Ride New Zealand

This trip is brought to you by MTB Retreats and New Zealand Mountain Biking

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Rotorua / Redwoods Forest / Timber Trail / Sky Line

Ride the Best Trails in NZ! Epic Singletrack. Stunning Landscapes. Unforgettable Riding.

Why New Zealand

MTB Retreats is partnering with New Zealand Mountain Biking to bring you this 8-Day Rotorua MTB Adventure - that’s right, you get the best of both of us.

Experience New Zealand’s best trails—from the legendary Redwoods Forest to the backcountry beauty of the Timber Trail. No hassle, no rush—just incredible riding, expert guiding, and the perfect mix of flow, tech, and adventure.

Looking for a different style of trip? Head back to Our Trips page to see what else is on offer.

A group of women wearing bike helmets and protective gear, posing together outdoors in front of a large tree in a forest.
Three people walking across a narrow suspension bridge in a lush, green forest, with dense ferns and trees surrounding them.
A row of mountain bikes mounted on a pink bike rack outdoors, with a focus on a blue bike in the foreground and pink, green, and purple bikes in the background.
Two women in cycling gear and helmets smiling on a mountain trail with trees and a cloudy sky in background.
A person riding a mountain bike across a suspension bridge surrounded by green trees.
Biking trail in a lush green hilly landscape with cyclists riding along a winding dirt path, trees, and a cityscape with hills and a partly cloudy sky in the background.

Itinerary

 

Day 1 - Arrive, Check In and Meet

You are collected from the Rotorua airport and taken to our primary accommodation in Rotorua.

  • Late afternoon/evening - shuttles will be on rotation from the Rotorua airport to our accommodation at Ripple Rotorua. It is a 20-minute drive.

  • Settle into your preallocated room and your home away from home for 6 of the 7 nights. 

  • As most flights from Australia arrive early in the evening, dinner will be on a find-your-own basis. There is a great little restaurant at the hotel. 

  • Unwind or enjoy a drink on the deck and meet your fellow riders for the week.

 

Day 2 - Ride Rotorua’s Whakarewarewa Forest (Redwoods)

Warm up on world-famous trails, from smooth flow to technical roots and ruts. Experience Rotorua’s hero dirt and get ready for an epic week!

  • Rise and shine with a continental breakfast & coffee in your lodge.

  • When you’re ready, a bike mechanic will help unbox and build your bike (if you brought your own) or get you set up on a hire bike if you ordered one of these. 

  • Load bikes onto the trailer and take a short bus ride to the famous Redwoods.

  • Meet the guides and split into ability groups to explore this famed area.

  • Once the riding is done, we visit Secrets hot springs for a soak and relax

  • Welcome dinner at a local’s favourite restaurant.

Day 3 - Backcountry Riding on the Timber Trail

Ride through lush, mossy forests, cross towering suspension bridges, and tackle a 500m climb to breathtaking summit views, followed by an epic descent.

  • The Timber Trail is considered the best two-day mountain bike ride in New Zealand. Details can be found here

  • Winding through Pureora Forest Park, the trail traces old logging tramways and tracks. Its isolation, breathtaking landscapes, impressive suspension bridges, abundant birdlife, and historic logging routes make it a thrilling challenge for even the most experienced mountain bikers.

  • The Timber Trail Lodge, located at the halfway point, offers the ideal base for the adventure along the trail.

  • Your overnight bag will be transported here and waiting for you on arrival

  • For anyone concerned with their fitness or ability to tackle this trail, E-Bikes will be available to hire.

  • It will be an incredible experience, unlike anything we have here in Australia

 

Day 4 - Timber Trail Part 2

A thrilling mix of flowing singletrack, historic railway tunnels, and New Zealand’s highest suspension bridge, with a fast, scenic descent back to civilisation.

  • Wake up to a buffet breakfast & coffee at the lodge.

  • We head out for our second day of riding on the Timber Trail.

  • At 44km, the Maramataha Bridge is a highlight of the whole ride. At 141m long and 53m high, it ranks as the third-longest suspension bridge in New Zealand.

  • At the end of the day, it is back to Rotorua for a meal and a warm bed.

Day 5 - Rest & Explore Rotorua

Take a break with ziplining, rafting, or relax in natural hot pools. This is your day to choose any additional activities while in Rotorua.

 

Day 6 - Whakarewarewa Forest Loop

A 35km scenic loop through towering Redwoods, lakeside views, and flowy singletrack—with coffee stops and optional side trails.

For anyone not wanting to pedal, there is an option to jump back on the shuttle to revisit some of your favourite trails from Day 1.

Day 7 - Redwood’s Best Trails or Skyline

Choose between exploring hidden gems in Whakarewarewa Forest or heading to Skyline for some uplifts*.

Skyline Rotorua is home to New Zealand's first all-season gondola-assisted bike lift park, accessing world-class downhill mountain biking. Featuring trails with varying terrain for all ability levels.

*Uplifts at Skyline are not included in the package price

 

Day 8 - Depart with Epic Memories

After a week of world-class riding, head home refreshed, happy, and ready for your next MTB adventure! Check out if at 10am.

A shuttle will be on rotation over the morning to get you back to the airport.

What is included*

  • Scheduled airport shuttle to/from Rotorua Airport & accommodation

  • 5 days of incredible mountain biking with optional coaching and skills

  • 7 nights of boutique accommodation including one night at the Timber Trail lodge

  • A visit to the Secret Spot Hot Tubs

  • All meals (except first dinner and rest day lunch and dinner)

  • All mountain bike shuttles as indicated in the itinerary

  • Expert local guides when on the trails, bike mechanical support + more

*These are the standard inclusions in the Ride New Zealand retreat. Other trips have different inclusions. Check their page for details.

What is not included

  • Bike Rental: This is an extra if you do not have your own bike. Email for details

  • Uplifts at Skyline Bike Park

  • Non-scheduled Rotorua airport shuttles. Sorry, we don’t offer shuttles at alternative times. You are welcome to make your own way to Rotorua - just let us know when you register.

  • Beverages: In general, you are responsible for your own beverages & alcoholic drinks.

  • Specialised Riding Snacks: Although some snacks and drinks will be available each day, you might like to bring your own personal ride snacks and electrolyte replacements.

  • Airfares.

  • Travel Insurance. We strongly recommend you take this to cover you in the event of cancellations or accidents/ loss.

  • Ride New Zealand FAQs

    Our aim by the end is to allow you to escape, connect, evolve … and of course, indulge in local delicacies. This trip is a partnership between MTB Retreats and New Zealand Mountain Bike. Guides from both operators will be on the ground working to make this an incredible trip.

  • Who is this trip suitable for?

    The retreat caters for up to 12-15 women and accommodates intermediate + riders. If you are new to riding we recommend attending one of our Australian based trips to begin with

    Riders normally form into 2 or 3 groups each day based on confidence, fitness and skills, exploring trails most suited to that group. Take a look at the day-by-day itinerary for more details. 

    This trip visits a variety of trails including the two day Timber Trail. This trail requires a reasonable fitness level as there is close to 750m elevation on each day. If you are concerned about fitness, we recommend hiring an ebike for these two days. You can add this at time of booking.

  • Is this a Women's Only Trip?

    Certainly is! The trip is specifically designed for women, creating a safe and inclusive environment that fosters female empowerment. It offers a unique opportunity for women to connect, support each other, and embark on a journey of self-discovery and personal growth. So, yes, it is a women's only trip.

  • What sort of a bike do I need?

    For this trip, we will head onto the blue trails and think you need a full-suspension bike. While you can get away with a hardtail, it will be a much better experience on a dual-suspension bike.

    That being said, it isn’t a trip for your down hill rig as we are embarking on the Timber Trail which is a cross country route.

    You need to make sure your bike is recently serviced and bring some spare parts. We are heading to remote areas with limited support for bikes. We will have a bike mechanic along for the trip with some generic parts as we understand how important it is to keep you moving. As with all our trips, we are there to support you build and pack your bike out of the bag/box you transport it in.

  • What is the group size for this trip?

    The group will be between 12 to 15 riders and 3 staff. The larger group enables us to split into ability levels and choose different routes to suit. On most days we have 2 bike guides, a bike mechanic and a driver to keep everyone enjoying the riding.

  • How do I book?

    Head to our dates and inclusions page for details

“When time is of the essence but you just have to ride, get away from the crowds, and keep it all at a laid back pace, this is the perfect trip. We’ll get you into the backcountry of the North Island to experience the absolute must-do wilderness trails through virgin forest, overlooking stunning lakes, and the lesser known local favourites around Rotorua. Just hop on the plane, lets us take care of all the logistics and have the week of your life on two wheels.”

Jamie Garrod - Founder and Guide New Zealand Mountain Bike