Queenstown business leaders have rallied together to explore the possibility of the Whoosh transport system becoming a reality.
A group of Queenstown business leaders have joined forces to undertake a feasibility study and consenting pathway for Whoosh, an electric transport solution to tackle the town’s congestion challenges.
The consortium of leaders from NZSki, Remarkables Park, Skyline, Queenstown Airport Corporation, Technology Queenstown and Queenstown Resort College has initiated the work to consider whether a staged network of autonomous electric vehicles running on cables and rails above existing roads can significantly improve transport options for Queenstown’s residents and visitors.
The announcement of the consortium’s formation was made on the first day of Electrify Queenstown 2026, New Zealand’s premier event on electrification, clean energy and sustainable business.
The group is applying its extensive capabilities and experience to advance a networked transport solution for Queenstown. They have also opened discussions with Southern Infrastructure, the company promoting the Queenstown Cable Car proposal, and will continue to explore possible opportunities to ensure Queenstown’s transport options are fully optimised.
“Traffic congestion in Queenstown is affecting daily commutes, business productivity and the visitor experience. It has real costs for locals and the town’s reputation, and there is an urgent need to explore new approaches alongside traditional public transport options,” explained group spokesman Matthew Day.
“The businesses behind this work, like all residents, depend on Queenstown functioning well. That gives us all the incentive and the responsibility to help progress practical solutions.”
The Whoosh network is proposed to be staged, with an initial focus on local journeys along Frankton Road, from downtown to the airport through and around Remarkables Park to the The Remarkables Ski Area Transport Hub on the southern side of the Kawarau River.
Whoosh works as a network of routes that can be easily added to in a modular manner, supporting and integrating with other transport options to form an integrated multi-modal distribution network. That flexibility means Whoosh could serve everyday travel patterns across and around urban Queenstown, including key local destinations like Wakatipu High School, supermarkets, and residential suburbs.
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