Month guide · Queenstown · New Zealand
Queenstown in January
What January is really like in Queenstown: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Nick Bramhall from Tillicoultry, Scotland, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Quick answer
January is one of the best months to visit Queenstown. Expect average highs of 22°C (72°F), lows of 10°C (50°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 15.2 hours of daylight. Peak summer: warm days, light until about 10pm, busy with New Zealand and international holidaymakers.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 22°C (72°F) / 10°C (50°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 15.2 hours
- Crowds
- Very busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Weather in January
January is the warmest month in Queenstown: days average 22°C (72°F) against a yearly average high of 15°C (59°F), and nights fall to about 10°C (50°F). Rain falls on roughly 9 of its 31 days. Compared with December (20°C (68°F)), January is warmer; by February highs stay near 22°C (72°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 06:18
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 21:31
- Daylight
- About 15.2 hours
Autumn (March–May). Calm days, crisp mornings and golden poplars around Arrowtown in April; quieter and cheaper by May.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, January rates 5 for crowds (the peak is January at 5) and 5 for hotel prices (highest in January). Book accommodation early: January is one of the pricier months.
Events in January
- New Year celebrations on the lakefront (31 December–1 January)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
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
Garden · Queenstown Town Centre
Queenstown Gardens
The peninsula park beside the town centre has a rose garden, mature trees, a disc-golf course, the Queenstown Ice Arena, a playground and a lakeside path with views of the Remarkables and Kelvin Heights.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Couples
- Views
What to pack
For highs near 22°C, lows near 10°C and 9 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is January a good time to visit Queenstown?
One of the best months to visit Queenstown, with a notable event on the calendar. The other best months are February–March, July–August and December. Compare every month.
Queenstown in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is January a good time to visit Queenstown?
It is one of the best months to visit Queenstown. Peak summer: warm days, light until about 10pm, busy with New Zealand and international holidaymakers.
+How warm is Queenstown in January?
Average highs are around 22°C (72°F) and lows around 10°C (50°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Queenstown in January?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.