The Ultimate Noosa Horse Ride on The Shores of Stunning Lake Weyba
“He’s an ex race horse. He wasn’t very good at it obviously”… this was how Jesse, my trusty steed for the afternoon was introduced to me on my Noosa horse ride.
A memory of my mother’s words from long ago rang alarm bells. She told me that she would never ride an ex-race horse as they have a reputation for being poorly behaved.
Leaning forward, I ran my fingers through Jesse’s mane and quietly asked him not to race today. This Noosa horse ride was supposed to be enjoyable, not the equine version of the fast and furious. I needn’t have worried, he didn’t fit the stereotype. Jesse was perfectly happy to just plod along in the afternoon heat.
After it was discovered that Jesse was too slow to race, he became a pony club horse. Fortunately for me, he then became a much-loved member of Noosa Horse Riding on the east coast of Australia. At 16.2 hands and a true thoroughbred chestnut, he was quite possibly the most handsome horse I have ever seen.
Noosa … The Relaxation Capital of Australia
Noosa has become somewhat of a fashionable holiday destination in recent years. It markets itself very well as the relaxation capital of Australia, and despite offering many active pursuits, doesn’t disappoint on opportunities to actually relax.
It boasts world-renowned surf beaches, coastal national parks, and a river that snakes right through the city. This same river has a number of multi-million-dollar mansions gracing its banks before eventually flowing out towards the ocean. Of course, it also boasts an amazing Noosa horse ride!
It was on the southern reaches of this Noosa River and Lakes System that I found myself relaxing on the back of a horse, ticking off a bucket list item to one day experience a Noosa horse ride.
Arriving early, I decided to check out Lake Weyba before heading to the stables. At nearly 4km across at its widest point, the sheer size of the lake was a surprise. Judging by the reflections of the clouds on the glassy water, I surmised that sunrise or sunset would be spectacular. I made a mental note to come back to this spot.
Please Refrain From Throwing Sticks For The dog….
Unlike the opulence of the mansions on the river at Noosa Heads, the stables were quaint and somehow quintessentially Australian. They were neat, tidy and practical with no need for over the top styling and decoration.
I was amused by a sign on the fence that requested visitors refrain from throwing sticks for the dog as no sooner had I read it, than a cattle dog shot out from underneath, racing after a stick.
It wasn’t long before I had completely forgotten my mother’s warnings of riding an ex-racehorse and we were on our way. The ride began at a pleasantly slow pace through an open field dotted with tall white gum trees. A shallow freshwater creek ran along the right side of the property and we followed it towards the salty waters of Lake Weyba.
Up ahead was a woodland area that bordered the lake with mostly Melaleuca, Eucalyptus and Banksia trees. All of these trees are typical of coastal wetlands in this part of Australia. They not only tolerate, but thrive in these wet areas.
The ground under hoof turned to sand as we entered the woodland and I followed Dave, the owner of Noosa Horse Riding and my host for this Noosa horse ride, who reminded us to keep an eye out for kangaroos and goannas. Jesse knew the way and I didn’t feel the need to change the routine.
We Headed Straight out Into the Lake ….
The well-trodden track led to the shores of Lake Weyba, where much to my surprise I was instructed to head straight out into the lake. I thought we would skirt around it first!
“It’s been a dry season so the lake is a bit lower than usual”, Dave mentioned, offering up an explanation for the dark silty sand around the edges. I didn’t mind, this was untouched nature and it was stunning … just the way it should be.
The water was crystal clear and the sound of the horses splashing through the water must have sent the resident fish and stingrays elsewhere, as the only signs of life I saw were a few birds dive bombing the water off in the distance.
Dave stopped ahead of me so I pulled Jesse up also. Even though we had travelled a fair way into the lake, the water hadn’t really reached any higher than knee height. Human knees that is, not horse knees. He pointed out the well-known areas of Noosa Heads, Peregian Beach and Noosa National Park off in the distance over the other side of the lake.
Time to Head Back ….
After a spot of dreamily staring off into the distance, we had reached the halfway point of this Noosa horse ride and turned the horses back towards the shore, finding another track further around the lake. The track here was overgrown and I was forced to duck a few times to avoid being taken out by Eucalyptus tree branches, which tend to grow in random directions. It was a lovely track with the woodlands providing dappled shade from the sun.
We completed a 180 turn and headed back towards the stables along a different route. The scenery was much the same but I was far from bored. In fact, I thoroughly enjoyed trading tales with Dave who told me a funny story of a recent camping trip.
When the mercury dropped lower than expected overnight, he and his wife zipped their sleeping bags together and squished up on the one camp stretcher. Clearly the stretcher wasn’t designed for the weight of two adults and sometime in the wee hours of the morning, they were both awoken abruptly by its collapse.
He described the moment as being like two children wrestling in the bottom of a sleeping bag as neither of them knew what had happened or which way was up or down, and both of them were laughing hysterically once they realised what had happened.
After a few more entertaining stories on this Noosa horse ride trail, we were back at the stables before I knew it. This ride was exactly what I needed and I was disappointed that I didn’t have time to extend the ride.
Pssst. Make sure to check out our post on fantastic things to do in Noosa!
Fact File …
Noosa Horse Riding offers rides for beginner, novice and experienced riders. Noosa horse rides for special occasions and private rides are available upon request. They cater for all ages above 8 years old however a special request can be made for younger children if they are experienced riders.
Contact Noosa Horse Riding …
Phone Dave on 0438 710 530, email info@noosahorseriding.com.au or check out the Noosa Horse Riding Website.
Planning and Booking Your Holiday to Noosa
Getting to Noosa:
Road
If driving, Noosa is approximately 2 hours north of Brisbane, 3 hours from the Gold Coast, and 12 hours from Sydney. If you don’t have your own set of wheels, or are flying in, compare rental car prices here.
Rail
Trains run regularly from Brisbane, stopping at both Nambour and Cooroy. From here, Sunbus collects passengers heading to Noosa. More information on rail and bus timetables can be found at www.translink.com.au
Air
The Sunshine Coast Airport is the closest airport to Noosa. It’s located in Maroochydore and is only 35 minutes drive away. Direct flights are available from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.
Where to Stay in Noosa:
There are lots of accommodation options in Noosa!
Boreen Point Camp Grounds is great for families wanting to get away from the hustle of Noosa!
Budget options include Ingenia Holidays Noosa and the Villa Noosa Hotel.
Mid-range to more expensive options include Noosa International Resort and the Noosa Sun Motel.
High end options include the Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort in a fantastic location on Hastings St, and the RACV Noosa Resort which has a toddler pool for little ones.
Travel Guides to Noosa:
Check out the official Tourism Noosa Page for more information on things to do in Noosa.
Looking for Family Holiday Destination and Activities Inspiration?
For more information on visiting the Sunshine Coast with kids, head on over to our Sunshine Coast page. Head on back to the home page for both Australian and worldwide inspiration.
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