"It's been great for Wairarapa," he said. "General visitors stay for an average of 1.8 nights, but cyclists stay for an average of three.
"Rimutaka Shuttles opened up immediately because of the trail and Te Rakau Birding have doubled accommodation facilities and started a new birding tour."
Operators were focused on improving services, such as clearing slips at the South Coast end of the trail so riders would not have to dismount their bikes in as many places, he said.
Green Jersey Cycle Tour company owner Stuart Edwards said the Rimutaka Trail had had "an extremely positive effect" on the community.
"It didn't take off in a huge rush - no one thought it would - but it has definitely supported the community as it's grown," he said.
Most of the trail users enquiring at Green Jersey bikes had been from New Zealand, however the international customer base has increased as word of the trail spread, he said.
Mr Edwards expected user numbers to pick up during the season peak from February to May. "It's just a matter of continuing to attract people and helping it to grow."
"There are plenty of people out there who think it will be bigger than Otago (Rail Trail) eventually."
The track has already expanded with connecting routes from Waipukurau to Masterton, and from Palmerston North and Masterton to the trail, plus the South Wairarapa District Council has committed to building a $205,000 cycle trail from Cross Creek to Featherston.
Not all trails have enjoyed the same success. The Twin Coast Cycle Trail in Northland has been battered by storms, had issues with cars driving on it and - according to some neighbouring businesses - thieves using the trail to break-in, steal expensive products and assets, and make easy getaways from police.
The Far North District Council is also reviewing how it will make up for a $3 million shortfall of funding needed for a proposed coast-to-coast cycleway.
However, Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism John Key is confident the bike trails will be hugely beneficial to host regions. He said Nga Haerenga was already "an incredible network of cycle trails" and a great tourist attraction.
"There are many anecdotal reports of new business being developed and existing businesses expanding to meet the needs of cyclists using the trails," he said. "Last year saw a 56 per cent increase in the number of people using the trails, with an estimated 97,000 trail users in January this year alone.
"Although it is still early days for many of the great rides, I am confident that these trails will deliver a range of economic and social benefits to the regions they are located in."
Nga Haerenga was proposed by Mr Key as the 21st "surprise" item from a national Job Summit held by the Government in early 2009.
The trails were granted $50 million in government funding and supported with additional funding from regional stakeholders.
The original focus of Nga Haerenga was to develop a series of "great rides" to showcase the best of New Zealand's landscape, environment, culture and heritage. It has since expanded to include existing off-road trails and several existing roads and paths to form a national cycling network.
"(The network) aims to encourage cycle tourists and recreational cyclists away from busy state highways and arterial routes and on to scenic, quiet back country roads where they will experience heartland New Zealand," MBIE spokesman Edd Brooksbank said.
Six trails are due to open in the next 12 months - stage one of Around the Mountains in Southland opens this Saturday, the West Coast Wilderness Trail later this year, and the Old Ghost Road, Alps 2 Ocean, Twin Coast Cycle Trail, the Little River Trail and second stage of the Around the Mountains trail next year. NZME.
