Saddle up ... winery ride.
Kristin Lee finds its horses for courses when it comes to four-legged adventures.
For an equine enthusiast, such as myself, nothing beats the rhythmic hoof beat of a sure-footed steed amid the solitude of nature. No matter how you look at them, horses are a significant part of Australian heritage, folklore and culture.
There are around 1.2 million horses used for equestrian sports, horse racing and recreation across the country. When it comes to some of the more unusual and rewarding horse-based leisure activities, Victoria has a miscellany, ranging from a horseback winery tour to camping out Man from Snowy River-style. But if you are not one to don a pair of jodhpurs and throw your leg over a saddle, it is possible to appreciate their grace from a more grounded level, such as a picnic in the company of retired racing legends.
Living Legends
When it comes to tradition, Woodlands Historic Park at Greenvale has had a strong association with champion horses for more than 160 years. Today, it's home to Living Legends, The International Home of Rest for Champion Horses.
Group One racing legends, such as Fields of Omagh, Better Loosen Up, Brew, Doriemus, Might and Power and Rogan Josh, provide a rare opportunity for visitors to get close to some of the nation's eminent thoroughbreds. The property sprawls across 700 hectares of scenic, grass-lined hills that are punctuated with river red gums, bushland, plus walking, horse and bike trails. It's a great locale for plane spotting as flights descend into nearby Melbourne Airport.
Woodlands Historic Park, Oaklands Road, Greenvale, see livinglegends.org.au. Open Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Entry is free.
Victorian Polo Club
Aside from the Melbourne Cup for adrenaline-filled spectator action, there are a number of polo matches around town from November until March. There are four major annual tournaments, such as the Stella Artois at Werribee Park National Equestrian Centre (WPNEC) and one of the grandest polo events in all of Australia, the Portsea Polo Invitational.
The latter draws about 5000 patrons, where an unusual mix of "boardshorts" and relaxed corporates mingle at a unique coastal setting. In between these events, it is possible to watch the more informal polo matches at Werribee, where cars can literally pull up on the roadside, just as they would at a local footy match.
If you want to get a hands-on grasp of the sport and its terminology, such as chukkas, bumps and knock-ins, polo lessons can be taken year-round, for beginners upwards, at the Vicpolo Academy at the WPNEC.
Colonial Way horse-drawn caravans
These caravans offer three sturdy, fully self-contained, five-berth wagons, complete with bona fide horsepower at Rheola, near Bendigo.
With more than 1000 kilometres of trails that traverse through and along the edge of tree-filled state forest, golden wheat country and parched river flats, this wanderlust lifestyle is a refreshing change of pace.
Rove at an average of 5km/h, camp on dam banks, throw a line in and cook a barbecue. Even the dog is welcome. Guidance with driving and assistance with harnessing and unharnessing is provided.
From $990 a week for up to four people. Phone 5438 8249, see colonialway.com.au.
Horseback Winery Tours
Horseback riding melds with wine appreciation amid verdant hills that roll gently towards the coastline to meet the sparkling, deep blue sea, making it seem more like the Mediterranean.
But it's here at Main Ridge on the Mornington Peninsula that Spring Creek Farm offers two unhurried and civilised horseback winery tours: a three-hour ride with tastings at two wineries, or a five-to-six-hour ride with visits to the likes of Foxeys Hangout and Red Hill Estate, where the latter serves up some gob-smacking views.
Rides amble along quiet country lanes, through bushland, rows of vines and past the formal country estate of Red Hill. Bottles of wine that are purchased at the cellar door can be conveniently collected by host Terry Scott and delivered back to the farm. Suitable for 18 years and older, the .05 rule still applies when wine tasting and horse riding.
Three-hour rides from $95 per person, $145 for longer. Phone 5989 6119, see horsebackwinerytours.com.au.
Bogong Horseback Adventures
At the other end of the horse-riding-with-a-difference spectrum, is a traipse through the far-ranging landscape of the High Country in Victoria's north east. Held between the milder months of December and April, there is a range of three to seven-day packhorse tours.
These are liberating, fully self-sufficient and muscle-aching experiences. Run by the masterful Baird family, Bogong Horseback Adventures provides sound charges that skilfully pick their way along precarious bridle trails. These narrow tracks were cut more than a century ago to ascend steep mountain peaks such as Mount Fainter.
From this mind-boggling altitude the wide-open plains are peppered with traditional cattlemen's huts and brumby mobs may be seen charging across the countryside.
For the night-time camp-outs there are cosy bedrolls and weather-beaten swags scattered around the campfire, where the billy boils and bush poetry is recited.
Three-day packhorse adventures from $1050 a person. Phone 5754 4849, see bogonghorse.com.au.
Noojee Horse Safaris
For horse riding aficionados who prefer to get their fix in less than 24 hours, it's possible to tramp through a mix of lush, awe-inspiring terrain on horseback at Noojee in west Gippsland.
The three-hour pub rides encompass open mountainside pastures, the fern-lined Loch and Latrobe Rivers, broad trails with a cathedral of mountain ash and slim goat tracks with wall-to-wall bracken and wattle.
During the latter part of the journey, riders can savour some hearty pub grub and a bevvy at the bucolic Toolshed at The Outpost Retreat.
The converted Toolshed bar and bistro, which is located directly above The Outlook Restaurant (noted in ), is far from its chook shed-cum-tool-house days. Today, it's a popular watering hole for the 200 or so Noojee inhabitants.
Inside is an eclectic interior of antique and modern farm paraphernalia. The blackboard menu lists affordable country pub fare, such as tender beef curry, rabbit pies and the house specialty, the Toolie pizza.
Three-hour pub rides from $80 a person. Meals and beverages extra. Phone 5628 9542, see trailridesmelbourne.com.au.
The Slow Coach Dining Carriage
Meanwhile, intimate dining has taken a step back to the first-half of the last century with Victoria's only horse-drawn restaurant clip-clopping through the gastronomic hub of Healesville, for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Catering for up to eight people, the handsome team of three cream-feathered Clydesdales proudly strides along the leafy green streets.
Hollywood Ranger, Bootstrap Billy and Action have a popular following among locals and visitors alike.
Appropriately named The Slow Coach, the horses mainly travel at a walking pace.
Modern Australian restaurant cuisine is served within the cosy confines of the fully enclosed carriage and depending on the occasion, the guest dress code for on-board dining ranges from smart casual to black tie.
Lunch from $135 a person, dinner $165. Phone 5962 2511, see slowcoach.com.au.
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