The mountain valleys of North East Victoria abound with colourful bird life, majestic views, lush pastures and a delightful climate. Bogong Horseback Adventures offer day rides in the heart of the High Country. Experience riding the beautiful tracks of the Alpine National Park through tall mountain forests, fern gullies and river crossings. Experienced guides with horses to suit all riders. All rides include tuition, Hard hats and oilskin coats if required. A medium level of confidence and fitness is recommended for this ride.


Age and weight limits apply:

• The minimum age is 12yo for the Half Day Ride
• Maximum weight of 95kg

What to Bring:

• Reusable water bottle (we discourage single-use plastics on our property)
• Jeans or long pants
• Suitable riding boots with a flat sole and a heel (we have some borrow boots if you require

• We ask all riders are confident to try a canter and rise to the trot on this ride, if you are a nervous rider we recommend our 2-hour ride.
• This ride travels through an old stock route, river crossings, and into the Alpine National Park.

Please see our FAQ page for more information.


https://www.springspur.com.au/faq/

*Rides will be subject to a 12% price increase during high season, holiday weekends, and public holidays. This is inclusive of the listed price when booking.

**Minimum numbers of 4 guests will need to be reached before this ride will be confirmed.

***The Half Day Ride is strongly recommended for riders with some riding experience or confidence to give the trot and canter a go. If your lack of confidence or riding experience limits you to only walking on this ride, you may be required to dismount and be picked up by management at your own expense.

The mountain valleys of North East Victoria abound with colourful birdlife, majestic views, lush pastures and a delightful climate. Bogong Horseback Adventures offer day rides in the heart of the High Country. Experience riding the beautiful tracks of the Alpine National Park through tall mountain forests, fern gullies and river crossings. Experienced guides with horses to suit all riders. All rides include tuition, Hard hats, and oilskin coats if required. Available all year by appointment

The two-hour ride is a great ride for first-timers and novice riders. Our team of experienced staff and quality horses will take you on a ride to remember. The 2 hour offers a few opportunities to trot and is a great ride to develop your skills and confidence for nervous and novice riders, and young children. With that said, it is enjoyable for all levels and ages, who don't have the time to join one of our longer rides.

Age and weight limits apply:

• Minimum age is 10yo
• Maximum weight 95kg

• Reusable water bottle (we discourage single-use plastics on our property)
• Jeans or long pants
• Suitable riding boots with a flat sole and a heel (we have some borrow boots if you require)

What to expect:

• An introductory ride for kids and nervous beginners, we encourage a trot and even a canter.
• This ride travels through an old stock route, river crossings, and into the Alpine National Park.

Please see our FAQ page for more information.

https://www.springspur.com.au/faq/

*Rides will be subject to a 12% price increase during high season, holiday weekends, and public holidays. This is inclusive of the listed price when booking.

**Minimum numbers of 4 guests will need to be reached before this ride will be confirmed.

People have visited the Victorian High Country at Easter for generations. And for good reason, April is a beautiful time of year in the North East of Victoria, and to escape into the mountains on our horses takes the experience to new level. Visiting spectacular mountain tops, wild rivers, historic huts and secluded camps this expedition will inspire and refresh. A mountain of experiences jammed into four days, riding the best of the High Country. Ride across Pretty Valley and the sweet pastures of the Bogong brumbies. Canter to the top of Mount Fainter with spectacular views of Mount Feathertop across the deep cut of the West Kiewa river and on to camp at Bogong Jack’s hideout. The expedition descends back into the the Kiewa Valley via Big Hill Cattle Track to the comforts of Spring Spur swapping your swag for a luxurious bed and delicious home cooked dinner!
Bogong Horseback Adventures’ pack horse expedition program commences annually in the late spring when the peaks of the Victorian High Country shake off their winter snows and alpine life starts to stir. For thousands of years the Aboriginal peoples of the surrounding country embarked on their annual migration to the High Plains, and until recently the mountain cattlemen, following their time honored ways pushed their cattle up to the 'tops'. Along with gold seekers, bushrangers and early adventurers, they all helped create a rich heritage, woven into the rugged fabric of the High Country. Much of the High Country remains un-roaded today, and packhorse expeditions offer a traditional and practical means of exploring this vast landscape. The horses are a feature of this expedition, each of them our own bred and trained mountain horse, expertly matched to the rider. Each day the camp is packed up, loaded onto the packhorses and the journey continues. Riding is between 15 to 25km per day with opportunities for loping canters across open plains. Camps are selected for their beautiful settings, some in traditional stock camps featuring huts, but often secluded bush camps maintained by Bogong Horseback Adventures. With swags rolled out dinner is prepared and enjoyed around a warming fire, with a cold beer, a local wine and a meal prepared from local fresh produce on the coals. All expeditions include a night before and a night after at Spring Spur, where you can join the family for a meal and enjoy your comfortable en-suite room.

INCLUSIONS
Experienced, knowledgeable guides
Spring Spur accommodation before and after expedition
All group camping equipment
Quality locally bred and trained horses
Quality Australian saddlery
All meals as per the itinerary
Beer and table wine with evening meal
Helmets and oilskin coats
National Park fees
First aid and emergency communications
Packing lists and travel information

OPTIONS
Transfers to and from Albury NSW

ITINERARY

Day 1

Arrive at Spring Spur homestead afternoon/evening
Evening Supper - Spring Spur Accommodation

Day 2

Pre ride information, horsemanship basics in the yards at BHA and packing check. Ride through the West Kiewa gorge via Dungey’s Track to camp on the second crossing flats.

B L D - Camping

Day 3

Climb up to the High Plains via Blair’s Hut, Weston Spur, Tawonga Huts and on to camp at Little Plain.

B L D - Camping

Day 4

Climb Mount Fainter for some spectacular views of nearby Mount Feathertop and the distant ridges and valleys of North East Victoria, then drop down into the tree line for a special night camping at Bogong Jack’s hideout, on the North Fainter Spur.

B L D - Camping

Day 5

Return to Spring Spur via the Big Hill Cattle Track.

B L D - Spring Spur Accommodation

Day 6

Mid morning checkout.

B

The Mount Bogong expedition takes you on a journey, through diverse landscapes, along a route that highlights the vertical scale of the Victorian High Country. Starting in the rich fertile valley of the Kiewa River, the tracks climb gently through the ferny mountain forests to a pretty streamside camp. Next morning with a wisp of campfire smoke curling through the morning mists, the horses are prepared for a day of climbing into the high alps. Leaving behind the lush temperate rainforest the mighty woolly-butts stand tall over our little horse team as it winds on, climbing eventually into the snow gum woodlands and finally the open herb fields of the High Plains. The blue ridges extend to the horizon, hazy with eucalyptus vapors across hundreds of kilometers. Beyond the dome of Mount Nelse is our sheltered camp at Cemetery Spur or perhaps Kelly’s Camp. Over the following days, the expedition continues to reveal new and different landscapes, along with heritage tracks built on the hopes and dreams of gold miners and distant views of surrounding mountains. The final camp is in the tree-line on Mount Bogong, Victoria’s highest mountain. On your last day, you climb to the highest place you can take a horse in Australia, and nestled in the valley far below is Spring Spur, your destination at day’s end.

Bogong Horseback Adventures’ pack horse expedition program commences annually in the late spring when the peaks of the Victorian High Country shake off their winter snows and alpine life starts to stir. For thousands of years the Aboriginal peoples of the surrounding country embarked on their annual migration to the High Plains, and until recently the mountain cattlemen, following their time-honored ways pushed their cattle up to the 'tops'. Along with gold seekers, bushrangers and early adventurers, they all helped create a rich heritage, woven into the rugged fabric of the High Country. Much of the High Country remains un-roaded today, and packhorse expeditions offer a traditional and practical means of exploring this vast landscape. The horses are a feature of this expedition, each of them our own bred and trained mountain horse, expertly matched to the rider. Each day the camp is packed up, loaded onto the packhorses and the journey continues. Riding is between 15 to 25km per day with opportunities for loping canters across open plains. Camps are selected for their beautiful settings, some in traditional stock camps featuring huts, but often secluded bush camps maintained by Bogong Horseback Adventures. With swags rolled out dinner is prepared and enjoyed around a warming fire, with a cold beer, a local wine and a meal prepared from local fresh produce on the coals. All expeditions include a night before and a night after at Spring Spur, where you can join the family for a meal and enjoy your comfortable en-suite room.

INCLUSION
Experienced, knowledgeable guides
Spring Spur accommodation before and after the expedition
All group camping equipment
Quality locally bred and trained horses
Quality Australian saddlery
All meals as per the itinerary
Beer and table wine with evening meal
Helmets and oilskin coats
National Park fees
First aid and emergency communications
Packing lists and travel information

OPTIONS
Transfers to and from Albury NSW

ITINERARY
Day 1
Arrive at Spring Spur homestead afternoon/evening
Evening Supper - Spring Spur Accommodation

Day 2
Pre-ride information, horsemanship basics in the yards at BHA and packing check. Ride following the East Kiewa River track to our camp at Bogong Creek.
B L D - Camping

Day 3
Climb up to the High Plains via Timms Spur, a traverse of Mount Nelse and onto camp at Cemetery Spur or Kelly’s.
B L D - Camping

Day 4
Follow the hand cut Track 107 down to an early camp on Big River in the Mount Wills Heritage Area.
B L D - Camping

Day 5
We ascend Mount Bogong via the Long Spur, a full day of riding the ridge up to our camp below the tree line near Cleve Cole Hut.
B L D - Camping

Day 6
Traverse the magnificent Mt Bogong before descending the legendary Eskdale Spur to the head of Mountain Creek returning back to Spring Spur Stables.
B L D - Spring Spur Accommodation

Day 7
Mid-morning checkout.

Arrive at Spring Spur in the morning for riding briefing and allocation of your beautifully home bred and trained horse. Ride out with experienced guides along the scenic bush tracks of the Kiewa Valley and Alpine National Park. You and your mount ride across mountain streams and ascend through tall eucalyptus forests and shaded tree fern gullies to arrive at a scenic bush picnic lunch prepared from the Spring Spur homestead kitchen. After a cupa' tea and little snooze under the gum tree, enjoy an afternoon ride back to Spring Spur. A medium level of confidence and fitness is recommended for this ride. 

PLEASE NOTE: This ride requires minimum numbers in order to proceed, if these are not met we will offer a full refund or the option to move to the half-day ride or reschedule for another date.

Minimum numbers apply

Age and weight limits apply:

• Minimum age is 12yo
• Maximum weight 95kg

Please see our booking conditions or our FAQ page for more information.

We are proud to offer the perfect two day getaway for couples, mothers and daughters, father and sons, families, or a combination of all. Spring Spur is beautiful in every season in every way. Friendly hosts, horses and staff. Spring Spur, your country home away from home. Summer: gleaming fit horses, salads, fresh mountain streams, lazy days, hammocks, veggie gardens, sunflowers and summer shade.

Autumn: Kiewa valley and gardens coloured with golds and reds of deciduous trees, coloured barks falling of mountain ash, snow gum trunk glowing shades of greens, orange and greys. Cockatoos descending  their mountain nests, filling the skies with their screeching calls. Wooly horses growing warm coats, fresh morning walks and steaming tea. Fabulous rides starting cold and peeling layers as you ride. Winter: Sparkling frosts, snow covered mountain views. Winter rides, horses keen warming their bones, gloves, boots and wooly coats. Hearty roast dinners and the warmth of the ’Ned Kelly’ fire. Glue vine wine, records, books and warm sleeps. Hearty breakfast, eggs and bacon beans or porridge and pears.
Spring: blooming gardens of jasmine, roses and budding fruit trees. Horses grazing rich clovers and ryes, shedding winter coats revealing a gleaming summer fur. Frolicking new born foals and buzzing bees, the yards are busy horses trained.

So whatever season you choose you stay at Spring Spur, you can be assured of fabulous varied experiences.

Natural horsemanship is a part of our everyday practice with our horse handling but we can run lessons specific to children and incorporating grooming saddling and basic health care for the beginner horse rider. Ask us to help build your itinerary. We have many professionals in the area that can run workshops here in horsemanship, yoga, art classes, even cooking classes.

The Baird Family have been running award winning trail rides and packhorse expeditions since 1986 and have recently completed Spring Spur Stay to accommodate our riding guests. We are committed to hospitality ensuring you feel welcome and rewarded. Our Spring Spur Australian Stock Stud has been producing quality horses since 1989. All horses are trained using natural horsemanship philosophies, and are a pleasure to ride no matter how experienced you are, horses are matched to each riders ability and the horses' horse-an-ality.

Spring Spurs’ hosted accommodation features bright spacious rooms with en-suites, quiet private corners with beautiful views and gardens. Spring Spur Stay is designed using passive solar principals, maintaining a clean bright and modern building but reflecting its High Country integrity in its design. Our guests can immerse themselves into the High Country experience at whatever level of adventure they choose returning to the comforts of Spring Spur Stay overlooking Mount Feathertop, Mt Bogong summit and surrounding mountains. Our meals are prepared and cooked using locally sourced produce and our own vegetables grown organically from heritage seeds, but most importantly cooked with passion and flair. We cater for various dietary needs including gluten free, vegan and vegetarians. Spring Spur is fully licensed premise featuring a selection of hand crafted local wine and beers, we do not allow BYO.

If you’re here for a full weekend of horse riding you can book a full day on the Saturday and add an extra half day on Sunday morning. Alternatively, you may desire a luxurious sleep-in on Sunday morning opting for a late breakfast before a leisurely drive home. In house massage is available or at one of the spa’s in the area but bookings are essential prior to arrival. There are many other activities available in the area; bush walks, cycle paths, mountain bike tracks, snow fields and gliding clubs (seasonal) and many wineries, some that you could include on your way home.

Inclusions
2 nights accommodation at Spring Spur Stay
Light supper on arrival
Continental breakfast on the morning of your ride
A morning half day ride from Spring Spur Stables
Long table lunch
Homestead dinner party with the day's riders
Farm cooked ’Sunday’ breakfast
Private room with ensuite bathroom

Optional extras
Upgrade to a Full Day Ride
Extra Half Day Ride with lunch for the following day
Additional nights accommodation
In house massage (contact our office for more information)

Exclusions
Alcohol
(We are fully licensed, strictly no BYO)

This is an activity where kids and adults alike can enjoy getting to know horses better. Aimed at introducing you to horses or deepening your knowledge, this fun filled two hour session will challenge and delight you. We will cover;

• Introduction to horses and basic safety

• Grooming and horse care

• Leading with confidence

• Basic riding skills in the arena

Work on your confidence, leadership and communication skills all while building a relationship with your beautiful Spring Spur horse. Obstacle challenges and group activities provide a fun and dynamic way to advance your horsemanship skills. 

Suited to all levels of experience, minimum age 6yo maximum weight 95kg

This is a private session and is priced per booking.

Group of 1 $480.00 (per participant)

Group of 2 $250.00 (per participant)

Group from 3 to 4 $2300.00 (per participant)

Group from 5 to 8 $210.00 (per participant)