WELCOME
One of the tougher Cavalcade rides through incredible country covering rivers, mountains and picturesque valleys. Features Highland Games dress-up party and final celebration with top-tier band at historic Cottesbrook Station.
Duration
7 Days
Date
28 February 2026
Difficulty
Challenging
Fitness
Good level required - one of the tougher rides
Experience Required
Good experience required
Rider / Participant Cost:
$1050pp
Back-up
Cost:
$1010pp
WEATHER EXPECTATIONS
30°C+ to -5°C. Variable mountain weather
HIGHLIGHTS
Scenic Highlights
Rivers, mountains, picturesque valleys, Kakanui Highlands, Danseys Pass, Taieri River
Special Events
Mon: Highland Games dress-up party at Kurow
Fri: Top-tier band at historic Cottesbrook Station (1857)
Unique Features
Highland Games theme, Optional vehicle transport available
TRAIL DETAILS
ALL YOU NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR YOUR NEXT CAVALCADE ADVENTURE
Itinerary
SUPPORT LEVEL -
Tremendous support crew and skilled medic
MEETING DATE & TIME :
28 February 2026
MEETING LOCATION :
Asheridge Station, Cochrane Road (4.5km from Cattle Creek)
RIDE OUT TIME :
8:00 AM
RETURN TIME :
4:00 PM
TERRAIN :
Testing terrain - rivers, mountains, valleys
This ride is going to take us though some incredible country, Rivers, Mountains and Picturesque valleys. We will spend Saturday night at Asheridge Station and ride out on Sunday morning, there will be the option to have your vehicle ferried to Middlemarch to be waiting for your arrival there.
Sunday night will be spent at the Table Top Station after a day of interest filled South Canterbury travel. The day following we will continue our push southwards, crossing the Waitaki and onto Kurow where we will camp up at the local Racecourse grounds for Monday night – which will be our dress up party night, this years theme is:
🏴Highland Games🏴
So slip on ya kilts yee Laddies and Lassies ! Dig out your favourite Haggis fork, hurl your curl, and sling yee sporran. Aye it be a fine time to be a Highland Scot !
Tuesday’s night spot will be in the beautiful Danseys Pass before we punch through and over the Kakanui Highlands and drop down to a night spot near the beginning of the Pigroot for Wednesday night.
Thursdays ride will be an interesting one with a couple of surprises install for the riders, finishing with a night camped on the grassy banks of the Taieri River.
And Friday night we will celebrate our final night of the the trail, with an absolute top tier band at Cottesbrook Station, a category 1 Historic collection of station buildings dating back to 1857 ! , this will be a night to remember !
Saturday will have us riding our well traveled horses into Middlemarch for the host town parade and Hoedown !
Important Information:
ACCOMMODATION:
Camping with good grazing
Sleeping bag & mat/stretcher, Personal tent (if required), Towel & toilet articles
CATERING:
Fully Catered
HORSE REQUIREMENTS:
Freshly shod, reasonable fitness, pre-Cavalcade training, hard feed recommended
PACKING LIST:
CLOTHING
Waterproof coat/jacket/leggings/hat, Jersey/balaclava/socks/longjohns/gloves, Hot weather gear, Swimming gear
OTHER ESSENTIALS
Horse (freshly shod, fit, pre-trained), Hard feed for horse, Swimming gear, Highland costume, Personal tent if required
OPTIONAL EXTRAS:
Daily vehicle shift $500
VEHICLE TRANSFER:
Option to have vehicle ferried from starting point to Middlemarch (in one shift, you will not have access to your vehicleor float until you get back to Middlemarch) $190