About Us

“Adele grew up in the country on a farm in Southland. She went to school in Gore and then studied in Dunedin. Gary grew up and studied in Dunedin. It was here they met one another and were married in September 2010. They now have two beautiful girls – Khloe (7 years) and Lily (2 years).

Ironically, they married at RiverRidge Retreat (then called Catlins Woodstock Lodge and Function Centre) long before they knew they would one day own the venue.

Adele’s parents farm is across the river from RiverRidge Retreat. The two of them would often sit up on the hill and look down at the retreat. It was there dream to one day own this (although this did seem like a very unrealistic dream). After a lot of very hard work and relentless persistence, Gary and Adele took over Wood Stock Lodge and Function Centre in October 2011. It was renamed to RiverRidge Retreat – nature's paradise- not long after this.

“We are both extremely passionate about creating an environment and designing products, that fit precisely with the needs and wants of the RiverRidge Retreat guests so we can deliver heartfelt and impactful experiences that leave lasting memories.

Looking forward to chatting soon.”