A new $50 million gondola proposal has been announced today linking downtown Queenstown to The Remarkables alpine area.
The proposal has been made by investment and development company Porter Group Ltd and if approved, could be up and running in three years' time.
The year-round 9.8km long gondola will operate from a Gondola Events Plaza adjacent to Remarkables Park Town Centre and link to NZSki's new base building at The Remarkables.
Porter Group chairman Alastair Porter says Queenstown plays a key role in attracting visitors to New Zealand and it was important to invest in tourist infrastructure to "keep refreshing and enhancing our international appeal".
Gondola route plan (Supplied)
The project will offer a panoramic view of some of the country's most spectacular scenery, including the Shotover and Kawarau Rivers, a high country station and the Southern Alps.
The 140 eight-person cabins will span up to 500 metres, with a vertical climb of 1270 metres.
"In winter the proposed gondola will give skiers, boarders and sightseers easy access to NZSki's facilities. It will further boost Queenstown's world-class visitor experience, and has the potential to deliver immeasurable economic benefits to the resort town's many businesses," says leading New Zealand tourism consultant Stephen Hamilton.
The gondola is based on a design by American gondola and chairlift company Leitner-Poma. It will access the NZSki base building without crossing the iconic western front of The Remarkables by a specially designed route.
Indicative image of a Leitner-Poma gondola (Supplied)
Mr Porter says the gondola would appeal to sightseers, hikers, climbers, mountain bikers and wedding couples or conference and incentive groups.
"The 'wow' factor of being able to leverage Queenstown's world-renowned scenic environment via a gondola will make Queenstown a highly sought-after international conferencing destination," he says.
Mr Porters say work on the project has been on-going for many years. Submissions have been lodged with the Queenstown Lakes District Council, and a resource consent application will be lodged early next year. The gondola is estimated to take up to 18 months to build.
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