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If you’re wild for the Australian outback and have always fancied yourself something of a latter day Indiana Jones, then Jack or Jillaroo School is a must.

They don’t just offer courses for horse riding; they also show you a way to release your inner action hero – minus the priceless artefacts and villains, but definitely plus the weeding, cattle mustering and at least some animal blood. And as Robyn Rosenfeldt wrote for us in issue #17 of AT, you’ll also learn exceedingly cool skills like whip cracking, lasso throwing and horseshoeing. Which mightn’t seem of great use initially but just wait until your next fancy dress party, which is the next time you’ll be permitted to wear an Akubra hat, chaps and cowboy boots in public.

This outback experience offers a great reprieve from city life, where long nights spent under Australia’s starry sky simply can’t be beaten.

Where // Jack and Jillaroo Schools operate in most Australian states, but AT went to Leconfield Jillaroo/Jackaroo School east of Tamworth in NSW. (02) 67694328, www.leconfield.com

Did you know? // In 2003, Prince Harry spent part of his gap year learning Jackaroo skills on a cattle station in the Queensland outback. However, before he arrived he drew criticism from some Aboriginal communities for “cultural theft” after he unveiled the Indigenous-styled paintings he’d produced for his A-level art exams.