Sandy Bay Horses
Sandy Bay Horses
5
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About
Luxury Glamping at Awatuna Yurt perfect for couples and add a horse tour during late October-May. Also our farmstay is great for families. Interactive eco-tours on the native tuna trail and the tuna trail journey, learn and view the spectacular native longfin eels by horse back. Experienced riders try a ocean swim with their horse.
Whangarei, New Zealand
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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5.0
103 reviews
Excellent
99
Very good
3
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
1
Janice_travels_lush
Whangarei, New Zealand213 contributions
Apr 2024 • Family
We're nature lovers and Sandy Bay horses does not disappoint. The ponies are well kept and fitted out with top notch gear. I took the 1 hour farm trek with my 8 year old Granddaughter. The scenery and landscape is beautiful and to top it off we enjoyed meeting some wild native Tuna (Eels in English). Our trek was at a beginner level of riding that included uphill parts and stream crossings.
Written 29 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rebecca M
13 contributions
Dec 2024 • Solo
Had 4 fantastic rides over the Christmas period. A valley hack, lesson, scenic ocean ride and swim ride. Sophie who took me out was friendly and great with horses. Only downside was the weather as we had rain and storms, which delayed a ride and it was very windy. This meant the horse I rode was not particularly happy about going in the sea!
Written 30 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tour32925378445
1 contribution
Oct 2024 • Family
I had the absolute best experience! The team bent over backwards to accommodate myself and my 8 year old daughter. The views, the trail, the beach were exceptional. The service was 5 star. They even had a delightful helper walking alongside my daughter and her horse “little girl” leading her the whole way for her safety. We can’t wait to come back again!
Written 1 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bridget M
Auckland, New Zealand2 contributions
Oct 2020 • Family
We highly recommend Sandy Bay Horse Trekking for all ages. The facilities are excellent and the horses are very well cared for. We did the one hour trek for beginners. My daughter (8 years) rode Blue Gum who was patient and used to beginners. Naomi our guide was excellent, she is very competent with years of experience here and in the UK and loves horses.
We loved the trek across farmland with native bush with lots of native birds and views of the sea. We crossed a stream and trekked up some hills which built up my daughter’s confidence and sense of achievement. 5/5 for an amazing experience!
We loved the trek across farmland with native bush with lots of native birds and views of the sea. We crossed a stream and trekked up some hills which built up my daughter’s confidence and sense of achievement. 5/5 for an amazing experience!
Written 10 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Bridget
Thank you so much for taking the time to write this review, we pride ourselves in providing a fun, safe and educational experience. It takes a lot of effort to care for and train these magnificent animals, and appreciate the positive feedback, hope to see you back for another horse adventure over summer!
Thank you
Kiley Pullman
Written 11 October 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Fatma G
4 contributions
Dec 2020 • Friends
We loved our 2.5 hour ride! The guides were very experienced and kept the tour interesting. The faster paced we’re nice, especially the canter on the beach. Steven, the horse i rode was funny and knew what he was doing especially going through the water. The horses looked very well taken care of and were overall happy. The horse my friend rode was Little Girl and she was a lovely chilled out mare who took good care of her rider! Gorgeous scenery all around, would definitely come again.
Written 18 December 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Julie H
Havelock North, New Zealand139 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
My daughter and I did the one hour beginners trek with Little Girl and Mercedez (the horses) and Naomi (the guide). Naomi was excellent, she really put my nervous daughter at ease, and under Naomi’s instruction she was able to ford a stream and walk her horse up and down a couple of hills. It really made a dream come true for her, and she left feeling like she’d accomplished something.
The scenery was fabulous, mostly farmland, some bush, with a view towards Sandy Bay Beach at the end. We also stopped to admire a very cute foal. Naomi was so easy to chat with, the time just flew by. The horses were gentle and very used to beginners - Naomi led the trek from the front and our horses knew they were meant to follow her. I would absolutely recommend this trek.
The scenery was fabulous, mostly farmland, some bush, with a view towards Sandy Bay Beach at the end. We also stopped to admire a very cute foal. Naomi was so easy to chat with, the time just flew by. The horses were gentle and very used to beginners - Naomi led the trek from the front and our horses knew they were meant to follow her. I would absolutely recommend this trek.
Written 5 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks so much Julie it’s wonderful to hear great feedback and how the kids are benefiting from what we do here, 🐴💗
Written 6 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
GoPlaces828756
1 contribution
Jan 2022
Miss 8 loved her first proper horse trek, and I felt she was safe and looked after the entire time by our lovely guide. Stunning views, well behaved horses and seeing so many eels was fantastic.
Will def come again one day- and bring a snack to feed the eels :)
Will def come again one day- and bring a snack to feed the eels :)
Written 13 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MLB
2 contributions
Jan 2023
Lovely trek on beautiful horses. Our guide Erin was excellent. Loved seeing the eels.
The horses are clearly looked after so well.
The guide and owner took considerable care to make sure our horses were a good match for our varied abilities.
The trek was not cheap, but definitely worth what we paid. This is not your typical trekking business with overworked and despondent horses dragging themselves along.
Would definitely do again
The horses are clearly looked after so well.
The guide and owner took considerable care to make sure our horses were a good match for our varied abilities.
The trek was not cheap, but definitely worth what we paid. This is not your typical trekking business with overworked and despondent horses dragging themselves along.
Would definitely do again
Written 3 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tom W
Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand10 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
Great one hour horse trek. Great track, lovely horses and we got to touch the eels! Three of us rode, those who don't want to ride can walk. Those walking, bring gum boots if you don't want to get wet shoes.
Written 27 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Buzz
1 contribution
Sept 2020
We had the one hour beginners ride with 2 adults and 1 child. The horses are really well cared for and the facilities excellent compared to other horse treks we have done in the past. nice mix or farm, native bush and sea views. the guide was also very good and we all felt safe and in good hands.
Written 5 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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