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Queenstown rapid transit (e.g. gondola): what the studies say

Mass rapid transit (MRT) means light rail, gondola/cable car, bus rapid transit and similar dedicated rapid-transit technologies. It does not include ordinary bus services or ferries. Queenstown business cases since 2017 have assessed gondola, light rail and bus rapid transit options, and this page lists the records.

Key facts

Years covered
2017–2026
Records discussing a gondola
44
Classed Substantive
31

Gondola / cable car

44 records

2017NZTASubstantive

Queenstown Integrated Transport Programme Business

“Increased public transport reliability and choice through addition of bus priority on SH6A corridor, a Mass Rapid Transit (gondola) and an extensive water taxi network.”

p.1

2020Way to GoSubstantive

Appendix B19 Technical Note 25: VURT Analysis

“Most respondents preferred using the existing route along SH6A (Frankton Road) for a high capacity public transport system – 58% of respondents, over a Gondola along Queenstown Hill. – 42% of respondents.”

p.52

2020Way to GoSubstantive

Appendix C15 Environmental and Social

“The fifth option is an 'offline' option involving mass rapid transit (gondola/ferries) and hence is assessed separately.”

p.2

2020Way to GoSubstantive

Appendix B Options Assessment

“Board to approve that off-line PT to SH6A (e.g. a gondola) is parked and reviewed in 2028.”

p.205

2020Way to GoSubstantive

Appendix D Economic Case

“another step-wise intervention, possibly an MRT system such as a gondola, will then be required to meet the travel demand between Frankton and Queenstown Central.”

p.22

2020Way to GoSubstantive

Appendix C4 Queenstown Town Centre Preliminary

“Overall, the design response to increased travel and public transport demand in the future is to increase the capacity of on road public transport and to then provide an off-line system (likely a gondola) once the SH6A corridor has reached capacity.”

p.86

2020Way to GoSubstantive

Queenstown Business Case – Preferred Option

“Road based public transport services will eventually reach capacity. Therefore a "future offline PT" package has been included to demonstrate the benefits associated with providing additional capacity on the Franklin [sic] to Queenstown corridor. This consists of a future off-line gondola connection.”

p.10

2020Way to GoSubstantive

Queenstown Business Case

“An off-road option (most likely gondola) would be required in the longer term to provide any additional step-change in capacity, but was not taken forward to the Preferred Programme in the Queenstown Business Case as it falls well outside of the next few NLTP periods.”

p.134

2024ORCSubstantive

Queenstown Public Transport Business Case

“Gondola can provide sufficient capacity but only when operating a very high frequencies (240 departures per hour or 15 sec headway).”

p.151

2026Regional transport committeePassing

Otago and Southland Regional Transport Committees

“Any future proposals such as a PT gondola in Queenstown should align with transport planning and investment and integrate with the existing network.”

p.53

2017Community organisationPassing

Queenstown Transport Taskforce Report

“A fundamental transformation from the use of private/rental cars and campervans to public transport and innovative forms of transport, e.g. automated shared vehicles, e-bikes, water taxis, gondolas, monorail, etc.”

p.4

2017QLDCSubstantive

Queenstown Public and Passenger Transport

“A mass transit solution (such as a gondola, ferry or light rail system) between Frankton and the Queenstown Town Centre will be studied and planned, with construction expected around or beyond 2037.”

p.10

2019Way to GoSubstantive

Te Kirikiri Frankton Integrated Transport

“Programme Option 4: Mass transit (gondola) within 10 years and active modes focus... Specifically a gondola service linking Lake Hayes Estate, Frankton and the Queenstown Town Centre that could be extended into growth areas if demand supports this in the long-term.”

p.13

2020QLDCPassing

Te Kirikiri / Frankton Masterplan

“High-capacity public transport options are currently being investigated and include, but are not limited to, trackless trams, double decker buses and gondolas to improve access within Te Kirikiri/Frankton, to Queenstown and across the Wakatipu Basin.”

p.44

2020Way to GoSubstantive

Appendix B23 Technical Note 19: Scope Extension

“Note: B options for gondola & ferry not yet modelled. Models tend to underpredict connective networks & favour one-seat ride networks (cf. Panmure in Auckland).”

p.28

2020Way to GoPassing

Appendix A Strategic Case

“Public transport should be multi-modal and include a combination of bus service improvements, water-based public transport options and new public transport corridors facilitated by alternative modes (gondolas or light rail/bus rapid transit).”

p.150

2020Way to GoPassing

Queenstown Business Case – Strategic Context

“a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) corridor between Queenstown and Frankton (Figure 5 indicates a gondola over Queenstown Hill as a MRT option, though bus rapid transit and light rail are also suggested).”

p.11

2020NZTA and QLDCPassing

Wakatipu Basin Future Public Transport Demand

“An additional scenario, Gondola MRT, was tested under the previous round of demand sets but was omitted for implementability reasons before this update.”

p.3

2020Way to GoSubstantive

Queenstown Business Case – Assurance Process

“This document is technically poor as it does not present enough evidence on the assessment that has been conducted. In addition, it is not clear if the gondola will proceed.”

p.47

2023Queenstown Airport CorporationPassing

Queenstown Airport Master Plan

“Gondola lines/base station (private)”

Figure 21 legend p59; Figure 22 legend p60

2024ORCSubstantive

Queenstown Public Transport Business Case

“Given the rapid growth occurring in Queenstown, an offline solution such as a gondola is suggested to be further investigated in the 2024-27 period. This will allow a lead time for investigation, consultation, land acquisition, design, procurement and construction.”

p.11

2024ORCSubstantive

Queenstown Public Transport Business Case

“In addition, given the rapid growth occurring in Queenstown, an offline solution such as a gondola is suggested to be further investigated in the 2024-27 period. This will allow a lead time for investigation, consultation, land acquisition, design, procurement, and construction.”

p.82

2025ORCSubstantive

Otago Regional Public Transport Plan 2025–2035

“No current plans to implement full rapid service, but: • we want to enhance key spines, where the combined service may approach rapid standards • we support the future study of an “off-line” rapid service in Queenstown, likely using ropeway technologies”

p.56

2025ORCSubstantive

Otago Regional Public Transport Plan 2025–2035

“No current plans to implement full rapid service, but: • We want to enhance key spines, where the combined service may approach rapid standards • We support the future study of an “off-line” rapid service in Queenstown, likely using ropeway technologies”

p.58

2026NZTASubstantive

Queenstown Strategic Network Plan (August 2026)

“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

2026NZTASubstantive

Queenstown Strategic Network Plan – NZTA Board

“The QSNP identifies that demand will exceed the capacity provided by other modes, and that an off-line public transport system will be required. The QSNP is agnostic to the technology.”

p.2

2026CrownSubstantive

Otago Central Lakes Deal – Final Deal Agreement

It also says the GPS 2027 public transport activity class will not exclude offline mass rapid transit or passenger ropeways, and that ORC will update the regional public transport plan to include them if deemed necessary.

2026NZTASubstantive

OIA-23524 response: NZ Upgrade Programme

“Please note that the Mass Rapid Transit Gondola was not part of the NZUP Queenstown Package and so could not be a part of any scope reduction consideration.”

p.3

Light rail

Records that name light rail or a trackless tram.

15 records

2017QLDCPassing

Queenstown Town Centre Parking Indicative Business

“ultimately a mass transit solution (shown in green). The mass transit solution is not yet identified but it could include a gondola or light rail service (for example).”

p.72

2017QLDCSubstantive

Queenstown Public and Passenger Transport

“A mass transit solution (such as a gondola, ferry or light rail system) between Frankton and the Queenstown Town Centre will be studied and planned, with construction expected around or beyond 2037.”

p.10

2019Way to GoSubstantive

Te Kirikiri Frankton Integrated Transport

“The Recommended Programme is the common elements of Programme Option 3 (trackless trams and bus network) and Programme Option 4 (gondola and bus network) with a high capacity public transport system.”

p.13

2020QLDCPassing

Te Kirikiri / Frankton Masterplan

“High-capacity public transport options are currently being investigated and include, but are not limited to, trackless trams, double decker buses and gondolas to improve access within Te Kirikiri/Frankton, to Queenstown and across the Wakatipu Basin.”

p.44

2020Way to GoPassing

Appendix A Strategic Case

“Public transport should be multi-modal and include a combination of bus service improvements, water-based public transport options and new public transport corridors facilitated by alternative modes (gondolas or light rail/bus rapid transit).”

p.150

2020Way to GoSubstantive

Appendix C4 Queenstown Town Centre Preliminary

“The physical widening required to accommodate bus lanes over the full length of Frankton Road would result in significant social (loss of housing and property), environmental, and financial (approx. $400M) impacts.”

p.85

2020Way to GoPassing

Queenstown Business Case – Strategic Context

“a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) corridor between Queenstown and Frankton (Figure 5 indicates a gondola over Queenstown Hill as a MRT option, though bus rapid transit and light rail are also suggested).”

p.11

2020NZTA and QLDCPassing

Wakatipu Basin Future Public Transport Demand

“The Trackless Tram option achieved the highest mode shift because of a lower 'mode penalty' but is largely interchangeable with the Bus Max option in terms of infrastructure. Feasibility issues with the Trackless Tram option led to Bus Max being preferred.”

p.4

2021Grow Well WhaioraPassing

The Queenstown Lakes Spatial Plan

“The system is designed to be scalable and can be upgraded as demand increases to higher capacity buses and modes, such as a trackless tram.”

p.1 (printed p.86)

Bus rapid transit

Records that name bus rapid transit.

3 records

2020Way to GoPassing

Appendix A Strategic Case

“Public transport should be multi-modal and include a combination of bus service improvements, water-based public transport options and new public transport corridors facilitated by alternative modes (gondolas or light rail/bus rapid transit).”

p.150

2020Way to GoSubstantive

Queenstown Business Case – Preferred Option

“Road based public transport services will eventually reach capacity. Therefore a "future offline PT" package has been included to demonstrate the benefits associated with providing additional capacity on the Franklin [sic] to Queenstown corridor. This consists of a future off-line gondola connection.”

p.10

2020Way to GoPassing

Queenstown Business Case – Strategic Context

“a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) corridor between Queenstown and Frankton (Figure 5 indicates a gondola over Queenstown Hill as a MRT option, though bus rapid transit and light rail are also suggested).”

p.11

Ferry

A ferry is not mass rapid transit. These records mention a ferry or water taxi in that discussion.

Ferry transport sets out the business-case findings on ferry and water transport.

21 records

2017Community organisationPassing

Queenstown Transport Taskforce Report

“A fundamental transformation from the use of private/rental cars and campervans to public transport and innovative forms of transport, e.g. automated shared vehicles, e-bikes, water taxis, gondolas, monorail, etc.”

p.4

2017NZTASubstantive

Queenstown Integrated Transport Programme Business

“Increased public transport reliability and choice through addition of bus priority on SH6A corridor, a Mass Rapid Transit (gondola) and an extensive water taxi network.”

p.73

2017NZTASubstantive

Queenstown Integrated Transport Programme Business

“Increased public transport reliability and choice through addition of bus priority on SH6A corridor, a Mass Rapid Transit (gondola) and an extensive water taxi network.”

p.1

2017QLDCSubstantive

Queenstown Public and Passenger Transport

“A mass transit solution (such as a gondola, ferry or light rail system) between Frankton and the Queenstown Town Centre will be studied and planned, with construction expected around or beyond 2037.”

p.10

2019Way to GoSubstantive

Te Kirikiri Frankton Integrated Transport

“Programme Option 4: Mass transit (gondola) within 10 years and active modes focus... Specifically a gondola service linking Lake Hayes Estate, Frankton and the Queenstown Town Centre that could be extended into growth areas if demand supports this in the long-term.”

p.13

2020Way to GoSubstantive

Appendix B23 Technical Note 19: Scope Extension

“Note: B options for gondola & ferry not yet modelled. Models tend to underpredict connective networks & favour one-seat ride networks (cf. Panmure in Auckland).”

p.28

2020Way to GoPassing

Appendix A Strategic Case

“Package two delivers an additional public transport mode (besides bus and ferry services). Further work is required to determine whether a gondola or road-based (light rail/bus rapid transit) solution delivers more benefits.”

p.151

2020Way to GoSubstantive

Appendix C15 Environmental and Social

“The fifth option is an 'offline' option involving mass rapid transit (gondola/ferries) and hence is assessed separately.”

p.2

2020NZTA and QLDCPassing

Wakatipu Basin Future Public Transport Demand

“An additional scenario, Gondola MRT, was tested under the previous round of demand sets but was omitted for implementability reasons before this update.”

p.3

2023Queenstown Airport CorporationPassing

Queenstown Airport Master Plan

“Gondola lines/base station (private)”

Figure 21 legend p59; Figure 22 legend p60

2024QLDCPassing

30 Year Infrastructure Strategy – Water

“New high-capacity high-frequency public transport modalities, major streetscape upgrades, and secondary cycle networks feature in this option, in addition to the targeted expansions and network effectiveness interventions described in previous options.”

p.51

2025ORCSubstantive

Otago Regional Public Transport Plan 2025–2035

“Mode neutrality: public transport will be delivered using the most appropriate mode (e.g. bus, ferry, rail, cable/rope technologies, etc.) to meet demand, purpose, community need and value for money.”

p.52

Other / not specified

The record discusses mass rapid transit and does not name one of the options above.

20 records

2019Way to GoPassing

Wakatipu Active Travel Network Single Stage

“Also, within the scope of the Business Case is the identification of potential High Capacity Water Transport and mass rapid transit (MRT) options. This is to ensure that the SH6A interventions are appropriately sized and whether the long-term solution for the corridor is to provide either of these solutions.”

p.Appendix B (App A-G file p.24)

2020Way to GoPassing

Appendix B16 Technical Note 24: Arterials

“High capacity mass transit: This includes step change service provision such as large scale fleet expansion and/or off-line high capacity services.”

p.13

2020Way to GoSubstantive

Queenstown Business Case – Summary Report

“Future offline public transport services that provide a further step change in capacity along with additional resilience and experiential benefits. This will require the development of offline public transport hubs in both Frankton and Queenstown.”

p.15

2022Way to GoPassing

Better Ways To Go – More people walking, cycling

“such a move is not feasible given the geology of the area and the costs involved, preferring instead to pursue a strong mode shift strategy that will require 40% of all trips to be made by bus (and other modes) along this corridor, and 60% by 2048.”

p.15

2024Regional transport committeePassing

Mid-term review: Otago Southland Regional Land

The review says the SH6/SH6A Queenstown offline high-capacity public transport implementation project was removed from the State Highway Investment Proposal 2024–34 because of other Government Policy Statement priorities and the likelihood of funding in the next three years.

2026CrownPassing

National Infrastructure Plan 2026

“Prioritise and sequence major land transport projects: Restore affordability by timing major road and rapid transit investments based on demonstrated demand and cost benchmarking, while using low-cost and targeted improvements first to lift network performance.”

p.14

2026NZTASubstantive

Queenstown Strategic Network Plan – Emerging

“1. Frankton to Town Centre / Topography, property and congestion limit road capacity. / Short term: bus, access and safety improvements. Long term: offline PT as the viable capacity option.”

p.7