Rider cantering on an Arabian horse on an Australian beach
OCEANIA > Australia

Horseback holidays in Australia

Riding in Australia, is venturing to the edge of the world in the saddle. A whole continent lies before you, and exploring it (or some of it!) on horseback is a dream for many. Look to the east, where endurance riding and eventing are popular amongst riders. In the mountains of Victoria, the Northern Territory, and Queensland, wild brumbies still roam free. In the Northern Territory and the Kimberleys, Australian ranch horses ridden by Jillaroos are used for cattle work and cattle drives. Trail riding and horseback holidays in Australia offer endless gallops on deserted beaches, the chance to spot local wildlife, and visits to local wineries to finish off the day with a blast!
See all our trips
  • Kangaroos, Australia
    Kangaroos, Australia
  • Trail riding holiday in NSW, Australia
    Trail riding holiday in NSW, Australia
  • Koala in Australia
    Discover Australia's endemic wildlife
  • Deserted beach in Australia
    Horseback holidays in Australia
  • Horse in a pasture in Australia
    The horses are part of your guide Kathy's family
  • Ubir Art, Kakadu National Park
    Ubir Art, Kakadu National Park

Visa & Health

Formalities

Unless you are an Australian or New Zealand citizen, you will need a valid Australian visa to enter the country. New Zealand passport holders can apply for a visa upon arrival in the country. All other passport holders must apply for a visa before leaving home. You can apply for a range of visas, including tourist visas and working holiday visas, at your nearest Australian Embassy or Consulate. You can also apply for certain types of visas on the Australian Department of Home Affairs website: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-finder

eVisitor:
This is a free visa for multiple visits to Australia for tourism or business purposes for up to three months at a time within a 12-month period. This visa is available to passport holders from a number of European countries and it cannot be extended.

Electronic Travel Authority visa:
This visa allows you to visit Australia as many times as you want, for up to a year, and stay for three months each visit. This visa is available to passport holders from a number of countries and regions, who live outside Australia. There is no visa application charge for an ETA, however a $20 service charge applies for online applications only.

Visitor visa:
The Visitor visa is designed for people who are not eligible for the eVisitor or Electronic Travel Authority visa. This visa allows you to visit Australia, either for tourism or business purposes, for up to three, six or 12 months. Applicants will have to pay a fee to submit their application.

If you hold an ePassport you can use SmartGate to pass through passport control when arriving in Australia. See the Australian Border Force website for more information: https://www.abf.gov.au/entering-and-leaving-australia/smartgates

For up-to-date information please visit the FCO office website: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/australia/entry-requirements

Please refer to your home country's Foreign Office website for up-to-date information. This section predominantly refers to UK citizens, and advice can vary depending on your nationality. Although we endeavour to keep this section updated, requirements can change quickly, and your home country's Foreign Office website takes precedence.

Addresses of consulates

  • Ambassade d'Australie
    4 rue jean Rey
    75015 PARIS
    Tél. : 01 40 59 33 00
    Fax :
    info.paris@dfat.gov.au
  • Ambassade de France
    6 Perth avenue
    Yarralumla
    2600 CANBERRA
    Tél. : +61 (2) 621 601 00
    Fax :
    info@ambafrance-au.org
  • Ambassade d'Australie
    Avenue des Arts
    56
    1000 BRUXELLES
    Tél. : 02-286-0500
    Fax :
    austemb.brussels@dfat.gov.au.

Health

Before visiting Australia you may need to get the following vaccinations or take the following precautions. It is best to seek medical advice as your individual health and your planned activities will be a factor. Seek advice 4-6 weeks before travel.

Required Vaccinations
There is no risk of yellow fever in Australia. The government of Australia requires proof of yellow fever vaccination from travellers 1 year of age or older who are arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever, including transit in an airport located in a country with risk of yellow fever.

Routine and Recommended Vaccinations
It is recommended that travellers are up to date on routine vaccinations including measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus (DPT), varicella (chickenpox), polio, and yearly flu shots.
As hepatitis A outbreaks occur throughout the world and sometimes in countries with a low risk for hepatitis A, travellers should consult with their doctor prior to travel to see if the hepatitis A vaccine is necessary.
A hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for those who may have sexual contact with a new partner, who may get a tattoo or piercing, or have any medical procedures.
Travellers may need a Japanese Encephalitis vaccination depending on their travel plans, particularly if they will be in Australia longer than a month or plan to visit rural areas or spend significant time outdoors. Consultation with a doctor regarding this vaccination should be sought prior to travel. For further information on this recommendation, please visit the CDC Japanese Encephalitis Advice.
A rabies vaccination is recommended for those planning an outdoor holiday, for wildlife professionals and researchers, or for those who may come into contact with bats.

General Advice
Dengue cases have been reported in Australia. For further information, please visit the CDC Dengue Advice.

The standard of healthcare in Australia is very good. Under the reciprocal healthcare arrangements, British citizens resident in the UK and travelling on a British passport are entitled to limited subsidised health services from Medicare for medically necessary treatment while visiting Australia. This does not cover pre-existing conditions, or treatment that does not need prompt attention. These provisions do not apply to non-visitors, for example those who are studying in Australia. Other exclusions under the reciprocal agreement include pharmaceuticals when not a hospital in-patient, use of ambulance services and medical evacuations, which are very expensive.

If you need emergency medical assistance during your trip, dial 000 and ask for an ambulance. You should contact your insurance/medical assistance company promptly if you’re referred to a medical facility for treatment.

Insurance

It is a condition of your booking with Equus Journeys that you have travel insurance which covers you for the riding activities to be undertaken. Your travel insurance should cover you for medical expenses and repatriation. Your guides will require your travel insurance details before they allow you to ride and may refuse to let you ride if you cannot provide them. You should take your insurance documents with you.

Voltage

The plugs in Australia have two flat metal pins, forming an inverted ‘V’ shape, and occasionally a third pin in the centre. The electrical current in Australia is 220-240 volts, AC 50Hz.

Budget and money

The Australian dollar (sign: $; code: AUD) is the currency of Australia, including its external territories: Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and Norfolk Island.

Currency exchange is available at banks, hotels and international airports. Australian banks offer the same range of services typical in other western nations, and Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) are widespread, although facilities may be limited in remote towns and the outback. EFTPOS (our electronic payment system) is widely available in most Australian shops, restaurants and hotels, allowing you to pay for purchases with your credit or debit card. Fees may be charged on transactions, particularly if withdrawing from an international account, so it is advised you check with your bank before travelling.

Telephone and jetlag

The mobile phone network generally works well in cities and large towns but coverage elsewhere can be very limited or non-existent. If you’re travelling to remote areas, check with your phone provider about coverage. You can use your home mobile phone in Australia if global roaming has been activated, but making and receiving calls can be expensive. Many visitors prefer to buy an Australian SIM card on arrival. Australian SIM cards are available at some Australian airports, and at convenience stores and supermarkets.
The international dialing code for Australia is 61. Each region also has an area code, including Central East (New South Wales, Australia Capital Territory) with area code 02; South East (Victoria, Tasmania) with area code 03; Mobile telephones (Australia-wide) with area code 04; North East (Queensland) with area code 07; and Central and West (Western Australia, South Australia and Northern Territory) with area code 08. When calling from outside Australia, leave out the leading ‘0’ from the area code or mobile phone number. The outgoing IDD (international direct dialing) code from within Australia is 0011.

Country information

History

Australia has been called “the Oldest Continent,” “the Last of Lands,” and “the Last Frontier.” Those descriptions typify the world’s fascination with Australia, but they are somewhat unsatisfactory. In simple physical terms, the age of much of the continent is certainly impressive—most of the rocks providing the foundation of Australian landforms were formed during Precambrian and Paleozoic time (some 4.6 billion to 252 million years ago)—but the ages of the cores of all the continents are approximately the same. On the other hand, whereas the landscape history of extensive areas in Europe and North America has been profoundly influenced by events and processes that occurred since late in the last Ice Age—roughly the past 25,000 years—in Australia scientists use a more extensive timescale that takes into account the great antiquity of the continent’s landscape.

Australia has a federal form of government, with a national government for the Commonwealth of Australia and individual state governments (those of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania). Each state has a constitution, and its government exercises a limited degree of sovereignty. There are also two internal territories: Northern Territory, established as a self-governing territory in 1978, and the Australian Capital Territory (including the city of Canberra), which attained self-governing status in 1988. The federal authorities govern the external territories of Norfolk Island, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Christmas Island, Ashmore and Cartier islands, the Coral Sea Islands, and Heard Island and McDonald Islands and claim the Australian Antarctic Territory, an area larger than Australia itself. Papua New Guinea, formerly an Australian external territory, gained its independence in 1975.

Historically part of the British Empire and now a member of the Commonwealth, Australia is a relatively prosperous independent country. Australians are in many respects fortunate in that they do not share their continent—which is only a little smaller than the United States—with any other country. Extremely remote from their traditional allies and trading partners—it is some 12,000 miles (19,000 km) from Australia to Great Britain via the Indian Ocean and the Suez Canal and about 7,000 miles (11,000 km) across the Pacific Ocean to the west coast of the United States—Australians have become more interested in the proximity of huge potential markets in Asia and in the highly competitive industrialized economies of China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. Australia, the continent and the country, may have been quite isolated at the beginning of the 20th century, but it entered the 21st century a culturally diverse land brimming with confidence, an attitude encouraged by the worldwide fascination with the land “Down Under” and demonstrated when Sydney hosted the 2000 Olympic Games.

Geography

Australia’s isolation from other continents explains much of the singularity of its plant and animal life. Its unique flora and fauna include hundreds of kinds of eucalyptus trees and the only egg-laying mammals on Earth, the platypus and echidna. Other plants and animals associated with Australia are various acacias (Acacia pycnantha [golden wattle] is the national flower) and dingoes, kangaroos, koalas, and kookaburras. The Great Barrier Reef, off the east coast of Queensland, is the greatest mass of coral in the world and one of the world’s foremost tourist attractions. The country’s low relief results from the long and extensive erosive action of the forces of wind, rain, and the heat of the sun during the great periods of geologic time when the continental mass was elevated well above sea level.

Australia is both the flattest continent and, except for Antarctica, the driest. Seen from the air, its vast plains, sometimes the colour of dried blood, more often tawny like a lion’s skin, may seem to be one huge desert. One can fly the roughly 2,000 miles (3,200 km) to Sydney from Darwin in the north or to Sydney from Perth in the west without seeing a town or anything but the most scattered and minute signs of human habitation for vast stretches. A good deal of the central depression and western plateau is indeed desert. Yet appearances can be deceptive. The red and black soil plains of Queensland and New South Wales have long supported the world’s greatest wool industry, and some of the most arid and forbidding areas of Australia conceal great mineral wealth.

People, culture and traditions

Australia, the smallest continent and one of the largest countries on Earth, lying between the Pacific and Indian oceans in the Southern Hemisphere. Australia’s capital is Canberra, located in the southeast between the larger and more important economic and cultural centres of Sydney and Melbourne.

Capital: Canberra
Largest city: Sydney
National language: English
Form of government: federal parliamentary state (formally a constitutional monarchy) with two legislative houses (Senate [76]; House of Representatives [150])
Currency: Australian dollar ($A)
Population: (2019 est.) 25,879,000
Total area: 7,688,126 km²
Urban/rural population ratio: Urban: (2018) 86% /Rural: (2018) 14%