Month guide · Queenstown · New Zealand
Queenstown in September
What September is really like in Queenstown: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Bgabel, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
September is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 12°C (54°F), lows of 2°C (36°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 11.9 hours of daylight. Spring skiing on softening snow, blossom in town and changeable weather.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 12°C (54°F) / 2°C (36°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 11.9 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in September
September is the 8th-warmest month in Queenstown: days average 12°C (54°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 30 days. Compared with August (9°C (48°F)), September is warmer; by October highs climb to around 15°C (59°F).
- Sunrise (15 September)
- About 06:47
- Sunset (15 September)
- About 18:33
- Daylight
- About 11.9 hours
Summer (December–February). Warm, long days for hiking, biking, lake swimming and wine touring, with the busiest roads and highest summer prices.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, September 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 September
September has no major recurring festival in Queenstown, which usually means easier bookings.
What to do in September
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
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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
Experience · Gibbston
Gibbston Valley wineries
The narrow Gibbston Valley along the Kawarau River is one of the coolest sub-regions of Central Otago, best known for pinot noir.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Food
- Couples
- Outdoors
Nature · Arrowtown
Lake Hayes walk
Go early on a windless morning for the reflections photographers come for.
- Time needed
- 2–2.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
- Nature
- Kids
Nature · Moke Lake Road
Moke Lake
A quiet lake in a mountain valley about 15 minutes' drive from town, the last part on a gravel road.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Off the beaten path
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
What to pack
For highs near 12°C, lows near 2°C and 9 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is September a good time to visit Queenstown?
A shoulder-season month. If your dates are flexible, July–August and December–March are better overall. Compare every month.
Queenstown in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is September a good time to visit Queenstown?
It is a shoulder-season month. Spring skiing on softening snow, blossom in town and changeable weather.
+How warm is Queenstown in September?
Average highs are around 12°C (54°F) and lows around 2°C (36°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Queenstown in September?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.