Queenstown Marathon

Course & Elevation

The Queenstown Marathon is a point-to-point race in New Zealand's Southern Lakes region, held on a Saturday in mid-November, spring in the Southern Hemisphere. It starts at Millbrook Resort near Arrowtown and finishes at the Queenstown Recreation Ground in the centre of town. The half marathon, 10 km and a 2.2 km kids run take place on the same day, and all distances finish at the Recreation Ground. The organisers describe the course as easy running on a mainly flat route with a few undulations, with 70% on smooth, hard-packed trails and 30% on road. It takes in Millbrook, Arrowtown, the Arrow River, Lake Hayes, the Old Shotover Bridge, the Twin Rivers trail beside the Kawarau River, Lake Wakatipu and Queenstown Gardens. The final kilometres follow the Frankton Arm Walkway toward Queenstown before a loop around the Gardens, then Marine Parade, Rees Street and Duke Street to the finish. The first edition was held in 2014. Because of road-closure restrictions, the course officially closes at 4:30 pm, and runners must be at least 18 on race day. Prize money of NZ$3,000, NZ$1,500 and NZ$750 goes to the first three men and women across the line.