After the Motatapu Trail Marathon: Queenstown

The Route: Wānaka → Crown Range → Queenstown → Queenstown Airport Logistics: About one hour by road from Wānaka over the Crown Range, a winding, high road that can be affected by weather. The alternative is longer, by the Kawarau Gorge. Shuttles and buses run between the towns, so check the timetable. If you finished the race in Arrowtown, Queenstown is only about 20 minutes away by road. Marathon Month: March Duration: 1 night

Wānaka ──(about 1 hr by road, Crown Range)──> Queenstown
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Queenstown Airport (ZQN) <──(about 15 mins)───────┘

The Motatapu Trail Marathon finishes on Saturday at Wilcox Green in Arrowtown, and Queenstown is the obvious place to spend the night after it. It is 20 minutes from the finish, it has beds and food of every kind, and the lakefront is flat.

March in Queenstown: early autumn. Days are usually mild to warm, nights are cool, and the Remarkables often have clear skies. The town stays busy through the autumn, so book accommodation early.

Night One: The Lakefront and the Gondola

The path along Lake Wakatipu from the town centre past the wharf and around Queenstown Gardens is flat, paved and lined with benches. A gentle loop of the gardens takes about half an hour. It is the best recovery walk in town.

The Skyline Gondola climbs from the town to Bob's Peak in a few minutes and delivers a view over the lake and the Remarkables. It needs no leg power, so it suits a sore runner. Check the prices and the opening hours before you go.

The TSS Earnslaw, a coal-fired steamship launched on the lake in 1912, sails to Walter Peak high-country farm. Cruises are seasonal and run on set timetables, so check the schedule and book ahead.

For a bed, Novotel Queenstown Lakeside is a few minutes from the centre along the lake, and Eichardt's Private Hotel is on the waterfront for a more luxurious stay. Book early, as March is a busy time. For a meal, Fergburger in the centre has a queue that most visitors join at least once, and the restaurants on Steamer Wharf overlook the lake. Check opening hours and book on Friday and Saturday nights.

The Morning After

If you have an hour before you leave, walk to the lake edge and watch the boats. Queenstown Hill is a steep climb and should wait for another visit. A short drive to Arrowtown, if you did not linger there after the finish, is easy, and Buckingham Street has cafés and the Lakes District Museum.

Wet-Weather Backup

If the cloud sits low over the lake, Queenstown has plenty under cover. The Kiwi Birdlife Park near the gondola base has a small collection of native birds, including kiwi in a nocturnal house, and the paths are short and gently graded. Check the opening hours and the entry price. The Queenstown Gardens have a level path under mature trees that stays pleasant in light rain, and the town's cafés are used to soggy walkers. If you want something warmer, the hot pools offered by several operators near the town are a common recovery choice, but check the location, price and booking terms first.

Getting There from the Finish

If you are coming straight from Arrowtown after the race, remember that you will have a bag waiting at the finish Info Tent, and you will be tired. Book the accommodation in advance and confirm the check-in time. A taxi or shuttle is safer than driving after a long day, and the organiser's information pages will show whether any post-race transport is arranged. Check before the day.

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