The proposed Queenstown Cable Car will run alongside the Queenstown Events Centre rather than over its playing fields, and its Frankton interchange will move to connect directly with the Frankton Bus Hub, after developer Southern Infrastructure Limited (SIL) revised the route following community feedback.
SIL said the changes followed months of engagement with residents, community groups, businesses, landowners and Queenstown Lakes District Council, including four public webinars this year, a community survey with nearly 900 responses and dozens of meetings along the route.
“Council and residents gave us fairly consistent feedback – don’t cross the playing fields. So we’ve worked with the engineers and found a way to make that work,” said Ross Copland, Southern Infrastructure’s Chief Executive. “The new alignment is slightly less direct, but it aligns better to the original Frankton Masterplan design.”
The four Frankton stations are now positioned within precincts identified in the council’s Te Kirikiri/Frankton Masterplan. Both cable car lines will meet at the Frankton Bus Hub, above the Frankton golf course car park, connecting with buses from Ladies Mile, Lake Hayes Estate and Shotover Country. An airport station will sit next to the new terminal, while Five Mile and Quail Rise stations will serve planned growth areas, with Quail Rise also housing maintenance and cabin storage.
The main negative feedback came from residents of southern suburbs such as Jacks Point and Hanley’s Farm, who are concerned about congestion. “We have to build the network in stages, and the Town Centre and Ladies Mile lines respond to the most pressing transport needs. But the survey feedback was clear – we need to accelerate our planning for a southern corridor transport solution,” Copland said.
The revised alignment goes to the council in December, with a fast-track application due in the first quarter of 2027. A decision is expected by the end of 2027, with construction planned between 2028 and 2030. Station locations remain indicative and subject to detailed design and approvals.
Queenstown is one of New Zealand’s busiest visitor hubs and home to adventure operators such as Active Adventures. Elsewhere in the South Island, Christchurch hospitality is counting on international sport to lift visitor spending.
