From a nine-horse dream to one of Byron Bay’s best-known tourism experiences, Zephyr Horses has weathered floods, fires, COVID and cyclones with a little help from its community.
When Kate Noller launched Zephyr Horses a decade ago, she had nine horses and a dream of sharing Byron Bay from the saddle.
Today, the local tourism business has grown to a herd of 35 horses and a peak-season team of around 15 staff. Its forest and beach rides, retreats and equine experiences offer visitors a different way to explore the region – including the distinctly Byron experience of riding a horse to the pub.
But the journey has rarely followed a smooth trail.
Over the past 10 years, Zephyr Horses has navigated COVID, floods, fires, cyclones and the ongoing challenges of running a seasonal tourism business in a region shaped by the weather.
For Noller, the business’s resilience has come down to the people around it.
“When you’re in a small town like Byron Bay, you can’t do it on your own,” Noller said.
“It’s important to band together, acknowledge the people around you and recognise how many people are willing to help.”
A partnership forged through challenging times
Among those relationships is a six-year partnership with neighbouring North Byron Hotel.
When floods struck the Northern Rivers in March 2022, North Byron Hotel publican Jedd Rifai helped the Zephyr Horses team evacuate horses from flood-affected areas. When fires threatened the area in October 2023, Noller returned the support, working alongside Rifai and local firefighters late into the night to help protect the hotel.
“When the floods hit in 2022, Kate and the Zephyr team needed help getting the horses out, and we were there,” Rifai said.
“Then, during the fires in 2023, Kate was here with us late into the night with the firies, hosing everything down and doing whatever we could to protect the hotel. Those moments remind you that a pub is more than a building. It’s part of the community.”
With the Zephyr Horses ranch backing onto North Byron Hotel, the two businesses found a natural connection through their shared love of horses, hospitality and the Byron Bay community.
“Jedd had always had a dream of having horses at the pub,” Noller said. “It was fate. He manifested it.”
That idea became the Zephyr Horses Pub Lunch Tour, taking guests through the forest on horseback before arriving at North Byron Hotel for lunch and a drink.
“When we first tried it with a customer, they loved it,” Noller said. “People want to kick back and stay at the pub after the ride, so it worked really naturally.”
“Together, we’ve created one of the region’s most unique pub tours,” Rifai said.
“This is the only place in Northern NSW where you can ride a horse to the pub, enjoy a cold beer in the sunshine and settle in for a memorable afternoon.”
A decade of evolution
Alongside its forest, beach and pub rides, Zephyr Horses has created experiences at venues including The Farm and Sun Ranch, while maintaining a focus on small groups and personalised service.
As the business enters its second decade, Noller is considering how Zephyr Horses can continue to evolve without losing the character and quality behind its success.
Future plans include exploring horse breeding, expanding its retreat offering, developing overnight tours and creating new partnerships with accommodation providers.
“We want to keep being creative and fun with the rides, but we’re also very passionate about the standard of service we provide,” Noller said.
“We want to keep things fresh in Byron without overusing the area. We want to keep it sustainable, continue delivering year after year and never take that for granted.”
A celebration for the community
Zephyr Horses will mark its 10th birthday with a community celebration at North Byron Hotel on Saturday 28 November.
The aptly named Zephyrversary will bring together horses and ponies, baby goats, bucking bulls, jumping castles and line dancing, with live music from Cowboy Simple and DJ De Saint. Travla Beer, Azteca Margaritas and more will also feature throughout the afternoon and evening.
For Noller, the event is an opportunity to reflect on how far the original idea has travelled and thank the community that helped carry it forward.
“Ten years is a long time, but it has gone really fast,” Noller said.
“When I think back to when I first started, it was about showcasing Byron Bay on horseback. Now I feel incredibly grateful to the community for supporting us and allowing Zephyr Horses to continue. I want to say a big thank you to everyone - this party’s going to be a big one.”
Event details
What: Zephyr Horses 10th Birthday Zephyrversary
When: Saturday 28 November 2026, 2pm–10pm
Where: North Byron Hotel, 61 Bayshore Drive, Byron Bay
Find out more about the Zephyr Horses 10th Birthday Zephyrversary.
