All six New Zealand-based teams will move to the resort this weekend, in an effort to minimise the threat of Covid-19 sidelining any of the teams for a 10-day isolation period.
Both the Highlanders and Crusaders will bus, while the four North Island team will travel via charter flight.
The draw will remain as it was, although the games will be played without crowds as per the red traffic light restrictions.
Day matches will be played in Queenstown at the Wakatipu Rugby Club, while teams will bus to and from Rugby Park in Invercargill for any night matches.
New Zealand Rugby general manager of professional rugby and performance Chris Lendrum said it was a hoped to be a temporary measure.
There were plans for teams to return to their home bases and regular venues in March.
The timing of the move is based on recent modelling of likely infection rates.
Squads will operate in separate bubbles, with exclusive use of training facilities in the Queenstown area.
Teams will stay in local hotels and will utilise Covid-19 protocols, successfully implemented by the All Blacks during last year’s Tudor Northern Tour.
While players and staff will be able to undertake some outdoor activities during their stay, they will remain in their team bubbles at all times and will be subject to regular rapid antigen tests.
Lendrum also said NZR was committed to playing the new women’s Super Rugby Aupiki.
It is weighing the options on how to manage the tournament and four Super Rugby Aupiki squads.
