There’s nothing like heading out on a ride in some amazing scenery. These places offer horse riding in Melbourne and Victoria including pony parties, riding lessons, trail rides, trail riding trips and more.
There are minimum age requirements, weight restrictions, prior experience and gear you’ll need for some of the rides, so it’s best to read the fine print when booking and / or contact the provider with any questions.
Note that I have not included locations that allow you to bring your own horse.
Best Horse Riding Melbourne & TRAIL RIDING MELBOURNE
1. Woodlands Trail Riding, Greenvale
Head to Greenvale and visit Woodlands Trail Riding for trail riding near Melbourne (around half an hour from the CBD). They offer a range of services including trail rides, trekking through the bushland inside the park, pony rides and horse riding lessons.
Pony rides start from $30 for a 15 minute ride (with longer rides representing better value), and you can even book a pony party for 1 or 1.5 hours to delight kids with a unique experience!
Woodlands Trail Riding is also a Melbourne horse riding school. The riding lessons cater for a range of experience levels and age groups to equip participants with skills in horse husbandry and riding.
Set inside Woodlands Historic Park, there’s wonderful views of the city and the surrounding area including the Great Dividing Range. Also, plenty of wildlife including birdlife and kangaroos.
Woodlands Trail Riding, Woodlands Historic Park, Somerton Road (Park Access Road), Greenvale, 1300 966 352
2. Valley Park Riding School, Templestowe
Valley Park Riding School is a Melbourne riding school that offers riding lessons just half an hour from Melbourne’s CBD, as well as school holiday programs and pony parties.
Lessons run all week as well as on weekends, and they cater for both children and adults.
If you don’t want a horse ride, Melbourne locals and visitors can also make bookings for Groundwork Sessions to enjoy the benefits of spending time around horses.
Valley Park Riding School, 86 O’Briens Ln, Templestowe, 0475 00 00 88
3. Gunnamatta Trail Rides, Mornington Peninsula
Go horse riding near Melbourne on the Mornington Peninsula!
With a large range of horse riding experiences to choose from at Gunnamatta Trail Rides, you’ll be sure to enjoy in the stunning surrounds of the Mornington Peninsula. And with around 75 horses, you will certainly find your perfect equine partner.
You can book private rides, family rides, bush rides, romantic sunset rides and more. Beach rides are a bucket list experience, and you can even book a private twilight ride along the ocean beach!
To make the most of your trail riding expedition, there are packages available combining experiences with other local businesses, such as the Beach & Brewery package.
Horse riding lessons are run throughout the year, and are suitable for beginners.
Gunnamatta Trail Rides, Cnr Truemans Rd & Sandy Rd, Fingal, 03 5988 6755
4. The Ranch, Cape Shanck
Set on 200 acres with an Old West vibe, there is plenty to do at The Ranch, including horse riding. You’ll also be treated to views of Bass Strait.
Horse riding trail rides are available for a variety of ages and experience levels, including a 30 minute Junior Trail Ride with a maximum age of 15 years, suitable for novices. Or there’s the Experienced Forest Ride where riders (minimum 10 years) will navigate the trails through Greens Bush for two hours. It will involve ducking, weaving and a quick pace!
Other facilities at The Ranch include accommodation on site, mountain boarding, school, summer and holiday programs and event facilities.
The Ranch, 810 Boneo Rd, Cape Shanck, 03 5988 6262
5. Hepburn Lagoon Trail Rides, Daylesford
Get matched with one of the horses at Quirindi Stables, the family owned property from witch Hepburn Lagoon Trail Rides depart to travel through the Wombat State Forest.
A two hour trail ride costs $150pp, or go all out with the 5 hour pub ride, that travels through the bush to the Swiss Mountain Hotel for lunch at a cost of $280pp including your meal.
Riders need to be at least 6 years old, and robust enough to cope with the ride. Each ride starts with some skill practice in the yard, to ensure everyone is ready for the journey.
Hepburn Lagoon Trail Rides, 60 Telegraph Rd, Newlyn North, 0408 059 125
6. Beltain Park, Yarra Valley
Beltain Park offers horseback riding near Melbourne, with Yarra Valley riding lessons. They offer small group lessons as well as school holiday programs.
If you, or your little one, is feeling apprehensive about your first horse riding experience, the staff at Beltain Park will work to make you feel comfortable with expertise in working with beginners.
Beltain Park, 741 Warburton Hwy, Seville, 03 5964 2445
7. Chum Creek Horse Riding, Yarra Valley
Escape on horseback riding trails near Melbourne at Chum Creek Horse Riding in the Yarra Valley – you could even make it an overnight or weekend getaway!
Trail rides are led by experienced guides with packages such as the 2.5 hour Yarra Valley Mountain Hut Wine Tasting ride. You’ll ride through the scenic Yarra Valley, and may spot wildlife including deer, kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, echidnas, lizards and eagles.
Chum Creek Horse Riding also offer longer experiences, including rides on the Bicentennial National Trail (BNT), the longest dedicated horse riding trail in the world.
With two luxury accommodation huts on the property, you can make the most of a longer horse riding experience at Chum Creek. Hut 1 sleeps up to 6 and boasts a sizeable fireplace, and the Loft Hut sleeps up to 4 and has a Japanese Soaking tub.
Chum Creek Horse Riding, 221 Heath Road, Chum Creek, 0407 326 276
8. Watson’s Mountain Country Trail Rides, High Country
Experience horse riding in Victoria’s picturesque high country with Watson’s Mountain Country Trail Rides.
If you just want to dip your toes into a horseback riding adventure, there are short rides for an hour, a few hours or a full day. For the more adventurous and more experienced, the overnight rides include a full itinerary of things to see and plenty of delicious food.
On the 7 day Man From Snowy River Celebration Ride, you’ll trek through the high country and see the scenery where the movie was filmed four decades ago.
Watson’s Mountain Country Trail Rides, 296 Three Chain Road, Booroolite, 03 5777 3552
9. Snowy Range Horseback Tours, Heyfield
If you want to explore as much of the high country as possible, Snowy Range Horseback Tours offer two 10-day tours! Tours generally run from November – April, and in May, June and October tours are run through the Licola Valley.
Or if you’d like to experience the high country on a shorter tour, a variety of other options are available, including weekend tours.
All tours include a mountain horse, accommodation and meals with plenty of fresh, good-quality food.
Snowy Range Horseback Tours, RMB 5790 Heyfield, 03 5148 2118 | 0428 321 905
10. McCormacks Mountain Valley Trail Rides, Merrijig
Riders as young as eight-years (depending on the ride) can experience the high country with McCormacks Mountain Valley Trail Rides. Accommodating a range from beginner to experienced riders, with rides as short as 2 hours, or multiple day experiences.
Tour attendees will see film locations from The Man From Snowy River, and can ask Bruce about his time as one of the crack riders on the film.
Enjoy horse back riding with splendid views from points such as Mt Stirling and Craig’s Hut, with tours running all year.
McCormacks Mountain Valley Trail Rides, 118 McCormacks Rd, Merrijig, 03 5777 5542 | 0428 573 708
11. Bogong Horseback Adventures, Tawonga
Mountain horses are expertly bred and trained, then matched to each rider at Bogong Horseback Adventures.
Join a delightful day ride with accommodation at Spring Spur Stay through the high country.
Be treated to quality food including locally sourced produce, and comfortable swags for overnight rides. If you want a truly special experience, there’s even an eight day tour that brings in the New Year on Mount Bogong. A truly unique experience horse riding in Victoria!
Bogong Horseback Adventures, 52 Fredas Ln, Tawonga, 03 4706 0111
12. Billabong Ranch Adventure Park, Echuca
There’s so much going on at Billabong Ranch Adventure Park! You can experience a trail ride along bush tracks, the local waterways or between farms. With rides and horses suitable for beginners and experienced riders, the trail rides start at $95pp for a 1 hour session.
There are also horse riding lessons, a saddle club and school holiday programs to develop horse riding skills.
After your ride there’s plenty to do at the adventure park, with a cafe, pony rides, a fun park and mini golf. Plus camel rides and horse and carriages!
Billabong Ranch Adventure Park, Cnr Glanville and Tehan Rd, Echuca, 03 5483 5122
13. Yarra Valley Trails Ponyland, Christmas Hills
A tranquil ride through the picturesque Christmas Hills with Yarra Valley Trails Ponyland will have you wanting to come back time and again!
They offer guided trail rides, as well as day programs and holiday camps – catering to all skill levels.
Set amongst 300 acres of pasture and bushland, abundant with wildlife, you won’t believe it’s only an hour from Melbourne CBD.
Minimum age is 10 years old, private and group bookings are welcome.
Yarra Valley Trails Ponyland, 35 Osborne Road, Christmas Hills VIC 3775, (03) 9730 1334, ponyland@bigpond.com
