Nominations for Wilderness Trail Working Group

Below are the five nominations for the working group

Suzanne Dent – Kiwi Journeys

As Operations Manager for Kiwi Journeys on the West Coast, I’ve led our team for the past five years, delivering bike hire, trail transport, and fully curated multi-day tours. Our staff grows to around 10 during the summer season and scales back to four in winter, allowing us to remain responsive throughout the year.

We handle all reservations in-house, which keeps us in constant contact with accommodation providers and activity operators along the Wilderness Trail. This direct engagement allows us to build strong, collaborative relationships and respond quickly to the needs of both our guests and partners.

I’m passionate about maintaining open, and transparent communication with all stakeholders. Fostering trust and ensuring consistent two-way dialogue is essential—not only for the continued success of our operations, but also for the growth and positive reputation of the trail as a whole.

Our West Coast base is entirely dependent on the Wilderness Trail, so its effective management and long-term sustainability are top priorities for me.

Cindy Hopper – West Coast Scenic Waterways

As the owner-operator of a Hokitika based eco-tourism and accommodation business, I hope to bring bands-on industry insight and a strong commitment to sustainable tourism. My family’s generous land easement for cyclists to ride through our private land reflects a deep, personal investment in its success and accessibility.

As a former trustee of the West Coast Wilderness Trail Trust, I also hope to bring valuable experience in governance and community engagement. I have actively gathered feedback from my clients about their trail experience giving me a direct connection to trail users and real-time insights into opportunities for improvement.

My combination of local business knowledge, previous governance experience and genuine dedication to the trail and region hopefully make me a strong and balanced voice for the Working Group.

Sue Stile – Ross Beach Top 10 Holiday Park

As a child, I loved caravanning holidays around England immersed in nature. Now I’m on the other side of the counter running the Ross Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park, sharing that passion professionally.

After emigrating to Australia then New Zealand, I’ve dedicated 25 years to the holiday park industry, embracing a hands-on management style alongside my husband, Andy. Living the 24/7 lifestyle, we understand the drive, resilience, and passion required to succeed as committed operators.

Our efforts have earned numerous tourism awards in Australia and New Zealand, reflecting our dedication to building a sustainable business, overcoming challenges like Covid and the Ross trail closure.

The West Coast has been described to me as “being perfect between disaster,” which arguably can be said to be true... I want to be part of making the Wilderness Trail the #1 attraction in the NZCT portfolio, our slice of paradise needs to be seen to be believed.

As part of this working group, I aim to contribute my experience, drive, and a balanced perspective on how accommodation operators can support the trail’s success. My roles as HNZ Accommodation Chair and Board Member of TOP 10 Holiday Parks have prepared me to achieve collaborative outcomes.

Dave Ritchie – Cycle Journeys

Dave Ritchie is the West Coast Operations Director for Cycle Journeys, looking after operations on the West Coast Wilderness Trail, the Paparoa Track and the Kawatiri Coastal Trail. In this role he connects with trail service providers in retail, hospitality, accommodation, DoC, Trail Trusts and Councils across the West Coast. Daily operations also put him in direct contact with those who ride our trails, granting a perspective of how visiting riders perceive West Coast trail offerings. Dave has been involved with the working group since its inception.

Scott Williams – Wilderness Sports & Cycles

Hi, I’m Scott Williams, and the outdoors has always been a huge part of who I am. I’ve spent the last 15 years running my own independent outdoor sporting shop but more than that, I’ve built a life around getting outside and staying active.

I’m into just about everything—mountain biking, road cycling, kayaking, tramping, and hunting. I’ve mountain biked all of the local trails and a bunch across New Zealand, and I’ve tackled the Coast to Coast multisport event a few times too.

I also run a shuttle service for trampers and bikers heading out to places like the Paparoa and Wilderness Trails, which keeps me connected with other adventurers and gives me a good excuse to chat about trails, gear, and the next mission.

Being part of the outdoor community, both as a business owner and as someone who lives and breathes it, is something I’m really proud of. Whether it’s a weekend ride, a full-on race, or just a day on the water, I’m always keen for the next adventure.