When to go · Queenstown

Queenstown in August

Great month. Inside Queenstown's best window: Dec–Apr for hiking and lake days; Jul–Aug for skiing; Mar–Apr and Oct–Nov for fewer crowds.

Key facts

Verdict: Great
Temperature: 11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C) / 2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C); average high / low
Rain days: 9
Crowds: Medium; New Zealand overall
Prices: Medium; New Zealand overall

Plan around it

Verdict

GreatBest and avoid months for Queenstown

Inside Queenstown's best window: Dec–Apr for hiking and lake days; Jul–Aug for skiing; Mar–Apr and Oct–Nov for fewer crowds.

No other month rates higher than August for Queenstown in this guide.

Long-term averages

QueenstownHighs around 11 °C (52 °F), lows around 2 °C (36 °F), rain on about 9 daysHighs around 52 °F (11 °C), lows around 36 °F (2 °C), rain on about 9 days
Southern Alps and lakes, New Zealand · Queenstown, Wānaka, Aoraki/Mount Cook, Tekapocool
Hot dry summers, clear cold winters with ski fields Jun–Sep; chains needed on passes; autumn colour in April.

New Zealand overall: Cold and clear in the south, wet in the north; best snow of the season.

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Queenstown, side by side.

First month

Second month

August: Inside Queenstown's best window: Dec–Apr for hiking and lake days; Jul–Aug for skiing; Mar–Apr and Oct–Nov for fewer crowds.

January: Inside Queenstown's best window: Dec–Apr for hiking and lake days; Jul–Aug for skiing; Mar–Apr and Oct–Nov for fewer crowds.

Queenstown: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.