Climate in Queenstown — Annual Weather Overview
Queenstown has a oceanic climate — mild temperatures year-round with regular rainfall. The hottest month is January (average high 21.5°C) and the coolest is July (6.6°C). There is a noticeable seasonal temperature shift of 14.9°C between January and July. Annual rainfall totals around 1412mm. September is the wettest month at 202.3mm, while January averages just 85.5mm. Average daily sunshine is 8.6 hours.
**Spring (September, October, November):** average highs 14.4°C, 429mm rain. **Summer (December, January, February):** average highs 20.7°C, 322mm rain. **Autumn (March, April, May):** average highs 15.4°C, 298mm rain. **Winter (June, July, August):** average highs 7.6°C, 364mm rain.
Queenstown — Monthly Temperatures
Queenstown — Monthly Rainfall
✅ Best months to visit
All year
ℹ️ No months to avoid
Weather in Queenstown stays reasonable all year.
Queenstown weather by month
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun/day | Rainy days | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21.5°C | 12.5°C | 85.5mm | 11.8h | 9 | 10/10 |
| February | 21.2°C | 12.6°C | 121.9mm | 10.8h | 9 | 9/10 |
| March | 18.6°C | 10.5°C | 85.5mm | 9.6h | 9 | 10/10 |
| April | 15.3°C | 7.9°C | 94.5mm | 8.3h | 13 | 10/10 |
| May | 12.2°C | 6.2°C | 117.5mm | 6.2h | 13 | 9/10 |
| June | 7.6°C | 3.0°C | 114.5mm | 5.4h | 12 | 9/10 |
| July | 6.6°C | 1.6°C | 131.0mm | 4.6h | 14 | 9/10 |
| August | 8.7°C | 2.5°C | 118.8mm | 6.8h | 14 | 9/10 |
| September | 11.4°C | 3.7°C | 202.3mm | 8.3h | 14 | 8/10 |
| October | 14.3°C | 5.4°C | 131.5mm | 9.6h | 14 | 9/10 |
| November | 17.5°C | 8.5°C | 94.9mm | 10.7h | 14 | 10/10 |
| December | 19.5°C | 10.9°C | 114.3mm | 11.5h | 16 | 9/10 |
For the full verdict on when to go, see the best time to visit Queenstown. Seasonal breakdowns: spring, summer, autumn and winter.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What type of climate does Queenstown have?
Queenstown has a oceanic climate — mild temperatures year-round with regular rainfall. Average highs range from 6.6°C in July to 21.5°C in January.
What is the hottest month in Queenstown?
January is the hottest month in Queenstown, with average highs of 21.5°C and lows of 12.5°C.
What is the coldest month in Queenstown?
July is the coolest month, with average highs of 6.6°C and lows of 1.6°C.
What is the wettest month in Queenstown?
September is the wettest month, averaging 202.3mm of rainfall over around 14 rainy days.
How much rain does Queenstown get per year?
Queenstown receives around 1412mm of rain per year. The driest month is January (85.5mm).
When is the best time to visit Queenstown?
The best time to visit Queenstown is All year. See the full month-by-month guide →
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Trip essentials for Queenstown
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Climate data sourced from Open-Meteo (open source, open data licence). Monthly averages calculated from 2020–2023 historical data. Weather can be unpredictable — always check a live forecast before travelling.