In 2024, Queenstown's traffic landscape is dominated by car usage, with 100% of commuters relying on this mode of transport. The average commute time for drivers is relatively short, reflecting the city's compact layout and efficient road network.

Average Commute Times

The average commute time in Queenstown is 15 minutes, with most of this time spent driving.
  • Car - Car commuters spend approximately 14.33 minutes driving over an average distance of 7.17 km.
Traffic Breakdown
Car
100%
Seasonal Trends

Traffic tends to increase during the winter ski season, as tourists flock to Queenstown. Summer months see a rise in traffic due to outdoor festivals and events.

Commuter Pain Points

Limited public transport options force residents to rely heavily on cars. Tourist influx during peak seasons can lead to increased traffic congestion.

Best Travel Times

Early mornings and late evenings are the best times to travel to avoid tourist traffic. Weekdays generally have less congestion compared to weekends, especially during peak tourist seasons.

Event Impacts

Major events like the Queenstown Winter Festival can significantly impact traffic, causing delays. Local sporting events and concerts also contribute to temporary traffic spikes.

Sustainability Efforts

Queenstown is exploring initiatives to promote cycling and walking to reduce car dependency. The city is considering the introduction of electric buses to lower emissions.

Ride-Sharing Impact

Ride-sharing services are gaining popularity, offering an alternative to car ownership. These services help reduce the number of vehicles on the road, easing congestion.

Worldwide
New Zealand

Traffic Rankings

The Traffic Index for New Zealand combines user-contributed data on commute times, traffic dissatisfaction, CO2 emissions, and traffic system inefficiencies in New Zealand, to provide insights into overall traffic conditions.

Worst to BestUpdated: Feb, 2025

Traffic Data

The following traffic data has been gathered from 3 user contributions.
Overall average travel
Distance
4.5 miles
Walking
0.7 mins
Driving Car
14.3 mins
Total:
15.0 mins
Average when primarily using Car
Distance
4.5 miles
Walking
0.7 mins
Driving Car
14.3 mins
Total:
15.0 mins
Queenstown Traffic

"Key Takeaways"

Queenstown's reliance on cars presents opportunities to diversify transportation options.

Introducing public transport could significantly reduce CO2 emissions and improve traffic efficiency.

Key Indexes

Emissions

Queenstown has a high CO2 emission index of 3812.67, primarily due to the exclusive use of cars.

Efforts to reduce emissions could focus on promoting alternative transport modes.

Time

The time index of 15 indicates a relatively efficient commute time for drivers.

Despite the efficiency, reliance on cars could lead to future congestion issues.

Inefficiency

The inefficiency index stands at 49.85, suggesting room for improvement in traffic management.

Implementing public transport options could help alleviate inefficiencies.