Best time to visit Queenstown
Go inMarch
J22°F22°M19°A15°M11°J8°J8°A10°S13°O16°N18°D21°
Two peaks: summer adventure and winter skiing.
See Queenstown on the globeQueenstown month by month
| Month | Rating | Avg high | Rain | Crowds | Flights | What’s on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Good | 22°C | Some rain | Peak crowds | Priciest | – |
| February | Good | 22°C | Some rain | Peak crowds | Priciest | – |
| March | Great | 19°C | Some rain | Moderate | Average | Autumn colours |
| April | Good | 15°C | Some rain | Moderate | Average | Autumn colours |
| May | Mixed | 11°C | Some rain | Quiet | Cheapest | – |
| June | Mixed | 8°C | Some rain | Moderate | Average | Ski season |
| July | Mixed | 8°C | Some rain | Peak crowds | Priciest | Ski season |
| August | Mixed | 10°C | Some rain | Peak crowds | Priciest | Ski season |
| September | Mixed | 13°C | Some rain | Moderate | Average | Ski season |
| October | Good | 16°C | Some rain | Quiet | Cheapest | – |
| November | Good | 18°C | Some rain | Moderate | Average | – |
| December | Good | 21°C | Some rain | Peak crowds | Priciest | – |
Festivals, events and seasons in Queenstown
- Mar–Apr🌿 Autumn coloursGolden poplars around Arrowtown.
- Jun–Sep🌿 Ski seasonCoronet Peak and The Remarkables.
Good to know
- Flights to Queenstown are usually cheapest in May and October.
- Crowds and prices peak in July–August and December–February, so book early.
Queenstown is the birthplace of commercial bungee jumping.
Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit Queenstown?
The best time to visit Queenstown is March. Two peaks: summer adventure and winter skiing.
What is the cheapest time to fly to Queenstown?
Flights are usually cheapest in May and October, when demand is lowest.
When is Queenstown busiest?
Queenstown is busiest in July–August and December–February.
What is the weather like in Queenstown?
January is the warmest month, with average highs of 22°C, and June the coolest at 8°C.
More places in New Zealand
- Auckland best in Mar and Nov
- Wellington best in Jan–Feb
Nearby destinations
- Hobart, Australia best in Mar–Apr and Nov–Dec
- Sydney, Australia best in May–Jun and Aug–Dec
- Canberra, Australia best in Sep–Apr
- Melbourne, Australia best in Oct–Apr
- Byron Bay, Australia best in Jul–Nov
- Gold Coast, Australia best in May–Nov