Fiordland's Lake2Lake Trail, a multiuse track between Te Anau and Manapouri, is not only generating millions of dollars for the local economy but also obtained an 8 out of 10 score from users, according to a recent report commissioned by the Fiordland Trails Trust.

Fiordland Trails Trust's Lake2Lake trail. Photo: Fiordland Trails Trust

The Angus & Associates impact assessment report estimated the direct economic contribution of the 28.5km trail in the year ending March 2023 to be $3.025 million.

It also calculated that last year's 5148 out-of-town trail visitors added over 10,000 nights accommodation and more than $1.8 million to the local economy.

A further $980,000 was generated from three events using the trail, the Meridian Hydro Half Marathon and Mitre 10 Te Anau 10k, and the Spring Challenge, while trail development and maintenance activities contributed another $245,000.

Economic flow on effects suggest the trail also supports up to 26 full time job equivalents to the area.

The report identified that the trail was most popular with 50 to 69-year-olds. It also noted the trail's positive physical and mental health benefits, low carbon tourist activity and its easy accessibility.

Fiordland Trails Trust Chair David Boniface said the Trust always realised the trail was a pretty valuable community asset, but having the independent report had helped legitimise those claims.

It not only demonstrated to the community and users just how worthwhile the work being done was, but would also support funding applications going forward, Boniface said.

"We've had a lot of support from community funders, but apart from the Jobs for Nature money, we haven't really had too much in the way of government support."

Work is currently underway north of Te Anau, which is seeing work 8km of trail constructed to Sinclair Road. The Trust currently has consents to Boundary Creek which is 14km north of Te Anau. The project also includes the planting of 15,000 native trees along the trail as part a Jobs for Nature programme. Photo: Fiordland Trails Trust.

Boniface said the report gave the Trust a good steer in terms of priorities going forward.

"The telling comment was that we really haven't got enough trails in the area to make it a destination in its own right."

"What we've got currently is really only one day's activity."

"Our long term goal is for Te Anau to become a cycling hub its own right, and there to be a number of choices of trails for users to take advantage of."

Boniface said the report gave the trust the encouragement to progress with its current trail to Te Anau Downs, as well as scoping out other possible trails.

Looking to the future Boniface said he would like to see the trail extend from Cascade Creek to Manapouri.

"That would give us 100km of trail, [which] would be fantastic."

"We [also] see ourselves providing kind of an artery where other trails could go off of it for use if need be," Boniface said.

Possible offshoot trails may include trails at Whitestone and Kepler Mire, a link to the Around the Mountain trail and a Hidden Lakes trail.

"[However a lot of it] really is dependent upon the park plan being amended, so we can have cycling in the national park," Boniface said.

CLICK HERE for more information on the Lake2lake trail and the Fiordland Trails Trust.