NZ InfraWatch
Open the live map →
Queenstown Cable Car (Gondola)
Southern Infrastructure · Otago
A proposed aerial cable car network for Queenstown from Southern Infrastructure, a private consortium. Two lines: airport to town centre via Queenstown Hill and the Frankton hub, and Frankton to Ladies Mile. Pitched as offline mass transit above congested roads. Referred into fast-track consenting on 2 April 2026. Not yet consented or funded.
Data current as at 16 Sept 2026, when the pipeline was last checked against its source.
Key facts
- Region
- Otago
- Sector
- Transport
- Status
- Planning
- Estimated value
- $400m
- Indicative completion
- 2029
- Funding status
- Part Funded
- Lead organisation
- Southern Infrastructure
- Election risk
- High
Election risk assessment
Privately proposed and in fast-track consenting, but unfunded: its case leans on drawing National Land Transport Fund support under National's 2026 policy to fund the scheme as public transport, a mechanism a change of government could withdraw. Route, cost and financing are not yet consented.
Government priority alignment
LOW: National's 2026 South Island plan backs the scheme, but as private mass transit it sits outside the GPS's core road-investment priorities.
Recent changes
- 2026-W37Major New project added: Queenstown Cable Car (Gondola) (Planning, $400m).
Chronology
- 2025Southern Infrastructure lodges fast-track application (5 November)
- 2026Referred into the fast-track consenting process (2 April); ~$400m, targeted operation by ~2028 if it proceeds
- 2029expectedTe Waihanga has construction completing in Q3 2029, later than the ~2028 operation date reported when the project entered fast track
Source
Fast-track Approvals: Queenstown Cable Car project ↗ · Otago Daily Times: $400m airport to CBD cable car route outlined ↗ · RNZ: cable car companies target resort town ↗ · Te Waihanga National Infrastructure Pipeline: June 2026 quarter ↗