Let your horse take you across the Cardrona River while keeping a keen eye out for gold along the way! Learn about the gold rush that Cardrona experienced in the 1860s which gave way to farming which you will experience first hand as you ride through mobs of Merino sheep. Climb to a beautiful vantage point allowing breathtaking views of Mount Cardrona and the Crown Range.
The meeting time for The Gold Discovery Trail is 9:30am. If this time does not suit please call or email info@thecardrona.co.nz as we may be able to accommodate a Gold Discovery Trail in the afternoon on request (12:30pm check in). The Cardrona headquarters is a 20 minute drive for Wanaka or 1 hour drive from Queenstown over the Crown Range Road.
No riding experience is required as we provide suitable instruction for each individuals horse riding ability before the ride commences. Children can be led from the lead horse if required. This ride takes a journey along the Cardrona River under the willow trees, crosses through the river and ascends up in to the mountains of the working sheep & cattle station allowing spectacular views down the the Cardrona Valley and the surrounding mountain ranges along the way.
If you’re up for it we WILL get you trotting your horse on this ride! (Instructions will be given prior to departure and throughout the ride)
Reward your horse with a well earned bucket of feed on return to the stables!
See what visitors to the Queenstown & Wanaka area are saying about “The Gold Discovery Trail” horse trek;
Magical family experience in the beautiful Cardrona
Review of: Small-Group Gold Discovery Horse Riding in Cardrona Valley
“What an amazing experience, cannot recommend it highly enough! Magical scenery, beautiful horses and Kel is a great guide. We are all inexperienced riders and our youngest is only 6, so we were a little apprehensive about a 2 hour trek. However, the horses are very well trained and there is the option of leading the young rider’s horse, which we chose. Kel made sure we were all safe and relaxed, which made for a beautiful experience. The kids also loved Barney the dog and Ettie the cat. Thank you for such a special time.”
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RD2, Wanaka 9381
New Zealand
Look out for the famous Cardrona Bra Fence!
From Wanaka (allow about 20 minutes*):
Take the Crown Range Road towards Queenstown, 20km from Wanaka, driveway on the left before the Cardrona ski field and Cardrona township.
From Queenstown (allow about 50-55 minutes*):
Take the Crown Range Road towards Wanaka, go through the Cardrona township past the Cardrona Hotel, 3km further along on the right.
*NOTE these are self drive times, WE DO NOT PROVIDE A PICK UP SERVICE.
We recommend private vehicle/ rental car as the best & most cost effective means of transport to our location. If you need transport, grab a car from only $9 per hour with Ryd, Queenstown’s newest Rental Car by the Hour service, no more paying for the hours you don’t use. Use discount code ” CARDRONA ” to get $10 off your first ride.
Information on bus services to & from Queenstown can be found at www.ritchies.co.nz (we can arrange to pick you up & drop you off from their Cardrona Hotel bus stop)
If you’re based in Wānaka, private taxi services are available, including WanaTaxi (0800WANATAXI) and Yello! (0800 443 5555), offering door-to-door service directly to the valley.
Please note: It’s your responsibility to arrive on time for your booking. The Cardrona Horse Riding & 4×4 ATVs team cannot wait for late arrivals. During winter, roads can be icy or snow-covered, so we advise checking conditions via Queenstown Lakes District Council’s Winter Road Reports before setting off. Always allow extra time to travel safely.
Whether by car, bus, or taxi — getting to The Cardrona Horse Riding & 4×4 ATVs is straightforward with a little preparation, and the journey itself is part of the adventure.