Season guide · Queenstown · New Zealand
Queenstown in summer
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Nick Bramhall from Tillicoultry, Scotland, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Quick answer
Warm, long days for hiking, biking, lake swimming and wine touring, with the busiest roads and highest summer prices. Expect highs up to 22°C (72°F) and lows around 9°C (48°F), with about 26 rainy days across December–February. December–February are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- 9°C (48°F) to 22°C (72°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 26
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in summer
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 22°C (72°F) | 10°C (50°F) | 9 | 15.2 h | 5/5 |
| February | 22°C (72°F) | 10°C (50°F) | 7 | 14 h | 4/5 |
| December | 20°C (68°F) | 9°C (48°F) | 10 | 15.6 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 21°C (70°F) against a yearly 15°C (59°F), and 26 of the year's roughly 105 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 4/5 and hotel prices 4/5 on average.
What's on in summer
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- January: New Year celebrations on the lakefront (31 December–1 January)
Good choices for summer
Zoo · Queenstown Town Centre
Kiwi Birdlife Park
A small conservation park at the base of the gondola with kiwi in nocturnal houses, tuatara and native birds such as kea and kākā.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- Rainy day
Experience · Arthurs Point
Onsen Hot Pools
Book an evening slot in winter to soak under the stars after a day on the slopes.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Expensive
- Couples
- After dark
- Views
- Rainy day
Day trips in summer
- Milford Sound (About 4 hours each way by road) — Fiordland's most famous fiord has sheer walls rising from the sea, Mitre Peak and waterfalls that multiply after rain.
- Glenorchy (About 45 minutes by car) — The lakeside road to the head of Lake Wakatipu is one of New Zealand's most scenic drives, ending at a small village with a red boatshed.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is summer a good time to visit Queenstown?
Yes: December–February are among the best months. Warm, long days for hiking, biking, lake swimming and wine touring, with the busiest roads and highest summer prices.
+What is the weather like in Queenstown in summer?
Highs of up to 22°C (72°F) and lows around 9°C (48°F), with about 26 rainy days over the season.