Month guide · Queenstown · New Zealand
Queenstown in May
What May 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
May is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 11°C (52°F), lows of 2°C (36°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 9.5 hours of daylight. Quiet shoulder month between seasons, with cold mornings and fresh snow on the peaks; some operators reduce schedules.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 11°C (52°F) / 2°C (36°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 9.5 hours
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in May
May is the 9th-warmest month in Queenstown: days average 11°C (52°F) against a yearly average high of 15°C (59°F), and nights fall to about 2°C (36°F). Rain falls on roughly 9 of its 31 days. Compared with April (15°C (59°F)), May is cooler; by June highs drop to around 8°C (46°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 07:56
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 17:26
- Daylight
- About 9.5 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, May rates 2 for crowds (the peak is January at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in January). That makes May one of the better-value months to book.
Events in May
May has no major recurring festival in Queenstown, which usually means easier bookings.
What to do in May
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
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
Experience · Arthurs Point
Shotover Jet
Jetboats skim through the narrow rock canyons of the Shotover River at high speed, passing within metres of the cliffs and spinning 360 degrees.
- Time needed
- 1 hour including transfers
- Cost
- Expensive
- Active
- Kids
- Iconic
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Nature · Frankton
The Remarkables
Even without skiing, drive to the ski-area car park on a clear day for views back across the Wakatipu Basin.
- Time needed
- Half to full day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Active
- Views
- Nature
- Iconic
- Kids
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 11°C, lows near 2°C and 9 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 May a good time to visit Queenstown?
A quieter month with trade-offs. If your dates are flexible, July–August and December–March are better overall. Compare every month.
Queenstown in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Queenstown?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Quiet shoulder month between seasons, with cold mornings and fresh snow on the peaks; some operators reduce schedules.
+How warm is Queenstown in May?
Average highs are around 11°C (52°F) and lows around 2°C (36°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Queenstown in May?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.