Travel Info
Queenstown
Queenstown is one of New Zealand’s top visitor destinations and if you come to the region you’ll understand why. The picturesque town is nestled on the shores of crystal clear Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by magnificent mountain ranges.
The lake and mountain landscape make it suited to all kinds of adventure, and in November the longer spring days provide lots of daylight hours to explore. Adrenalin activities such as bungy jumping, sky diving, canyon swinging, jet boating, horse trekking and river rafting are there to temps the adventurous, but if hardcore adventure isn't your thing, there are plenty of mellow options available.
Queenstown is home to several internationally renowned golf courses, and you can explore parts of the New Zealand Sotheby's International Realty Queenstown Marathon course and beyond by foot or bike on the Queenstown Trail, and surrounding walking and hiking tracks for some active recovery.
Sightseeing tours can immerse you in the back country or Lord of the Rings scenery, or indulge yourself with spa treatments, boutique shopping and excellent food and wine across the region.
Twenty minutes from Queenstown, near the Marathon start line, Arrowtown’s gold-mining history is alive and well alongside a vibrant café, bar and restaurant scene. Visit the Lakes District Museum or go gold panning on the Arrow River. Forty minutes from Queenstown at the northern tip of Lake Wakatipu is rural Glenorchy and Paradise Valley, with scenic braided rivers and sheer mountains to take in.
Find out more about the stunning Queenstown region here.
Getting there
Air New Zealand operate an extensive flight network into Queenstown enabling race participants and supporters to spend less time travelling and more time enjoying the experience in this iconic part of the world. Queenstown Airport welcomes frequent Air New Zealand services from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane as well as direct flights from a number of domestic destinations including Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
Getting Around
By Bus
ORBUS is the public bus system connecting the Queenstown airport, Town centre, Frankton, Kelvin Heights, Five Mile shopping area, Jack’s Point, Hanley’s Farm, Arrowtown, Shotover country, Lake Hayes, Arthurs Point, Fernhill, and Sunshine Bay.
The Number 1 bus line departs Queenstown Airport every 15 minutes from 06.05 am to 12.30 am. This bus travels to and from Sunshine Bay/Fernhill via Queenstown to the Airport and Remarkables Park.
Most accommodation, including suburban stays eg: AirBNB are within a ten minute walk of a bus stop. Bus services numbers 2,3,4 and 5 run at 30 minute intervals and all suburbs in Queenstown, Frankton and Arrowtown are serviced.
All bus lines connect through the Frankton bus hub, which is a ten minute walk from both the Queenstown Airport and the Queenstown Events Centre. The Queenstown Event Centre is where the Athlete Expo and Check-In is located. Follow our signs to travel on foot to these closely located destinations.
Many accommodation providers are conveniently located on the Number 1 bus service. This makes the bus a great option during Marathon weekend. To find your nearest stop, timetable and to plan your journey, click here. You can also download the Transit App to plan your travel and get real-time bus information.
ORBUS accepts cash and payment by Bee Card. The Bee Card reduces the cost of one-way journeys to only $2.50 per adult trip, with free interchanges within 45 minutes. All bus trips are $2.50 regardless of where you go in Queenstown or Arrowtown. Bee Cards can be purchased at Paper Plus at Queenstown Airport or purchased on the bus. All Bee Cards can be topped up on the bus. The Bee Card costs $5 with a minimum $5 top-up. Buy a Bee Card online here.
By Ferry
Queenstown ferries run hourly between Queenstown Bay - Bayview (Kelvin Heights) - Frankton Marina and the Hilton. The ferry costs $10 one way (with Bee Card) or $14 one (without). The ferry is a great active travel option for Athlete check in at the Queenstown Event Centre on Thursday and Friday pre-race. The closest ferry terminal is the Frankton Marina, a 15-20 minute walk.
More information can be found here.
For more information, go to https://www.orc.govt.nz/public-transport/queenstown-buses-and-ferries.
This information has been brought to you by local active charity The Lightfoot Initiative.
Learn more about them at www.lightfoot.org.nz
Traffic Impact
There are various road closures that will be in place on and around event day that may impact getting around Queenstown, and it's surrounding areas. Please refer to the Road closure advisory and the Live Road Closure map for more info.
Accommodation
Queenstown has accommodation for every taste and budget - from luxury retreats, romantic cottages and elegant boutique hotels to B&B's, farmstays and homestays. Superior motels, urban apartments, self-contained cottages and holiday parks provide independence and plenty of space for families and groups.
There will be transport running from Queenstown Memorial Centre and car parking at the start lines so no matter where you chose to stay, you’ll be in for a great time.
Holiday Inn Queenstown Remarkables Park
If you’re planning a trip to Queenstown and looking for a modern, comfortable base that blends convenience with stunning alpine surroundings, the Holiday Inn Queenstown Remarkables Park is an excellent choice. Perfectly positioned at the foot of the Remarkables mountain range, this contemporary hotel offers everything you need for a memorable and relaxing stay.
Find out more - https://queenstownremarkables.holidayinn.com/
voco Queenstown
Queenstown, meet voco — and the stay you'll want to book before race week. voco Queenstown opens July 2026 — a welcoming base in the heart of Queenstown, with Mozzarella & Co. right inside. A Mediterranean-inspired restaurant with an open wood-fired pizza kitchen, handmade pasta, and outdoor firepit, made for marathon weekend. Pull up a chair, order from the wood-fire, and let the carb-loading begin.
Crowne Plaza Queenstown
Make race weekend effortless with a stay at Crowne Plaza Queenstown. Ideally located on the lakefront, you’ll be close to transport and race action. Recover in comfort, then celebrate your finish - present your medal and enjoy 25% off your food bill at threeSixty Restaurant & Bar or The Balcony.
Queenstown Accommodation | Crowne Plaza Queenstown Hotel
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