Southern Infrastructure announces partners for Queenstown gondola projects

Southern Infrastructure Chief Executive Ross Copland said the evaluation process was extensive and highly competitive.

“We launched the formal tender in May and undertook a detailed assessment of design, quality, safety, deliverability and value for money. We’re fortunate to be working with two world-class suppliers who both bring deep experience in the New Zealand market.”

A rigorous international assessment

Southern Infrastructure began assessing ropeway technologies around 18 months ago including leading a study tour with key stakeholders to Austria, Paris and Singapore, and engagement with both established suppliers and emerging transport technologies.

“There are many ropeway technologies that fall under the broad definition of ‘cable car’, so it was critical we explored the full spectrum - from conventional gondolas to newer concepts,” Copland said. “What mattered most was high capacity, aviation-grade safety performance, financial strength, and a proven ability to deliver in New Zealand. For this specific urban transport application, gondola technology stood clearly above the rest.”

“Leitner and Doppelmayr are the world’s leading urban ropeways designers and manufacturers. Queenstown locals can take confidence knowing these are the same companies that have safely carried passengers up Bob’s Peak, Coronet Peak and The Remarkables for decades.”

Southern Infrastructure says it assessed a wide range of established and emerging transport technologies before selecting the preferred solution for the first two lines of the network.

“We looked broadly across the market,” Copland said. “That included engagement with international cable car providers, transport start-ups such as Whoosh, and hybrid concepts like Ropetaxi, which has recently entered commercial operation in Switzerland. We also assessed emerging platforms that combine conventional gondola and autonomous vehicle technology.”

“For the backbone of the network - we’ve selected a proven, build-ready system that can be delivered immediately. Queenstowners don’t want to be the Guinea pigs in a transport science project, they need reliable mass transit yesterday,” he said. “Importantly, the network has been designed to be future-ready, with the flexibility to integrate new technologies as they mature.”

“The door remains open to expanding the network with alternative technologies as they demonstrate reliability at scale.”

Airport to Town Centre line

Leitner was selected through a competitive bidding process for the Airport to Town Centre route, proposed to connect Queenstown Airport with the town centre via the Frankton Bus Hub. Indicative travel time is approximately 20 minutes, providing a reliable alternative to the congested Frankton Road while offering panoramic views across Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables.

Leitner is well known locally, having delivered major New Zealand installations including the Coronet Express, Sky Waka gondola and the new 8-seater chairlift at Mt Hutt.

“Our first step with Leitner is a pre-construction services agreement, which allows us to finalise the detailed engineering,” Copland said. “That work will underpin a design-and-build contract when the project is ready to proceed to construction.”

Frankton Bus Hub to Ladies Mile line

Doppelmayr has been selected to lead detailed design development for the Frankton Bus Hub to Ladies Mile line. The proposed route would connect the transport hub with the growing Ladies Mile residential and commercial area, via a station at the Queenstown Central precinct.

Doppelmayr has a long history in New Zealand, including construction of the country’s first detachable chairlifts and the recent Skyline Queenstown gondola redevelopment.

“Doppelmayr’s understanding of Queenstown’s environment, combined with strong local capability, will be invaluable as we refine this line in response to landowner and community feedback,” Copland said.

“Without a viable alternative to driving, SH6 faces increasing congestion pressure as Ladies Mile continues to develop.”

Project status and next steps

In addition to multiple public-sector business cases, the project recently received conditional endorsement from the Infrastructure Commission as a project of national significance, and a consent application has already been lodged. Southern Infrastructure - backed by technology entrepreneur Rod Drury - has been advancing the initiative since its inception.

With preferred suppliers now confirmed, the project will move into the next phase, including:

• Detailed design and engineering
• Environmental and technical assessments
• Landowner and community consultation

Construction is targeted to begin in 2027, with the first line anticipated to be operational by 2029, subject to confirmation of the appropriate consenting pathway and all necessary approvals.

“Locking in our preferred suppliers early provides clarity for landowners and stakeholders around tower locations, station design and easements for the ropeways,” Copland said. “Early next year we’ll be in a position to share more detail and work through feedback ahead of lodging our substantive consent application, subject to confirmation of the appropriate consenting pathway.”

“This project isn’t just about transport - it’s about unlocking Queenstown’s economic potential. By easing congestion and providing a reliable, sustainable alternative, we’re supporting local businesses to thrive by decoupling traffic growth from economic growth.”

Southern Infrastructure will host a public webinar in early 2026 to share further updates on the project. Registration details will be available at www.queenstowncablecar.com from mid-January.

About Southern Infrastructure Ltd

Southern Infrastructure Ltd is a Queenstown-based, private infrastructure development company established to deliver complex, high-impact projects that improve long-term social, environmental and economic outcomes in the Southern Lakes region.

Over the past 18 months, Southern Infrastructure has led the early-stage development of the Queenstown Cable Car, undertaking technical feasibility, route and station investigations, environmental and planning assessments, commercial modelling, market-led procurement, engagement with landowners and key stakeholders, and the preparation and lodging of a referral application with a wider project team under the Fast-track Approvals framework.

The selection of preferred suppliers marks one milestone within this broader programme of work. It is a deliberate step to ensure the project is sufficiently defined to support informed engagement, with early supplier input helping to clarify key technical parameters - including towers, stations and ropeway requirements - ahead of the substantive application.

The Queenstown Cable Car is designed to transform mobility in New Zealand’s most significant international visitor destination. Continued population and visitor growth are placing increasing pressure on the road network, with corridors such as State Highway 6A now persistent bottlenecks.

The proposed electric gondola network will operate above the road corridor, providing a congestion-free alternative capable of carrying up to 3,000 passengers per hour, per direction. It supports electrification goals while minimising land take and construction disruption, with recent advances in urban gondola technology making it one of the most urban-friendly public transport solutions available today.