Mr English, also the Clutha-Southland MP, told the Queenstown Times while on a site visit New Zealand needed to "rebuild tourism".
"It's had a bit of a hard time - this is the kind of fresh product that can tap into wider markets of less adventurous people, who can have a very pleasant outdoor experience on the bike trail.
"In Queenstown, it has that already wide range of activities that are available, but it's a bit lower key on the adventure scale and Queenstown probably needed that."
The Queenstown Trail was "a bit unique" in that people could "park up in Queenstown" and spend several days traversing the whole network of trails, which on completion would link Queenstown, Kelvin Heights, Frankton, Lake Hayes Estate, Arrowtown and the Gibbston Valley.
Parts of the new trails were on land not previously accessible to the general public, with private landowners agreeing to open up sections for the trails.
"It opens up the landscape in a way that even locals haven't seen before.
"Hopefully, we can get people who have been sold on the [Otago Central] rail trail - and there are thousands of them - and get them back to bike this."
Queenstown Trails Trust chairman Terry Stevens said the 13km Twin Rivers Trail, which begins at the historic Lower Shotover Bridge and ends at Morven Ferry Rd, was about 80% complete, with work also well under way on the Arrow River Trail, which will ultimately join the Millennium Track at the Arrow River through Jopp St and lead to the Kawarau Bungy Bridge.
The trust has raised all but $500,000 of the $5 million required to build the network and Mr Stevens hoped this month's New World Wakatipu Trail Blazer event would raise a significant amount to help get the trail across the finish line.
"The buy-in from the community has been tremendous - they get it.
"It's a tangible end result.
"This will be something for everybody."
Mr Stevens said one of the things he was most pleased about was the trail was not designed only for "hard core" enthusiasts and it would encourage more people to become active, through walking, running or cycling sections of the trail.
"You don't get away from the desk enough.
"To get out with your family and friends and just be out in the environment and enjoy what we have here [resonates with people].
"Once this is built it will be a legacy that our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will benefit from.
"It addresses a quality of life for our community that will last forever."
Entries invited:
Entries are still open for the 2011 New World Wakatipu Trail Blazer, being held on November 18, which aims to raise as much as possible towards the $500,000 the Queenstown Trails Trust needs to complete the 90km Queenstown Trail.
The Trail Blazer course comprises a 7.5km run or walk or a 15km mountain bike, beginning at Jacks Point and traversing primarily private land before finishing at Jardine Park, in both recreation and competitive categories.
Competitive categories are men's and women's open; men's and women's junior (13 to 18 years); and veteran men and women (40+).
Entry costs $20 per person, which includes 12 months' free Friendship membership of the Queenstown Trails Trust, with existing members receiving an individual 12-month membership extension.
To register, either visit www.queenstowntrail.co.nz and fill out an online entry form, or print the entry form from the website and post it with a cheque to Wakatipu Trail Blazer, PO Box 1052, Queenstown 9348.
Competitive entries close at 5pm on November 15, while recreational registrations will be taken at the Jacks Point Clubhouse from 4pm on November 18.
All entrants must be registered before the race briefing at 5.45pm, with the event beginning at 6pm sharp.
