Gondola revamp to boost capacity

Mark Quickfall.
Mark Quickfall.
Planning has started on a major overhaul for one of Queenstown's most prominent tourist attractions.

Owner Skyline Enterprises has confirmed it is preparing to redevelop its gondola operation, doubling its capacity to keep pace with visitor growth over the next 20 to 30 years.

That is on top of other planned new activities - gold panning, a zip line, jump tower and climbing wall.

Chairman Mark Quickfall said he could not put a figure on what the redevelopment would cost.

The target is for work to start in 2018.

There would be a ''close-down period'', he said.

''Unless you start planning now, you get caught out. People don't want to be queuing for half an hour or 40 minutes just to take a short gondola ride.''

A new gondola cableway would be the first since the present system was installed in 1987, he said.

At present, the 21 four-person cabins could take up to 700 customers an hour.

A larger gondola system would require a remodelled bottom terminal, Mr Quickfall said.

''We're going through at the moment to see what parts we can retain, but it would probably be fair to say it will pretty well be a rebuild.''

It was important burgeoning peak-time numbers did not turn into a negative visitor experience, Mr Quickfall said.

Project managers, planners and architects met on Tuesday as the company embarked on a two-year planning exercise.

Skyline plans include a larger gondola cableway to double capacity, an extended top terminal complex and a new bottom terminal.

The top terminal, housing attractions including restaurant and retail outlet, would be extended.

The present structure, with views over Lake Wakatipu and back to Coronet Peak, was built in 1994.

Destination Queenstown chief executive Graham Budd said it was pleasing Skyline was planning such a significant investment.

''I would put that in a similar category to the significant investment that NZSki has put into its skifields in recent times.

''These are long-term visionary investments.''

In the last financial year, to the end of March, the number of people riding the gondola rose 13.6% to 682,555.

scoop@scene.co.nz

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