Moving People, Not Mountains.
A Shared Future: The Queenstown Cable Car
Quiet, clean, and efficient, the Queenstown Cable Car is designed to connect key destinations, providing much-needed relief to Queenstown’s congested arterial roads. It represents a transformational investment in Queenstown’s transport future, helping protect the environment and improve daily life for residents and visitors alike.
Key Attributes:
- Around 20 minutes from the airport to the town centre.
- Carries up to 3,000 people per hour each way.
- Cabins depart every 12 seconds.
- Spacious, 10 passenger cabins for comfortable travel.
- Fully electric and zero emissions.
- Consistent travel times, reliable in all weather.
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“The biggest frustration from residents and visitors alike is congestion on roads. We’re geographically constrained. Going above ground gives us an option to move people without taking up land we don’t have.”
Public Transport, Elevated
Key Benefits
- Faster connections
- between key destinations
- Reliable travel times
- even at peak periods
- Powered by renewable energy
- with low emissions
- Reduced congestion
- by shifting trips off the road network allowing those who really need to drive the space to do so
- Rapid to build
- delivered in months not years, with construction largely outside road corridors to minimise disruption
- Economic resilience
- through improved access for residents, workers, and visitors
Route
The Numbers
Not the only solution. The one that scales.
- 10+ million car trips a year
- On Frankton Road - and growing, with limited ability to expand road capacity
- 6 million fewer car trips every year
- Delivered by the Queenstown Cable Car through long-term mode shift within 20 years
- The Equivalent of a 50-seater Bus Every Minute
- In each direction, providing continuous capacity roads cannot deliver
- A Step-Change in Transport Capacity
- Operating above the road network, adding new capacity rather than competing with it
- Lower labour per passenger
- Enabled by autonomous ropeway technology
“As one of the fastest growing regions in NZ, the Cable Car will enhance the experience for both visitors and residents, improve critical business productivity, and is uniquely suited to our challenging topography. It is also a solution that aligns with our district’s environmental ambitions and represents a forward-thinking approach to sustaining Queenstown’s economic vitality and quality of life. This project is not only important for our local economy, but wider New Zealand.”
International Examples
Not New. Just Smart. Cable car transport systems operate successfully in cities and mountain regions worldwide, easing congestion and improving connectivity.
Design Principles
The project is progressing with openness and collaboration, guided by clear design principles:
Low Impact
Fully electric with minimal noise and environmental footprint.
Considered Design
Reduced physical and visual impact wherever possible.
Safe & Reliable
Meets or exceeds all relevant standards.
Enduring Sustainability
Built for long-term benefit and rapid implementation.
Southern Infrastructure is a private infrastructure company established to help deliver critical public infrastructure projects New Zealand urgently needs, where traditional delivery pathways has not kept pace. We combine private capital with deep capability to accelerate solutions that improve liveability, resilience, and long-term community outcomes.
With deep roots in Queenstown and a strong understanding of the region, we bring together expertise across asset management, property and development, legal and policy, planning, Māori environmental leadership, engineering, and investment. We've seen how fast-growing communities can be held back by constrained networks and slow delivery models - and we're here to help create a different future.
Our approach is simple:
People first, partnership always, delivery with certainty.
We work alongside mana whenua, landowners, community groups, local and central government, and technical specialists to design and deliver infrastructure that reflects the needs and aspirations of the places it serves. Our projects are shaped by early engagement, cultural and environmental stewardship, and a commitment to transparent communication.
The Queenstown Cable Car is our current priority project – a modern, high-capacity transport solution designed to ease congestion, cut emissions, and support a more connected future for the region. It is the first step in a broader programme of work. Southern Infrastructure is building a pipeline of public-good initiatives across transport, health, resilience, and community infrastructure.
We are not here to build attractions.
We are here to build the infrastructure New Zealand needs – smart, sustainable, future-ready solutions that support thriving communities for decades to come.
Meet The Team
Ross Copland
Director & CEO, Southern Infrastructure
Respected infrastructure leader with 20 years' experience across the development, construction and operation of major assets. Ross brings sector experience spanning seven years in the ski industry – including four years in Queenstown leading the Coronet Peak team – and previously served as CEO of the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, where he led the development of New Zealand's 30-year infrastructure strategy.
Rod Drury
Strategic Partner, Southern Infrastructure
Founder and former CEO of Xero. Entrepreneur, investor, and venture philanthropist driving innovation across technology, infrastructure, and economic development.
Jenna Adamson
Director, Southern Infrastructure
CEO of Rod Drury's Family Office and former commercial property partner of a leading law firm. Specialist in property, commercial strategy, large-scale investment and development, and legislative frameworks.
Jana Davis
Southern Infrastructure
Waitaha, Kāti Mamoe, Kāi Tahu. CEO of Te Tapu o Tāne. Leader in tribal development, environmental restoration, and regenerative strategy grounded in whenua, tikanga, and mana motuhake.
“A cable car will be an innovative and much-needed addition to our transport network, but its success relies on being supported by a safe, integrated pedestrian, bike and scooter network. These active routes are essential feeder links and critical for achieving the mode-shift targets our region urgently needs. High-capacity, off-road public transport has a vital role to play, but it must be backed by bold action from decision-makers. Bring on the cable car -and for everyone’s sake, support it with the active network that makes it work.”
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Landowner Engagement
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