Photo David Maunsell / Unsplash

  • Marathon
  • Half

Queenstown

Queenstown Marathon

Trails past Lake Hayes and Old Shotover Bridge to Queenstown Recreation Ground.

Next edition

2026 · 14 Nov 2026

Where

🇳🇿 Queenstown, New Zealand

Follow for alerts on every edition: dates, ballots, entries.

2026 edition

Next up

Countdown

12

days to 14 Nov 2026

Partly openBallot
Distance
Marathon
Course
Hilly
Climb
340 m
Entry
NZ$292

About

The race

The NZ Sotheby's International Realty Queenstown Marathon takes runners through the heart of New Zealand's adventure capital, set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Crown Range and the Remarkables mountain range. The course takes in the best highlights of the region including Millbrook Resort, Arrowtown, the Arrow River, Lake Hayes, the Old Shotover Bridge, the Twin Rivers trail, Lake Wakatipu and Queenstown Gardens. Runners head through the historic gold rush town of Arrowtown and along the Arrow River trails, around the stunning Lake Hayes, past the Old Shotover Bridge and along the Kawarau River, before finishing inside the Queenstown Recreation Ground in the heart of town. 70% of the course is on smooth hard-packed trails and 30% on road surfaces, combined with a mainly flat gradient. November in Queenstown brings late spring conditions, with crisp mornings of around 4°C warming to a pleasant 18°C by race time, providing near-ideal marathon running conditions. The race weekend includes a half marathon, a Marathon Sports Expo and Athlete Check-In at the Queenstown Events Centre.

Location

Queenstown, New Zealand

Oceania · typically 12°C (53°F) on race day

Open in OpenStreetMap

Every year

Editions

Ballot, charity and tour places

Getting in

  • First come, first served

    Late entries will be accepted in person at Athlete Check-In, unless sold out prior. Online entries close at 5:00pm on 13 November 2026.

  • Ballot

    Entries are drawn at random from everyone who applies.

  • Qualifying time

    First start group for Marathon and Half Marathon requires a qualification time (Marathon: Male under 3:15, Female under 3:35; Half Marathon: Male under 1:26, Female under 1:37).

  • Club membership

    Group entries: Event Services team can assist with running, travel and community group bookings (10+ participants), contact [email protected].

  • Charity place

    Fundraise for the official charity partner, Queenstown Trails Trust

  • Other

    Late entries accepted in person at Athlete Check-In, unless sold out prior.

    Details

Ballot

Dates not announced
  1. Ballot opens

    TBA

  2. Ballot closes

    14 Nov 2026, 12:00

  3. Draw

    TBA

  4. Results

    TBA

Charity places

  • Queenstown Trails Trust

    Fundraising target on request

  • The Heart Foundation

    Fundraising target on request

Tour operators

No tour packages listed yet.

Queenstown · community

The Queenstown Race Club

Everything runners are saying about Queenstown: general talk, and posts about each year's race.

Queenstown Marathon · all years

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