Queenstown in November 2026
The month between ski season and the summer rush: the tracks open, the evenings stretch, and one weekend the whole town runs. The numbers, the dates and the bus.
Published 4 September 2026 · Last checked 4 September 2026 · Corrected 10 September 2026 · By Queenstown Pocket
In short: November averages 11.9 C, 61 mm of rain and 218 sunshine hours (NIWA 1991 to 2020). The ski fields are closed; the Great Walks season opens 1 November and the Glenorchy track bus restarts; Marathon weekend is Saturday 14 November, when beds and roads are the problem. The second half of the month, after the Marathon and before Christmas, is the sweet spot.
The weather, by the numbers
| Month | Mean temperature | Rain | Sunshine |
|---|---|---|---|
| October | 9.9 C | 62 mm | 197 h |
| November | 11.9 C | 61 mm | 218 h |
| December | 14.3 C | 60 mm | 213 h |
Rain comes as fronts that pass in hours rather than a wet season, as in every month here; the rainy-day guide covers what to do while one does. Pack a warm layer for the mornings and the summit tracks, where snow can sit into December.
Dates that shape the month
| When | What |
|---|---|
| 1 November | Great Walks season opens: Routeburn and Milford huts bookable, wardens on, bridges in; Info & Track's scheduled Glenorchy and Routeburn buses resume |
| Saturday 14 November | Queenstown Marathon: 42 km, 21 km, 10 km and the 2.2 km kids run, finish at the Memorial Centre; road closures along the lake until early afternoon, accommodation sold out weeks ahead |
| All month | Ski fields closed (Coronet Peak closed 4 October, The Remarkables 11 October, Cardrona 18 October 2026); summit walks opening as the snow line lifts |
| From about 20 December | The Christmas peak: November is the last quiet month before it |
What to do in November
- Walk. Queenstown Hill and the Queenstown Trail are in their best month; Ben Lomond depends on the snow line. The Routeburn opens on the 1st.
- Glenorchy and Milford. The Glenorchy road gets its scheduled track bus back from 1 November ($49 adult listed); the Milford Road is past its avalanche season.
- Marathon weekend. Run it or watch it; either way book beds early and plan around the closures. The Marathon guide has the distances, shuttles and finish.
- Get around for $2.50. Every Orbus route is $2.50 with a Bee Card, including the airport bus; the bus guide has the routes.
Questions people ask
What is the weather like in Queenstown in November?
Mild and lengthening. NIWA's 1991 to 2020 normals give a mean of 11.9 C, 61 mm of rain and 218 hours of sunshine for the month, against 9.9 C in October and 14.3 C in December. Mornings can still be cold and the tops hold snow; afternoons are shirt-sleeve weather on a good day.
Is November a good time to visit Queenstown?
Yes, with one caveat. The ski fields have closed, the Great Walks and the Glenorchy track bus reopen on 1 November, days are long and the Christmas crowds have not arrived. The caveat is Marathon weekend, Saturday 14 November 2026, when the town is full and the lakeside roads close; either come for it or avoid that weekend.
Can you ski in Queenstown in November?
No. All four fields close in October (Coronet Peak 4 October, The Remarkables 11 October, Cardrona 18 October, Treble Cone 27 September in 2026). November is walking, biking and lake season.
Can you walk the Routeburn or Milford Track in November?
Yes; the Great Walks season starts 1 November, huts are booked through DOC, and Info & Track and Tracknet run the scheduled track buses from Queenstown. Early-season snow can linger on the Routeburn's Harris Saddle, so check the DOC alerts the week you go.
How busy is Queenstown in November?
Quiet by Queenstown standards except for Marathon weekend. Commercial accommodation runs at its lowest in May and early June, climbs through spring and reaches 89 percent or more over the summer peak from late December; November sits between the two.
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Related guides
- Queenstown's four ski fields compared: dates, passes, buses
Season dates, day pass prices, ski bus fares and drive times for all four fields, side by side.
- Best time to visit Queenstown: the weather, month by month
NIWA's monthly temperature, rain and sunshine figures, and what each season is actually like.
- Queenstown Marathon weekend, 14 November 2026: what to know
Sat 14 Nov 2026: distances, shuttle times and prices, and how to move around town that day.
- The Routeburn Track from Queenstown: getting there and what it costs
DOC hut and campsite fees for 2026/27, the track bus from Shotover Street, bag storage, the one-way logistics.
Sources: NIWA, mean monthly temperatures 1991 to 2020 (opens in a new tab), NIWA, mean monthly rainfall 1991 to 2020 (opens in a new tab), NIWA, mean monthly sunshine hours 1991 to 2020 (opens in a new tab), Queenstown Marathon (opens in a new tab) and DOC, Routeburn Track (opens in a new tab), retrieved 3 September 2026. Ski season closing dates are the operators' published 2026 dates; the climate figures are 30-year normals, not a forecast. This independent guide is published by Tally Sphere Limited, a New Zealand company. Spotted a change? Report a problem with this page and the page address comes with your email.