Queenstown Marathon

The Queenstown Marathon is one of those races that feels like a vacation that happens to include a finish medal. It’s held in Queenstown, New Zealand, a resort town on the South Island set on the edge of Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by dramatic alpine peaks. 

Queenstown is basically “outdoors postcard” energy: mountains, lake views, crisp spring air, and a town built around adventure travel. Race weekend tends to pull in a mix of serious runners chasing fast times and destination runners who are there for the scenery, the vibe, and the excuse to turn the trip into a longer NZ itinerary.