Aoraki Mount Cook vs Queenstown: which is better, month by month

Aoraki Mount Cook beats Queenstown in 9 of 12 months — its lead peaks in January (82 vs 13) — while Queenstown wins July; they are within 3 points in June and August.

Each place is scored under the lens that suits its type — they are different kinds of destination, so the scores are each place at its own best. Comfort is SeasonMap's 0–100 estimate from ERA5 climate normals, not a forecast.

Aoraki Mount Cook vs Queenstown — all 12 months

MonthAoraki Mount CookQueenstownWinnerGap
January82Anice, soaked, clean air13Fnice, rainy, clean airAoraki Mount Cook69
February84Anice, soaked, clean air19Fnice, rainy, clean airAoraki Mount Cook65
March81Anice, soaked, clean air17Fnice, rainy, clean airAoraki Mount Cook64
April72Bcool, soaked, clean air26Fcool, rainy, clean airAoraki Mount Cook46
May63Ccold, soaked, clean air44Fcool, rainy, clean airAoraki Mount Cook19
June59Dcold, soaked, clean air60Ccold, rainy, clean airTie1
July55Dcold, soaked, clean air72Bcold, rainy, clean airQueenstown17
August61Ccold, soaked, clean air64Ccold, rainy, clean airTie3
September60Ccold, soaked, clean air56Dcool, soaked, clean airAoraki Mount Cook4
October67Ccold, soaked, clean air39Fcool, rainy, clean airAoraki Mount Cook28
November74Bcool, soaked, clean air24Fnice, rainy, clean airAoraki Mount Cook50
December77Bnice, soaked, clean air15Fnice, rainy, clean airAoraki Mount Cook62

A month is a tie when the two are within 3 points. The widest gap is January (82 vs 13). Tap a month for that month's temperature, rain, humidity and air quality side by side.

Aoraki Mount Cook

🇳🇿 New Zealand · mild climate

Best month
February 84/100
Months won
9 of 12

Queenstown

🇳🇿 New Zealand · mild climate

Best month
July 72/100
Months won
1 of 12

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