Month guide · Queenstown · New Zealand
Queenstown in April
What April is really like in Queenstown: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: André Richard Chalmers, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
April is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 15°C (59°F), lows of 5°C (41°F), about 8 rainy days and roughly 10.9 hours of daylight. Autumn colours peak in Arrowtown and around Lake Hayes; frosty mornings begin.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 15°C (59°F) / 5°C (41°F)
- Rainy days
- About 8
- Daylight
- About 10.9 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in April
April is the 6th-warmest month in Queenstown: days average 15°C (59°F) against a yearly average high of 15°C (59°F), and nights fall to about 5°C (41°F). Rain falls on roughly 8 of its 30 days. Compared with March (19°C (66°F)), April is cooler; by May highs drop to around 11°C (52°F).
- Sunrise (15 April)
- About 07:20
- Sunset (15 April)
- About 18:10
- Daylight
- About 10.9 hours
Winter (June–August). Ski season at Coronet Peak and The Remarkables, frosty sunny days and a lively après scene; book well ahead for July school holidays.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, April rates 3 for crowds (the peak is January at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in January). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in April
- Arrowtown Autumn Festival (usually April)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in April
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Zoo · Queenstown Town Centre
Kiwi Birdlife Park
A small conservation park at the base of the gondola with kiwi in nocturnal houses, tuatara and native birds such as kea and kākā.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- Rainy day
Viewpoint · Queenstown Town Centre
Skyline Gondola and Luge
Buy a gondola-and-luge combination and ride at least three luge runs; the first one is a slower practice run.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- Kids
- Couples
- After dark
Experience · Lake Wakatipu
TSS Earnslaw cruise
The coal-fired twin-screw steamship, launched in 1912, still crosses Lake Wakatipu from Steamer Wharf to Walter Peak High Country Farm.
- Time needed
- 1.5–4 hours with a farm visit
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Kids
- Views
Experience · Gibbston
Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge bungy
Combine watching or jumping with lunch at a Gibbston winery a few minutes up the road.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- Active
- Views
What to pack
For highs near 15°C, lows near 5°C and 8 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is April a good time to visit Queenstown?
A shoulder-season month, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, July–August and December–March are better overall. Compare every month.
Queenstown in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is April a good time to visit Queenstown?
It is a shoulder-season month. Autumn colours peak in Arrowtown and around Lake Hayes; frosty mornings begin.
+How warm is Queenstown in April?
Average highs are around 15°C (59°F) and lows around 5°C (41°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Queenstown in April?
Expect rain on about 8 days of the month.