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Best time to visit Queenstown

The best time to visit Queenstown is February, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.

Queenstown, Otago, New Zealand

°C

mm

−10°0°10°20°30°40°
0100200300400500
  • Average daily high and low
  • Precipitation
  • Good month
  • Best month
  • Made good or best by an event
Average daily high and low temperature, average precipitation and each month's verdict
MonthAverage daily highAverage daily lowPrecipitationVerdict
January16.6 °C / 62 °F7.2 °C / 45 °F124 mm / 4.9 ingood month
February16.6 °C / 62 °F7.4 °C / 45 °F91 mm / 3.6 inbest month
March14.6 °C / 58 °F5.9 °C / 43 °F96 mm / 3.8 ingood month
April11.2 °C / 52 °F3.6 °C / 38 °F105 mm / 4.1 inneither best nor good
May6.9 °C / 44 °F0.6 °C / 33 °F126 mm / 4.9 inneither best nor good
June2.9 °C / 37 °F-2.3 °C / 28 °F90 mm / 3.5 inneither best nor good
July1.9 °C / 35 °F-3.1 °C / 26 °F105 mm / 4.1 inneither best nor good
August3.3 °C / 38 °F-2 °C / 28 °F90 mm / 3.6 inneither best nor good
September5.7 °C / 42 °F-1.1 °C / 30 °F147 mm / 5.8 inneither best nor good
October8.7 °C / 48 °F0.5 °C / 33 °F146 mm / 5.7 inneither best nor good
November12.4 °C / 54 °F3.5 °C / 38 °F113 mm / 4.4 ingood month
December15.1 °C / 59 °F6.3 °C / 43 °F122 mm / 4.8 ingood month
Good and best months depend on more than temperature, rain and events. How they are chosen

Each activity on this page has its own good and best months, rated on twenty years of daily weather records. Which measures count, and how much, depends on the activity: humidity for exploring outdoors, wind for the beach, hiking and skiing, snow for skiing alone. Between them, the activities are rated on:

  • Daytime highs
  • Night-time lows
  • How warm it feels
  • Humidity
  • How much of the day is sunny
  • Hours of daylight
  • Monthly rainfall
  • How many days it rains
  • Days of heavy rain
  • Wind
  • Snowfall and days with snow
  • Major events, such as festivals

The chart shows the good and best months for exploring outdoors.

The event icon marks a month that an event lifts to good or best, such as a festival or a natural spectacle. Choose “Weather only” in the toolbar to rate the months on weather alone.

Best months by activity

Exploring outdoors

Mild days and nights, mostly dry and bright. The default for 'when should I go'.

  1. JJanuary: good
  2. FFebruary: best
  3. MMarch: good
  4. AApril: neither
  5. MMay: neither
  6. JJune: neither
  7. JJuly: neither
  8. AAugust: neither
  9. SSeptember: neither
  10. OOctober: neither
  11. NNovember: good
  12. DDecember: good
Best
February
Good
March, November–January

Queenstown's outdoor season peaks in February and is good through January, March and November-December, when mild temperatures and long sunny days offset persistent rain and humidity; from April the weather turns increasingly cold, dark, humid and wet through winter and the very wet September-October shoulder.

Why these months

  • January · good

    In its favour: feels like (high) 15.9 °C / 61 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 74%, average daily high 16.6 °C / 62 °F, precipitation 124 mm / 4.9 in, average daily low 7.2 °C / 45 °F.

    Against: wet days 11.8 days, days with heavy rain 4.3 days, relative humidity 72%.

    Also on: Chinese New Year visitors, Coronet Peak and Cardrona summer bike parks, Great Walks season (Milford & Routeburn Tracks), Off the Rails guided cycle tours (Otago Rail Trail), Queenstown Garden Tours.

    Watch out for: Christmas and New Year booking rush, Kiwi summer school holidays.

  • February · best

    In its favour: feels like (high) 15.8 °C / 60 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 76%, average daily high 16.6 °C / 62 °F, precipitation 91 mm / 3.6 in, average daily low 7.4 °C / 45 °F.

    Against: wet days 9.8 days, days with heavy rain 3 days, relative humidity 73%.

    Also on: Chinese New Year visitors, Coronet Peak and Cardrona summer bike parks, Great Walks season (Milford & Routeburn Tracks), New Zealand Open (golf, Millbrook Resort), Off the Rails guided cycle tours (Otago Rail Trail), Queenstown Garden Tours.

  • March · good

    In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 74%, feels like (high) 13.1 °C / 56 °F, precipitation 96 mm / 3.8 in, average daily high 14.6 °C / 58 °F, average daily low 5.9 °C / 43 °F.

    Against: wet days 10.9 days, days with heavy rain 3.6 days, relative humidity 77%.

    Also on: Great Walks season (Milford & Routeburn Tracks), Off the Rails guided cycle tours (Otago Rail Trail), Vineyard harvest season.

  • November · good

    In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 76%, precipitation 113 mm / 4.4 in.

    Against: feels like (high) 11 °C / 52 °F, average daily high 12.4 °C / 54 °F, wet days 13.6 days, days with heavy rain 3.8 days, relative humidity 75%, average daily low 3.5 °C / 38 °F.

    Also on: Great Walks season (Milford & Routeburn Tracks), Mountain and e-bike season (Queenstown Trails), Newborn lambs, Off the Rails guided cycle tours (Otago Rail Trail), Queenstown Garden Tours, Queenstown Marathon, Spring blossom.

    Watch out for: Queenstown Marathon crowds.

  • December · good

    In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 73%, feels like (high) 14.1 °C / 57 °F, average daily high 15.1 °C / 59 °F, precipitation 122 mm / 4.8 in, average daily low 6.3 °C / 43 °F.

    Against: wet days 14.4 days, days with heavy rain 4.3 days, relative humidity 72%.

    Also on: Coronet Peak and Cardrona summer bike parks, Great Walks season (Milford & Routeburn Tracks), Off the Rails guided cycle tours (Otago Rail Trail), Queenstown Garden Tours.

    Watch out for: Christmas and New Year booking rush, Christmas Day shop closures, Kiwi summer school holidays.

Hiking and trekking

Cool enough to climb in, dry enough to enjoy, long enough days.

  1. JJanuary: good
  2. FFebruary: best
  3. MMarch: best
  4. AApril: good
  5. MMay: neither
  6. JJune: neither
  7. JJuly: neither
  8. AAugust: neither
  9. SSeptember: neither
  10. OOctober: neither
  11. NNovember: good
  12. DDecember: good
Best
February–March
Good
April, November–January

Trails are at their best in February-March when rain is lightest, and good through the mild, long-day months of January, April and November-December; the cold, short, wet winter from May through October is too cold and rain-soaked, especially the very wet September-October shoulder.

Why these months

  • January · good

    In its favour: average daily high 16.6 °C / 62 °F, feels like (high) 15.9 °C / 61 °F, average daily low 7.2 °C / 45 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 74%, daylight per day 15.2 h, precipitation 124 mm / 4.9 in, wind (daily max) 11 km/h / 7 mph.

    Against: days with heavy rain 4.3 days, wet days 11.8 days.

    Also on: Chinese New Year visitors, Coronet Peak and Cardrona summer bike parks, Great Walks season (Milford & Routeburn Tracks), Off the Rails guided cycle tours (Otago Rail Trail), Queenstown Garden Tours.

    Watch out for: Christmas and New Year booking rush, Kiwi summer school holidays.

  • February · best

    In its favour: average daily high 16.6 °C / 62 °F, precipitation 91 mm / 3.6 in, feels like (high) 15.8 °C / 60 °F, average daily low 7.4 °C / 45 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 76%, daylight per day 13.9 h, wind (daily max) 9 km/h / 6 mph.

    Against: days with heavy rain 3 days, wet days 9.8 days.

    Also on: Chinese New Year visitors, Coronet Peak and Cardrona summer bike parks, Great Walks season (Milford & Routeburn Tracks), New Zealand Open (golf, Millbrook Resort), Off the Rails guided cycle tours (Otago Rail Trail), Queenstown Garden Tours.

  • March · best

    In its favour: average daily high 14.6 °C / 58 °F, precipitation 96 mm / 3.8 in, feels like (high) 13.1 °C / 56 °F, average daily low 5.9 °C / 43 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 74%, daylight per day 12.4 h, wind (daily max) 9 km/h / 6 mph.

    Against: days with heavy rain 3.6 days, wet days 10.9 days.

    Also on: Great Walks season (Milford & Routeburn Tracks), Off the Rails guided cycle tours (Otago Rail Trail), Vineyard harvest season.

  • April · good

    In its favour: average daily high 11.2 °C / 52 °F, precipitation 105 mm / 4.1 in, share of daylight that is sunny 69%, average daily low 3.6 °C / 38 °F, feels like (high) 9 °C / 48 °F, daylight per day 10.8 h, wind (daily max) 9 km/h / 5 mph.

    Against: wet days 11.8 days, days with heavy rain 3.5 days, sunshine per day 7.5 h.

    Also on: Arrowtown Autumn Festival, Autumn colours, Great Walks season (Milford & Routeburn Tracks), Off the Rails guided cycle tours (Otago Rail Trail), Vineyard harvest season.

    Watch out for: Anzac Day morning shop closures.

  • November · good

    In its favour: average daily high 12.4 °C / 54 °F, precipitation 113 mm / 4.4 in, feels like (high) 11 °C / 52 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 76%, daylight per day 14.8 h, average daily low 3.5 °C / 38 °F, wind (daily max) 11 km/h / 7 mph.

    Against: wet days 13.6 days, days with heavy rain 3.8 days.

    Also on: Great Walks season (Milford & Routeburn Tracks), Mountain and e-bike season (Queenstown Trails), Newborn lambs, Off the Rails guided cycle tours (Otago Rail Trail), Queenstown Garden Tours, Queenstown Marathon, Spring blossom.

    Watch out for: Queenstown Marathon crowds.

  • December · good

    In its favour: average daily high 15.1 °C / 59 °F, feels like (high) 14.1 °C / 57 °F, average daily low 6.3 °C / 43 °F, precipitation 122 mm / 4.8 in, share of daylight that is sunny 73%, daylight per day 15.5 h, wind (daily max) 11 km/h / 7 mph.

    Against: wet days 14.4 days, days with heavy rain 4.3 days.

    Also on: Coronet Peak and Cardrona summer bike parks, Great Walks season (Milford & Routeburn Tracks), Off the Rails guided cycle tours (Otago Rail Trail), Queenstown Garden Tours.

    Watch out for: Christmas and New Year booking rush, Christmas Day shop closures, Kiwi summer school holidays.

Skiing and snow

Wants cold and snowfall; sunshine barely matters.

  1. JJanuary: neither
  2. FFebruary: neither
  3. MMarch: neither
  4. AApril: neither
  5. MMay: good
  6. JJune: best
  7. JJuly: best
  8. AAugust: best
  9. SSeptember: best
  10. OOctober: good
  11. NNovember: neither
  12. DDecember: neither
Best
June–September
Good
May, October

Queenstown's ski season runs solidly from June through September with cold temperatures and heavy, consistent snowfall, extending to good in the snow-building May and the warmer, melt-prone October; the rest of the year is far too warm with negligible snow.

Why these months

  • May · good

    In its favour: days with snow 8 days, wind (daily max) 8 km/h / 5 mph, daylight per day 9.5 h.

    Against: snowfall 20 cm / 7.8 in, average daily high 6.9 °C / 44 °F, average daily low 0.6 °C / 33 °F.

    Also on: Autumn colours, Off the Rails guided cycle tours (Otago Rail Trail), Vineyard harvest season.

  • June · best

    In its favour: snowfall 27 cm / 10.6 in, average daily high 2.9 °C / 37 °F, days with snow 10.7 days, average daily low -2.3 °C / 28 °F, wind (daily max) 6 km/h / 4 mph, daylight per day 8.8 h.

    Also on: Winter sports season.

  • July · best

    In its favour: snowfall 35 cm / 13.9 in, average daily high 1.9 °C / 35 °F, days with snow 14.3 days, average daily low -3.1 °C / 26 °F, wind (daily max) 5 km/h / 3 mph, daylight per day 9.1 h.

    Also on: Winter sports season.

    Watch out for: New Zealand/Australia school winter holidays.

  • August · best

    In its favour: snowfall 27 cm / 10.5 in, days with snow 13.3 days, average daily high 3.3 °C / 38 °F, average daily low -2 °C / 28 °F, wind (daily max) 6 km/h / 3 mph, daylight per day 10.3 h.

    Also on: Winter sports season.

  • September · best

    In its favour: snowfall 35 cm / 13.6 in, days with snow 11.8 days, average daily low -1.1 °C / 30 °F, wind (daily max) 8 km/h / 5 mph, daylight per day 11.8 h.

    Against: average daily high 5.7 °C / 42 °F.

    Also on: Off the Rails guided cycle tours (Otago Rail Trail), Queenstown Garden Tours, Winter sports season.

  • October · good

    In its favour: snowfall 33 cm / 13 in, days with snow 10.7 days, wind (daily max) 10 km/h / 6 mph, daylight per day 13.3 h.

    Against: average daily high 8.7 °C / 48 °F, average daily low 0.5 °C / 33 °F.

    Also on: Great Walks season (Milford & Routeburn Tracks), Mountain and e-bike season (Queenstown Trails), Newborn lambs, Off the Rails guided cycle tours (Otago Rail Trail), Queenstown Garden Tours, Spring blossom.

An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is The Remarkables Ski Area, 11 km away.

Weather averages

Monthly averages over twenty years, 2006–2025. Highs, lows and precipitation are in the chart at the top.

  JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Feels like (high) 15.9 °C15.8 °C13.1 °C9 °C4.5 °C0.3 °C-0.8 °C0.7 °C3.1 °C6.5 °C11 °C14.1 °C
Days with heavy rain 4.3 days3 days3.6 days3.5 days4.3 days2.4 days3.1 days2.8 days5 days4.8 days3.8 days4.3 days
Time rain usually falls 3 pm6 am1 pm8 am9 am7 am2 am8 am6 am1 pm5 pm9 am
Sunshine per day 11.2 h10.6 h9.2 h7.5 h5.6 h4.8 h4.8 h6.7 h8.5 h9.9 h11.2 h11.4 h
Relative humidity 72%73%77%81%88%92%92%91%86%80%75%72%

Air quality

Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above, and not counted towards good or best months.

  JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Air pollution (PM2.5) 2022–20252.9 µg/m³2.4 µg/m³1.8 µg/m³1.3 µg/m³1 µg/m³1.1 µg/m³1.4 µg/m³1.7 µg/m³2.1 µg/m³2.3 µg/m³2.4 µg/m³2.3 µg/m³
Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–20254.8 µg/m³4.5 µg/m³3.7 µg/m³2.7 µg/m³2.2 µg/m³2.2 µg/m³2.9 µg/m³3.5 µg/m³4.6 µg/m³4.9 µg/m³4.8 µg/m³4.2 µg/m³
  • Good 15 µg/m³ or less
  • Fair 15 to 25 µg/m³
  • Moderate 25 to 37.5 µg/m³
  • Poor 37.5 to 50 µg/m³
  • Very poor 50 to 75 µg/m³
  • Extremely poor over 75 µg/m³

Each figure is compared with the World Health Organization's guideline for a day's air, 15 µg/m³ or less, and with its interim targets above that. The words are ours: the WHO does not name its steps. The figures are modelled monthly averages, so single days can be well above them. The daily peak is the average of each day's highest hour, shaded on the same scale.

Events and seasons

What the weather records cannot show. A major event can lift a month to good or best. The warnings are there to help you plan, and never count against a month.

Reasons to go

  • Great Walks season (Milford & Routeburn Tracks)

    January, February, March, April, October, November and December

  • Chinese New Year visitors

    January and February, dates vary from year to year

  • Coronet Peak and Cardrona summer bike parks

    January, February and December

  • Off the Rails guided cycle tours (Otago Rail Trail)

    January, February, March, April, May, September, October, November and December

  • Queenstown Garden Tours

    January, February, September, October, November and December

  • New Zealand Open (golf, Millbrook Resort)

    20–28 February, dates vary from year to year

  • Vineyard harvest season

    March, April and May

  • Autumn colours

    April and May

  • Arrowtown Autumn Festival

    10–20 April, dates vary from year to year

  • Winter sports season

    June, July, August and September

  • Spring blossom

    October and November

  • Newborn lambs

    October and November

  • Mountain and e-bike season (Queenstown Trails)

    October and November

  • Queenstown Marathon

    8–21 November, dates vary from year to year

Worth knowing before you go

  • Kiwi summer school holidays

    15 December–31 January

  • Christmas and New Year booking rush

    19 December–11 January, dates vary from year to year

  • Anzac Day morning shop closures

    25 April

  • New Zealand/Australia school winter holidays

    July, dates vary from year to year

  • Queenstown Marathon crowds

    8–21 November, dates vary from year to year

  • Christmas Day shop closures

    25 December

Other places in New Zealand

Compare places month by month on the travel calendar

Monthly averages over 2006–2025, unless stated otherwise.

Weather data by Open-Meteo.com (CC-BY 4.0), generated using Copernicus Climate Change Service information (ERA5). City data from GeoNames (CC-BY 4.0). Air quality from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) and sea temperature from Météo-France / Copernicus Marine, both via Open-Meteo.com. Coastline from Natural Earth. Ski areas from OpenSkiMap.org, © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Skimap.org. World Heritage sites from Wikidata (CC0), from the World Heritage List © UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Readership from Wikimedia pageview data (CC0). Destination classification derived from English Wikivoyage, © Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).