New Zealand Queenstown Weather in December — Climate Guide
December in Queenstown is very-high
Queenstown Weather in December — Quick Answer
As of 2026- Avg temp
- 21° / 9°
- Rainfall
- 75mm · 10 days
- Crowds
- Very busy
As of 2026, Queenstown in December averages a high of 21°C and low of 9°C with 75mm of rain over about 10 days. Early summer — T-shirt + shorts + light fleece for evenings. Sunscreen SPF 50+ mandatory (UV 11). Sandfly repellent for Milford / Glenorchy. Smart casual for Christmas / NYE dining.
December is very-high for Queenstown.
December is the year's pricing peak alongside January — Christmas-NYE week (Dec 20-Jan 5) brings 3-5x off-season hotel pricing, sold-out Milford Sound day cruises, and the famous NYE fireworks over Lake Wakatipu drawing crowds from Auckland, Sydney, and Melbourne.
Weather conditions match January's peak: 70°F / 21°C daytime highs, 48°F / 9°C cool evenings, sunshine 8h, the longest daylight of the calendar (sunrise 5:45 AM, sunset 9:30 PM). Lupine bloom at Lake Tekapo continues strong through mid-December (peak late November through mid-December). All adventure activities + Great Walks at full capacity.
Travel score
Peak summer begins + Christmas-NYE year's pricing peak
December Weather at a Glance
December averages 70°F / 21°C highs and 48°F / 9°C lows with 75mm rainfall over 10 days. Humidity 65% comfortable, sunshine 8h, UV index 11 (extreme — thinnest ozone layer on Earth). Lake Wakatipu warms to 14°C. Sunrise 5:45 AM, sunset 9:30 PM — daylight 15h 45m, tied with January for longest. Late-spring storms fade, summer-stable pattern locks in.
December Travel Advice
Christmas-NYE week (Dec 20-Jan 5): book hotels 6+ months ahead — Eichardt's, Hulbert House, Millbrook Resort all sell out by July. Dec 1-19 is the smart-money window — same weather, 50% of holiday-week pricing. Milford Sound day cruise NZ$200-280 books 4-6 weeks ahead. NYE fireworks over Lake Wakatipu (10 PM + midnight) — Town Centre lakefront fills 5 PM. AJ Hackett Kawarau bungee book 2-3 weeks ahead. Sandfly repellent essential.
Flying In from Overseas
Year's peak inbound from all major markets: Australia (school holidays + 3h direct flights), Asia (Korean / Japanese winter school break partial overlap), North America (long-haul Christmas + winter escape), Europe (UK + Germany long-haul Christmas getaway). RT from Sydney AU$700-1,400 (peak), Seoul KRW 1.8-2.8M, Tokyo JPY 220,000-350,000, Los Angeles US$1,300-2,400, London £1,000-1,900.
December Pricing Trends
Christmas-NYE pricing (Dec 20-Jan 5): Eichardt's NZ$1,200-1,800, Hulbert House Fernhill NZ$1,400-2,200, Crowne Plaza Queenstown NZ$550-950, Holiday Inn Express Frankton NZ$300-550. Dec 1-19 50% cheaper. AJ Hackett Kawarau NZ$255. Milford Sound coach + cruise NZ$200-280. NZONE skydive 15,000ft NZ$549.
Queenstown December Weather Stats
Avg High
21°C
Avg Low
9°C
Rainy Days
10
75mm total
Sunshine
8h
Daily avg
Humidity
65%
comfortable
UV Index
11
Extreme
Wind
18 km/h
Gusts 45
Sea Temp
14°C
cold but swimmable
Crowds
Very busy
At attractions
December Sunrise & Sunset
Air Quality
PM2.5
7 μg/m³
PM10
17 μg/m³
Status
excellent
Feels-Like Temperature & Wind
Feels like
Daytime
22°C
Nighttime
9°C
Humidity and wind affect how the actual temperature feels.
Wind
18 km/h
Max gust 45 km/h
Activities Recommended for December
December Travel Pros & Cons
Pros
- Peak summer weather 21/9°C + 15h 45m daylight
- Lupine bloom continues Lake Tekapo
- All activities + Great Walks at full capacity
- Dec 1-19 smart-money pre-peak window
Cons
- Christmas-NYE pricing 3-5x normal
- Book Milford + bungee 4-6 weeks ahead
- UV index 11 + sandflies vicious
- Sold-out Christmas / NYE dining
December Events & Festivals
- Christmas-NYE peak (Dec 20-Jan 5 = year's maximum pricing)
- Lupine bloom Lake Tekapo continues through mid-month
- Aussie + Kiwi summer school holidays begin
Queenstown in December — Full Picture
December is the year's pricing peak alongside January — Christmas-NYE week (Dec 20-Jan 5) brings 3-5x off-season hotel pricing, sold-out Milford Sound day cruises, and the famous NYE fireworks over Lake Wakatipu drawing crowds from Auckland, Sydney, and Melbourne.
Weather conditions match January's peak: 70°F / 21°C daytime highs, 48°F / 9°C cool evenings, sunshine 8h, the longest daylight of the calendar (sunrise 5:45 AM, sunset 9:30 PM). Lupine bloom at Lake Tekapo continues strong through mid-December (peak late November through mid-December). All adventure activities + Great Walks at full capacity.
Dec 1-19 is the smart-money window — same weather as January peak, 50% of Christmas-NYE pricing, slightly thinner crowds before the holiday wave hits. For travelers with flexibility, book Dec 1-15 to get pre-peak rates with peak weather.
What to Wear & What to Pack
Early summer — T-shirt + shorts + light fleece for evenings. Sunscreen SPF 50+ mandatory (UV 11). Sandfly repellent for Milford / Glenorchy. Smart casual for Christmas / NYE dining.
Packing Checklist
Seasonal Weather Overview
Spring (Mar·Apr·May)
16°C
4°C
9/mo
Summer (Jun·Jul·Aug)
8.7°C
-1.3°C
8.7/mo
Autumn (Sep·Oct·Nov)
15°C
3.3°C
10/mo
Winter (Dec·Jan·Feb)
Current22.3°C
9.7°C
9/mo
Queenstown Monthly Weather Comparison
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun | Humid | UV | Crowd | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January (Best) | 23° | 10° | 9d·75mm | 8h | 65% | 11 | Very busy | Peak |
| February (Best) | 23° | 10° | 8d·70mm | 7h | 65% | 10 | Very busy | Peak |
| March (Best) | 20° | 7° | 9d·75mm | 6h | 70% | 7 | Busy | Shoulder |
| April (Best) | 16° | 4° | 9d·70mm | 5h | 75% | 4 | Very busy | Peak |
| 12° | 1° | 9d·75mm | 4h | 80% | 3 | Moderate | Low season | |
| 8° | -2° | 8d·60mm | 3h | 80% | 2 | Busy | Peak | |
| July (Best) | 8° | -2° | 9d·65mm | 4h | 80% | 2 | Very busy | Peak |
| August (Best) | 10° | 0° | 9d·65mm | 4h | 75% | 3 | Very busy | Peak |
| 12° | 1° | 9d·65mm | 5h | 70% | 5 | Busy | Shoulder | |
| 15° | 3° | 11d·80mm | 6h | 70% | 7 | Moderate | Shoulder | |
| November (Best) | 18° | 6° | 10d·80mm | 7h | 70% | 9 | Busy | Shoulder |
| December (Best) | 21° | 9° | 10d·75mm | 8h | 65% | 11 | Very busy | Peak |
View Other Months
Queenstown December Hotel Picks
Frequently Asked Questions
Is December a good time to visit Queenstown?
Queenstown in December is very-high. Tourist crowds are very busy and flight/hotel prices are peak.
What's the average temperature in Queenstown in December?
Queenstown December averages a high of 21°C and a low of 9°C.
Does it rain much in Queenstown in December?
Queenstown December averages 75mm of rainfall over about 10 rainy days.
What should I wear in Queenstown in December?
Early summer — T-shirt + shorts + light fleece for evenings. Sunscreen SPF 50+ mandatory (UV 11). Sandfly repellent for Milford / Glenorchy. Smart casual for Christmas / NYE dining.
What time are sunrise and sunset in Queenstown in December?
Queenstown December sunrise is 05:45 and sunset is 21:30, with 15h 45m of daylight.
What's the air quality like in Queenstown in December?
Queenstown December air quality (AQI) averages 22, rated Good. PM2.5 averages 7μg/m³.
What activities are recommended in Queenstown in December?
In December, Queenstown is great for AJ Hackett bungee + NZONE skydive + Shotover Jet, Milford Sound day cruise + helicopter alternative, Lupine bloom Lake Tekapo (through mid-Dec).
Is December peak season in Queenstown?
Queenstown December crowds are very busy and prices are peak. Advance reservations are strongly recommended.
Best Months to Visit Queenstown
View Other Months
Planning a December trip to Queenstown?
You've checked the weather — next come the budget and the route.
Why you can trust weather guide
Based in Chiang Mai for 8+ years, with 30+ countries visited across Southeast Asia, Japan, and Europe. Every detail in this guide is primary-source verified as of April 2026, with prices auto-refreshed via live exchange rate APIs. This isn't AI-generated boilerplate — it's written from the perspective of someone who has actually been there.