Sustainable Trails
Conference 2024
Central Otago,
New Zealand

Sustainable Trails Conference 2024

Conference Overview

The fifth Sustainable Trails Conference was held in Central Otago, New Zealand in 2024, drawing 78 delegates. Keynote speakers included Mark Inglis from ONZM and Lou Sanson from the World Commission on Protected Areas. A workshop titled “Advancing Perspectives: Fostering Resilience in Trails” was featured.

The conference focused on the following themes:

Creating Trail Destinations
Trails with the Community in Mind
Bringing our Landscapes Alive
Construction and Maintenance Techniques and Innovations
Planning and Governance
Regenerative Tourism and Trail Gradings.

Field trips aimed to explore some of New Zealand’s most outstanding trail experiences included:

Bike Glendhu Mountain Bike Park (Mountain Biking)
Lake Dunstan Trail, Carrick Winery and Clyde (Leisure Riding)
Bannockburn Sluicing’s Walk and Te Kano Winery (Walking).

With thanks to our sponsors

See the conference program

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See the conference outtakes

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What did past attendees think?

The Sustainable Trails conference in Cromwell this year was a unique opportunity to share and learn from trail experts across Australasia – it’s rare to have so much expertise in one place, thanks for the opportunity to take our trails to the next level.

The Sustainable Trails Conference provided an excellent opportunity to learn about all aspect of trail development – from initial feasibility planning and stakeholder consultations for new trails, to innovative storytelling and other value-adding techniques for well-establish trails. The conference attracts a broad range of participants from different organisations and backgrounds, which allows for a range diverse perspectives and an excellent opportunity to network and learn.

No other conference in Australasia brings together the whole eco-system of trail management, from trail builders, to asset managers, from product and service providers to government. The diverse range of subject matter means there is always something to take home with you.

The 2024 STC in Cromwell NZ was fantastic and I will attend future conferences. My only regret is that I have not attended these conferences previously!