Traffic Chaos Delays Start of Queenstown Marathon 2023

The 2023 Queenstown Marathon faced significant traffic delays that impacted the start times for thousands of participants. Organized by the Ironman Oceania Group, the event drew over 13,000 athletes across various distances, including a children’s run and nearly 4,000 runners for the full marathon, marking the highest participation in the event’s 11-year history. Despite these impressive numbers, the full marathon did not reach its capacity, and neither did other race distances.

Traffic congestion throughout the Wakatipu region forced event organizers to delay both the half and full marathons by 10 minutes. One local athlete described the situation as “unbelievable,” noting that a typically 10-minute trip to the new half-marathon start on Hunter Rd took nearly 90 minutes. This participant did not cross the start line until 8:40 a.m., a full 30 minutes after the delayed start. At that time, hundreds of cars remained stranded in the queue, which included the Queenstown Marathon’s own shuttle buses.

Social media became a platform for athletes to express their frustrations. One participant reported waiting in line for marathon shuttle buses from 6:40 a.m. but did not arrive at Millbrook until 8:10 a.m.. Another athlete, who has participated in the Queenstown Marathon for the past decade, noted that this year’s traffic issues were the most severe they had ever experienced. Many attributed the delays to the newly implemented half-marathon start.

A spokesperson for the Queenstown Marathon stated that start lines for both the half and full marathons remained open until the last buses arrived to ensure all athletes had the chance to begin the race. Unfortunately, some participants chose to abandon their attempts to reach the starting line and instead entered the course at different points. Consequently, they were recorded as “DNS,” or did not start, even though they completed the race.

The spokesperson acknowledged that the bus and start-line congestion caused “undue stress for some athletes.” The organizing team is committed to addressing these “key issues” to prevent a recurrence in future events. This year’s marathon included several changes, such as the new half-marathon start line that contributed to the traffic problems. The team, in collaboration with event stakeholders, will thoroughly review these changes in the coming weeks as they prepare for the 2026 event.

The organizers had introduced a locals’ registration option the previous Thursday and provided a free shuttle service between Queenstown and the Events Centre, which included multiple stops along the way. Despite these efforts, the spokesperson admitted that congestion remained a significant concern.

Regarding the event’s capacity, the spokesperson explained that limits for each distance were established in cooperation with event stakeholders, taking into account various factors. This will also be reviewed to identify what worked well and what could be improved, including potential adjustments to participant capacities for future marathons.