QTS-130 · Transport strategy · 2026
Queenstown Strategic Network Plan (August 2026)
Part of: Rapid transit evidence →
NZTA's final 30-year Queenstown Strategic Network Plan, published August 2026 and released publicly on 6 October 2026. It covers SH6 (Arrow Junction to Drift Bay) and SH6A (Frankton to Steamer Wharf) and sets a staged approach built on making best use of existing infrastructure, moving more people in less space and actively managing demand. It is not a funded programme; it identifies corridor activities, a trigger-based sequence and immediate development priorities, including an investment case for offline public transport between Frankton and Queenstown.
What the document says
Offline public transport is the plan's long-term answer for the Frankton–Queenstown (SH6A) corridor. Activity 10 is a 'Frankton–Queenstown offline public transport line', a high-capacity spine 'operating outside the constrained SH6A road corridor; technology to be confirmed', with the next step to 'Progress investment case or integrate aligned private proposal' (p52). Figure 3 and the preferred strategic approach map show an indicative dashed 'Offline Public Transport' line from Frankton to Queenstown Town Centre, with a dashed extension from Frankton towards Ladies Mile (p10). In the optioneering assessment (Figure 13, p36), 'Gondola' is one of three PT enabling options and is marked as passing demand and feasibility under the Rapid Transit Spine, Balanced Multi-Modal (preferred) and Resilient and Future-Focussed approaches. Table 19 calls offline PT 'the only option for reliable high-capacity public transport between Frankton and Queenstown' and proposes a $1m–$2m investment case to confirm mode and alignment and the 'relationship with any private sector proposals' (p59). Southern Corridor offline PT is also retained as an option (activity 12, p50). The words cable car, cableway and ropeway do not appear.
Key figures
- Whakatipu Ward peak-day population around 83,000 (2025) forecast to reach around 143,000 by 2055 (p5)
- Some corridors above 85% of practical capacity for up to 6.5 hours/day on up to 361 days/year (p33)
- Frankton Flats Network Improvements indicative cost $250m (can be staged) (p58)
- Arthurs Point crossing $60m–$80m (p59)
- Offline PT investment case $1m–$2m (p59)
- Time-of-use charging development $1m–$2m (p59)
Rapid transit
Mass rapid transit means light rail, gondola/cable car, bus rapid transit and similar dedicated rapid-transit technologies. It does not include ordinary bus services or ferries.
Substantive. Discusses, assesses, recommends or programmes mass rapid transit.
Offline high-capacity PT between Frankton and Queenstown is the long-term 'capacity step change' for SH6A; technology to be confirmed; gondola passes the optioneering screen under the preferred approach; aligned private proposals may be integrated.
"Frankton–Queenstown offline public transport line: Future high-capacity public transport spine between Frankton and Queenstown, operating outside the constrained SH6A road corridor; technology to be confirmed through the next phase." (p.52) | "Progress investment case or integrate aligned private proposal." (p.52) | "Offline public transport is required to meet future demand and is the only option for reliable high-capacity public transport between Frankton and Queenstown." (p.59) | "Step-change later: offline PT Frankton–Queenstown, with triggered extensions to Ladies Mile / Southern Corridor." (pp.8, 35) | Figure 13 'Optioneering approach': PT options 'Bus lane', 'Busway', 'Gondola'; Gondola marked pass under Rapid Transit Spine, Balanced Multi-Modal and Resilient and Future-Focussed (p.36) | "Frequent buses, shuttles, rapid transit or gondolas work best when supported by priority measures..." (p.31)
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Not separately commissioned. This is an internal or corporate document.
Citation
NZTA (Waka Kotahi). Queenstown Strategic Network Plan (August 2026). NZTA publication 26-EX-064 (2026).