The trail has amassed glowing reviews across media and created business opportunities.
As of the end of January, more than 62,000 pedestrians and cyclists had passed a trail counter set up near Carrick Vineyard in Bannockburn.
A daily record of 844 trail users was recorded on January 3, and 12,068 used the trail in January.
Central Otago Queenstown Trail Network Trust spokeswoman Janeen Wood on Tuesday said a feasibility study in 2018 estimated 7000 people would use the trail in its first year, rising to 13,515 by 2032.
The estimated number of users was conservative, as only trail users passing Carrick Vineyard were counted, not those who rode or walked other sections of the trail.
Tourism Central Otago general manager Dylan Rushbrook said the general feedback on the trail was "phenomenal", with users from around New Zealand and abroad "loving it".
Covid-19 travel restrictions boosted the number of domestic tourists.
"If anything, for Central Otago, having a captive audience of Kiwis, has only seen us grow.
"We’ve had more people in 2021 than we had in 2020, and 2020 was a record year on 2019."
Other trails in the region — the Otago Central Rail Trail, the Roxburgh Gorge Trail and the Clutha Gold Trail — were also benefiting from the exposure, he said.
Shayne O’Connor, who is trail manager for the Lake Dunstan, Roxburgh Gorge and Clutha Gold Trails, said conversations he had with cycle tour operators confirmed the flow-on business effects.
"They’re all saying they’ve noticed a real upturn since the Lake Dunstan Trail opened," he said.
Businesses along the Dunstan Trail added to the experience of users with their offerings, Mr Rushbrook said.
One such business is a floating cafe — Coffee Afloat — opened by Yolanda and Richard Foale on the day the trail opened.
In September, they added a second boat to the business — Burger Afloat — serving burgers, bacon butties and waffles.
The trail also inspired a secondary business for Carrick Vineyard, Winery and Restaurant, through the grounds of which the Dunstan Trail passes.
Owners Alison and Tony Cleland opened a pizza kitchen and cafe to complement their restaurant as a quick casual offering for those using the trail.
Michelle Tannock was relaxing with a visiting friend, Katherine Clifford, on Saturday afternoon at Carrick, having just ridden to Coffee Afloat for coffees and a shared burger before returning to Bannockburn.
Mrs Clifford said two of her neighbours in Palmerston North had ridden the Dunstan Trail, and Mrs Tannock said she and her husband regularly rode to Cairnmuir Gully for coffee then rode home again.
The trail is "absolutely fabulous", Mrs Tannock said.
"It has spectacular scenery and it’s so well designed, with the bridges and the clip-on paths."
"It’s world class," Mrs Clifford added.
-- TRACIE BARRETT
