Season guide · Queenstown · New Zealand
Queenstown in spring
September–November: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: André Richard Chalmers, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Spring skiing in September, lupins and lambs by November, and the most changeable weather of the year. Expect highs up to 17°C (63°F) and lows around 2°C (36°F), with about 28 rainy days across September–November.
Key facts
- Months
- September–November
- Temperatures
- 2°C (36°F) to 17°C (63°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 28
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in spring
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September | 12°C (54°F) | 2°C (36°F) | 9 | 11.9 h | 3/5 |
| October | 15°C (59°F) | 4°C (39°F) | 10 | 13.5 h | 2/5 |
| November | 17°C (63°F) | 6°C (43°F) | 9 | 14.9 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 15°C (59°F) against a yearly 15°C (59°F), and 28 of the year's roughly 105 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in spring
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- November: Queenstown Marathon (usually mid-November)
Good choices for spring
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
Day trips in spring
- Te Anau (About 2 hours by car) — The gateway to Fiordland on Lake Te Anau, with boat trips to the Te Anau glowworm caves and short walks on the Kepler Track.
- Cromwell and Bannockburn (About 50 minutes by car) — Through the Kawarau Gorge past the bungy bridge, Cromwell has a restored heritage precinct on Lake Dunstan, summer fruit stalls and the Bannockburn wineries.
What to pack
- 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
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is spring a good time to visit Queenstown?
It is a trade-off: Spring skiing in September, lupins and lambs by November, and the most changeable weather of the year. The best months overall are July–August and December–March.
+What is the weather like in Queenstown in spring?
Highs of up to 17°C (63°F) and lows around 2°C (36°F), with about 28 rainy days over the season.