When to go · Queenstown, New Zealand
Best time to visit Queenstown
The sweet spot is January, February and December — averages 16°C, 7 rainy days, peak-season crowds and peak prices.
December - February, June - August
Queenstown is a year-round destination with two distinct peak seasons. Summer (December-February): long days (light until 10pm), warm temperatures (22-28 degrees C), the best conditions for hiking, lake activities, wine tasting in the Gibbston Valley, and the Milford Sound road trip. The walking tracks (Routeburn, Kepler, Milford) are fully open. Winter (June-August): heavy snowfall on the Remarkables and Coronet Peak ski fields - Queenstown is New Zealand's premier ski destination. The skiing runs from June to September. Autumn (March-May) is perhaps the finest time: the vineyards of Central Otago turn crimson and gold, the crowds thin, and the light is extraordinary. Spring (September-November) brings wildflowers and warming temperatures as the ski season ends.
The short answer
16°C · 7 rainy days · high season
16°C · 7 rainy days · high season
15°C · 8 rainy days · high season
Hardest months: June and July. averages a raw 3°C, 9 rainy days, peak-season crowds and peak prices.
Month by month
| Month | Avg temp | Rain days | Crowds | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 16°C | 7d | high | Great weather, peak crowds |
| February | 16°C | 7d | high | Great weather, peak crowds |
| March | 13°C | 8d | high | Mild |
| April | 10°C | 8d | mid | Chilly |
| May | 6°C | 8d | mid | Cold |
| June | 3°C | 9d | high | Cold |
| July | 3°C | 9d | high | Cold |
| August | 5°C | 8d | high | Cold |
| September | 8°C | 8d | mid | Chilly |
| October | 11°C | 9d | mid | Chilly |
| November | 13°C | 9d | mid | Mild |
| December | 15°C | 8d | high | Mild |
Verdicts are read off the three columns to their left — temperature distance from 21°C first, then rainfall, with crowds breaking ties. Averages, so any given week can differ.
Book the month you picked
Fares move with the same seasons as the crowds — the quiet months above are usually the cheap ones to fly.