See New Zealand on horseback

There are many ways to see New Zealand, but travelling on horse back has got to go down as one of the more unconventional.

Yet this is exactly what hundreds of participants in
The Great New Zealand Trek will be doing in March next year.

Starting from Cape Reinga at the very top of the North Island, trekkers will cover the ground to Kohukohu in Northland in seven days.

The second stage of the trek will begin a year later from Hokianga, and will continue until participants reach Bluff in Southland in 2018.

The man behind the trek is Stephen Old, who has worked in the film industry as horse coordinator onThe Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Last Samurai.

He organised the inaugural Great New Zealand Horse Ride in 1996, which attracted 483 riders, making it the largest horse ride of its kind.

"The Great New Zealand Trek is a very unique experience that I believe will grow into a Kiwi icon capturing the interest of people from all walks of life," he said.

Participants will travel between 30 and 45 kilometres a day for six days, with a rest day halfway.

Supported by a crew of 80 it provides for those who cannot do without luxuries such as good food and hot showers.

Trekkers are allowed to go at their own pace by following a marked path with marshals positioned at certain points along the way.

And for those people that cannot ride a horse, the trek, which takes place between March 11th and March 19th 2006, is open to mountain bikers and hikers.

For more information see www.greatnztrek.com