Queenstown Climate and Average Weather
Climate of Queenstown: average temperatures, rainfall and seasons month by month.
Climate in Queenstown month by month
Average high, average low and total rainfall, based on three years of reanalysis data.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rainfall | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 70° | 53° | 5,2 in | ★★★★☆ |
| February | 70° | 52° | 3,0 in | ★★★★☆ |
| March | 65° | 49° | 4,1 in | ★★★★☆ |
| April | 60° | 46° | 5,1 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| May | 53° | 41° | 3,9 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| June | 48° | 38° | 4,8 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| July | 46° | 36° | 3,7 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| August | 48° | 36° | 5,1 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| September | 49° | 36° | 10,2 in | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| October | 55° | 40° | 10,0 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| November | 63° | 46° | 4,1 in | ★★★★☆ |
| December | 68° | 51° | 5,6 in | ★★★★☆ |
Climate type: Temperate. Source: Open-Meteo archive (ERA5).
Recent extremes in Queenstown
Highest and lowest readings observed in the last 3 years of reanalysis data - not all-time records.
How Queenstown compares with nearby places
Annual averages, and the difference against Queenstown.
| Place | Distance | Avg temp | vs here | Annual rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Wakatipu | 1 mi | 50°F | about the same | 64 in |
| Wanaka | 32 mi | 52°F | +33°F warmer | 59 in |
| Te Wahipounamu - South West New Zealand | 46 mi | 53°F | +35°F warmer | 224 in |
| Milford Sound | 46 mi | 53°F | +35°F warmer | 224 in |
| Fiordland National Park | 53 mi | 50°F | about the same | 85 in |
Climate by airport in Queenstown
1 airports mapped in this atlas
Best time to visit Queenstown
Go in February. These months score highest on comfortable temperatures, low rainfall and useful daylight.
Hardest months: August, September and October - expect the least comfortable mix of heat, cold or rain.
What this means for Queenstown
Today is slightly warmer than average for October. The forecast high of 58°F is 3.2°F above the 55°F typical for this month.
A 35% chance means rain is likely somewhere nearby at some point - carry a layer, but do not cancel.
No weather-related travel disruption is expected today. Roads and airports should run normally.
Southern Hemisphere, so peak summer falls in December to February.
The gap between the warmest and coldest month averages 53°F.
What to pack, what to skip
- A warm mid-layer and gloves for early mornings and evenings
- A packable rain shell - 2 of the next 7 days carry a real chance of rain
- If your dates are flexible, avoid August, September and October - historically the least comfortable months here.
Summary
Queenstown is a city in Otago. Queenstown is known for Adventure capital by Lake Wakatipu. It has a population of about 16.000.
Right now it is 55°F (13°C) in Queenstown with overcast. It feels like 52°F. Today runs from 45°F to 58°F. Chance of precipitation is 35%. Sightseeing conditions score 8.5/10 - excellent - go now.
The best time to visit Queenstown is February. The climate is temperate. August, September and October tend to be the least comfortable months. January is the warmest month with average highs near 70°F, while July is the coldest with lows near 36°F.
The closest major airport is Queenstown Airport (ZQN), about 4 mi away. Nearby highlights include Lake Wakatipu, Te Wahipounamu - South West New Zealand, Milford Sound and Fiordland National Park.
In plain terms. Today is slightly warmer than average for October. The forecast high of 58°F is 3.2°F above the 55°F typical for this month. The best window to be outside is roughly 7 AM to 10 AM, when temperature, rain chance and wind line up best. fishing is the strongest bet in Queenstown today at 9.7/10. No weather-related travel disruption is expected today. Roads and airports should run normally.
Compiled from this page's own data: atlas facts plus live Open-Meteo readings.
Quick facts about Queenstown
| Type | City |
|---|---|
| Region | Otago |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Continent | Oceania |
| Coordinates | 45°1′52.3″S 168°39′45.4″E (-45.0312, 168.6626) |
| Population | 16.000 |
| Known for | Adventure capital by Lake Wakatipu |
| Local time | 7:21 AM (UTC+13:00) |
| Best months | February |
| Climate | Temperate |
Weather map for Queenstown
Animated model layers. Pick a layer to load it.
Animated layers by Windy. For pin-level detail and nearby places, see the interactive map below.
Explore Queenstown
Every topic we hold for this place, and the same topic for the places around it.
Climate for related places
Frequently asked questions
Where is Queenstown?
Queenstown is a city in Otago. Its coordinates are -45.0312, 168.6626. It lies in Oceania.
What is the weather like in Queenstown right now?
It is currently 55°F (13°C) with overcast. Humidity is 70% and wind is 3 mph.
When is the best time to visit Queenstown?
February offer the most comfortable conditions in Queenstown, which has a temperate climate. August, September and October are usually the hardest months for outdoor plans.
What time zone is Queenstown in?
Queenstown observes Pacific/Auckland (UTC+13:00). The local time is 7:21 AM.
How many people live in Queenstown?
Queenstown has a population of approximately 16.000.
What is the nearest airport to Queenstown?
The closest airports are Queenstown Airport (ZQN), 4 mi away.
What are the top things to do in Queenstown?
Popular options include Lake Wakatipu, Te Wahipounamu - South West New Zealand, Milford Sound, Fiordland National Park, South Island and Aoraki / Mount Cook.
What places are in Queenstown?
Queenstown covers 1 places in this atlas, including Queenstown Airport.
Related articles
Data sources and methodology
| Place data | USPOTUS Atlas dataset (cities-world) - coordinates, hierarchy and facts. |
|---|---|
| Forecast and observations | Open-Meteo (ECMWF and national models). |
| Air quality and pollen | Copernicus CAMS via Open-Meteo. US AQI scale. |
| Climate averages | ERA5 reanalysis via the Open-Meteo archive, aggregated over 3 years. |
| Method | Scores, comparisons and advice on this page are computed from the inputs above. Distances are straight-line. Nothing is estimated where data is missing - the block is simply not shown. |
Last updated October 2, 2026 at 7:21 AM local time. Live blocks refresh every 15 minutes; climate averages monthly.
