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District-wide speed management review

Te Arotakenga o te Whakahaere Tere ā-rohe

Queenstown Lakes District Council is responsible for setting safe and appropriate speed limits on our local roads.

Safer Speeds 2026

In 2026, a speed management review was undertaken for the whole district.

Queenstown Lakes District Councillors approved the 2026 Speed Management Plan at a Full Council meeting on Thursday 27 August.

The plan includes 76 speed limit changes across the district, with 53 in the Whakatipu Basin and 23 in Upper Clutha.

Key changes include:

  • Glenorchy-Queenstown Road: Speed limits will reduce to 60km/h through the settlement areas of One Mile, Wilsons Bay, and Bobs Cove, 80km/h between the settlements, and 90km/h between Wyuna Station and Bobs Cove.

  • Malaghans Road: The speed limit on Malaghans Road and surrounding roads, including Alan Reids Road, Coronet Peak Station Road and Coronet View Road, will reduce from 100km/h to 80km/h.

  • Queenstown town centre: Pedestrian-focused streets, including Beach Street, Rees Street, Marine Parade, Cow Lane and The Mall, will become 10km/h shared spaces. Nearby streets, including Brecon Street, Hay Street and Park Street, will be reduced to 30km/h.

  • School zones: Speed limits will be lowered around Wakatipu High School and Hāwea Flat School. This includes a permanent 60km/h limit and a variable 30km/h school speed limit on Kane Road near Hāwea Flat School.

  • Hāwea growth area: Cemetery Road will reduce from 80km/h to 70km/h, and sections of Domain Road will move to 50km/h.

  • New residential areas: Several growing urban areas, including Ladies Mile, Hanley’s Farm, Bullendale, Lake McKay (Luggate), Kingston and Homestead Bay, will move from default speed limits of 100km/h to 40km/h.

  • Windmill Corner: Roads around the Windmill Corner intersection along Kane Road will reduce from 100km/h to 60km/h.

The approved 2026 Speed Management Plan will now be submitted to the Director of Land Transport for approval. The new speeds will then be entered into the National Speed Limit Register enabling them to become permanent and legally enforceable, with changes to on-road signage to follow. Speed limit changes will be progressively implemented across the district over the coming months, supported by public education and awareness activities.