This unique adventure is a must for outdoor photographers and for anyone who loves seeing wild horses in their natural environment.

Join guides from the Kaimanawa Heritage Horses Welfare Society and NZDF Range Control for a full-day tour of restricted army land, where the wild Kaimanawa horses roam freely in family bands.

Your day begins in Waiouru, where after a health and safety briefing you’ll board a bus and journey along unpaved army roads. Along the way, you’ll stop at stunning vantage points to enjoy the sweeping landscapes and photograph the horses as they graze in valleys or gather on the hills.

Midday, we pause beside the Moawhango River at the horse muster yards for a bring-your-own lunch, with the chance to learn about the annual horse musters, the area’s unique ecology, and the efforts to protect native plants.

This event is supported by NZDF and DoC, with proceeds going directly to the care and management of the Kaimanawa herd. The muster, organised by KHH, aims to keep horse numbers at the target set by the Kaimanawa Wild Horse Advisory Group of between 300–400. KHH also promotes rehoming by providing subsidies for new owners, and care for welfare horses in need of rehoming or lifelong foster care.

Discover more about the horses, their history, and their management including musters and fertility control, on our website and Facebook page.