2026 Climate Averages

Weather in Queenstown in May

Conditions are pleasant for sightseeing, though you might encounter occasional showers.

👍

Climate Overview

May is a good time to visit Queenstown. Queenstown has a Cool climate with average yearly highs of 12°C, lows of 7°C, and approximately 9 rainy days per month.

Avg High

12°C

Avg Low

7°C

Rainy days

9days

Daylight

9.5h

Is May a good time to visit Queenstown?

Conditions are pleasant for sightseeing, though you might encounter occasional showers.

Daylight

Sunrise

7:57 AM

Sunset

5:29 PM

Weather by Month
Monthly weather data
Month High Low Rainy days Condition
January 21°C 13°C 10 Excellent (best)
February 21°C 13°C 12 Excellent (best)
March 17°C 10°C 9 Excellent (best)
April 14°C 8°C 14 Wet
May 12°C 7°C 9 Good
June 8°C 4°C 12 Good
July 7°C 3°C 12 Good
August 11°C 5°C 13 Wet
September 11°C 4°C 17 Wet
October 15°C 7°C 14 Wet
November 18°C 9°C 12 Good
December 18°C 10°C 19 Excellent (best)

Weather data: Open-Meteo Archive (2020-2025) • Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0) • Historical avg. 2020–2025

What to Pack for May

Layers, a light jacket, comfortable walking shoes, and an umbrella.

Climate: Cool
Travel Context Brisk but pleasant—ideal for hiking or city walks with a light jacket.

Planning a trip to Queenstown?

Common Questions

Is May a good time to visit Queenstown? +

May is typically Good for visiting Queenstown, with average highs of 12°C and around 9 rainy days.

What should I pack for Queenstown in May? +

With highs of 12°C and lows of 7°C in {month}, we recommend: Layers, a light jacket, comfortable walking shoes, and an umbrella.

Does it rain a lot in Queenstown in May? +

Queenstown typically sees around 9 rainy days in May.

How many hours of daylight are there in Queenstown in May? +

In May, Queenstown gets approximately 9.5 hours of daylight per day.

Is May peak season in Queenstown? +

No, May is not peak season in Queenstown. Expect better value on accommodation and fewer tourists.

What is the best month to visit Queenstown? +

The best months to visit Queenstown are December, January, February, March, when the weather is optimal for sightseeing.

Weather Data: Based on 2020–2025 historical climate data from Open-Meteo

Solar calculations: SunCalc (timezone: Pacific/Auckland)

Last Updated: January 2026

More Queenstown Guides

Best Time to Visit

Coming soon

Things to Do

Coming soon

Itineraries

Coming soon

Overview

Complete travel guide for Queenstown: top things to do, itineraries, and typical costs.

Read Full Guide

May

12° /
View Full Destination Guide