Reviewed by: loveoahu13
Best way to visit the North Shore Area. There is so much to do on this tour I only wished it had lasted longer. We snorkeled at sharks cove where we saw beautiful fish and sea turtles, swam under a waterfall at Waimea Valley, visited sunset beach and turtle beach. We then hung out and ate in Haleiwa town. There are different options to choose from depending on your package. We missed Waimea bay - could not fit into schedule. Maybe next time. Highly recommend if you are NOT renting a car.
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| Packages: | [From Waikiki] North Shore Tour + Two Fun Adventures |
| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2013/09/14 |
| Activity Date: | 2013/08/25 |
Reviewed by: たけい
After a comfortable drive of just over an hour from Waikiki towards the North, I spotted the GUNSTOCK sign and felt a rush of excitement. The expansive ranch, along with the goats and horses, was truly soothing and impressive.
While horseback riding, I leisurely enjoyed the scenery, and at the top of the hill, a breathtaking view unfolded, making me feel refreshed. Riding while holding the reins myself really allowed me to fully embrace the cowboy experience.
抜群の景色の中ノースを目指し快適ドライブをワイキキから1時間ちょっと、GUNSTOCKの看板を見つけ心ワクワク。広い牧場、山羊と馬に癒され感動。
乗馬は、のんびり景色を堪能しながらテクテク、岡の上では絶景が広がり気分爽快。
手綱を自分で引きながらの乗馬は、本当にカーボーイ気分を満喫しました。
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| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2013/09/05 |
Reviewed by: ひろちゃん
Ballet the donkey came to greet us. He was so cute, rubbing his face against us. I wanted to take him back to Japan! (laughs) The horse was also very smart, and my daughter was in a great mood. We had a wonderful time together as a family until the end.
You can enjoy a different side of Hawaii for family memories.
ごあいさつに来てくれたロバのバレットくん。
顔をスリスリ、可愛かったです。
日本に連れて帰りたかったな~ 笑
馬もお利口さんで、娘も上機嫌。最後まで家族で楽しく過ごしました。
ご家族の思い出に、違ったハワイを楽しめますよ。
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| Packages: | ピクニック乗馬 |
| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2013/08/30 |
| Activity Date: | 2013/08/19 |
Reviewed by: Lin
Getting in the water with sharks was definitely a unique afternoon! Our hosts weren't especially talkative but knew what they were doing and we all got a turn. If you're going to get in the water with sharks I suggest this company because of the plexiglass on the side of the cage. None of the pictures I took through the bars turned out because of the light reflection! Also arrive early to the dock! The sign is tiny, faded and at the far end of a parking lot. Took us 20 minutes to find where to go after arriving.
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| Packages: | Shark Cage Diving (50% Capacity) |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2013/08/04 |
| Activity Date: | 2013/07/06 |
Reviewed by: Melanie
The tour guide was the most personable, knowledgable tour guides I have ever had. She took the time to explain where we were, what was special about it and answered any and all questions. Would definitely use their services again!
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| Packages: | Standard |
| Attended as: | Friends |
| Posted on: | 2013/07/20 |
| Activity Date: | 2013/06/30 |
Reviewed by: susan
Sam was a wonderful friendly tour guide. I liked the flexibility of the tour, being able to do various activities and see many different things. The sea turtles were a highlight. I also enjoyed the history and personal anecdotes of the tour. It was the best part of my trip to Oahu.
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| Packages: | [From Waikiki] North Shore Tour + Two Fun Adventures |
| Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
| Posted on: | 2013/05/13 |
| Activity Date: | 2013/05/06 |
Reviewed by: Stone Family
We all enjoyed the ride. Savannah was a great guide and full of information on the local area. The horses were well groomed and behaved. The top of the mountain where we stopped for dinner provided gorgeous views. The dinner was good and so was the company. Gunstock Ranch was very beautiful, and the drive from Waikiki was beautiful too. I would definitely recommend it. Well worth it.
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| Packages: | Sunset Dinner Ride |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2013/04/19 |
| Activity Date: | 2013/04/08 |
Reviewed by: Dallas John
Had a great time. We go to Hawaii once a year, and have gone on almost every tour. The best thing about this was the tremendous flexibility to do and swap activities. Not a "tourist" tour. Little fubar on scheduling, but the drive Harry made up for that. Time with Harry was as good or better than seeing the falls!!
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| Packages: | Standard Tour and One Activity Package |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2013/04/12 |
| Activity Date: | 2013/03/14 |
Reviewed by: tomo
I decided to come here because I heard it's the only place on Oahu where you can trot and canter. The sensation of running through the vast nature, feeling the wind while cantering, is just amazing!
I climbed a mountain and was able to see the beach from the top. The scenery is just beautiful!
Although only English is spoken, I think as long as you understand the terms for trot and canter, you can manage while riding. They also have helmet rentals, and you can easily go with just jeans and sneakers.
The location was a bit far from Waikiki, so I took a taxi. It took about an hour and a half one way, and the fare was around $130. It felt great to drive along the coastal highway. I think having a rental car would be convenient.
オアフ島で速歩、駈歩ができるのはここだけと聞いて決めました。日本では考えられない広大な自然の中を駈歩で風を切って走る感覚は最高です!
山を登り、頂上からはビーチまで見渡せました。とにかく景色が綺麗!
英語しか通じませんが、速歩(トロット)、駈歩(キャンター)の言葉さえ分かれば騎乗中はなんとかなると思います。
ヘルメットもレンタルがあるし、ジーンズとスニーカーさえあれば気軽に行くことができます。
場所だけはワイキキから遠かったのでタクシーを利用しました。片道1時間半程度、料金は130ドル程度でした。海沿いのハイウェイを走るのも気持ちよかったです。レンタカーがあると便利だと思います。
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| Packages: | トレール乗馬(上級者のみ) |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2013/03/14 |
| Activity Date: | 2013/03/09 |
Reviewed by: 匿名希望
We have been taken care of by Gunstock three times as a couple.
In the world of horseback riding, there are not many places where you can canter, but this place never disappoints, no matter when you visit (laughs). Even if you don't understand English, the handsome guide leads the way and turns back to ask, "Is cantering okay?" The well-trained horses recognize that this is a place where they can run, so they canter comfortably.
Gunstock is the best!! We will definitely visit again next time!
ガンストックさんへは夫婦で3回お世話になっております。
外乗ではなかなかキャンター(駈歩)させてもらえる所が少ない中ここはいつ訪れても裏切らないです(笑)
英語がわからなくてもイケメンガイドのお兄さんが先導してくれ後ろを振り返り「キャンターOK?」って声をかけてくれます。きちんと調教された馬がここは走ってもOKの場所だと認識しているので気持ちよく駈歩してくれます。
ガンストックさん最高!!次回も絶対お邪魔します!
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2013/03/01 |
Reviewed by: Glenda
Had great day. My grandsons and self really enjoyed it. Lots of time to wander around. Sam was great. Very knowledgable .answered lots of questions.really appreciated his friendly attitude.
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| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2013/01/26 |
Reviewed by: Joe Randke
My wife and I enjoyed our visit and horseback riding experience at the Gunstock Ranch. We did not want to go to a heavily commercialized facility for horseback riding. There were a lot of animals at the ranch and the scenery was beautiful. The ride trail was nice and rustic which we wanted in our experience. The guide provided us great instruction and information about the ranch, the area and plants along the trail.
Our only improvement suggestions are for the restroom facility's cleaning cycle, grading and packing the access road and a more legible road sign.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2012/11/15 |
Reviewed by: Kuppi
It was my first time riding in Western style, and I really enjoyed it. Unlike riding in a riding arena in Japan, I was able to gallop in nature, which was refreshing and very satisfying. I believe even advanced riders can have a great time here. I definitely want to visit again.
ウエスタンスタイルの乗馬は初めてでしたが、とても楽しめました。
日本での馬場での乗馬と異なり、自然の中を駈足出来て、爽快、とても満足です。
上級者にも十分楽しめると思います。
また是非訪れたいと思います。
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| Attended as: | Friends |
| Posted on: | 2012/10/18 |
Reviewed by: ayachan
I went horseback riding for the first time in a year and a half. I took a bus for about two hours and was planning to walk to the ranch from there, but while walking after getting off the bus, I met a kind couple who offered to drive me! Since I arrived much earlier than planned, I took a nap in a hammock. I rode across the vast ranch with a handsome cowboy named Ross, chatting and learning how to ride better. It took me some time to get used to it since it had been a while, but I had a lot of fun! We also took a commemorative photo with the North Shore sea in the background. I had such a great time horseback riding, but I got too carried away and forgot to give a tip... sorry, next time! When I go horseback riding in Hawaii again, I will request this place!
1年半ぶりに乗馬で駈足してきました。
バスに2時間くらい乗り、そこから牧場まで歩きの予定でしたが、バスをおりて歩いていたら親切なご夫婦に出会い車で送って頂きました♪
予定より早くつきすぎたので、ハンモックでお昼寝等してました。
ハンサムなカウボーイのロスさんと、世間話したり上手な乗り方を教わりながら、広大な牧場を乗馬しました。
久しぶりだったので慣れるまで時間がかかりましたが、とても楽しく満喫できました!!
ノースショアの海をバックに記念写真も撮ってもらいました♪
せっかく楽しい乗馬をさせてもらったのに、はしゃぎすぎてチップを渡すのを忘れてしまいました…sorryまた次回!!
またハワイで乗馬する時は、こちらにリクエストします♪
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| Attended as: | Friends |
| Posted on: | 2012/10/08 |
Reviewed by: Mr. Anonymous
Great time, great guide, lots to see and a ton of information!
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| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2012/09/30 |
Reviewed by: Dianna
I chose to go to the Waimea Falls and Botanical Garden and on the Kayak ride...also got to lay around on Waimea Beach and jump off the rock! I had a total blast. The driver/guide was knowledgable and friendly and made sure we all had a great time. I would recommend this to anyone.
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| Attended as: | Friends |
| Posted on: | 2012/08/31 |
Reviewed by: yukako
It wasn't like running through a grassland; it felt more like going through a Western-style wilderness.
It was refreshing to add this to the activities that were mostly by the sea. The horses were calm and cute. They followed the horse in front of them in a line, so it was easy even if you didn't have to control them. It might be a bit unsatisfying for those who want to run fast.
There is no shuttle service, so you have to get there on your own. The landmarks are not very big, so it's necessary to inform the bus driver that you want to get off. Also, for the return trip, it's wise to check the bus schedule since there is only one bus per hour and wait at the ranch.
草原を走るようなイメージではなく、ウエスタンのような荒野を行く感じでした。
海ばかりのアクティビティにプラスするには、新鮮でよかったです。馬もおとなしくてかわいかったです。自分で操作しなくても一列になって前の馬について行ってくれるので、楽でした。早く走りたいかたには物足りないかもしれません。
送迎なしなので、現地まで自分たちで行かなければなりません。目印がそこまで大きくないので、バスの運転手さんに降りる旨を伝えておく必要があります。また、帰りは一時間に一本のバスに乗るため時間を調べておいて、牧場で待つほうが賢明です。
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| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2012/08/21 |
Reviewed by: 匿名希望
We participated in a 1.5-hour tour with three family members. First, the location of the ranch was hard to find (it turned out that if you drive from Honolulu, you can only see the entrance sign from the opposite direction), and I think we were able to navigate the narrow mountain road during the daytime. We showed our voucher at a small hut marked "office" to check in. After receiving instructions on how to ride the horse (which can mostly be understood through gestures), we were off.
Since it all depends on the horse's mood, if you fall behind the line, you might be urged to hurry along. Sometimes, the horses can suddenly start running as if they are being charged. This adds a thrill, but it can also be a bit scary. Overall, it was a fun experience, but the bumpy paths with ups and downs might feel a bit hard for beginners.
家族3人で1.5時間のツアーに参加しました。
まず、牧場の位置がわかりづらく(ホノルルから車で行くと入り口の看板が逆方向からしかわからないと判明しました)且つ山道のような一本道を信じて進んでいくのは昼間なのでできたかと思います。
officeと書かれた小屋で受付のバウチャーを見せて完了。馬の乗り方の説明を受けて(ほとんどゼスチャーでわかります。)いざ出発です。
何せ馬のご機嫌次第ですので列から離れて遅れると急げとばかりに走らされます。馬的にはチャージさせられていきなり走ることもあります。ここでスリルがありますが怖いといえば怖いかもです。
全体には楽しく過ごせますが、でこぼこ道が大半でアップダウンですので初心者には少しハードかなと感じました。
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| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2012/08/21 |
Reviewed by: Mika
If you get tired of the beach, I thought activities like this would be nice. However, since all conversations are in English, I think those who understand English will enjoy it more.
海にあきたらこんなアクティビティもいいなぁと思いました。ただし、会話は全て英語の為、英語が理解できる方が楽しめると思います。
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2012/08/18 |
Reviewed by: 匿名希望
Thank you, Ross!!!
I had an incredibly fun RUN experience.
I will definitely visit again.
ロスさん、ありがとう!!!
最高に楽しいRUNを経験させていただきました。
また必ずお伺いいたします。
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| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2012/08/16 |
Reviewed by: Mr. Anonymous
We made this a family affair. My two kids, 16 & 6 enjoyed the sharks. The water was rough and it was very hard to hold onto the cage. I had to hold my 6yr old, he was not strong enough to hold on himself and the waves knocked him around. That said he loved it. My 16 yr old had no problems and tooks some great pics with the underwater camera. The sharks came right up to the cage and they looked them eye to eye. I tend to get sea sick so I wore a sea sick patch, which unfortuntly was not enough. The worst part was sitting in the boat while the other group was in the cage. Everyone agreed that they would do it again, but compared to some of the other tours we did, this one seemed a little pricy. We were only out for about 1.5 hours with about 15 - 20 minutes in the cage, which was just right but per minute - expensive!
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| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2012/07/24 |
Reviewed by: Ann S. St. Paul, MN
My husband and I had a great time on our ride at Gunstock Ranch. Ross, our trail guide, was the best. I haven't been on a horse in years and it was my husband's first time riding. Ross matched us with great horses and took us on a great ride. We helped herd cows, went into the brush and up a mountain for views that were just amazing. This ride was truly one of the highlights of our most amazing trip to O'ahu. Thank you!
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2012/07/17 |
Reviewed by: 雷太
I experienced horseback riding at Kualoa Ranch twice before, but this time I wanted to see a different view, so I tried the sunset horseback riding at this ranch. It was a small, privately-owned place, which made it easy to talk to the staff. The female guide spoke only English, but she was very kind, and the horses were well-trained, allowing us to enjoy the experience with peace of mind. There were also privately owned horses at the ranch, and one of the horses we encountered while riding was quite mischievous and fell right in front of us, leaving us in shock. Our guide, who also had a nursing qualification, provided emergency assistance and called an ambulance, while we waited anxiously. I realized that dealing with wild animals comes with such risks.
According to our guide, if the horse's personality doesn't match the rider's skill level, accidents can happen more easily. However, the horses at this ranch were well-behaved and properly trained, so we were able to enjoy the ride without worry until the end. We took in the magnificent scenery and sunset, treating the incident as a lesson, and it turned out to be a fun hour and a half of horseback riding.
乗馬はクアロア牧場で2度程体験しましたが、別の景色を見たいと今回こちらの牧場のサンセット乗馬を体験しました。
個人経営でこじんまりしていたので、話やすかったです。ガイドしてくれた女性は英語しかできませんが、とても優しく、馬もよく慣れていて安心して楽しめました。そこの牧場には個人所有の馬もおり、私たちが乗馬中に出会った馬がやんちゃで、目の前で落馬してしまい、唖然としました。私たちのガイドさんは看護師の資格ももっているとのことで、緊急対応し、救急車を呼んだのですが、その間私たちは緊張の面持ちで待機していました。自然の動物を相手にするのはこういったリスクも伴うものだというのを痛感しました。
ガイドさん曰く、馬の性格と乗り手の技量があっていないと、事故も起きやすいとのこと。しかしここの牧場の馬は、性格もよく、きちんと調教されているとのことで、最後まで安心して楽しめました。雄大な景色とサンセットを見て、アクシデントのことは教訓とし、楽しい1時間半の乗馬でした。
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| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2012/07/12 |
Reviewed by: sugarman
On the left side, just past the Polynesian Cultural Center, there is a sprawling ranch. It feels more like Arizona than Hawaii, with mostly white people around. There happened to be families with small children gathered there since school was out, but most were just doing short horseback riding experiences. We set off under the guidance of Amanda, who moved here from New York about a year and a half ago. The exhilaration of galloping through the hills and forests is something hard to experience in Japan. I quit the Crane Riding Club out of frustration and have been riding at the Aso Dream Land Club for about three years, but that place has a lot of hills. Here, the flat terrain makes for the best galloping. Our 30-minute private lunch included a gigantic sandwich, juice, water, a mountain of fruit, and a box of macadamia chocolates, which was way too much to finish. I took the chocolates as a souvenir. I was a bit worried about not speaking English. If you're a beginner, they won't let you ride on a course that includes galloping. It's self-reported, but you'll need to sign a waiver, so you're responsible in case of an accident.
ポリネシアンカルチャーセンターを過ぎてまもなくの左側に牧場の敷地が広がっている。白人ばかりで、ハワイというよりアリゾナあたりの感じ。たまたま学校が休みで小さな子供連れの家族が群れていたが、ほとんどは短い体験乗馬。NYから1.5年前にやってきたAmandaの案内でいざ出発。丘陵を林を思いっきり駆け抜ける爽快さは日本では味わいにくい。クレイン乗馬クラブを欲求不満でやめ、阿蘇夢大地のクラブで3年ほど乗っているが、あそこは坂が多い。当地は敷地が平坦ゆえ駈足が最高。30分の僕らだけのランチには、特大のサンドイッチ、ジュース、水、山盛りフルーツ、マカデミアチョコ1箱がついていて、到底食べきれない。チョコはおみやげにもらいました。英語ができないとちょっと心配。乗馬未経験者なら駈足なしのコースじゃないと受けてくれません。自己申告だけど免責書類にサインしますから、事故があっても自己責任ね。
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2012/07/02 |
Reviewed by: Lisa H
First time on surf bus, me(45), niece(25), son(9), daughter(4). Only paid for 1 activity each because we didnt know the time schedule or what would work best. Pick up 8:15am. Nice tour of different beaches at north shore. Finally arrived at 1st activity spot at 10:30 me/daughter went to waimea beach, niece/son waimea falls and walked to us. Others did snorkeling. Picked up at 1pm. Next stop haleiwa where we got 1 paddle board and 1 double kayak. Son loved padded boarding by himself! We switched off and met back at 3. Others walked through town and ate. We did great with just one activity eac (2 waimea waterfall entrance, 1 paddle board, 1 kayak). Others did th snorkel then th paddle board the 2nd half. The falls walk was hot and long but my son still enjoyed. Beach was nice for me and my 4 year old to float in the calmer waves. Definitely enjoyed our trip! Nice ending was a couple days later I realized I had left my daughter's life jacket (brought a good one for my entir vaca
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| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2012/06/14 |
Reviewed by: Mr. Anonymous
Not much of a tour. Driver OK - very little information given during ride, made a few recommendations. Driver dropped everyone off then went surfing for both the morning and afternoon sessions.
Other folks in group disappointed in the amount of walking, lack of bike helmets and places where the road had no bike trail.
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2012/06/12 |
Reviewed by: Mr. Anonymous
My husband and I wanted to do something very unique for our honeymoon in Hawaii so we decided to do Shark Encounters! We were both very excited to do this. On the day of, we drove up to the northshore at 430am because we booked the 6am group. On arrival, the staff were very friendly & knowledgable. However, my husband and I were motion sick the whole entire time that we were out at sea. We did not enjoy this at all. We even took gravol to control our motion sickness but it did not work. When we got into the cage to see the sharks, we were still having motion sickness. It was nice to see the sharks close up but it felt like we were sick the whole entire time. Overall, it was an experience that we would never do again.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2012/06/07 |
Reviewed by: Mr. Anonymous
This was a great acivity. We learned all about the island on the drive to the North Shore. Saw all the great surfing beaches, did some snorkeling and kyaking....a very fun day.
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| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2012/06/04 |
Reviewed by: Shawn Driscoll
Swimming with the sharks was awesome with Hawaii Shark Encounter..... I liked how the boat was smaller so it was our family and 1 other group. We saw at least 15-20 sharks and they swam very close to us. The cage was a good size and you were able to move around freely. It was surreal being under water with the sharks. I would recommend if you have an Iphone to get the case so you can take the iphone under water. We had an old school underwater camera and it was difficult taking pictures with it and holding onto the cage. We will see if any of our pics turned out. In summary highly recommend this activity and Hawaii Shark Encounter was great!!!!
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| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2012/06/02 |
Reviewed by: アイーダ
I imagined a ranch like a grassland, but it turned out to be a wilder course with a bit of a mountain path. At the top, I could see the ocean, making it a fun experience. The horses taken care of by the cowgirls were well-trained, and I felt completely at ease riding them. The duration was just right, and I definitely want to come back.
草原のような牧場をイメージしていましたが、ちょっとした山道を登っていく思ったよりワイルドなコースで、頂上では海も見え、楽しい経験となりました。
カウガールたちの世話している馬たちは、よく調教されていて乗っていて全然不安を感じません。
時間の長さもちょうど良く、ぜひまた来たいと思います。
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2012/05/04 |
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Thank you so much for the good review.