My marathons

Queenstown Marathon

08:458:45 AM Millbrook Resort, Queenstown
A frame from the Queenstown Marathon course film Watch the course 0:58

Imagery: Google Earth and its imagery providers

The course

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Downhill to km 12, flat from km 12 to km 25, then flat home from km 28.

StartFinish

© OpenStreetMap contributors

  1. Photo: Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand, CC0
  2. Photo: Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand, CC0
  3. Photo: Bernard Spragg. NZ, CC0
  4. Photo: Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand, CC0
  5. Photo: Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand, CC0
  6. Photo: jeffowenphotos, CC BY 2.0
  7. Photo: Bernard Spragg, CC0
  8. Photo: Matthias Klappenbach, CC BY 2.0

km 2.3mile 1.4

Arrowtown's old streets

Photo: Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand, CC0

Height drawn many times taller than life. Heights: GEDTM30.

Course elevation profile, 8× vertical exaggeration Elevation along the course from km 0 to km 42. The trace runs between 312 and 429 metres, a range of 117 metres, drawn at 8 times vertical exaggeration so the shape is legible. Smoothed over 1 km before this profile was derived. An unsmoothed urban surface carries the buildings and would assert a climb that is not there. The dashed stretches are bridge decks: Lake Hayes Trail, km 14.1 to 14.5; Historic Shotover Bridge, km 26.3 to 26.4. A bare-earth model reads the ground or the water beneath a bridge, not the deck the runner is on, so those runs are interpolated between the ground either side rather than measured, and they under-report the real climb across a span. Marked points: Cut-off 11:10 at km 11.1; Cut-off 12:30 at km 18.8; Cut-off 13:45 at km 26.4; Cut-off 14:40 at km 32; Cut-off 15:15 at km 35; Cut-off 16:00 at km 39.2.
0 10 20 30 40 km
0 10 20 26.2 mi

Dashed: bridge upright dashes: cut-offs

  • downhill to 12
  • flat 12 to 25
  • flat home

Your 5 gels, at the orange marksFor a 4:00 finish, one every 40 minutes

  1. km 7mile 4.4
  2. km 14.1mile 8.7
  3. km 21.1mile 13.1
  4. km 28.1mile 17.5
  5. km 35.2mile 21.8

Get them on AmazonAmazon partner link

The course in short 3 lines
  • A course that starts high and ends 90 m lowerStart at Millbrook, drop about 90 m in 12 km, finish 90 m below where you began.
  • The one proper climb, from km 15 to km 24A 47 m climb across nine kilometres, then a 65 m drop that takes you down to the lake.
  • Twelve flat kilometres to the finishFrom km 30 the course stays within 15 m of the lakeside level to the finish.
Course notes 3 short reads on the course
km 0 to 12GradientA course that starts high and ends 90 m lowerStart at Millbrook, drop about 90 m in 12 km, finish 90 m below where you began.

The marathon starts at Millbrook Resort at 410.7 m. The highest point of the course comes in the second kilometre, 428.9 m at km 1.4, and from there the road runs downhill: 382 m at km 6, 340 m at km 11.8. The finish at the Queenstown Recreation Ground is at 320.3 m, so the course ends 90 m lower than it begins.

The marathon climbs 127.7 m in total, and the lowest point of the course, 312.0 m, is at km 30.3. Between the highest and lowest points there are 116.9 m. The organiser calls the course “mainly flat” and says 70% of it is hard packed trail; the descent here is real but spread over 12 km.

Measured

km 15 to 29GradientThe one proper climb, from km 15 to km 24A 47 m climb across nine kilometres, then a 65 m drop that takes you down to the lake.

Most of the marathon’s climbing sits in one stretch. After the road reaches 331.2 m at km 15.2, it goes uphill for about nine kilometres to 378.0 m at km 24.2, which is a gain of 46.8 m, or about 5 m per kilometre. That is steady rather than steep.

The reward comes straight after. Between km 24.2 and km 29.3 the road loses 65 m, the biggest drop since the opening kilometres, and the Shotover River is crossed on the way down. The organiser’s schedule has a cut-off at Aid Station 7 on Spence Road (26.35 km) by 13:45, five hours after the gun.

Measured

km 30 to 42.2GradientTwelve flat kilometres to the finishFrom km 30 the course stays within 15 m of the lakeside level to the finish.

Once the descent has finished, the road sits on the Lake Wakatipu plain. From km 30.3 to the finish the elevation is between 312.0 m and 327.0 m, with the high of that stretch at km 32.5, and the last kilometres rise and fall by only a few metres. The course finishes at 320.3 m.

The organiser says the course takes in Queenstown Gardens and finishes in the heart of Queenstown, and describes the whole race as set between the Crown and Remarkables ranges.

Measured

Race fuel

Energy gel
An energy gel sachet
Illustration · drag to turn

5 gels for Queenstown, plus 1 spare

Finish

One every 40 minutes, the orange marks on the profile, by the clock:

  1. km 7mile 4.4
  2. km 14.1mile 8.7
  3. km 21.1mile 13.1
  4. km 28.1mile 17.5
  5. km 35.2mile 21.8

Our pick: SiS BETA Fuel gel, box of 6, strawberry and lime. 40 g of carbohydrate a gel, about twice a usual gel, from two kinds of sugar your body takes up side by side.

Easy to forget on race morning: pack them with your bib the night before.

Order now to test one on your last long run.

Get it on Amazon

We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.

In Canada the button opens GU Energy Gel, Salted Caramel, 24-pack, the best seller there.

Outside the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the UK and Ireland, Spain and Portugal, Italy, the rest of the EU and Canada the button opens GU Energy Gel, Chocolate Outrage, 24-pack on Amazon.com, the best seller there.

Anti-chafe
Compeed Anti-blister stick
Photo: Compeed

Compeed

Compeed anti-blister stick, 8 ml

Best selling on Amazon amazon.nl, read 2 Nov

An invisible layer before the start keeps seams, straps and shoes from rubbing skin raw.

Put it on before you leave for the start: heels and toes, inner thighs, under a bra or heart-rate strap.

Try it on a long run first, like everything you use on race day.

Get it on Amazon

We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.

Number belt
A race number belt
Illustration · drag to turn

Compressport Race Belt

Holds your bib without safety pins through your top, with loops for up to 8 gels.

Clip the bib on the night before, so it goes on with your shorts in the morning.

Keep the number on the front, where officials and photographers can see it.

Get it on Amazon

We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.

Electrolytes
A tube of electrolyte tablets
Illustration · drag to turn

SiS Hydro electrolyte tablets, tube of 20

One tablet in a bottle puts back some of the salt you sweat out.

One tablet in 500 ml of water in the hour before the start.

Only if you have used them in training: nothing new on race day.

Get it on Amazon

We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.

Blister plasters
Compeed Blister plasters, medium, 6
Photo: Compeed

Compeed

Compeed blister plasters, medium, 6

Best selling on Amazon amazon.nl, read 2 Nov

One in a pocket cushions a blister if one starts.

Put it on clean, dry skin and leave it until it comes off by itself.

Give a couple to whoever comes to cheer, so they are there at the km you need them.

Get it on Amazon

We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.
distance
42.2 km26.2 mi
climb
139.1 m456 ft

A mainly flat run past Millbrook Resort, Arrowtown, Lake Hayes, the Shotover River and Lake Wakatipu, about 70% hard-packed trail and 30% road, finishing at Queenstown Recreation Ground under the Remarkables.

The Queenstown Marathon is a point-to-point course of 42.2 km with 139.1 m of climbing. Its lowest point is 312 m and its highest 429 m above sea level. Next race: Saturday 14 November 2026, starting at 08:45.

Race week

Expo and bib pickup at Queenstown Events Centre

Timetable

Thursday 12 November Bib pickup

  1. 12:0012:00 PM–13:001:00 PM

    Locals athlete check-in Queenstown Events Centre

  2. 12:0012:00 PM–19:007:00 PM

    Sports expo Queenstown Events Centre

  3. 13:001:00 PM–19:007:00 PM

    General athlete check-in Queenstown Events Centre

Friday 13 November Last bib day

  1. 10:0010:00 AM–20:008:00 PM

    Expo and bib pickup Queenstown Events Centre

  2. 15:003:00 PM–16:004:00 PM

    ASICS shakeout run Queenstown Gardens, Park Street

Saturday 14 November Race day

  1. 07:107:10 AM–07:507:50 AM

    Marathon shuttle buses Boundary St car park, Queenstown Recreation Ground, or Wakatipu High School. First and last pick-up. Runners are assigned a pick-up time that matches their start group.

  2. 08:458:45 AM

    Marathon start Millbrook Resort. Start groups gather in coloured zones before the start arches. Time is taken from the timing mat.

  3. 11:0011:00 AM

    Marathon bag collection opens Event Hub, Queenstown Memorial Centre. Collection closes at 16:30.

  4. 16:304:30 PM

    Course closes Queenstown Recreation Ground. The course closes at 16:30 for all athletes because of road closure limits.
Cut-offs (6)

  1. 11:1011:10 AM

    Cut-off: start of the Lake Hayes Trail Reach this point by 11:10 to stay on the course. 13:06/km from the 08:45 start to km 11.0621:05/mi from the 8:45 AM start to mile 6.9

  2. 12:3012:30 PM

    Cut-off: Speargrass Flat Rd and Slope Hill Rd 11:59/km from the 08:45 start to km 18.7719:17/mi from the 8:45 AM start to mile 11.7

  3. 13:451:45 PM

    Cut-off: Aid Station 7, Spence Rd 11:23/km from the 08:45 start to km 26.3518:19/mi from the 8:45 AM start to mile 16.4

  4. 14:402:40 PM

    Cut-off: Aid Station 9, Frankton 11:05/km from the 08:45 start to km 3217:51/mi from the 8:45 AM start to mile 19.9

  5. 15:153:15 PM

    Cut-off: Aid Station 10, Sugar Lane 11:08/km from the 08:45 start to km 3517:55/mi from the 8:45 AM start to mile 21.7

  6. 16:004:00 PM

    Cut-off: Aid Station 11, Jubilee Park 11:05/km from the 08:45 start to km 39.2417:50/mi from the 8:45 AM start to mile 24.4

Times as published by IRONMAN New Zealand Limited, in Queenstown time, checked .

Add to calendar .ics file, times in Queenstown time

Trip

Getting a place

Entry through the organiser

Entry details on the organiser’s site →

IRONMAN New Zealand Limited, a third party. We take no entries and have no part in the race.

Make your postcard

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Questions about the Queenstown Marathon

Is the Queenstown Marathon course flat?

Not entirely. It has 139.1 m of climbing over 42.2 km. The highest point is 117 m above the lowest. It finishes 90 m lower than it starts.

When is the Queenstown Marathon 2026?

Saturday 14 November 2026. The start is at 08:45.

How do I enter the Queenstown Marathon?

Entry is through the organiser. Entry fee: NZ$292 (for the 2026 race). Entry details on the organiser’s site

2 more questions
Where does the Queenstown Marathon start?

Start: Millbrook Resort.

Is there a video of the Queenstown Marathon course?

Yes. A 3D flyover film of the whole course, start to finish (0:58), plays at the top of this page.

In the news

All race news →

Sources and licence

Last checked.

Course line matched onto OpenStreetMap road geometry: (c) OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License 1.0 (ODbL). Elevation sampled from GEDTM30, Global Ensemble Digital Terrain Model at 30 m (v1.2): Elevation: GEDTM30 (Ho & Hengl, OpenGeoHub), CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0).

Elevation gain computed by us from that line, smoothed over 1 kmsmoothed over 0.6 mi.

The line follows the road down its middle, so it measures 1.27% longer than the certified distance, which is measured on the shortest legal line through every bend.

Date and entry information from IRONMAN New Zealand Limited.

Film built from Google Earth imagery, credited on screen.

Rendered from GEDTM30, Global Ensemble Digital Terrain Model at 30 m (v1.2) (Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)), OpenStreetMap (Open Database License 1.0 (ODbL)).

Every source and licence behind them →

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