Photo: Kevin Prince · CC BY-SA 2.0
Queenstown · New Zealand

Cycling & running events in Queenstown, 2026

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0 races within 80 km of Queenstown

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A few races to know in Queenstown

We all need a goal — why not think big? Pick one and start training for it. Already happened this year? Find some practice races to build toward next year's edition.
Run·Road
Queenstown

Rustic Run and Walk

Mt Difficulty Wines serves as the starting point for the Rustic Run and Walk, which proceeds in laps through the Bannockburn Sluicings. This setting suits a winter event with rough terrain and a lighthearted objective. It runs concurrently with the extreme Mt Difficulty Ascent, but this event encourages a more collaborative, team-oriented approach rather than an intense personal challenge. The core idea is straightforward: test yourself, your coworkers, your family, or simply a group of friends. The course design involves repeated circuits of the Sluicings, offering participants the advantage of familiarizing themselves with the route and then pacing their effort. It accommodates solo runners or teams, with flexible options for running order and distance, making it a suitable occasion for a "mid winter work team building function" for organizations with a sense of humor. Participants can anticipate off-road conditions, team communication during relays, and an opportunity to "Enjoy the atmosphere, camaraderie" with fellow participants pursuing the same slightly muddy objective.

Road
Run·Trail
Queenstown

Lake Dunstan Trail - Marathon

The Lake Dunstan Trail Marathon runs point to point from Clyde to the Cromwell Heritage Precinct on New Zealand’s Lake Dunstan Trail. The marathon begins at 8:00 AM, following buses that depart the finish area at 7:10 AM. This 42.2 km trail marathon is on a firm-packed path, not a technical mountain track, but requires significant effort, featuring approximately 800 m of elevation gain from start to finish. The course follows the trail corridor through Cromwell Gorge toward Cromwell, passing engineered trail sculptures before descending to a vineyard finish. A half marathon starts north of Hugo Bridge and shares the same Cromwell finish. The 10 km run/walk begins near Carrick Winery, offering options for experienced marathoners and those seeking a shorter trail challenge.

Trail
Run·Trail
Queenstown

Shotover Moonlight Mountain Marathon & Trail Runs

Shotover Moonlight Mountain Marathon & Trail Runs starts beside the Shotover River and sends runners across Ben Lomond High Country Station near Queenstown, New Zealand. It is an off-road trail running series held each February, with options that include the mountain marathon, Moonlight Ultra, 30km Adventure Run, half marathon, 10km trail run, and Ben Lomond Vertical Kilometre. The longest race is the 56km Moonlight Ultra, with 3,500 meters of climbing, two strict cutoffs, and an 8 PM course closure. The route uses old sheep tracks, high country mustering routes, and historic gold-mining water races before finishing near Moke Lake. Runners climb and descend through tussock land, ridges, beech forest, creeks, and rougher mountain ground, with a scree descent, a ladder climb beside a waterfall, and a tunnel on the valley floor. The event is hosted by the Foster Family on their part of Aotearoa, and it draws runners looking for a proper backcountry race rather than a polished road event.

Trail
About cycling & running in Queenstown

Queenstown Training Notes

Running: Locals run Queenstown Gardens and the Lake Wakatipu edge when they want flat rhythm and quick Z2. Queenstown parkrun gives runners a flat, fast 5km course through Queenstown Gardens and along the lakefront. The Ben Lomond Track gives runners a proper mountain hit, with 15km and 1500m of elevation gain from the Tiki Trail side. Lake Hayes loop, Arrow River Trail, Sunshine Bay Track, and Moonlight Track keep base miles fresh. Run ZQN runs Tuesday 6pm intervals from The Mill, Thursday Trails on the Arrowtown tracks, and Sunday Long Run. New Zealand Sotheby’s International Queenstown Marathon is the anchor event.

Cycling: Locals ride the Queenstown Trail for steady mileage, gravel days, and links to Arrowtown and Gibbston Valley. The Queenstown Trail gives riders 130km of off-road paths, from easy Grade 1 to tougher Grade 4 tracks. Arrow River Bridges Trail, Gibbston River Trail, Twin Rivers Trail, and Shotover Gorge Trail all get used when riders want flow without leaving town too far. Coronet Peak, Bob’s Peak, Skyline, Fernhill, and Jacks Point hold the climbs and the rowdier singletrack. Central Otago Wakatipu Cycle Club races through summer. Peak to Peak Race is the anchor event.

Season: September to May is the best training block, especially for bikes. Queenstown Bikepark usually opens from September to May, and the main Queenstown summer biking season runs from the end of September through May. Arrow River Bridges Trail rides well in the height of summer under the willow trees. Run ZQN Thursday Trails starts at 6pm in Summer, so locals can stretch the evening on the Arrowtown tracks. Winter shifts the rhythm, with Thursday Trails starting at 5:30pm in Winter. Peak to Peak Race and Rustic Run and Walk keep the cold months honest.

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What runners & riders are signing up for

If you're traveling — or just curious — here's where the action is across two of the most active markets on TrainerDay.