How do I enter the Queenstown Marathon?

Registration is open to all with tiered pricing. Earlier entries cost less, and late entries may be available at Athlete Check-In if the race hasn't sold out. Entry opens 25 November 2025 and closes 13 November 2026, or when sold out.

What is included with race entry?

All entry packages include a race bib, finisher medal, gear bag, and athlete gift.

Is the Queenstown Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes, the course is a certified Boston qualifier. The significant elevation gain means you'll need to run a strong effort to hit your qualifying standard, so plan your pacing accordingly.

What is the elevation profile like?

The course gains over 4,200 feet and loses around 3,200 feet across the point-to-point route, leaving a net climb of roughly 1,000 feet. Much of the course runs on trail and gravel, which adds to the effort beyond what the grade alone suggests.

What is the typical race-day weather like?

Expect a cold start in the upper 30s Fahrenheit, warming through the morning into the mid-50s. Conditions are generally comfortable for racing but can be changeable in the mountains. A throwaway layer at the start is a good idea.

How do I get to the start line?

The race starts at Millbrook Resort, about 45 minutes from Queenstown CBD. Shuttle buses run from town to the start line. Most international runners fly into Queenstown via Auckland.

Sat, Nov 14 · 2026QueenstownSince 2015

Queenstown Marathon

The Queenstown Marathon sends you through high-country farmland and lakeside trails in the Southern Alps foothills, with a net climb that keeps things honest. It is a hard, beautiful run worth every bit of the effort.

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QUEENSTOWN · NZ

Queenstown

SAT, NOV 14

2026

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Race Overview

EST. 2015

The Queenstown Marathon is one of those races people describe as hard in the best possible way. It starts at Millbrook Resort, a 45-minute shuttle ride out of town, and runs back toward Queenstown through high-country farmland, vineyard trails, and sections along Lake Wakatipu. The course spends most of its time on trail and gravel, which means you are constantly working even when the grade looks gentle. And the climbing is real. This is not a course you go into planning to run your fastest ever time.

That said, finishing here, coming off the trails into Queenstown as the sun sits low over the Remarkables, is a genuinely earned moment. The field is large and the atmosphere at the finish is loud. Entry is open registration with tiered pricing, so the earlier you sign up the less you pay. Sell-out is likely as race day approaches, so don't sit on it. If you want the Boston qualifier box ticked, you can do it here, but budget your effort carefully and don't let the scenery pull you out too fast in the first half.

Field size

~13k

13,000 finishers

BQ rate

—

Boston qualifier

Time limit

7:00

Generous cutoff

Entry

Open

First-come registration

Course records

Men

2:25:02

Jack Moody

2025

Women

2:48:31

Bara Styblova

2025

The Course

4,200 ft total gain

Total ascent

↑4,200 ft

Total descent

↓3,200 ft

Net elevation

↑1,000 ft

Highest point

1,247 ft

Lowest point

1,047 ft

Course shape

Point to point

Different start and finish

This point-to-point course starts at Millbrook Resort and runs toward Queenstown, accumulating significant climbing and descent across 26.2 miles. The gross numbers tell the real story: over 4,200 feet of gain against 3,200 feet of loss leaves a net climb of roughly 1,000 feet. Expect the course to test your legs early on trails and farm tracks before any relief from descents. The rolling, technical trail surface demands more energy than road pace suggests. PR chasers should plan conservatively in the first half and treat this as a target for a strong effort rather than a flat-road time. Boston qualification is possible, but earned.

DIFFICULTYMOUNTAINOUSPR-FRIENDLYNO

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Race-Day Weather

10-year median

Low

38°F

High

56°F

30°MARATHON-IDEAL 45–60°80°

What to expect

November in Queenstown is early summer in the Southern Hemisphere, but the mountain setting keeps things unpredictable. You'll likely start in cool to cold conditions, somewhere in the upper 30s, so a throwaway layer at the start is worth it. By the time you're deep into the back half the temperature climbs, but rarely into heat-management territory. Wind can be a factor on the exposed trail sections. It's usually a comfortable racing window, but pack for layers and don't assume it'll stay mild.

Entry

OPEN

Open registration with tiered pricing. Early entry offers savings. All entry packages include race bib, finisher medal, gear bag, and athlete gift. Late entries accepted at Athlete Check-In if not sold out.

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Frequently Asked

7 questions

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