Queenstown at a glance
- Best time
- Dec – Mar
- Warmest month
- Jan · 19°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,070 h
- Rain a year
- 1,169 mm
- Climate
- Maritime
- Time zone
- UTC+13 / UTC+12
- Elevation
- 328 m
Climate in Queenstown
Queenstown has a maritime climate with moderate summers and cool, often grey winters. January is the warmest month with average highs of 19 °C, while July is the coolest at 4 °C. With around 2,070 hours of sunshine a year, Queenstown is moderately sunny; January is the sunniest month with 7.8 hours a day.
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Fair
Best time to visit: December – March
Best for skiing: July – September
What is the weather like in Queenstown in October?
In October, Queenstown is cool: daytime highs average 11 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 122 mm. Snow falls on about 4 days. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Queenstown.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 13 h 16 min06:53 – 20:09
- UV index
- 6 · highclear sky, noon (estimate)
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or more
- Wind
- 11 km/haverage daily peak
- Cloud cover
- 71 %on average
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or more
- Snow days
- 4 days1 cm or more of fresh snow
- Time zone
- UTC+13Pacific/Auckland
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %50 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %60 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %21 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “Mountain air”.
What to pack in October
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- A jumper for the evenings
- Hat, scarf & gloves
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sunshine hours in Queenstown
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 6.6 of 13.3 hours of daylight in Queenstown, 50 % of the day.
Sunshine hours count the time with bright, direct sunshine (WMO definition, estimated from model data); daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
Rain in Queenstown: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Queenstown has about 15 rainy days with 122 mm of rain in total.
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 80 | 19° | 11° | 7.8 h | 12 | 109 |
| FebruaryFeb | 83 | 19° | 11° | 7.5 h | 9 | 83 |
| MarchMar | 78 | 17° | 9° | 6.5 h | 11 | 87 |
| AprilApr | 59 | 13° | 6° | 5.3 h | 11 | 88 |
| MayMay | 29 | 9° | 4° | 3.6 h | 13 | 103 |
| JuneJun | 14 | 5° | 1° | 2.8 h | 12 | 84 |
| JulyJul | 16 | 4° | 0° | 2.9 h | 10 | 80 |
| AugustAug | 19 | 5° | 1° | 4.2 h | 11 | 76 |
| SeptemberSep | 29 | 8° | 2° | 5.7 h | 13 | 115 |
| OctoberOct | 43 | 11° | 4° | 6.6 h | 15 | 122 |
| NovemberNov | 67 | 15° | 6° | 7.6 h | 14 | 107 |
| DecemberDec | 73 | 17° | 9° | 7.7 h | 15 | 115 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)
45.03° S, 168.66° E · 328 m · Pacific/Auckland
Best time to visit Queenstown
The best time to visit Queenstown is from December to March. Hiking and mountain trips are best from November to April, when the trails are largely free of snow. The wettest month is October with 122 mm of precipitation.
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Queenstown for you.
Your best months: January – February
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Which month for what?
Hiking & mountain trips
Nov – Apr
13–27 °C in the village, little snow
Snow
May – Oct
Snow on 2 or more days
Best for skiing
Jul – Sep
Estimated snow conditions on slopes at about 1,500 m, from snowfall, temperature and sunshine. A climate estimate, not a snow report.
Queenstown month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
80January19° · 8 h
In January, Queenstown is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 109 mm in total. All in all, January is an excellent month for a holiday in Queenstown.
Queenstown in January83February19° · 8 h
In February, Queenstown is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 9 rainy days and 83 mm in total. All in all, February is an excellent month for a holiday in Queenstown.
Queenstown in February78March17° · 7 h
In March, Queenstown is mild: daytime highs average 17 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 87 mm in total. All in all, March is a good month for a holiday in Queenstown.
Queenstown in March59April13° · 5 h
In April, Queenstown is cool: daytime highs average 13 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 88 mm in total. All in all, April is a so-so month for a holiday in Queenstown.
Queenstown in April29May9° · 4 h
In May, Queenstown is cold: daytime highs average 9 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 103 mm in total. Snow falls on about 3 days. All in all, May is not an ideal month for a holiday in Queenstown.
Queenstown in May14June5° · 3 h
In June, Queenstown is cold: daytime highs average 5 °C, and nights cool down to about 1 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 84 mm in total. Snow falls on about 5 days. All in all, June is not an ideal month for a holiday in Queenstown.
Queenstown in June16July4° · 3 h
In July, Queenstown is cold: daytime highs average 4 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (0 °C). The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 80 mm in total. Snow falls on about 5 days. All in all, July is not an ideal month for a holiday in Queenstown.
Queenstown in July19August5° · 4 h
In August, Queenstown is cold: daytime highs average 5 °C, and nights cool down to about 1 °C. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 76 mm in total. Snow falls on about 5 days. All in all, August is not an ideal month for a holiday in Queenstown.
Queenstown in August29September8° · 6 h
In September, Queenstown is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 2 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 115 mm in total. Snow falls on about 6 days. All in all, September is not an ideal month for a holiday in Queenstown.
Queenstown in September43October11° · 7 h
In October, Queenstown is cool: daytime highs average 11 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 122 mm. Snow falls on about 4 days. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Queenstown.
Queenstown in October67November15° · 8 h
In November, Queenstown is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 14 rainy days and 107 mm in total. Snow falls on about 2 days. All in all, November is a good month for a holiday in Queenstown.
Queenstown in November73December17° · 8 h
In December, Queenstown is mild: daytime highs average 17 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 115 mm. All in all, December is a good month for a holiday in Queenstown.
Queenstown in DecemberPlanning a trip to Queenstown
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 23 h 20 min
- Distance
- 18,940 km
- Time zone
- UTC+13
Most routes need a change of planes, which adds time.
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Frequently asked questions about Queenstown
When is the best time to visit Queenstown?
The best time to visit Queenstown is from December to March. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
What is the warmest month in Queenstown?
January is the warmest month, with average highs of 19 °C and nights around 11 °C. July is the coolest month at 4 °C.
When does it rain most in Queenstown?
The wettest month is October with 122 mm of precipitation. The driest month is August with 76 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Queenstown get?
Queenstown gets around 2,070 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is January with 7.8 hours a day; in June there are 2.8 hours a day.
What time zone is Queenstown in?
Queenstown uses the time zone Pacific/Auckland: UTC+13 in January and UTC+12 in July.
How long is the flight from London to Queenstown?
A nonstop flight from London to Queenstown takes about 23 h 20 min, for a straight-line distance of about 18,940 km. Most routes need a change of planes, which adds time.
Near Queenstown
Other destinations close by.