Women’s Mountain Bike Retreat Alice Springs Shred the Desert 8-14 June 2025 MTBLA Collab
June 8, 2025 at 12:00 pm - June 14, 2025 at 12:00 pm
$2,677.00 – $3,297.00
Shred the Desert 2025 MTBLA Collab
Women’s Mountain Bike Retreat Alice Springs
7 days
Ride, connect, & thrive.
Strong beginner minimum skill level required
Imagine yourself mountain biking hand-made flowy trails amongst an ancient desert landscape of escarpments, ochre colours, ghost gums, and blue skies.
You are hanging out with like-minded women in an encouraging, supportive, and empowering environment. There is space to relax, laugh, connect, and do what you need to rejuvenate.
Immersive indigenous cultural activities inspire you, and you start to feel joy energise every cell in your body.
You are further nourished by nutritious home-made food, chats around the fire with preferred drink in hand, and mindful practices. This is your time to ride, recharge and live life fully.
Thanks for rolling in.
Maximum 15 guests
Itinerary:
Day 1: Pick up from Alice Springs Airport, build bikes, sunset welcome drinks, and fireside chat.
Day 2: Mountain Bike, homemade lunch, more Mountain Bike or chill out.
Day 3: Yoga, Mountain Bike, Aboriginal Art Precinct Tour, dinner at The Brewery.
Day 4: Ormiston Gorge day trip, walk The Pound, optional waterhole swim.
Day 5: Mountain Bike, Bush Balm Demo, lunch at The Roastery, sunset Mountain Bike ride.
Day 6: Simpsons Gap bike ride, BBQ lunch, optional massage, pack-down bikes, fireside chat.
Day 7: Drop off at Alice Springs Airport.
What’s included:
We aim to facilitate an extraordinary mountain bike experience for you in Central Australia. All organisation, transport, logistics, accommodation, and most food is taken care of for you, so you can do your best mountain biking, connect with yourself, the women in the group, and the desert in a calm, curious, and fun way.
- Qualified and experienced female Mountain Bike & Outdoor Education coaches (ratio 1:6 guide to participant)
- MTB skill instruction
- Guided rides and walks with detailed flora and fauna interpretation
- Ride on the Larapinta Trail
- 6 nights accommodation
- 5 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 4 dinners
- All transport
- Airport and accommodation pick up and drop off
- National Park passes
- Yoga
- Bush Balm Demo
What’s not included:
- drinks and snacks
- 1 x breakfast, 2 x lunches and 2 x dinner
- Flights and insurance
- Bike hire
Some other points of note:
- The mountain bike skill required is from strong beginner up. If needed, we will have guided groups to cater for different skill and fitness levels.
- Everyday we will ride between 10-20 kms or walk 8.5kms over 2-5hrs so this adventure will require general fitness.
Prices are:
Private Room $3287 per person
Twin Share $2857 per person
Swag $2677 per person
You are welcome to pay the total price upfront.
You are also welcome to secure your place by paying a deposit of $600 as soon as possible. Use the bank transfer option.
You will be emailed to agree to a payment plan that works for both of us. Final payments are due 13 May 2025.
If you have any questions please email [email protected].
Testimonials
“Shred the Desert 24 – such an adventure! Thanks, George for a fabulous week, was amazing to ride some new trails in a stunning landscape, I learnt so much from you and am a better rider for it. And loved the chance to explore Alice Springs culture and surrounds.” Jody Bruce
“I was lucky enough to join the inaugural Shred the Desert trip led by Wellness On Wheels. It was a fabulous well-organised escape with like-minded women. I highly recommend.” Louise Foulkes
“Thank you for providing an opportunity to experience riding in beautiful central Australia in a wonderful supportive environment.” Maryam.
Cancellation Policy:
We know that sometimes unexpected things happen, so please read and understand the cancellation policy before booking a tour. Suitable travel insurance and ambulance cover are highly recommended.
CANCELLATION INITIATED BY PARTICIPANT
-Cancellation from 8 weeks plus prior to start – 100% refund minus the deposit or transfer to another person minus $200 administration fee, or 100% credit.
-Cancellation from 4 – 8 weeks prior to start – 50% refund or transfer to another person minus a $200 admin fee or 100% credit.
-Cancellation from 0-30 days – No refund or credit.
No refund or credit if you arrive late, leave early, have flight cancellations, travel delays, or general illness.
If you have any questions about our refund policy, please don’t hesitate to contact us on 0414 091 533 or email, [email protected].
CANCELLATION OR CHANGES INITIATED BY WELLNESS ON WHEELS
If Wellness on Wheels must cancel the tour for any reason you may receive a 100% refund or transfer your booking to a future trip. Wellness on Wheels will not be liable for any other participant expenses such as airline tickets, loss of work, and/or costs associated with preparing for the tour.
Wellness on Wheels reserves the right to modify or adapt the tour without notice in the interests of participant safety, because of adverse weather, changing government and health requirements, or other reasons.
Packing List
Essentials for Riding
- Bike (your own or a hire bike)
- Helmet
- Eye Protection – much of the riding is in open terrain with blue sky sunny days so sunglasses help reduce glare and protect your eyes.
- Riding tops including a warm option or layers
- Light Weight Rain Jacket (you probably won’t need but just in case)
- Cycling shorts
- Athletic socks
- Mountain bike shoes
- Bike gloves
- If you ride clip ins and you are renting a bike, please bring your pedals and shoes (Rental bikes will come equipped with flat pedals)
- Hydration backpack or waist pack (2L water capacity)
- Spares including spare tube, tyre levers, multi tool, and pump
- Small First Aid Kit including snake bandages, triangular bandage, adhesive dressing, band aids, and medical gloves.
- Personal preferred energy snacks for riding (electrolyte + energy bars)
Options for Riding
- Protective Armor (knee and elbow pads)
- Camera (phone, GoPro, etc.)
- Cycling water bottle for bike
- 2 x spare inner tubes specific for your tyre size (if renting these are provided)
Personal Packing List
- All linen & indoor towels will be provided.
- There is a laundry with two washing machines in the accommodation.
- Sunscreen
- Insect Repellent
- Personal toiletries & medication
- First-aid Kit (ibuprofen, Panadol, band-aids, tweezers etc.)
- Ear plugs and/or eye mask (for light sleepers)
- Walking pants/shorts, top (I like to wear a long sleeve shirt), hat, walking shoes, and day pack (a hydration pack will suffice).
- Stretchy fitted clothes for yoga
- Casual post ride clothes (including long pants, a good jumper or down jacket, and beanie!)
- Swimmers and travel towel just in case you cannot resist swimming in the Ormiston Gorge waterhole!
- Non-riding shoes
- A good book (or Kindle, iPad, etc.)
Food / Snacks / Drinks
Most food is provided for the trip as well as limited drinks. No alcoholic drinks are provided (wine, beer etc). After you are picked up from the airport there will be an opportunity to purchase any specific personal snacks food or drinks you might like.
FAQs
- I am a solo traveller, can I come by myself?
Yes, these trips are designed to bring women together from all over the country. We highly encourage women to step out of their comfort zone and book a trip even if you don’t have someone to come with.
- Am I too old to come on this trip?
Age is just a number. If you are free spirited and easy going you are the perfect woman for our adventures. The average age of our groups is 35-60 years old.
- How fit do I need to be?
Every day we will ride between 10-20 kms or walk 8.5kms over 2-5hrs so this adventure will require general fitness. The more you can ride before the trip the more prepared your body and mind will be for mountain biking in Central Australia.
- What will the food be like? I have dietary requirements.
We love food and pride ourselves on providing high quality nutritious food that tastes great. We can cater to any dietary requirement including vegetarian, vegan, GF, DF etc. There is an option to add your dietary requirement information on the booking form. Here is an example of what meals may be:
Breakfast: Cereal, porridge, toast, yoghurt, fruit, hot foods like eggs/mushroom/spinach/bacon (some days when we have time).
Lunch: Wraps, sandwiches, quiche, frittata, pies, burgers.
Dinner: Curries, pasta, stir fry’s, roasts, BBQ
- Do I have to pay the full amount up front?
The short answer is no. We want to make our trips as accessible as possible. And if that means you need to pay it over instalments, you can do that.
We know that travel is one of the best investments you can ever make into yourself. We genuinely know the powerful impact that accomplishing a multi-day mountain bike tour or walking the highlights of the Larapinta Trail with a group of likeminded women has on you.
Yes you, the woman seeing these amazing adventures on her phone and yearning for some outdoor time to chill out and rejuvenate. It’s right at your fingertips and we promise you won’t regret it!
We also work on a deposit now, pay later basis so don’t stress if you don’t have the full trip fee available right now. We can agree to a payment plan that works for both of us.
- What is the accommodation like?
Campfire in the Heart is a peaceful location 7 km from the centre of Alice Springs.
The retreat house offers simple shared accommodation and further accommodation is available in rustic cabins or caravans overlooking the East MacDonnell Ranges. There are six bathrooms available for guest use which are mostly shared and some require outdoor access.
Venue facilities include:
- a large lounge area
- a self-catering kitchen
- a beautiful garden amongst the gum trees
- fire-pits
- a contemplative labyrinth for walking meditations
- a meditation or yoga space
- a swimming pool
- walking trails behind the property
- wifi
- washing machine
- heated rooms
- Is bike hire available in Alice Springs?
Yes, Red Centre Adventures offer bike hire for mountain bike and premium mountain bike. The electric mountain bike – stealth P7 is not available. Have a look via the link but do not book. Bike Hire booking details will be collected at a later date for a discounted price.
- Can I bring an e-bike?
Yes. We can explore options for transporting e-bike batteries.
- What do I need to bring?
You will need warm clothes and layers for riding in July in Central Australia. The temperature can easily drop to 0°C in the mornings and then rise to a beautiful 20°C in the afternoon. A packing list will be provided.
10. What facilities are there in Alice Springs?
Alice Springs has a population of about 27,000 people and is well serviced as a remote town. There are two supermarkets, a cinema, K-Mart, Target, Bunnings, Mitre 10, two chemists, a great hospital, an Aquatic Leisure Centre, and tourist destinations such as the Alice Springs Desert Park, Royal Flying Doctor Service Alice Springs Tourist Facility & Museum, Women’s Museum of Australia and Old Gaol Alice Springs, restaurants, cafes and excellent coffee. Indigenous cultural immersion experiences include Bush Balm Social Enterprise by Purple House and the Art Precinct.
11. What is the mountain biking like?
Alice Springs is like no other riding destination and is truly a desert riding experience. Alice Springs boasts about 100kms of signed and mapped trails and then another 100kms of unmapped trails. The trails are all handmade and custom built for mountain biking. Most of the trails are blue/intermediate with a little green and black (beginner and advanced respectively).
The terrain can be open and flowy, and tight, rocky, and technical, sandy at times, and include features from steps ups to rock gardens to rock slabs and little mounds to jump off, if that’s your jam. This is cross country heaven.
The MacDonnell Ranges provide rocky ridges, escarpments, creeks, ghost gums and corkwoods, and kangaroos and perenties to name some of the wonderful flora and fauna that make up the natural landscape.
12. Can we wash our clothes?
Yes, two washing machines are available at the accommodation.
13. Can we buy alcohol?
Yes, despite bottle shop open hour restrictions, if needed, we can visit a bottle shop on Day 1.
14. Where will I store my bike securely?
One of the many advantages of staying a little bit out of town is the added safety. The accommodation claims to have only had two minor theft incidents over the last 20 years. Your bike will be stored safely overnight at Campfire in the Heart and if needed whilst in town we have cable locks or a staff member will watch the bikes on the bike trailer.
15. What about coffee?
The accommodation provides plungers for coffee and everyday we visit one of the many cafes in Alice Springs for quality coffee.
16. What is a swag?
A portable sleeping unit made of canvas that has a mattress, sleeping bag and pillow inside. It is comfortable, warm and waterproof and you get to fall asleep admiring the stars.