Race Day Info
Transportation Services and Event Parking
Start Line Shuttle Services
An improved Event Shuttle transportation service will be in operation in 2026 to get you direct to your start line for either the New Zealand Sotheby's International Realty Marathon, Half Marathon or United Airlines 10km race.
You can purchase shuttle services at any time either with your race entry or at a later time up until race week via your participant dashboard login here. We strongly encourage early service bookings to ensure you do not miss out, as spaces will be limited.
Shuttles will primarily operate from the Event Hub / Queenstown Recreation Ground on race morning. You will be assigned a shuttle time that corresponds to your start group race start time. This will be communicated directly to athletes in the weeks leading up to the event.
Supplementary Services
Supplementary services will run from Frankton (Whakatipu High School) to the Half Marathon and Full Marathon start lines only (excluding the nearby 10KM start). This selection can be made in the near future, and would suit those residing/staying in the Frankton and nearby area. Walk up or drop off is recommended as the best way to access these services.
Once you have purchased your transport service, on race day morning all you need to do is turn up to your assigned and confirmed shuttle bus time and location, show the transport crew the shuttle bus icon on your Race Bib to get onto the bus! Make sure you arrive at least 15mins ahead of your notified pickup time to be checked onto the bus. If you have purchased transport pre-event and it is not visible on your bib, you will need to collect a shuttle bus sticker from the Transportation Desk at Athlete Check-In. All shuttle bus ticket purchases are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Start Line Shuttle Timetable
| Start Line | Timetable* | Pick-up Location | Price |
| NZ Sotheby's International Realty Marathon | 7:10am - 7:50am |
Boundary St Carpark or Wakatipu High School |
$20 |
| Half Marathon | 6:10am - 7:10am |
Robins Road or Wakatipu High School |
$20 |
| United Airlines 10km | 6:00am - 6:35am | Memorial Street | $14 |
*You will be assigned a specific shuttle bus pickup time based on your start group selection and notified closer to race day
Start Line Drop-Off and Parking Instructions
Please note that space is very limited at each of our start venues for parking and congestion on roads is expected to cause delays and impacts to travel. It is our recommendation that athletes utilise the event shuttle bus service, which will have a dedicated bus-only route to start lines.
If you do require drop off or parking facilities at each of our start lines, please consult our start line travel maps which will demonstrate the ‘way to travel’ to each of our start venue zones. Parked vehicles must be collected by 6pm on race day.
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Start Line – Marathon – Driving Route Map
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Start Line – Half Marathon – Driving Route Map
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Start Line – 10KM – Driving Route Map
Our Kids Run will start from the Queenstown Gardens at 1pm – there is no dedicated transport services or parking/drop off zones for this event, it is a requirement that guardians accompany their athletes when walking to this start area.
Start Line Services
At each of the start lines you will find the following services; toilets, coffee, information tent, warm-up areas, bag drop services.
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Start Line Map – Marathon
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Start Line Map – Half Marathon
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Start Line Map – 10KM
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Start Line Map – Kids
Bag Drop
There will be a Bag Drop service available at the finish venue, prior to boarding your bus, and also at the start area of each race. Only the official event Gear Bags (Fabric drawstring or waterproof bag) can be used at Bag Drop (i.e. not a personal 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, 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, see bag collection times below.
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10km from 9:00am
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Half Marathon from 10:00am
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Marathon from 11:00am
All bags must be collected by 4:30pm Saturday 14 November before you leave the Event Hub. Any remaining gear will be held at the Queenstown Memorial Centre until 11:00am Sunday 15 November, and if not collected by this time will be donated to Charity.
Refer to the Start Line Maps above and the Finish Venue Map for specific location of Bag drop and collection.
Start Groups
To ensure a smooth start for all runners, start groups will be in place at the Marathon, Half Marathon, and 10km start lines. Participants will need to gather in the appropriate coloured zone, demarcated by flags before the start arches at each of our start lines. Your selected start group is identifiable by a colour icon on the bottom right-hand corner of your Race Bib. You will need to gather at the appropriate start group zone at the advised start group time available in the event schedule.
Your race time is calculated only from when you pass over the timing mat on the start line. The zoned starts help everyone to run at their own pace across the course, giving you a true race time and allowing you to choose how you race!
Course Details & Timing
Timing
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. This method is the most accurate timing record of your race time. Race Rules
Timing mats will be located at each race start line and at the finish line. A timing mat will also be located at the halfway point of the Marathon.
Timing results will be available in the event app XX time after the event. Results will be provided overall and by age group category; age group placings will be based on participants mat time. Overall distance placings will be based on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Male and Female runners across the finish line.
Event Cut-off Times
Due to course management and road closure restrictions, the course will officially be closed at 4:30pm 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 4:30pm. Any competitors reaching this point after the cut-off time will not be permitted to continue.
Marathon Course Cut-off times – Athletes must reach
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The start of the Lake Hayes Trail (distance 11.06km) by 11:10am
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Corner Speargrass Flat Rd / Slope Hill Rd (distance 18.77km) by 12:30pm
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Aid Station 7 / Spence Rd (distance 26.35km) by1:45pm
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Aid Station 9 / Frankton (distance 32km) by 2:40pm
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Aid Station 10 / Sugar Lane (distance 35km) by 3:15pm
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Aid Station 11 / Jubilee Park (distance 39.24km) by 4:00pm
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 by keeping left on the track
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 on course and PURE Electrolyte Superfruits at the finish line. 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.
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 not encouraged as it may be a hindrance to your alertness on course. If you have any specific queries relating to your ability to participate, please get in touch with the event team via the contact us page.
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.
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 feasiblelocal residents and businesses will be allowed controlled access on closed roads. Please be aware of your surroundings at all times.
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Keep to the left of the course to allow people to pass on the right
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Be courteous to your fellow participants at all times
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Please obey instructions from race officials, volunteers and traffic management at all times
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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.
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.
Event Day Road Closures
There will be a number of road closures across Queenstown, Frankton and Arrowtown on event day.
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.
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.
