Month guide · Queenstown · New Zealand
Queenstown in July
What July 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
July is one of the best months to visit Queenstown. Expect average highs of 7°C (45°F), lows of -1°C (30°F), about 8 rainy days and roughly 9.1 hours of daylight. Peak ski season with clear, frosty days; school holidays and Australian visitors fill the town.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 7°C (45°F) / -1°C (30°F)
- Rainy days
- About 8
- Daylight
- About 9.1 hours
- Crowds
- Very busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Weather in July
July is the coolest month in Queenstown: days average 7°C (45°F) against a yearly average high of 15°C (59°F), and nights fall to about -1°C (30°F). Rain falls on roughly 8 of its 31 days. Compared with June (8°C (46°F)), July is about as warm; by August highs climb to around 9°C (48°F).
- Sunrise (15 July)
- About 08:19
- Sunset (15 July)
- About 17:24
- Daylight
- About 9.1 hours
Spring (September–November). Spring skiing in September, lupins and lambs by November, and the most changeable weather of the year.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, July rates 5 for crowds (the peak is January at 5) and 5 for hotel prices (highest in January). Book accommodation early: July is one of the pricier months.
Events in July
- Matariki — Māori New Year public holiday (date varies, June or July)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in July
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Nature · Moke Lake Road
Moke Lake
Come at dawn or dusk for still water and fewer people; there are no facilities beyond the campsite toilets.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Off the beaten path
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Historic site · Shotover River
Skippers Canyon
A narrow, cliff-edged road built for gold miners in the 1880s winds into the Shotover River gorge to the old Skippers settlement, its schoolhouse and the Skippers Suspension Bridge.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Views
- Active
Zoo · Queenstown Town Centre
Kiwi Birdlife Park
Time your visit with a kiwi talk; the birds are hard to spot in the dark houses without a keeper's guidance.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- Rainy day
Experience · Arthurs Point
Onsen Hot Pools
Private cedar hot tubs set into the hillside at Arthurs Point look out over the Shotover River canyon through retractable walls.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Expensive
- Couples
- After dark
- Views
- Rainy day
What to pack
For highs near 7°C, lows near -1°C and 8 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is July 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 August and December–March. Compare every month.
Queenstown in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is July a good time to visit Queenstown?
It is one of the best months to visit Queenstown. Peak ski season with clear, frosty days; school holidays and Australian visitors fill the town.
+How warm is Queenstown in July?
Average highs are around 7°C (45°F) and lows around -1°C (30°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Queenstown in July?
Expect rain on about 8 days of the month.