Three Waters High Country Holiday 2026: ATHRA Guide
| Event | Three Waters High Country Holiday 2026 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 10–16 October 2026 (arrive Saturday, depart the following Friday) |
| Location | Three Waters High Country Holidays, 935 Bullock Mountain Road, Yarrowford, NSW 2370 (near Glen Innes) |
| Hosted By | An ATHRA-affiliated trail ride, held at Three Waters High Country Holidays |
| Event Type | Multi-day high country trail ride, bring your own horse |
| Schedule | Arrive Saturday, ride Sunday and Monday, rest day Tuesday (Magical Mystery Morning bus trip, relax at camp in the afternoon), ride Wednesday and Thursday, depart Friday |
| Cost | $495 per person |
| Meals | Dinner provided Saturday to Thursday, plus morning tea on Tuesday. All other meals are self-catered (BYO breakfast, lunch and horse feed) |
| Requirements | ATHRA membership required. Riders should be competent crossing rocky creeks and riding challenging terrain. Horses should be reasonably fit and seasoned |
| Includes | Hot showers, toilets, campsites, the Gunyah communal kitchen and bar area, central campfire |
| Supporting | Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service |
| Book Now | trybooking.com/DNUUO |
| ATHRA Website | athra.com.au |
The Three Waters High Country Holiday 2026 is a six-day trail riding experience through the New England high country near Glen Innes, NSW, open to ATHRA members from 10–16 October 2026, combining challenging riding through private property, creek crossings and rugged terrain with genuine bush hospitality.
If you own a horse and have ever wanted to properly explore rugged Australian high country on horseback rather than just read about it, this is exactly the kind of event worth knowing about. If you want more events like this landing in your inbox, join The Bush Pony Post and we'll keep you posted.
What Is the Three Waters High Country Holiday?
This is a six-day, bring-your-own-horse trail riding holiday held at Three Waters High Country Holidays, a property set on the flanks of Bullock Mountain, around 15km northwest of Glen Innes in the New England Tablelands. Riders spend two days in the saddle, get a rest day in the middle of the week, then head out for two more days of riding, all through private properties, pastures and along scenic creek country that most people would never otherwise get access to.
Who Runs It, and Who Can Attend
This ride is organised through ATHRA, the Australian Trail Horse Riders Association, Australia's largest organisation supporting and promoting trail horse riding, representing 78 affiliated clubs around the country. To take part, you need to be an ATHRA member and bring your own horse, this isn't an event where horses are provided. If you've never ridden with ATHRA before and want to try it out first, they offer a $20 day membership that lets you experience up to two rides with any affiliated club before committing to a full membership.
What to Expect Day-to-Day
The schedule runs across a full week: arrive on the Saturday, ride Sunday and Monday, then take Tuesday off entirely, described on the event flyer as a "Magical Mystery Morning" bus trip followed by a relaxed afternoon back at camp. Riding resumes Wednesday and Thursday, before everyone departs on the Friday.
The terrain is genuinely challenging in places, expect hills, river crossings and rocky tracks, so riders need to be competent handling difficult ground, and horses should be fit and well seasoned rather than green or unfit. This isn't a gentle beginner trail ride, it's built for capable, experienced combinations of horse and rider.
Facilities and What's Included
For $495 per person, dinner is provided from Saturday through to Thursday night, along with morning tea on the rest day, all other meals, including breakfast, lunch and your horse's feed, are self-catered, so come prepared. On-site facilities include hot showers, toilets, campsites and a central campfire, along with access to the Gunyah, a communal kitchen and gathering space at Three Waters that also functions as a BYO bar and social hub in the evenings.
Worth knowing separately: Three Waters also hosts its own annual "Crackin' Cancer" ride supporting the Cancer Council of NSW, a completely different event to this ATHRA holiday, so don't confuse the two if you're researching the property.
A Ride With a Cause
This event also supports the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, a genuinely worthwhile cause for anyone spending time in remote, rugged country where emergency access matters. It's a nice example of a trail riding holiday doing double duty, a great time in the saddle, and support for a service that protects the same communities riders are passing through.
Have you ridden at Three Waters before, or been on an ATHRA trail ride? We'd love to hear about your experience in the comments.
Is the Three Waters High Country Holiday Worth It?
If you own a capable, fit horse and want a genuine high-country riding challenge rather than a gentle amble, yes. This is the kind of event that rewards riders who come properly prepared, and the reward is access to private, scenic country most people will never otherwise see on horseback.
Frequently Asked Questions
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It runs from 10–16 October 2026, with riding across Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, a rest day on Tuesday, and arrival and departure on the Saturday and Friday either side.
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Yes, ATHRA membership is required to participate. If you're new to ATHRA, a $20 day membership lets you try up to two rides with an affiliated club first.
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No, this is a bring-your-own-horse event. You'll need your own horse, and it should be fit and well seasoned for challenging terrain.
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The cost is $495 per person, which includes dinner from Saturday to Thursday and morning tea on the rest day. Breakfast, lunch and horse feed are self-catered.
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Expect hills, river and creek crossings, and rocky tracks. Riders should be genuinely competent handling challenging terrain, and this isn't recommended for green or inexperienced combinations.
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935 Bullock Mountain Road, Yarrowford, NSW, around 15km northwest of Glen Innes in the New England Tablelands.
