Race Rules

Event Exclusions

Due to Health and Safety, wheeled conveyances (including wheelchairs, baby buggies, scooters, bikes, inline skates) cannot be used for all events. Accompanying animals are not allowed on the course. Headphones and personal music devices are strongly discouraged.

 

Event Cut-off Times

Due to course management and road closure restrictions, the course will officially be closed at 4:00pm and cut-off points along the way will be in place. Athletes must reach the following points on course to ensure you make the course closure at 4:00pm. Any competitors reaching this point after the cut off time will not be permitted to continue.

Marathon Course Cut-off times – Athletes must reach

  • the start of the Lake Hayes Trail (distance 11.65km) by 10.30am

  • corner Speargrass Flat Rd/Slope Hill Rd (distance - 19.5km) by 11.58am

  • Aid Station 7 / Spence Rd (distance – 26.5km) by 1.12pm

  • Aid Station 9 / Frankton (distance 32km) by 2:13pm

  • Aid Station 10 / Sugar Lane (distance 35km) by 2:53pm

  • Aid Station 11 / Jubilee Park (distance 39km) by 3:36pm

We welcome walkers in the Full Marathon, Half Marathon and 10KM distances. We ask all walkers to start behind the runners in the designated section at the start line and give way to runners at all times.

 

Health & Safety

In the interest of providing a safe and enjoyable event experience for all entrants please take in to account the following.

70% of the course is on smooth hard packed trails, away from roads. The other 30% is on roads that are closed or partially closed to general traffic. These roads will be managed by Traffic Management specialists and where feasible local residents and businesses will be allowed controlled access on closed roads. Please be aware of your surroundings at all times.

  • Keep to the left of the course to allow people to pass on the right
  • Be courteous to your fellow participants at all times
  • Please obey instructions from race officials, volunteers and traffic management at all times
  • If you have to withdraw from the race please make your way to the next Aid Station and inform the race officials. If you are unable to continue due to a medical emergency, please ask your fellow competitors to inform the next visible race official or volunteer who will be able to inform medical services of your location.

Start Groups

To ensure a smooth start for all runners, start groups will be in place at the Marathon, Half Marathon, and 10km Run start lines. Runners will need to gather in the appropriate coloured zone depending on their expected race finish time and race bib colour. 

Your race time is calculated from when you pass over the timing mat on the start line so no-one will be disadvantaged. Introducing wave starts will help everyone to run at their own pace across the course, giving you a true race time. And you can soak up the scenery as much as you choose!

start line 21

 

Timing

Timing mats will be located at each race start line and at the finish line. A timing mat will also be located at the half-way point of the Marathon. 

Disposable timing chips are attached to the back of your race number and will record your time. Timing chips do not need to be returned.

Timing results will be provided by age group category, and age group placings will be based on participant's mat time. Overall distance placings will be based on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Male and Female runner across the finish line.

 

Competition Rules

The NZ Sotheby's International Realty Queenstown Marathon presented by ASICS is run under Drug Free Sport NZ Authority Regulations and the competitive and administrative rules of Athletics New Zealand. Athletes should read and understand these rules and regulations prior to race day. Failure to adhere to these rules and regulations may result in disqualification from the event.

Bag Drop

There will be a Bag Drop service available at the start area of each race. Only event Gear Bags can be used at Bag Drop (i.e. not a sports bag) and must be labelled with the bag tag attached to your race bib. Please ensure your Gear Bag is labelled before you drop it off at the designated bag drop area. Any gear left at the start line, or discarded and left at any point on the course will be collected and donated to Charity. You must NOT drop any gear at aid stations or anywhere on the course for later retrieval.

Your event Gear Bags will be transported to the Event Hub at Queenstown Memorial Centre and will be available for you to collect when you complete your race. Please collect your bag by 4:30pm Saturday 15 November before you leave the Event Hub. Any remaining gear will be held at the Queenstown Memorial Centre until 11:00am Sunday 16 November, and if not collected by this time will be donated to Charity.

Aid Stations

Athletes are well supported with Aid Stations located on course for all distances. Aid Stations will provide: water, PURE Electrolyte Hydration, toilet facilities and first aid.

The PURE Electrolyte Hydration flavour offered on course will be lemon and superfruits. You can find out more information on PURE here.

Red Bull will have an aid station at the 1km mark for 10km runners, 11km mark for half marathon runners and 31km mark for marathon runners.

Aid Stations 8, 9, 10 & 11 will also have flat Cola.

There will be 11 Aid Stations on the marathon course, 5 on the half-marathon course and 2 on the 10km course. Please refer to Course Maps for Aid Station locations.

Event Shuttle Service

Make your race morning transportation stress-free and use our easy shuttle service to get you from Queenstown direct to the start line of the New Zealand Sotheby's International Realty Marathon, Half Marathon or 10km race. (Note - there are no pick ups en route to the start line, this is a direct shuttle).

If you didn't book this service when you entered, you can log in to your My Registration to make additional purchases under your profile prior to November 13th. Tickets are limited so book your spot on the shuttle before they are gone. Pending availability, transport tickets will be available to purchase at Athlete Check-In, but with tickets limited, you may not want to wait.

Check your race bib to find your shuttle sticker; simply show that sticker to the Transport Crew to get on the bus. If you have purchased transport and it is not visible on your bib, you will need to collect your sticker from the Transportation Desk at Athlete Check-In.

All shuttle bus ticket purchases are non-refundable and non-transferable.

 

 Start line  Time  Pick up Price
NZ Sotheby's International Realty Marathon 6:00am - 7:25am Robins Rd $18
La Roche Posay Half Marathon  5:45am - 7:00am Boundary St car park $18
10km  5:45am - 6:30am Memorial Street $12

Spectator Info

Spectator Information 

To ensure your support crew, family and friends can see you out there on the event course and cheer you on, we have identified the best spectator viewing locations and entertainment spots. 

Click the link below to view the Spectator Map so you can familiarise yourself with the best way to get around the course as a spectator and the access points for spectators.

spectator MAP

Event Day Road Closures

There will be a number of road closures across Queenstown, Frankton and Arrowtown on event day. 

road closure map

  *Changed traffic conditions subject to change

Mobile App

The Queenstown Marathon mobile app is a fantastic tool for both athletes and supporters. It includes key information on all that is happening at the New Zealand Sotheby's International Realty Queenstown Marathon presented by ASICS, including maps and an athlete tracker so you can follow your friends. Download via your App store below.

Apple Store        Google play

 

 

spectators finish line 21

 

Finish Line Car Parking

The closest public car parking to the Queenstown Memorial Centre is on Boundary Street (off Gorge Road) approximately 100m away.  Parking is also close at Warren Park (accessed from Gorge Road) and a $10 donation applies. There is also public parking at the Man Street car park approximately 300m away which can be accessed from Isle St, Hay St and right into Man St.

Spectator Viewing Locations

Spectator Viewing Locations

To ensure your support crew, family and friends can see you out there on the event course and cheer you on. We have released a Spectator Location map so you can familiarise yourself with each location.

Sat, 15 Nov 2025