The official opening of the Narooma Mountain Bike Trails Hub was a celebration of its resounding success and the people behind it, Georgie Staley and Dave O'Brien.
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The 85 kilometres of trails opened to the public on December 21 and Ms Staley said "we have been flat out since".
Member for Bega Dr Michael Holland said every time he drove past during the holiday period the car park was overflowing.
"It was just buzzing," he said.
Ms Staley said they have had visitors from Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland and Tasmania and that people are coming from the UK and Canada this month after they contacted her about bike hire.
Starting in 2016 Ms Staley and Mr O'Brien hand built the first 30 kilometres over three years working on weekends and before and after work.
In 2021 they received $3.9million from the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund to add more trails.
The guest speakers at the official opening on Friday, February 2, were full of praise for the couple.
Member for Eden-Monaro Kristy McBain said the trails had been a labour of love and a long time coming.
"We know it will return investment into our community in spades," Ms McBain said.
Rob Young, partnerships leader, Forestry Corporation of NSW, praised the pair for their foresight, initiative and tenacity.
Jason Lamb of Dirt Art, the Tasmanian company that built the rest of the trails, said on his first visit he had been blown away by the site's potential and how pristine it was.
"Without Georgie and Dave's tenacity and can-do attitude this would not have got off the ground.
"It has been an absolute dream to be part of this project," Mr Lamb said.
Ms Staley said it would not have been possible without Forestry Corporation of NSW
Benefits the whole region
Ms Staley said the bike trails in Mogo, Narooma, Tathra and Eden will probably work together to attract people to the area.
"We want to drag people from Sydney and Melbourne up and down the coast.
"It is spreading people across the region," Ms Staley said.
Word is spreading internationally.
Eric Testroete from BCpov, a YouTube channel that showcases the best mountain bike trails, made a tourism video of the Narooma trails which Ms Staley and Mr O'Brien released the first week the trails opened.
"A lot of people have seen that and are coming as a result of that," Ms Staley said.
She said bikers range in age from three year olds with their parents to people in their 60s riding e-bikes.
The feedback is they love the area because of the access to the forest and the surf.
Sally Bouckley of Southbound Escapes, said the mountain bike trails will help address the seasonality of the region's tourism.
"Come winter when Thredbo doesn't have mountain biking, they will come here," Ms Bouckley said.
"A lady ex-competitor who has ridden all over the world said the Narooma trails are up there with Queenstown and Rotorua in New Zealand.
"The design and the way they have utilised the forest are world class," Ms Bouckley said.
