Summer
Dec → Feb19 to 21°
nights 11 to 12°
- 12 rainy days · 117 mm
When is the best time to visit Queenstown?
- Jan21°recommended
- Feb20°recommended
- Mar18°recommended
- Apr15°fair
- May11°not recommended
- Jun7°fair
- Jul6°recommended
- Aug8°recommended
- Sep10°fair
- Oct13°not recommended
- Nov17°fair
- Dec19°recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Queenstown, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall | Rainy days | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21° | 12° | 110 mm | 11 d | ✓ |
| February | 20° | 12° | 118 mm | 11 d | ✓ |
| March | 18° | 10° | 98 mm | 11 d | ✓ |
| April | 15° | 8° | 114 mm | 13 d | |
| May | 11° | 5° | 130 mm | 13 d | |
| June | 7° | 2° | 99 mm | 12 d | |
| July | 6° | 1° | 127 mm | 14 d | ✓ |
| August | 8° | 2° | 98 mm | 14 d | ✓ |
| September | 10° | 3° | 168 mm | 13 d | |
| October | 13° | 5° | 136 mm | 15 d | |
| November | 17° | 8° | 116 mm | 14 d | |
| December | 19° | 11° | 124 mm | 15 d | ✓ |
The four seasons in Queenstown, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Queenstown) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Autumn
Mar → May11 to 18°
nights 5 to 10°
- 12 rainy days · 114 mm
Winter
Jun → Aug6 to 8°
nights 1 to 2°
- 13 rainy days · 108 mm
Spring
Sep → Nov10 to 17°
nights 3 to 8°
- 14 rainy days · 140 mm
Book early for December to March and July to August
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in Queenstown, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In December there are 15h36 of daylight, in June 8h47, a difference of 6h49.
15h14Jan
13h59Feb
12h32Mar
10h53Apr
9h31May
8h47Jun
9h05Jul
10h16Aug
11h52Sep
13h28Oct
14h53Nov
15h36Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Queenstown" (-45.03°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in Queenstown, month by month
EventsQueenstown Winter FestivalJuneArrowtown Autumn FestivalAprilDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Sightseeing & walks: January, February, March
- Long days: January, November, December
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall), not from an opinion.
What's on in Queenstown, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. One of these events fills the hotels and pushes prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- JuneQueenstown Winter Festival big crowds
Four days to open the ski season: a parade down the main street, fireworks over the lake and contests on the slopes.
- AprilArrowtown Autumn Festival
The village, turned golden by its poplars, celebrates its gold rush with a parade, markets and tours of the Chinese settlement.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Recommended21°12° at night
- 110 mm · 11 d
Busy, without the crush
February
Recommended20°12° at night
- 118 mm · 11 d
Busy, without the crush
March
Recommended18°10° at night
- 98 mm · 11 d
Busy, without the crush
April
Fair15°8° at night
- 114 mm · 13 d
Low season, lower prices
May
Not recommended11°5° at night
- 130 mm · 13 d
Low season, lower prices
June
Fair7°2° at night
- 99 mm · 12 d
Busy, without the crush
July
Recommended6°1° at night
- 127 mm · 14 d
High season, book early
August
Recommended8°2° at night
- 98 mm · 14 d
High season, book early
September
Fair10°3° at night
- 168 mm · 13 d
Low season, lower prices
October
Not recommended13°5° at night
- 136 mm · 15 d
Low season, lower prices
November
Fair17°8° at night
- 116 mm · 14 d
Low season, lower prices
December
Recommended19°11° at night
- 124 mm · 15 d
Busy, without the crush
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Mild, 21 °C in the afternoon and 12 °C early in the morning. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (110 mm). Busy season, without the crush.
February. Mild, 20 °C in the afternoon and 12 °C early in the morning. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (118 mm). Busy season, without the crush.
March. Mild, 18 °C in the afternoon and 10 °C early in the morning. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (98 mm). Busy season, without the crush.
April. Cool: 15 °C at best, 8 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (114 mm). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
May. Cool: 11 °C at best, 5 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (130 mm). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
June. Deep winter: 7 °C at the warmest of the day, 2 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (99 mm). Busy season, without the crush.
July. Deep winter: 6 °C at the warmest of the day, 1 °C at night. Frequent rain: 127 mm over 14 days. High season: book early.
August. Cool: 8 °C at best, 2 °C at night. Frequent rain: 98 mm over 14 days. High season: book early.
September. Cool: 10 °C at best, 3 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (168 mm). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
October. Cool: 13 °C at best, 5 °C at night. A very wet month, 136 mm of rain over 15 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
November. Cool: 17 °C at best, 8 °C at night. Frequent rain: 116 mm over 14 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 11 °C early in the morning. Frequent rain: 124 mm over 15 days. Busy season, without the crush.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Queenstown?
December to March and July to August: over these months, recorded highs range from 6 to 21 °C, with 13 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Queenstown).
Which month should you avoid in Queenstown?
October: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 136 mm over 15 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Queenstown).
What is the hottest month in Queenstown?
January, with 21 °C on average in the afternoon and 12 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Queenstown).
What is the coldest month in Queenstown?
July, with 6 °C at best during the day and 1 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Queenstown).
What is the driest month in Queenstown?
March: 98 mm over 11 days of rain, against 168 mm in September, the wettest month.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Queenstown guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit New Zealand: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
Compare with other destinations
Photos: Mari Anteroinen / Pexels · Lakshan Abey / Pexels · Rémih / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · Baptiste Valthier / Pexels · Jeffry Surianto / Pexels · Christopher Hiew / Pexels