfect. Reaching out to the team at Lighthorse was so easy, they replied quickly, were incredibly helpful, and went above and beyond with ideas and support to help me plan the proposal. As soon as we arrived, they continued to impress us. The whole team was so warm, welcoming, and genuinely kind. Check-in was smooth and easy, and then our adventure began. Helena, our guide, was simply amazing, without a doubt the best guide I’ve ever had. She welcomed us so kindly, picked us up from the waiting area, and introduced us to our horses in such a calm and thoughtful way. She took the time to show us how to connect with them, and from the very beginning, we felt completely safe and comfortable. The ride itself was breathtaking, the landscapes around Glenorchy are something else, but what made it truly special was the way everything was handled with so much care, passion, and attention to detail. And then, of course, the proposal… it was perfect. Something we will remember for the rest of our lives. She said yes and I honestly don’t think there could have been a more magical place or a better team to be part of such an important moment. Thank you to everyone at Lighthorse for creating what was truly the best day of our lives. We will never forget it.Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Fantastic experience! Of course the location was incredible but what made it so special was that the staff were so friendly and knowledgeable. This tour actually takes the time to teach you about the nature of horses (natural horsemanship), how to connect with them, and enjoy riding together. I learned so much more than I anticipated and so enjoyed the adventure of the river crossings!Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Would highly recommend Lighthorse Adventures! It was our first time riding and we chose the easy ride. We had a great time and really appreciated being given the chance to spend time bonding with our horses. Phoenix is such a sweet boy 🐴✨ The whole experience was made even better by our guides who were knowledgeable, experienced, and engaging. Thank you team!Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Nice tour, beautiful view~Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great experience with Lighthorse🥹 Highly recommend to everyone!! The horses are well trained🫶The team are suuuuuuuuuper friendly💕💕Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. A horses paradise & riders dream! We spent three days around Lighthorse Adventures with the idea to get my husband on a horse and into riding. His summary: “I can’t imagine something more beautiful!” And with that everything important is said! Lighthorse Adventures is a wonderful place surrounded by stunning nature. But best of all are all those lovely and “light” horses and the very friendly and well educated staff. Thank you so much for a wonderful time down by the river!Verified by TrustindexTrustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more
RIDE THE GLACIAL RIVERS
WHERE MIDDLE-EARTH COMES ALIVE.
We offer tailor made custom day rides and package experiences.
Perfect for private groups, couples, surprise proposals, advanced horsemanship
or any adventure you can dream up through the stunning surrounds of the Dart Valley.