Mountain Bike Rotorua

What Mountain Bike Rotorua does

Mountain Bike Rotorua is a privately held, family-owned adventure tourism operator headquartered at Waipa MTB Carpark in Whakarewarewa Forest, Rotorua, New Zealand. Founded in 2013 by Takurua Mutu and Jayne Hendrikse (with co-owners Tuhua Mutu and Janine Kavanagh) and operating as part of the Tohu Group (parent est. 1989), the company functions as a one-stop shop for mountain biking services anchored to the 300km+ Whakarewarewa Forest trail network spanning 5,500+ hectares. Its service portfolio comprises shuttle uplifts (public bus routes plus private 4WD charters), a rental fleet of 100+ bikes including e-bikes and children's bikes, retail shops (Waipa and Tawa), a tiered workshop servicing operation (Bronze/Silver/Gold), skills coaching (Trail Class, Jump Class), and guided tours including the Hāngī Bike Tour combining e-mountain biking with Māori cultural immersion.

The company's technology footprint is conventional tourism infrastructure rather than software-led: online booking through app.booking.bike.rent and Rezdy, Shopify e-commerce, Trailforks trail-data integration, and Race Roster event ticketing. Its one notable proprietary engineering initiative is the Frank-E (FEV) project — an electric shuttle vehicle built by transplanting a Nissan Leaf EM57 motor and 40kWh battery into a Ford Ranger chassis with a custom battery enclosure, single-gear manual conversion, and regenerative braking tuned for forest gradient duty cycles. The business generates revenue through transaction-based fees across shuttle passes ($17-$300), bike rentals, retail sales, professional coaching services ($200-$300/session), event registration fees ($65-$545), and group charter rates ($140-$275/hour). Distribution is direct-to-consumer via three physical retail/hospitality locations, online booking, event sponsorship (Crankworx, Moonride, Legends Enduro), and community-led programs (Share the Ride with Whanau, Ladies Shuttle Nights, Lil Legends DH youth racing series) serving both domestic New Zealand riders and inbound Australian/international visitors.

Mountain Bike Rotorua also operates two New Zealand-domiciled legal entities — Mountain Bike Rotorua Ltd (operating entity) and Mountain Bike Rotorua Shuttles Ltd (wholly-owned operating subsidiary, likely structured to ring-fence shuttle operations) — and reports a small core headcount of 7 employees supplemented by seasonal/event staff. Strategic commercial relationships include flagship partnerships with Crankworx Rotorua and Skyline Rotorua, supply partnerships with Giant Bikes NZ (Share the Ride), and access arrangements with CNI Iwi Holdings, Timberlands, and Rotorua Lakes Council governing commercial activity in the forest.

Name

Mountain Bike Rotorua

Legal name

Mountain Bike Rotorua Ltd

Website

https://mtbrotorua.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Mountain Bike Rotorua is a family-owned adventure tourism operator in Rotorua, New Zealand, offering shuttle uplifts, bike rentals, skills coaching, guided tours, retail, and events for mountain bikers accessing the Whakarewarewa Forest trail network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adventure Tourism and Mountain Biking Services

NAICS

Recreational Goods Rental (532284), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Other (487990), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation (487)

SIC

Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Cycling / MTB / E-Bike Guiding & Rentals (THAAALAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cycling, Mountain Biking & E-bike Adventures (THAJABAF), Bike Rental, Demo & Tour Operators (Retail-Adjacent) (CRAMAHAJ), Bike Fit, Performance & Training Retail/Studios (CRAMAHAI), Bicycle Programs & Bike Share (Parking, Repair, Rentals) (EDALAKAE)

Keywords

• Mountain bike shuttle services
• Bike rental and hire
• Mountain bike skills coaching
• Guided mountain bike tours
• Bike workshop servicing

Headquarters

HQ city

Rotorua

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Shuttle Services: Public shuttle bus services transporting mountain bikers to trailheads in Whakarewarewa Forest, plus private 4WD charter services for custom forest access. Revenue from per-lift passes and hourly charter rates.
2. Bike Hire: Rental of mountain bikes and e-bikes with online booking through third-party platform. Fleet of over 100 bikes including e-bikes and kids bikes.
3. Retail Sales: Retail shops selling bike gear, components, helmets, gloves, tools, lubrication, and Mountain Bike Rotorua branded clothing. Also includes bike servicing and repair services.
4. Skills Coaching and Tours: Private coaching sessions (Trail Class, Jump Class), guided tours including Hangi Bike Tour combining e-mountain biking with Maori cultural experience, and school programs.
5. Event Management: Organizing and operating events including Lil Legends DH Series (kids racing), Redwoods Rides curated events, and Ladies Weekend Getaway packages.
6. Workshop Servicing: Bike maintenance and repair services with Bronze, Silver, and Gold service tiers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Mountain Bike Rotorua operates an integrated mountain biking service platform based at Waipa MTB Carpark in Whakarewarewa Forest, Rotorua. It provides public shuttle bus uplifts, private 4WD charter shuttles, rental of a fleet of over 100 mountain bikes including e-bikes and kids' bikes, private skills coaching (Trail Class and Jump Class), guided tours, a full-service bike workshop (Bronze/Silver/Gold servicing), bike and apparel retail across multiple locations, and event management including the Lil Legends DH Series and Redwoods Rides. Community programs such as Share the Ride with Whanau deliver bikes and skills training to families.

Product overview

Mountain Bike Rotorua is an adventure tourism operator offering a unified platform of mountain biking services centered on the Whakarewarewa and Titokorangi Forests in Rotorua, New Zealand. The portfolio includes bike hire (with e-bikes and children's bikes), shuttle uplift services (public bus shuttles and private 4WD charters), guided tours, and skills coaching (Trail Class and Jump Class). Retail operations span two bike shops (Waipa and Tawa), a workshop offering Bronze/Silver/Gold servicing, and the Wheelhouse Coffee Shop. The company also operates events including the Lil Legends DH Series and Redwoods Rides curated events, community programs like Share the Ride with Whanau, and innovative initiatives such as the Frank-E electric vehicle conversion project. Trail access is free, with revenue generated through service fees, retail sales, and event registrations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bike Hire Rental of mountain bikes and e-bikes with online booking through app.booking.bike.rent. Fleet of over 100 bikes including e-bikes and kids bikes, available at Waipa Bike Shop and Tawa Bike Shop.
• Public Shuttle Bus Services Public shuttle buses providing hop-on, hop-off uplifts to trailheads in Whakarewarewa Forest via Main Hill, Direct Rd, Tawa Waka, and Katore Rd routes. Passes available as 1, 5, 10, 20, and 50 lift bundles with shareable options (excluding SOLO Rider pass).
• Private 4WD Shuttle Charters Private shuttle charters using 4WD vehicles (Battle Waka up to 4 riders, Buggy Waka up to 5, Squad Waka up to 9, Whaka Waka bus up to 24) allowing access to most forest trails, booked online via Rezdy with hourly rates and 3-hour minimum.
• Trail Class Skills Coaching Private one-on-one or two-on-one 2-hour skills sessions tailored to rider ability from beginner to professional, focusing on improving trail riding skills, speed, and enjoyment. Repeat clients qualify for discount.
• Jump Class Skills Coaching Private coaching focused on teaching mountain bikers to jump, including skills for airborne maneuvers and first table top jumps. E-bike specific sessions available on request.
• Mountain Bike Guided Tours Guided tours through the Whakarewarewa Forest Mountain Bike Park including private guide tours and the Hāngī Bike Tour combining e-mountain biking with Māori cultural experience and traditional hāngī lunch.
• Bike Workshop Servicing Full-service bike workshop offering Gold, Silver, and Bronze service levels for bike maintenance and repairs, including everything from basic washes to complete component rebuilds, booked through app.booking.bike.rent.
• Bike and Apparel Retail Retail shop offering bike gear, tubes, pumps, helmets, gloves, tools, lubrication, and custom Mountain Bike Rotorua clothing from brands including Fox, Race Face, Giro, and Bell.
• Lil Legends DH Series Youth downhill racing series for children aged 7-12 (up to 14 for girls), featuring three races on Grade 3 trails with progressively harder difficulty, including carpark shuttles, practice and race shuttles, race plates, timing, and event medic coverage.
• Ride. Reset. Rotorua Ladies Weekend Getaway 3-day ladies retreat combining mountain biking shuttles, Secret Spot hot tubs soak, yoga session, hāngī dinner at Te Puia, and Wai Ariki Hot Springs spa experience, with optional bike hire and hotel accommodation.
• Redwoods Rides Curated Events Curated ticketed events combining mountain biking with other activities in Rotorua, including Ride. Burger. Soak. and Western Okataina Shuttle Mission.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 50 families and 100+ bikes distributed through Share the Ride with Whanau program since 2015
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Tohu ExperiencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company providing operational framework, reservations systems, and group resources. Mountain Bike Rotorua is part of the Tohu Group portfolio operating adventure experiences in Rotorua for over 30 years.
• Giant Bikes NZcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBike supplier for Share the Ride with Whanau program. Provides bikes for families who complete the 10-session program. Enables accessibility initiative for community members who cannot afford equipment.
• Rotorua Trails TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary trail maintenance organization for Whakarewarewa Forest. Mountain Bike Rotorua is a sponsor and active participant in trail stewardship.
• Rotorua Mountain Bike ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal MTB club representing riders. Mountain Bike Rotorua provides sponsorship support.
• CNI (CNI Iwi Holdings Ltd)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLand owners of Whakarewarewa Forest representing eight Central North Island iwi through Treaty settlement. Partnership essential for commercial operations in forest.
• TimberlandscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerForestry management company managing commercial forestry operations in Whakarewarewa Forest. Delegated recreation management authority to Rotorua Lakes Council.
• Rotorua Lakes CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManages recreation activities in forest on behalf of CNI and Timberlands. Responsible for trails, signage, toilets, bike hubs, and events.
• Skyline RotoruaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGravity bike park with gondola lift access. Mountain Bike Rotorua provides drop-off service for Skyline park with bikes delivered to customers.
• CrankworxflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor international MTB festival. Mountain Bike Rotorua provides shuttle and support services. First Southern Hemisphere Crankworx stop since 2015.
• MoonrideflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerIconic mountain bike event in NZ. Mountain Bike Rotorua supports and sponsors the event series.
• Legends Enduro SeriesflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerGiant Legends Enduro Series races for all ages. Mountain Bike Rotorua sponsors and supports these events.
• Ripple Tech (Ra Cleave)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical partner for FEV (Frankenstein Electric Vehicle) project. Expertise in EV conversion technology using Nissan Leaf components.
• Rotorua Rafting and Rotorua ZiplinesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFellow adventure tourism operators. Shared learning and collaboration on FEV technology development.
• Fox ClothingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBike gear and clothing brand available at retail shops.
• Race FaceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBike components and apparel brand available at retail shops.
• Giro, BellminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHelmet brands available at retail shops.
• Secret Spot Hot TubsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHot pools and saunas located near Waipa. Cross-promotion with events like Ride. Burger. Soak.
• Wai Ariki Hot Springs and SpaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpa experience included in Ride. Reset. Rotorua ladies weekend package.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Skyline Rotorua: Rotorua-based gondola-accessed gravity MTB park. Mountain Bike Rotorua already provides drop-off services to Skyline for customer bike delivery, making it the most direct local peer in destination MTB services.
• Bike Glendhu: Wanaka-based MTB park offering bike hire, lessons, and uplift services comparable to Mountain Bike Rotorua's integrated shuttle-rental-coaching model in another key NZ mountain bike destination.

Emerging players

• BikePark Wales: UK purpose-built uplift-served MTB park. Comparable as a destination gravity MTB park with rental, coaching, and trail-tier offerings aligned with Mountain Bike Rotorua's shuttle-supported trail access model.

Broad incumbents

• Whistler Mountain Bike Park: Largest and most established lift-accessed MTB park globally. Comparable as a benchmark destination operator combining trail network access, rentals, coaching, and events at scale well beyond New Zealand operators.
• AJ Hackett International: Iconic New Zealand adventure tourism operator offering bungee, swings, and bridges. Comparable as an established NZ adventure tourism incumbent with multi-product, multi-location operations similar in breadth.
• Tourism Holdings Limited (THL): Largest NZ tourism vehicle rental and experiences operator. Comparable as a broad NZ tourism incumbent with rental fleet and experience brand portfolio, relevant to Mountain Bike Rotorua's rental and tour positioning.
• Winter Park Resort: Colorado resort with significant summer MTB park operations. Comparable as a multi-season destination resort operator with bike park, lessons, rentals, and event hosting overlapping Mountain Bike Rotorua's service mix.
• RealNZ (Real Journeys / Real Heritage): Major New Zealand adventure tourism operator running cruises, flights, and experiences. Comparable as a broad NZ tourism incumbent that competes for the same international visitor wallet alongside Mountain Bike Rotorua.

Others

• Crankworx Events: International MTB festival operator running the Rotorua stop Mountain Bike Rotorua services. Comparable as the event-side ecosystem Mountain Bike Rotorua is embedded in; not a direct competitor but shapes demand.

Regional players

• Hukafalls Jet: Taupo-based jet boat and adventure tourism operator in the same Central North Island tourism corridor. Comparable as a New Zealand regional adventure operator serving overlapping visitor flows to Rotorua.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Mountain.Bike.Rotorua
• Instagraminstagram.com/mountainbikerotorua
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mountain-bike-rotorua

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mountain Bike Rotorua