Queenstown Marathon 2026

What it is

The Queenstown Marathon is an annual running festival in the Queenstown Lakes district, run by IRONMAN New Zealand and billed by its organisers as the world’s most beautiful marathon. The 2026 edition is on Saturday 14 November, and organisers say more than 13,000 runners have registered.

The course

There are four distances: the full 42 km marathon, the 21 km half, a 10 km and a 2.2 km kids’ run. The course is mainly flat, with about 70% on hard-packed trail and 30% on road. It runs beneath the Crown Range and the Remarkables, taking in Millbrook Resort, Arrowtown, Lake Hayes, the Shotover River, Lake Wakatipu and the Queenstown Gardens before finishing in the heart of Queenstown. The kids’ run starts from the Queenstown Gardens.

Who it suits

Runners who want a destination race with a scenic, forgiving course, and their supporters, who get a weekend in New Zealand’s busiest holiday town. If you are not running, the finish area in town is the easiest place to watch.

Entry and race week

Entries and fees are on the official site. Athlete check-in and the expo are at the Queenstown Events Centre in Frankton. Official merchandise is not posted: collect it from the merchandise store on Thursday 12 November (3 pm to 7 pm), Friday 13 November (10 am to 8 pm) or race morning (7 am to 1 pm).

Getting there and around

Queenstown Airport has direct domestic flights from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, and Air New Zealand flies in from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. The Orbus number 1 bus leaves the airport every 15 minutes from 6.05 am to 12.30 am, and every trip costs $2.50 with a Bee Card. All lines connect at the Frankton hub, about ten minutes’ walk from the airport and the Events Centre. An hourly ferry also links Queenstown Bay, Kelvin Heights, Frankton Marina and the Hilton.

On race morning, event shuttles run mainly from the Event Hub at the Queenstown Recreation Ground, with some extra services from Frankton to the marathon and half marathon starts. Book a shuttle with your entry or through your participant dashboard. Parking at the starts is limited and cars must be collected by 6 pm. Expect road closures around the district on and around race day.

Where to stay

Book early: the marathon fills the town. Central Queenstown puts you near the finish and the shuttle hub, while Frankton is handy for check-in. Our where to stay in Queenstown guide compares the areas.

What to bring

Mid-November in Queenstown can bring cool mornings and warm afternoons, so supporters should bring layers, sunscreen and a hat. Runners should follow the official race-day kit and timing information sent before the event.

Make a trip of it

Stay on for the gondola, lake cruises and the Queenstown Trail with our things to do in Queenstown guide, or head over the Crown Range with our things to do in Wānaka guide.