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The picturesque Australian "Outback" has captured the imagination of the
world. Step back in time and experience the vanishing heritage and ride in the magnificent
New England countryside, enjoying the friendly atmosphere of historic old pubs. The
Pub Crawl is a trek over rugged countryside, through creeks and quiet country lanes
but there's a pub at the end of every day. Some of the pubs are old stage coach
stops. Precious gems like sapphires are found in this part of the world.
The early morning air is crisp and sharpens the smell of
horses and leather as you saddle up to participate in a great adventures. Each night we arrive at a Pub, hence the name “Pub Crawl”;
however, this is primarily a horse riding experience and no drinking is permitted during
the 5-6 hours of riding.
Itinerary
Day 1: Guests
arrive at our Homestead for lunch. Lunch
consists of cold cuts such as ham, chicken, tuna, egg, bread and butter, orange
juice and a large variety of salad foods e.g. tomato, lettuce, cucumber,
beetroot and asparagus set out as a smorgasbord so guests can help themselves to
as much or as little as they want. During
lunch we discuss riding experience and allocate horses depending on people’s
ability, height and weight. After
lunch, say about 2.00pm we fit saddles to people and have a 2 hour trail ride
around our property. The property
is set on 1200 acres mainly bush with some open areas.
The tracks provide areas for trotting and cantering.
This ride is usually taken at a reasonably slow pace to allow people to
feel comfortable with their mounts and visa-versa. Dinner is served at the Homestead at 7.00pm and
consists of 3 courses with candlelight; entree (Soup in winter), Roast Beef with
roasted vegetables is usually served as the main course followed by dessert.
Complimentary wine is also served with dinner.
All other alcoholic drinks are on a “Bring your own” basis as we are
not licensed to sell liquor.
Day 2: Guests
are invited to help feed and saddle the horses at 7.00am.
Breakfast is at 8.00am consisting of cereals, toast, bacon, eggs &
tomato, orange juice, jams etc. We
ride out approximately 9.00am. This
day is fairly flat along bush trails and through a large cattle station (about
10,000 acres). We arrive at the
Deepwater Inn between 3.30 and 4.00 that afternoon.
Guests are invited to help unsaddle and feed the horses.
Dinner is again at 7.00pm and is 3 courses.
(approx 6 hours' riding)
Day 3: The
country changes as we wander down the escarpment of the New England Tableland
where Torrington is situated. A six
hour ride with plenty of spots for photographs of the magnificent scenery riding
into the Club Hotel at Emmaville.
Day 4: The ride works its
way back through Emmaville, which goes back in history to the earliest mining
settlements, where the Pub you stay at was a stop-over inn for Cobb & Co
stage coaches.
Day 5: A great
riding day crossing rivers and negotiating steep gorges before
lunch, after lunch is reasonably flat along bush trails and following an old
trail used by the stage coach before the turn of the century well before the
invention of cars. This brings us
back to the Homestead where a farewell BBQ dinner is held. (approx
6 hours' riding)
Day 6: Breakfast
8.00am and guests depart.
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Accommodations: Accommodation
varies from pub to pub. Most pubs
are over 100 years old but are clean and comfortable with electric blankets in
winter. All the pubs also have a
roaring log fire in winter. Shared
bathroom facilities - ladies and gents separate of course.
Double-bed rooms for couples are available but limited numbers.
Single guests are on twin share or with bunk-house accommodation
depending on the numbers. With
smaller groups single rooms can be arranged at some of the pubs.
In each of the pubs you will have met many typical
Aussies, Graziers, shearers, prospectors, stockmen and many other characters
that live the rural Australian life. The towns you ride to and stay in are a step back into
the past to our rich and colorful heritage, areas that are still little known
to tourists.
The Homestead
is set on 1200acres of bushland situated at the end of a gravel road so there is
no traffic and is very tranquil. The
boundary boasts 6klms of river and we also have the use of surrounding
properties, totaling approximately 10,000 acres.
Accommodation is country, clean and comfortable with 3 double-bed rooms
for couples and a bunkhouse which accommodates 12 singles.
There is also a 4 single bed
room in the house. Again shared
bathroom facilities. Tea and Coffee
is available 24 hours. Voted as the
best room in the house is our 40feet long 16 feet wide verandah where guests sit
and relax after the ride.
Meals: All
breakfasts are fully cooked English style.
Lunch consists of a roll with various fillings, piece of cake, snack bar, fruit
and juice and is taken in saddlebags, stopping along the way sometime by the
side of a creek or shady bush setting. A
BBQ lunch is on Day 4.
All dinners are 3 courses.
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