Horseriding in Victoria's parks

 

Victoria's national and state parks with their mountains, valleys, beaches, heathlands and forests offer horse riders some great opportunities to explore and adventure on horseback.

Horse riding has deep roots in Victoria's history, culture, literature and popular mythology – from the romance of The Man from Snowy River to the legends of the bushrangers, brumby herders and musterers of the high country.

Horse riding allows you to appreciate the natural environment, experiencing native wildlife, natural history and folklore as you pass through the bush.

 
 
 

Have a Safe Ride and Protect Our Parks:

Many of Victoria's best horse riding tracks and trails are found within some of the most pristine, natural ecosystems. In order to protect these environments as well as other riders, there are some simple guidelines to assist horse riders ensure the long-term viability of Victoria's park environment and our unique natural heritage.

Parks Victoria, together with community groups, has drawn up a Horse Riding Code. The Horse Riding code aims to minimize or reduce the impact of horses and horse riders on Victoria's parks' environments. Full details of the Horse Riding Code can be found on www.parkweb.vic.gov.au.

Some simple rules to follow include:

  • Remember to stay on designated tracks to help prevent soil erosion, trampling and grazing and to prevent the spread of weeds.

  • Carrying out what you carry in to a park.

  • Camping with horses is not permitted in many parks so remember to check before you go.

  • Safety is crucial and all riders must wear a helmet and carry appropriate safety equipment.

Where to Ride:

There is a great variety of designated horse riding tracks in Victoria's parks. Remember some parks don't allow horse riding so always check park guidelines before you go. Study a map to find suitable tracks as some tracks may be closed for horse riding. Also some tracks may require permits and some are closed during particular times of the year.

It's often a good idea to contact the local park office to check the local regulations. Park Victoria staff can inform riders of any permits required and can help plan routes.

Places to ride close to Melbourne:

The Macedon Regional Park offers wonderful views and native forest to explore whilst riding along the numerous multipurpose trails through the park.

Beach riding is a great way to discover the Mornington Peninsula National Park, ride along St Andrew's Beach between Boag Rocks and the access track at Paradise Drive; this area has been set aside for riders and connects with the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council Equestrian Trail network.

Bunyip State Park and Kurth Kiln Park provide camping facilities, offering the perfect opportunity to explore these parks overnight and enjoy the diverse plants and animals that are found there.

Further Afield:

There are hundreds of great management tracks and trails open for horse riders to explore and adventure the Victorian countryside. Here are a few suggestions:

The Great Otway National Park with its fern gullies and rugged coastline has a variety of formed roads and horse tracks for riders to experience and enjoy this magnificent park on.

For a different experience altogether, head for the Alpine National Park to experience the state's highest mountains and pristine alpine environments. Riders can choose from a large network of horse tracks.

The Mandurang and Whipstick sections of the Greater Bendigo National Park have trails open for horse riding, visit this park for a variety of regrowth forests, grassy woodlands and great examples of Victorian Box Ironbark forest.

The Heathcote-Graytown National Park contains the largest remaining Box Ironbark forest in Victoria and is a wonderful park to enjoy the solitude of the bush. There are many trails for horse riding in this park, so why not stay and camp in one of the nearby state forests to enjoy the area for longer.

Need a horse?

Parks Victoria licenses tour operators to run horse riding tours throughout many of Victoria's parks. Visit the guided tours section of www.parkweb.vic.gov.au or contact the Parks Victoria Information Centre on 13 1963 for a list of operators.

 

 



  
Want to Know More?

www.parkweb.vic.gov.au