Queenstown Marathon 2026 Guide: Race Weekend, Shuttles And A Fernhill Stay
The NZ Sotheby's International Realty Queenstown Marathon runs on Saturday 14 November 2026, with a full marathon from Millbrook, a half from Coronet Fields, a 10km from Frankton and a kids run from Queenstown Gardens, all finishing at the Queenstown Recreation Ground in the middle of town. This guide covers the timetable, race pack pickup, start-line shuttles, the courses, where supporters should stand, November weather and how a group of runners and cheer squad can base themselves in Fernhill, on the quiet lake-road side of Queenstown, a short bus ride from the finish.
Key Takeaway
Every distance on 14 November 2026 finishes at the Queenstown Recreation Ground, and every start-line shuttle leaves from the town centre between 6:00am and 7:50am. Staying on the Fernhill side of town keeps a group of up to eight close to those pickups and the finish without sleeping in the middle of the crowds, and the Sunshine Bay and Bob's Cove tracks give tired legs an easy Sunday.
Before Race Weekend
The event has firm deadlines and the town gets busy, so a few checks in October save stress in November.
1Entries and transfers: Online entries and transfers close at 5:00pm on Friday 13 November 2026; the personalised bib deadline is 11 October.
2Shuttle: Book the start-line bus through the participant dashboard before race week rather than hoping for a seat on the day.
3Expo: Plan the Queenstown Event Centre trip for Thursday 12 or Friday 13 November; organisers warn of significant traffic congestion.
Build The Weekend Around Three Moves
Runners and supporters want different things from the same three days. Agree on the shape early.
1Friday: Arrive, collect race packs, eat early and lay out gear in the apartment.
2Saturday: Runners bus to the start; supporters walk to the Gardens and the Duke Street finish.
3Sunday: Sunshine Bay or Bob's Cove for a gentle lakeside walk, then a long lunch.
What The Queenstown Marathon Is And Why 14 November Matters
The Queenstown Marathon is the biggest running event in the Southern Lakes and one of the largest spring weekends on the Queenstown calendar. The 2026 edition is officially the NZ Sotheby's International Realty Queenstown Marathon presented by ASICS, and it takes place on Saturday 14 November 2026.
Four distances run on the day: a 42km marathon, a 21km half marathon, the United Airlines 10km and a 2.2km kids run. The organisers describe the marathon and half courses as 70 per cent hard-packed trail and 30 per cent road, with a mainly flat gradient and a few undulations. The route strings together Millbrook, Arrowtown, the Arrow River, Lake Hayes, the Shotover and Kawarau rivers, the Frankton Arm and Queenstown Gardens before finishing in the heart of town.
Everything in this guide was checked against the official event website in September 2026. Start times, shuttle pickups and road closures can be adjusted in race week, so confirm the final details on the event's race-day pages and app before you travel.
One finish line, four distances and a town that turns itself over to runners for a weekend: that is why November in Queenstown is worth planning early.
The Four Races At A Glance
Each distance has its own start location and time, and only the kids run starts in the town centre. The rest begin out towards Arrowtown, Millbrook and Frankton, which is why the shuttles matter so much.
Marathon (42km)
Starts 8:45am at Millbrook Resort. Minimum age 18 on race day. Runs through Arrowtown, along the Arrow River track, clockwise around Lake Hayes, past the Old Shotover Bridge and along the Twin Rivers trail beside the Kawarau before Queenstown Gardens and the finish.
Half Marathon (21.1km)
Starts 8:00am at Coronet Fields / Queenstown Polo, 679 Malaghans Road. Minimum age 16. Heads down Hunter Road, along Lower Shotover Road and Domain Road, under the Old Shotover Bridge, over the bridge, onto the Twin Rivers trail and the Frankton Arm Walkway into town.
10km
Starts 7:30am at Lake Avenue / Allan Crescent, Frankton. Minimum age 10, with 10 to 12 year olds accompanied by a paying adult throughout. Allan Crescent, Boyes Crescent and Bridge Street lead onto the Frankton Arm Walkway, then a loop of Queenstown Gardens, Marine Parade, Rees Street and up Duke Street.
Kids Run (2.2km)
Starts 1:00pm from Queenstown Gardens at Park Street, after the main fields have come through. Entry was listed at NZ$58 in September 2026.
All three longer courses finish at the Queenstown Recreation Ground, and the course officially closes at 4:30pm for road-management reasons. Marathon runners also have staged cut-offs along the way: the start of the Lake Hayes Trail at 11.65km must be reached by 11:01am, and Aid Station 11 at Jubilee Park (39km) by 3:36pm.
The finish is the easy part to plan aroundWith every distance ending at the Recreation Ground, supporters can pick one spot near Duke Street and see the 10km, half and marathon fields come home across the morning and early afternoon.
Race Pack Pickup And The Expo At Queenstown Event Centre
Race packs are collected in person at the Queenstown Event Centre in Frankton, alongside the sports expo, information desk and merchandise stand. There are two pickup days.
On Thursday 12 November 2026 a locals-only check-in runs from 12:00pm to 1:00pm, then general athlete check-in runs from 1:00pm to 7:00pm; the expo, info desk and merchandise operate from 12:00pm to 7:00pm. On Friday 13 November everything runs from 10:00am to 8:00pm.
The organisers expect significant traffic congestion and delays around registration and ask athletes to allow plenty of extra travel time. Parking at the Event Centre is limited, with overflow at Grant Road. A free shuttle runs between downtown Queenstown and the Event Centre with a maximum wait of around 30 minutes, public buses run from downtown, Arrowtown and the airport, and the venue is only about 1.1km on foot from Queenstown Airport.
For a group staying in Fernhill, the simplest plan is to do pickup on Friday morning as soon as doors open, combine it with a grocery run in Frankton, and be back at the apartment by lunchtime with the afternoon free. Anyone arriving by air on Friday can walk from the terminal to the Event Centre before heading to the accommodation.
Getting To The Start Line: Shuttles From The Town Centre
Because the marathon, half and 10km all start away from Queenstown, the event runs paid shuttle buses from the town centre to each start. Shuttle tickets can be bought with the race entry or later through the participant dashboard, up until race week.
Marathon shuttle
NZ$20. Pickups from the Boundary Street car park (or Wakatipu High School in Frankton) between 7:10am and 7:50am on Saturday 14 November.
Half marathon shuttle
NZ$20. Pickups from Robins Road (or Wakatipu High School) between 6:10am and 7:10am.
10km shuttle
NZ$14. Pickups from Memorial Street between 6:00am and 6:35am.
The Frankton pickups at Whakatipu High School serve the marathon and half marathon starts only. The town-centre pickups are the streets around the Queenstown Recreation Ground; confirm the exact bay on the interactive bus map in the app.
From Fernhill that means an early start. The shuttles leave before the first buses of the day may be running, so agree the night before who is driving whom into town, pre-book a taxi, or walk in along the lake road. Runners in different distances leave at different times, which is one more reason to have a quiet second living space where the 10km runner can eat breakfast at 5:00am without waking the marathoner.
Book the bus in October, not in race weekShuttle bookings close through the dashboard in race week. Buying them with the entry, or as soon as the group knows its distances, removes one job from the Friday list.
Where Supporters Should Stand
Supporters have an easier day than runners but should still plan it. The organisers publish an interactive spectator viewing map and a downloadable spectator map PDF, and a road closure advisory is released closer to the event. Check both in race week, because some roads on the Frankton and Arrowtown side of the course close for hours.
For a Fernhill-based group the best viewing is in town. The Frankton Arm Walkway carries the marathon, half and 10km fields into Queenstown, then all three loop Queenstown Gardens and run Marine Parade and Rees Street before the climb up Duke Street to the Recreation Ground. A supporter standing near the Gardens entrance can see a runner twice, once entering the loop and once leaving, then walk a few hundred metres to the finish.
Timing matters. The 10km starts at 7:30am in Frankton, so its first finishers are the earliest arrivals in town. Half marathoners start at 8:00am and the marathon field leaves Millbrook at 8:45am, so the three fields reach the Gardens in that order, with marathon runners still arriving through the afternoon until the course closes at 4:30pm. Use each runner's expected pace and the start time to plan when to be in position, and build in a coffee break between fields.
Stand where the fields converge: Queenstown Gardens sees every runner twice, and the finish is a short walk up the hill.
The Event Hub, Bag Drop And The Finish
The Event Hub at the Queenstown Recreation Ground and Memorial Centre is open from 8:00am to 5:00pm on race day. It is the finish venue, the meeting point and the bag collection point, so agree a precise spot in the group chat before anyone leaves the apartment.
Bag drop uses official event gear bags only, either the fabric drawstring or a waterproof version, and each must be labelled with the bag tag attached to the race bib. Bags are available for collection from 9:00am for the 10km, 10:00am for the half and 11:00am for the marathon, and everything must be collected by 4:30pm on Saturday 14 November.
Entry Fees, Deadlines And Refunds
Entries were still open in September 2026. Prices listed on the official entry page, in New Zealand dollars and inclusive of processing fees and GST, were NZ$277 for the marathon, NZ$204 for the half marathon, NZ$136 for the 10km and NZ$58 for the kids run. Prices can step up as the event approaches, so treat these as a guide and check the live entry page before paying.
Key dates: the personalised race bib deadline is 11 October 2026, and online entries close at 5:00pm on 13 November 2026. Person-to-person transfers (NZ$27 fee) and distance changes are also possible until 13 November, subject to space in the new distance and any price difference. The named tee cut-off of 20 September has already passed.
Withdrawal refunds are tiered: 45 per cent through 23 August 2026, 22 per cent through 4 October 2026, and nothing after 4 October. Deferred entries, credit entries and complimentary entries are not eligible for refunds. If anyone in the group is injured or unsure, the transfer route is usually the better option after early October.
Fernhill: The Quiet Side Of Town For Race Weekend
Fernhill sits on the Glenorchy road on the western edge of Queenstown, on the hillside above Lake Wakatipu with The Remarkables across the water. It is residential rather than resort, which is exactly what a running group wants the night before an early start: no bar noise, a supermarket-and-cook dinner, and lights out at 9:00pm without feeling like the only sober people in town.
Getting into the centre is straightforward. Orbus Route 1, the Sunshine Bay to Remarkables Shops service, runs through the Fernhill side of town to the centre and on to Frankton, which is also the direction of the Event Centre and the airport. As of the Otago Regional Council's fares page updated 16 September 2026, a Queenstown bus trip costs NZ$2.50 for adults and NZ$1.50 for children and youth with a Bee Card, or NZ$4 cash for any age; under-fives ride free. Bank and credit cards cannot be used to pay on the bus, so buy a Bee Card early or carry cash. The council was due to consider fare prices at a meeting on 28 September 2026, so check the Orbus site for any change before travelling.
The other advantage of Fernhill is what starts at its doorstep. The Sunshine Bay Track begins just past the Fernhill roundabout on the Glenorchy road, and the DOC tracks at Bob's Cove are 14km further along the same road. Neither asks much of tired legs, which is the point.
Bee Card first, everything else secondA group arriving Friday and using the bus for the expo, Saturday spectating and Sunday town time will make the Bee Card pay for itself in a day. Cash fares are NZ$4 per trip per person regardless of age.
Easy Legs: Sunshine Bay And Bob's Cove For The Day After
Sunday is for recovery, and the two closest walks to Fernhill are both flat, short and beside the lake.
The Sunshine Bay Track is about 4km return with roughly 50 metres of elevation gain, rated easy. It follows the edge of Lake Wakatipu from the trailhead just past the Fernhill roundabout, passing Two Mile Creek Falls after about ten minutes and the Gilly's Point viewpoint after about twenty, before dropping to the small beach at Sunshine Bay. Allow an hour without stops, or up to three with a picnic. The track can also be reached from the One Mile car park on the town side, or on foot from the centre through St Omer Park, though the One Mile car park is often full. Dogs are permitted on leash only because DOC pest traps are set along the track.
Bob's Cove Track and Nature Walk is 14km from Queenstown on the Glenorchy to Queenstown road, a little over ten minutes' drive from Fernhill. The Department of Conservation grades it easy: about 20 minutes to the cove itself and 30 minutes for the optional Picnic Point loop, through native bush to a sheltered cove on the lake. Look for the historic lime kiln from the 1800s and the gum trees planted to fuel it. DOC notes that car parks along this road are busy in the warmer months, roadside parking is not recommended because of fast traffic, the old bridle track is permanently closed, and mountain bikes are allowed on the main track but not on the Picnic Point loop.
Sunshine Bay is the walk you do straight from the door; Bob's Cove is the one worth the ten-minute drive.
November Weather And What It Means For Race Day
Mid-November is late spring in Queenstown and the weather is changeable. Long-term averages for November show daytime highs around 16°C and overnight lows around 4°C, about 87mm of rain across roughly 11 days with some rainfall, and about seven hours of sunshine a day. In practice that means a cold start at the shuttle pickup, a warm finish in the afternoon, and a real chance of a shower somewhere in between.
Runners should dress for the finish temperature and use a throwaway or bag-drop layer for the start. Supporters standing in the Gardens for two or three hours should assume the shade and the lake breeze feel colder than the forecast number suggests.
Why Sarah's Scenic Stay Suits A Marathon Group
Sarah's Scenic Stay is a four-bedroom, three-bathroom apartment in Fernhill for up to eight guests, with pets considered, and it is set up for exactly the kind of mixed group a race weekend produces: two or three runners with different start times, partners and kids who are there to cheer, and perhaps grandparents who will mind the children during the early shuttle run.
The bedrooms are the practical strength. The main upstairs bedroom has a super king bed and balcony access; another upstairs bedroom can be set as king singles with balcony doors; a further bedroom has a queen with soft layered bedding; and the downstairs bedroom can be set as a super king or king singles with a wall-mounted TV. That flexibility lets the group put early-start runners in rooms away from late sleepers, and it works just as well for two families as for a club group sharing costs.
There are two living spaces. The open-plan lounge and dining area downstairs opens to a balcony with a Weber BBQ, outdoor seating and views of Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables; the upstairs media lounge has a large TV, a deep sofa and beanbags under a skylight. A runner can lay out kit and eat a 5:00am breakfast in one space while the rest of the household sleeps on.
The full kitchen has a cooktop, oven, fridge, kettle, toaster and an espresso machine, so pre-race pasta and post-race coffee happen without leaving Fernhill. The upstairs bathroom has a freestanding bath under skylights, which is the feature every marathoner will ask about first, and the downstairs bathroom has a separate toilet, shower and heated towel rail. The laundry has a washer and dryer for the sweaty gear on Saturday afternoon. Guest reviews on the listing mention a corner store below the apartment, handy for milk and forgotten essentials. Check the live listing for Sarah's Scenic Stay for the current bed configuration, pet conditions and house rules before booking.
About this stay
Where Sarah's Scenic Stay fits a marathon weekend
Race weekend needs early breakfasts, quiet bedrooms and a bath at the end of the day. Sarah's Scenic Stay gives a group of up to eight four bedrooms across two levels, an upstairs media lounge for the 5:00am starters, a full kitchen with an espresso machine for pre-race meals, a freestanding bath under skylights and a laundry with washer and dryer for the sweaty kit.
Fernhill sits on the quiet Glenorchy-road side of Queenstown, a short bus ride from the town-centre shuttle pickups and the Recreation Ground finish. The Sunshine Bay Track starts just past the Fernhill roundabout for Sunday's recovery walk, and the balcony with its Weber BBQ and views of Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables is where the weekend ends.
How A Running Group Would Use The Apartment Across The Weekend
Friday afternoon is set-up time. Race packs go on the dining table, bibs are pinned, shuttle tickets are screenshotted and the espresso machine is tested. One person takes the bus or car into Frankton for groceries while the expo is done, and dinner is cooked at home so that runners control what they eat.
Saturday runs in shifts. The 10km runner leaves first for the 6:00am Memorial Street pickup; the half marathoner follows for Robins Road at 6:10am to 7:10am; the marathoner has until the 7:10am to 7:50am Boundary Street window. Supporters and children can sleep until 7:30am, take the bus into town and be in the Gardens for the first 10km finishers. Late morning is the half; early afternoon is the marathon and the kids run at 1:00pm from Park Street.
A Three-Day Queenstown Marathon Weekend Itinerary
Friday 13 November: Arrive, Collect, Settle
Get to the Queenstown Event Centre in Frankton early in the 10:00am to 8:00pm window to collect race packs and walk the expo. Do the supermarket run in Frankton on the way back, then check in at Fernhill. Take an easy 20-minute stroll on the start of the Sunshine Bay Track to shake out travel legs, eat early and lay out gear.
Saturday 14 November: Race Day
Runners head to their shuttle pickups in town from 6:00am. Supporters follow by bus and set up near Queenstown Gardens by 8:00am. Meet at the agreed spot at the Event Hub after each finish; bags can be collected from 9:00am, 10:00am and 11:00am depending on the distance, and must be collected by 4:30pm. Kids run at 1:00pm from Park Street. Back to Fernhill for the bath, the BBQ and an early night.
Sunday 15 November: Recover By The Lake
Late breakfast on the balcony. Choose between the full Sunshine Bay Track from the Fernhill roundabout, or the drive to Bob's Cove and the Picnic Point loop. Brunch in town, a wander through the Gardens without the crowds, and a last look at The Remarkables from the balcony before checkout or a final night.
What To Pack For A Spring Race Weekend In Queenstown
Runners: race kit for a cool start and a mild finish, a throwaway or bag-drop layer, a warm dry top and pants for after the finish, blister kit, race-day nutrition tested in training, and a printed or saved copy of the shuttle booking and bib details. Bring your own recovery snacks; the apartment kitchen has the basics but not your favourite electrolyte mix.
Supporters: a warm jacket and beanie for the morning in the Gardens, sunscreen and a hat for the afternoon, a portable charger, a small folding seat if standing for hours is hard, and a spare jacket for the runner at the finish.
Everyone: walking shoes for Sunshine Bay and Bob's Cove, a light rain layer, a reusable water bottle, and a Bee Card or NZ$4 cash per person per bus trip. Bank cards are not accepted on Orbus buses.
Before Leaving Home: Your Queenstown Marathon Check
1Entry: Confirm every runner's entry, distance and any transfer on the participant dashboard before 5:00pm on 13 November.
2Shuttle: Book start-line buses (NZ$20 marathon and half, NZ$14 10km) before race week and note the pickup street and window.
3Expo: Choose Thursday 12 or Friday 13 November for race pack pickup at the Queenstown Event Centre and allow extra travel time.
4Roads and spectators: Read the road closure advisory and spectator map when they are published in race week.
5Buses and fares: Check the Orbus Route 1 timetable and any fare change after the council's 28 September 2026 decision.
6Group setup: Check the live listing for bedding, bathrooms, stairs, parking and pet conditions before a group booking.
Book The Fernhill Base Before The Town Fills
Marathon weekend is one of the busiest spring weekends in Queenstown, and a four-bedroom apartment for eight on the quiet side of town does not stay available for long. Once the group's distances are confirmed, the accommodation is the next thing to lock in.
FAQs About The Queenstown Marathon 2026 And A Fernhill Stay
When is the Queenstown Marathon 2026?
Saturday 14 November 2026. The 10km starts at 7:30am in Frankton, the half marathon at 8:00am at Coronet Fields on Malaghans Road, the marathon at 8:45am at Millbrook Resort and the kids run at 1:00pm from Queenstown Gardens. All finish at the Queenstown Recreation Ground and the course closes at 4:30pm.
How much does it cost to enter the Queenstown Marathon 2026?
In September 2026 the official entry page listed NZ$277 for the marathon, NZ$204 for the half, NZ$136 for the 10km and NZ$58 for the kids run, including processing fees and GST. Online entries close at 5:00pm on 13 November 2026. Check the live entry page for current pricing.
Where do I collect my race pack?
At the Queenstown Event Centre in Frankton: Thursday 12 November from 1:00pm to 7:00pm for general athletes (locals 12:00pm to 1:00pm) and Friday 13 November from 10:00am to 8:00pm. A free shuttle runs from downtown, and the centre is about 1.1km on foot from Queenstown Airport.
How do runners get to the start lines?
Paid event shuttles leave from the town centre: marathon buses from Boundary Street car park (7:10am to 7:50am, NZ$20), half marathon buses from Robins Road (6:10am to 7:10am, NZ$20) and 10km buses from Memorial Street (6:00am to 6:35am, NZ$14). Supplementary Frankton pickups at Whakatipu High School serve the marathon and half only. Book through the participant dashboard before race week.
Where is the best place to watch the Queenstown Marathon?
Queenstown Gardens, where every distance loops and can be seen twice, then Marine Parade, Rees Street and the Duke Street climb to the Recreation Ground finish. The organisers publish an interactive spectator map and a road closure advisory in race week.
Is the Queenstown Marathon course hilly?
The organisers describe the marathon and half as mainly flat with a few undulations, on about 70 per cent hard-packed trail and 30 per cent road. The 10km is described as fast and flat along the Frankton Arm Walkway. The final rise up Duke Street to the finish is short.
How far is Fernhill from the Queenstown Marathon finish?
Fernhill is on the western edge of Queenstown on the Glenorchy road, a few minutes' drive or a short trip on the Orbus Route 1 bus from the town centre where the shuttles leave and the races finish. The Sunshine Bay Track starts just past the Fernhill roundabout.
How much is the bus in Queenstown?
As of 16 September 2026, Orbus fares were NZ$2.50 for adults and NZ$1.50 for children and youth with a Bee Card, or NZ$4 cash for any age, with under-fives free. Bank cards are not accepted on board. The regional council was due to review fares on 28 September 2026, so check the Orbus website.
What is the weather like in Queenstown in November?
Long-term averages show highs around 16°C, lows around 4°C, about 87mm of rain over roughly 11 days and about seven hours of sunshine a day. Expect a cold start, a mild finish and pack a rain layer.
Are there easy walks near Fernhill for the day after the race?
Yes. The Sunshine Bay Track (about 4km return, easy, dogs on leash) starts just past the Fernhill roundabout, and DOC's Bob's Cove Track and Nature Walk (20 minutes to the cove, 30 minutes for the Picnic Point loop) is 14km from Queenstown along the same road.
How many people can stay at Sarah's Scenic Stay?
The listing shows four bedrooms, three bathrooms and up to eight guests, with pets considered. Bedrooms include a super king, a queen, king singles and a downstairs room that can be set as a super king or king singles. Confirm the current configuration and pet conditions on the live listing.
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