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Best time to visit · New Zealand
On the climate data, the best time to visit Queenstown is December – March, scoring up to 82/100 with highs around 65°F (18°C) and 3.7 in (95 mm) of rain in March. April and October & November are good shoulder-season months. The toughest months are June – August, mainly because of cool days.
Highs run from 44°F to 69°F across the year, and the yearly total is about 50.4 in (1279 mm) of rain.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg high | 69°F20°C | 68°F20°C | 65°F18°C | 58°F14°C | 51°F11°C | 46°F8°C | 44°F7°C | 48°F9°C | 53°F11°C | 56°F14°C | 62°F16°C | 66°F19°C |
| Avg low | 50°F10°C | 50°F10°C | 47°F9°C | 43°F6°C | 40°F4°C | 36°F2°C | 35°F2°C | 36°F2°C | 38°F4°C | 40°F5°C | 44°F7°C | 48°F9°C |
| Rain | 4.8 in121 mm | 3.9 in100 mm | 3.7 in95 mm | 3.9 in98 mm | 4.8 in121 mm | 4.1 in103 mm | 3.8 in96 mm | 3.5 in89 mm | 4.3 in110 mm | 4.6 in117 mm | 4.3 in109 mm | 4.7 in120 mm |
| Humidity | 78% | 79% | 82% | 87% | 92% | 94% | 93% | 91% | 87% | 84% | 81% | 79% |
| Cloud | 70% | 66% | 65% | 65% | 66% | 64% | 63% | 66% | 68% | 70% | 72% | 73% |
| Comfort | 77 | 81 | 82 | 71 | 56 | 50 | 49 | 54 | 59 | 64 | 73 | 76 |
Source: NASA POWER (public domain), 2001–2025 monthly averages on a ~50 km satellite and reanalysis grid, so coasts and valleys can differ from what's shown. Temperatures were adjusted from the grid cell's ~963 m (3,160 ft) to Queenstown's ~324 m (1,063 ft) elevation using the standard lapse rate of 6.5°C per 1,000 m. Precipitation includes snow as melted water; daylight is calculated from latitude. Check a forecast before you go.
Queenstown is in the Southern Hemisphere, so the seasons run opposite to North America and Europe.
The warmest stretch of the year, with highs of 66–69°F (19–20°C). It's the wettest season, with about 13.4 in (341 mm) of rain, 27% of the year's total. Lows bottom out around 48°F (9°C). Comfort peaks here: December – February rank with the year's best, and the season averages 78/100.
Temperatures slide from 65°F highs in March to 51°F by May. About 12.4 in (314 mm) of rain falls across these months, 25% of the year's total. Lows bottom out around 40°F (4°C). March is among the best-scoring months (season average 70/100).
The cold peaks here: highs of 44–48°F (7–9°C), and nights reach 35°F (2°C). It's the driest season, with only about 11.3 in (288 mm) of rain, 23% of the year's total. It holds the toughest stretch on our comfort score (June – August), averaging 51/100.
Temperatures climb through the season, from 53°F highs in September to 62°F by November. About 13.2 in (336 mm) of rain falls across these months, 26% of the year's total. Lows bottom out around 38°F (4°C). October & November score well without being the very best (season average 65/100).
By comfort score: 4 Great, 3 Good and 5 Fair. Great months: December – March. Tap a month for its own guide.
On the climate data, the best time to visit Queenstown is December – March, scoring up to 82/100 with highs around 65°F (18°C) and 3.7 in (95 mm) of rain in March. April and October & November are good shoulder-season months. The toughest months are June – August, mainly because of cool days.
January is the wettest month, averaging about 4.8 in (121 mm) of rain. August is the driest, with about 3.5 in (89 mm). The yearly total is around 50.4 in (1279 mm).
July is the coldest, with average lows of 35°F (2°C) and highs of 44°F (7°C). The warmest is January, with average highs of 69°F (20°C).
Not very: summer (December – February) humidity averages 79%, and highs peak around 69°F (20°C), so it rarely feels sticky.
Not on average: even in July, the coldest month, lows average 35°F (2°C). Individual cold snaps can still dip lower.
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