When to go · Queenstown
Queenstown in October
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
- 17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C) / 6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
- average high / low
- Rain days
- 9
- Crowds
- Medium
- New Zealand overall
- Prices
- Medium
- New Zealand overall
Verdict
Inside Queenstown's best window: Dec–Apr for hiking and lake days; Jul–Aug for skiing; Mar–Apr and Oct–Nov for fewer crowds.
Is another month better than October?
No other month rates higher than October for Queenstown in this guide.
Weather in October
- QueenstownHighs around 17 °C (63 °F), lows around 6 °C (43 °F), rain on about 9 daysHighs around 63 °F (17 °C), lows around 43 °F (6 °C), rain on about 9 days
- Southern Alps and lakes, New Zealand · Queenstown, Wānaka, Aoraki/Mount Cook, Tekapofine
Hot dry summers, clear cold winters with ski fields Jun–Sep; chains needed on passes; autumn colour in April.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · New Zealand overall
- Medium
- Prices · New Zealand overall
- Medium
New Zealand overall: Spring warms up; waterfalls full; Great Walk season starts late in the month (check dates).
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Queenstown, side by side.
Verdict
Oct: Great
Jan: Great
Daytime high
Oct: 17 °C (63 °F)63 °F (17 °C)
Jan: 23 °C (73 °F)73 °F (23 °C)
Night low
Oct: 6 °C (43 °F)43 °F (6 °C)
Jan: 11 °C (52 °F)52 °F (11 °C)
Rain days
Oct: 9
Jan: 8 (better)
Crowds
Oct: Medium
Jan: High
Prices
Oct: Medium
Jan: High
Festivals listed
Oct: 0
Jan: 1
October: 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.
What to pack
- A warm layer for the evenings