Brook Macdonald's New Way to Experience Rotorua

Ride Retreat News
Written By Ani Gemmill

Anyone can book a flight to Rotorua.
Anyone can download a trail map.
Not everyone gets shown around by the people who call this place home.

We're Brook Macdonald and Ani Gemmill, the team behind Ride Retreat.

Brook, aka The Bulldog, doesn't need much of an introduction. He's spent the last 15 years racing World Cups and has almost certainly spent more time on two wheels than his own two feet. I'm Ani, Brook's other half. My background began in elite sport before leading me into marketing, design and creating premium event and visitor experiences. Ride Retreat brings our two worlds together and gives us the chance to share the Rotorua we know and love with riders from around the world.

That means riding world-class trails, staying in boutique accommodation, enjoying meals prepared by a private chef, exploring the forest the old school way and with private shuttles, having professional mechanical support, experiences beyond the trails, and making time for wellness and recovery before doing it all again the next day. We know planning a riding holiday can be stressful, especially when you're trying to organise transport, so we've taken care of that too. Once you arrive in Rotorua, we'll handle the rest.

Although Brook has spent nearly two decades travelling the world, Rotorua has always been the place he recommends more than anywhere else. Whakarewarewa Forest offers more than 220 kilometres of purpose-built singletrack, with trails for every type of rider. Whether it's your first visit or your tenth, whether you're new to riding, chasing speed or happy exploring on an e-bike, we'll tailor each day to the group, so everyone gets the most out of their time here.

More than anything, we hope every guest leaves feeling like they've experienced Rotorua the way everyone should. Our local knowledge is what turns a good riding trip into a great one, knowing where to start the day, which trails ride best in different conditions and where to stop for a coffee or lunch is all part of the experience we love sharing.

Some guests come to progress their riding. Others simply want to experience Rotorua with locals who know it inside and out.

We deliberately keep our groups small. It means more time on the bike, more personalised coaching and the flexibility to adapt each day to the conditions and the riders in the group.

Brook says the best mountain bike trips are about far more than just the riding.

"I've ridden bikes all over the world, but it's never just about the trails. The places I remember most are the ones where you meet good people and get shown around by locals who really know the area. That's exactly what we wanted to create with Ride Retreat. We want people to ride the trails we love, learn something along the way and leave already planning their next trip back." - Brook Macdonald

Ride Retreat includes

  • Four days riding Rotorua's trail network

  • Hosted by Brook Macdonald

  • Guided rides and coaching

  • Small group sizes

  • Boutique accommodation

  • Meals prepared by a private chef

  • Airport transfers and local transport

  • Professional mechanical support

  • Wellness and recovery experiences

  • Local cultural experiences

Bookings are now open and we can't wait to share our backyard with you.

For more information and to book, click here.

 

Ani Gemmill