Wondering what it’s like to experience winter in Queenstown?
I can help with that 🙂
It’s September 14th as I write this meaning I’ve more or less survived my first winter in Queenstown!
Update: I’ve now experienced two winters in Queenstown and have updated any info when needed (not a lot required).
Looking at the ridge up to the Ben Lomond summit from Bowen’s Peak at the end of August. This was after a couple of sunny weeks so there had been lots of snow melt.
So whether you’re coming to experience a Queenstown winter for a few days, weeks, or months, you might be surprised about some of the things I was.
I’ll also answer some FAQs about the Queenstown winter at the bottom of the post.
WINTER IN QUEENSTOWN: THE 5 SURPRISES
1. THE SKI SEASON STARTS LATE
Leading up to winter in my mind I was thinking as soon as June hit, the first month of winter based on the calendar, the ski fields would open overnight and all would be on.
But the weather gods don’t always play ball and while Coronet Peak was planning to open mid-June, it was delayed a couple of weeks with warmer temps hanging around preventing snow.
It turns out the planned opening dates for Coronet Peak and The Remarkables are often ambitious, with Nigel Kerr saying in this article:
“We weren’t open at this time last year. Anything in June is a bonus.”
So if you’re planning a ski trip to Queenstown, consider waiting until July/August to be sure the ski fields will be open.
At the other end of the season, the ski fields don’t close on the last day of winter (August 31st), they’ll tend to remain open until the end of September/early October…basically, as long as the conditions allow.
2. JUNE IS A QUIET MONTH
This relates to the point above, but the start of June is quiet around Queenstown. It wasn’t until towards the end of the month when the Australian School Holidays combined with the opening of the ski fields the town started to feel busy.
I talked to a few people who run businesses in Queenstown and they said it’s a bit of a dead time to start the month given it’s not full-on summer and everyone’s kind of just waiting for the ski season to start, which for most is the best time to visit in Queenstown.
So while I usually recommend travelling in shoulder seasons, maybe make that happen in May rather than early June in Queenstown. Maybe it’s a tad too quiet…but at least you can stay wherever you want then, and most Queenstown hostels have room available.
RELATED POST: 7 GREAT REASONS TO VISIT QUEENSTOWN IN JUNE
3. YOU CAN STILL HIKE AROUND QUEENSTOWN IN WINTER
When the first dump of snow in Queenstown arrived at the end of June, I was thinking that might be my carefree hiking done for the year.
By carefree hiking, I mean a hike that had some elevation but didn’t require crampons/spikes/ice axes/avalanche knowledge etc.
But then I found myself hiking to the summit of Ben Lomond in August…and plenty of others were too. Granted we had a couple of weeks of relatively warm weather meaning a lot of the snow had melted.
But I thought Ben Lomond sans crampons and an ice axe wasn’t going to be possible at all. Win!
In addition to Ben Lomond, there are lots of hikes in Queenstown and nearby that you can still do…even in snow.
Queenstown Hill is pretty reliable, ice is more of the issue here. Moke Lake can get snow, but usually is easy enough to get to and enjoy most of the winter.
If you want to ask about any other hike, leave a comment below or contact the Queenstown DOC visitor centre to get the latest info.
4. THE SNOW RARELY REACHES GROUND LEVEL IN QUEENSTOWN
When I arrived in Queenstown at the end of September last year, I was shocked to discover the roads were covered in snow a couple of days later.
I’d be delaying my Queenstown arrival thinking that the worst of the cold weather was over. This was a bit of a shock to the system.
So this year I was prepared to have regular snowfall during the whole of winter in Queenstown, meaning icy runs to work and inevitable falls while trying to walk around town.
But no, the snow only reaches ground level in town a few times a year. And thank god for that!
When the first snow of the year fell at the end of June, it was chaos. Buses were cancelled, roads were sketchy and that meant many businesses didn’t open in town until midday-ish. And I’m sure a whole bunch of other things happened.
But since that snowfall, I can’t remember many days, if any, where snow was at ground level.
5. ICE HOCKEY EXISTS
I can’t recall when I found this out exactly, but I was surprised to learn there’s an indoor ice skating rink complex in the Queenstown Gardens. That’s cool, ice skating with friends is fun from time to time.
But then a friend asked if I was keen to watch the Queenstown SkyCity Stampede play. A little confused, I said yes.
Turns out there’s a domestic ice hockey league in NZ. It’s at a relatively low level and there are not that many teams, but if you’re a sports fan this is a must-do activity in Queenstown.
FAQS ABOUT A QUEENSTOWN WINTER
An icy Frankton Track.
How cold does Queenstown get in winter?
Not nearly as cold as I would have expected. The first real chill of winter 2021 came at the end of June when there was snow at ground level in Queenstown. It was cold for the following few days where my hands were all but frozen if I wasn’t walking without my gloves.
I thought that was the norm, but thankfully not. These conditions happened a few times over the rest of winter, but most of the time the conditions were brisk, you know it’s winter but not bitterly cold. That said, as you’ll read below I do run warm.
The biggest difference between the weather in Queenstown and other places in NZ like Wellington was the lack of wind. I’m grateful for that.
Does it snow in Queenstown in winter?
In Queenstown itself, it’ll snow a few days each year, but not nearly as much as I was expecting. Queenstown sits about 400 metres above sea level so it makes sense.
In terms of the ski fields, there’s regular snowfall on the Remarks and Coronet Peak. But that’s definitely not a daily thing.
What can you do in Queenstown in winter if you don’t ski?
There’s a host of activities, including many of the popular things to do in Queenstown. Here’s five:
- You can play in the snow
- Head to the Onsen Hot Pools
- Go to the indoor ice rink and skate or watch the Ice Hockey
- Go for a hike
- Head out onto Lake Wakatipu and do XYZ
What is Queenstown like in winter?
As someone who doesn’t ski and/or snowboard I was thinking winter in Queenstown could be lame. But I enjoyed it!
Sure there were some days where everyone seemed to be up in the snow meaning I was friendless, but then in the evening people are always up for a beer and a debrief.
And there was plenty of other things to do, particularly hiking and running which kept me busy. Then there’s always the vineyards nearby, and craft beer spots around Queenstown to drink (goto Smith’s for the beer and food).
As long as you’re dressed properly, there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy Queenstown in winter if you’re not a snowboarder/skier.
What is the coldest month in Queenstown?
July is the coldest month in Queenstown.
NIWA took the monthly average mean temperature of Queenstown from 1981 – 2010 (source) and:
- May: 7.0
- June: 4.1
- July: 3.0
- August: 5.0
- September: 7.7
Where can I play in the snow in Queenstown?
While working in Queenstown, this was a popular question for people who weren’t ready to go skiing/snowboarding on the ski fields but did want to see some snow.
The default place was to just head to Coronet Peak, where you could often drive up to the main car park without chains and get straight into the snow.
Of course, if there’s snow that’s fallen at ground level, it’s easy to find snow everywhere 🙂
Can you drive to Queenstown in winter?
Yes. If the weather gets super cold and snow is falling there may be some roads that are closed. But during the winter that I spent in Queenstown, that only happened on a couple of days.
It’s never a bad idea to have chains in the boot though.
What clothes to wear in Queenstown in winter?
Layers and warm jackets are the go-to.
On a near-daily basis I was wearing the following:
- Macpac Pisa Jacket
- T-shirt
- Shorts
Yes, shorts. But I run warm, and 99% of people are going to be frozen cold.
If there was rain in the forecast, I’d bring my Macpac Tempo jacket but also found the Pisa was good enough for light rain.
If you’re out and about during the Queenstown winter and want to stay warm, I’d suggest the following:
- Insular jacket
- Base layers (geothermals or merinos)
- Good pants or jeans
- A mid layer depending on how warm your jacket is/how cold you run
You can pick up all of these Macpac, Kathmandu, and various other stores in NZ. Or go to the op shops in Queenstown, you can find some good deals on clothing.
If you’ve got any questions about coming to Queenstown in winter, let me know in the comments below or email jub@churnewzealand.com, I’m happy to help 🙂
Hey, it’s Jub here. I’m the guy behind Chur New Zealand, helping you have the best time hiking, trekking, walking…whatever you want to call it…in NZ. I’m based in Queenstown and am always out and about exploring trails, old & new. If you have any questions, reach out.