Cycling & running events in Queenstown, 2026

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.