Queenstown in September
Spring skiing at spring prices from the 1st, blossom in town and snow on the hill, Treble Cone closing late in the month (27 September in 2026).
Published 4 September 2026 · Last checked 15 September 2026 · By Queenstown Pocket
In short: September is spring on the lake and winter on the hill: a mean of 7.7 C, 62 mm of rain and 151 sunshine hours. Spring lift and bus prices start on 1 September (in 2026 Cardrona's spring pass was $105 a day, its bus $20 return), Coronet Peak's night skiing usually ends early in the month (4 September in 2026), and Treble Cone usually closes late in the month (27 September in 2026). Daylight saving starts on the last Sunday. The best value skiing of the year.
The weather, by the numbers
| Month | Mean temperature | Rain | Sunshine |
|---|---|---|---|
| August | 5.2 C | 53 mm | 120 h |
| September | 7.7 C | 62 mm | 151 h |
| October | 9.9 C | 62 mm | 197 h |
Thirty-year normals, not a forecast: rain in every month here arrives as fronts that pass in hours. The month-by-month guide has the whole year side by side.
Dates that shape the month
| When | What |
|---|---|
| 1 September | Spring prices: Cardrona spring pass from $105 a day, Cardrona bus $20 return in 2026; NZSki spring products |
| Early September | Coronet Peak Night Ski usually ends (4 September in 2026) |
| Mid to late September | Coronet Peak First Tracks usually ends (20 September in 2026) |
| Late September | Treble Cone usually closes for the season (27 September in 2026) |
| Last Sunday of September | Daylight saving begins; evenings lengthen by an hour |
What to do in September
- Ski for less. Spring passes and the $20 Cardrona bus from 1 September; soft afternoon snow, sunny decks.
- Blossom and trails. The Queenstown Trail's low sections and Queenstown Hill reopen from winter; the summits keep their snow into October.
- Book summer now. Christmas and January beds and the Milford day are already selling; the Great Walks release was in May.
- Get around. Orbus $2.50 with a Bee Card; ski buses at spring prices.
Every Orbus route is $2.50 with a Bee Card, including the airport bus; the bus guide has the routes and the events calendar what is on.
Questions people ask
What is the weather like in Queenstown in September?
Changeable spring: a mean of 7.7 C, 62 mm of rain and 151 sunshine hours on NIWA's normals. Warm afternoons in town, winter still on the ski fields, and the odd late snowfall.
Can you still ski in Queenstown in September?
Yes, at all four fields for most of the month, and at spring prices from 1 September (in 2026 Cardrona's spring pass was from $105 a day, its bus $20 return). Treble Cone usually closes late in the month (27 September in 2026); the other three usually run into October. 2027 dates are usually announced in April.
Is September a cheap time to visit Queenstown?
One of the better-value months: spring lift prices, beds between the ski and summer peaks, and rental cars before summer demand. Weekends around the school holidays (late September to early October) are busier.
Are the walking tracks open in September?
The low tracks (Queenstown Hill, the Frankton Track, Bob's Cove, the Queenstown Trail) are open; the summits (Ben Lomond) stay in snow until October, and the Great Walks reopen on 1 November.
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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.
- The Queenstown Trail, section by section
Ten sections, over 150 km, with the Trails Trust's distances, grades and times, and the $2.50 bus back from each end.
- Queenstown in August
The deepest snow on average, brighter days than June or July, and a town that has calmed down.
- Queenstown in October
The ski fields close through the month, the summits reopen, and the shoulder-season prices before summer.
- Queenstown's four seasons: the numbers, what is open, what to pack
Highs and lows for every month grouped by season, what opens and closes, and what belongs in the bag.
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), Coronet Peak and The Remarkables, 2026 season dates and passes (opens in a new tab), Cardrona and Treble Cone, 2026 season dates and passes (opens in a new tab), Snowfall.co.nz, 2026 opening dates (opens in a new tab) and DOC, Routeburn Track (Great Walks season and fees) (opens in a new tab), retrieved 3 September 2026. Climate figures are NIWA's 30-year normals; season and event dates are the operators' published 2026 dates and shift with the snow and the calendar. 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.