Horse riding holidays in Oceania

Why visit Oceania on horseback?

Oceania is beautiful and captivating, peaceful and friendly, and it offers all you need for your dream riding holidays.

What is Oceania?

The name Oceania comes from the Greek okeanos, which means “ocean”, and was coined in 1812 by the Danish geographer Conrad Malte-Brun.

This continent, the smallest in land area in the world, is situated in the southeast of the Asia-Pacific region, in the south of the Pacific Ocean and in the west of the Indian Ocean.

These are the main territories that are part of Oceania:

In the Anglo-Saxon continental model, Oceania is only called Australia (differentiating it from the country of the same name) and it doesn’t usually include the Pacific Islands.

The continent of Oceania comprises 14 different countries: Australia, New Zealand, the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, the Marshall Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

In addition, it has 17 dependent territories, which are part of other nations, including Easter Island (Chile), the Cook Islands or French Polynesia.

Its first human settlements, which gave rise to the indigenous cultures (Austronesian), date from the 2nd century BC.

The Spanish and Portuguese navigators were the first Europeans to arrive in this region, a prelude to a colonization that was mainly from France, Britain and, after that, the United States.

Today, this continent comprises several independent countries, some of which have been independent since the 19th century (specially the British colonies) and the others became independent in the mid-20th century.

Its inhabitants have very diverse traditions and cultures, and despite its low population density it showcases an interesting variety.

In spite of the different foreign occupations, its ancient culture has remained almost intact. In this region, several cultures occurred and they were very conceptually different from one another.

Lastly, since its population density is so low, when you go for a ride in this continent you will probably feel that you are completely alone with your fellow travellers and the scenery, in one of the best preserved natural environments in the world.

Can you imagine seeing them on horseback?

If your dream is to spend hours and hours in the saddle enjoying thousands of kilometres to gallop your horse freely, Oceania is the best destination and the perfect challenge for an intrepid rider like you.

Some interesting facts about Oceania

Geography

Even though the territories of Oceania are mostly insular, the desert regions represent the largest extension, thus 40% of its territory is covered by sand dunes.

Among these territories, we can find the driest, flattest, oldest and least fertile terrains in the world.

Mount Jaya (4,884 m), located in New Guinea, is the continent’s highest mountain. On the other hand, the highest mountain in continental Oceania is Mount Kosciuszko (2,228 m).

Lastly, if you love riding by the sea on pristine and secluded beaches, away from mass tourism, take into account that this continent has 27,760 km of coasts, which you can enjoy during your horseback routes.

Population

Of all the continents, Oceania is the least populous in the World, with the only exception of Antarctica.

The population in Oceania varies from 2.8 and 3.4 inhabitants per square kilometre. This low population density ensures a lot of unmarked open terrain, without busy roads – perfect for horseback adventures.

Languages

The languages in Oceania are varied, but the most spoken ones are four: English, Tok Pisin, French and Hindi in Fiji. There are also native languages such as Samoan, Fijian and Enga (Papuan). In some Chilean islands, like Easter Island, Spanish is spoken.

Religions

Most people in Oceania are Protestants (42.7%), followed by Catholics (24.7%) and other Christian sects (14.8%).

The Orthodox Church, Buddhism, Islam and the religion of Fiji (especially in Fiji) are also present. A small percentage of the population have traditional religions.

Fauna and flora

There is an important biodiversity in Oceania, which has tropical, subtropical, marine, tundra and high mountain ecosystems.

It comprises several endemic species such as koala, kangaroo, the famous Tasmanian devil, duck-billed platypus and the brushtail possum.

Many of them have become emblematic symbols of the continent.

Climate

Its climate is basically influenced by two factors, the first one is ocean currents, where El Niño Southern Oscillation plays a key role since it causes periodic droughts. The second factor is the low-pressure tropical seasonal system, which causes cyclones in northern Australia, mainly.

As we mentioned before, the region with the largest extension is the desert or semi-arid region, since 40% of its territory is covered by sand dunes. The soil in Oceania is regarded as the least fertile and most ambiguous soil in the world.

The importance of choosing the right country and operator in Oceania

If you are planning your next Horse Riding Holidays in Oceania, keep in mind that not all countries on this continent are well prepared for a horseback trip or there may be no riding holiday operators.

Australia and New Zealand are the two destinations where you can enjoy a satisfying Horse Riding Holiday.

Horse riding holiday proposals in Oceania

Australia

In Australia, you can ride along incredibly beautiful trails, across wild scenery, well-kept farming lands and areas away from it all.

It has very different and diverse plants and animals, so you should be watchful because in every corner, apart from koalas and kangaroos, you can discover many more things.

If you visit it on horseback, you must explore Queensland's rainforest and farmland in the Noosa Hinterland's scenic Mary Valley, on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland, just north of Brisbane, a magnificent display of flora, fauna and scenery diversity.

The Australian scenery is very varied and it comprises exuberant tropical rainforests as well as an inland desert, snow-capped mountains and golden beaches.

Although Australia is almost as big as the United States, it has less than a tenth of its population, which allows for a lot of space for riding along incredible trails to explore on horseback.

New Zealand

With volcanos, fiords, beaches and dense forests, New Zealand promises amazing holidays.

For those who want to reconnect with civilization after a horseback getaway in the volcanic peaks of Rotorua or in Milford Sound, a visit to Queenstown and Auckland, the most important cities of New Zealand, is essential.

In New Zealand, you can immerse yourself in Maori culture as you ride from coast to coast through forests and watch the many different bird species, its sheep and wildlife.

Once in the ocean, humpback whales, sea lions and dolphins will be part of the Beach route setting.

In Oceania, New Zealand and Australia offer some of the most diverse and challenging horseback riding vacations in the World. Although all the options promise friendly local people and incredible landscapes.

Do you also love the idea of exploring Oceania on horseback?

Download our free eBook on equestrian tourism in Oceania and feel the pleasure of diving into its beautiful beaches and desert dunes.