Next 7 departures
- SunOct 4
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 4–14°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Christchurch7 AM NZDT Fog4°C Ashburton8 AM NZDT Sunny6°C Geraldine8:30 AM NZDT Sunny7°C Fairlie9 AM NZDT Mostly sunny7°C Twizel10:15 AM NZDT Fog4°C Lindis Pass10:45 AM NZDT Sunny8°C Cromwell11:45 AM NZDT Sunny14°C Queenstown12:15 PM NZDT Sunny13°C - MonOct 5
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 4–14°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Christchurch7 AM NZDT Fog4°C Ashburton8 AM NZDT Partly sunny5°C Geraldine8:30 AM NZDT Sunny8°C Fairlie9 AM NZDT Mostly sunny10°C Twizel10:15 AM NZDT Cloudy7°C Lindis Pass10:45 AM NZDT Mostly sunny8°C Cromwell11:45 AM NZDT Sunny14°C Queenstown12:15 PM NZDT Partly sunny12°C - TueOct 6
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 5–13°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Christchurch7 AM NZDT Cloudy5°C Ashburton8 AM NZDT Partly sunny9°C Geraldine8:30 AM NZDT Mostly sunny9°C Fairlie9 AM NZDT Mostly sunny10°C Twizel10:15 AM NZDT Partly sunny8°C Lindis Pass10:45 AM NZDT Partly sunny6°C Cromwell11:45 AM NZDT Partly sunny13°C Queenstown12:15 PM NZDT Partly sunny12°C - WedOct 7
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 8–14°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Christchurch7 AM NZDT Partly sunny11°C Ashburton8 AM NZDT Cloudy13°C Geraldine8:30 AM NZDT Cloudy10°C Fairlie9 AM NZDT Partly sunny11°C Twizel10:15 AM NZDT Cloudy10°C Lindis Pass10:45 AM NZDT Rain8°C Cromwell11:45 AM NZDT Light rain14°C Queenstown12:15 PM NZDT Rain12°C - ThuOct 8
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 4–11°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Christchurch7 AM NZDT Rain8°C Ashburton8 AM NZDT Light rain7°C Geraldine8:30 AM NZDT Cloudy7°C Fairlie9 AM NZDT Partly sunny6°C Twizel10:15 AM NZDT Cloudy6°C Lindis Pass10:45 AM NZDT Cloudy4°C Cromwell11:45 AM NZDT Cloudy9°C Queenstown12:15 PM NZDT Partly sunny11°C - FriOct 9
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 6–12°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Christchurch7 AM NZDT Partly sunny7°C Ashburton8 AM NZDT Partly sunny6°C Geraldine8:30 AM NZDT Mostly sunny7°C Fairlie9 AM NZDT Cloudy7°C Twizel10:15 AM NZDT Cloudy7°C Lindis Pass10:45 AM NZDT Cloudy7°C Cromwell11:45 AM NZDT Partly sunny12°C Queenstown12:15 PM NZDT Cloudy12°C - SatOct 10
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 5–14°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Christchurch7 AM NZDT Partly sunny9°C Ashburton8 AM NZDT Sunny6°C Geraldine8:30 AM NZDT Mostly sunny5°C Fairlie9 AM NZDT Partly sunny6°C Twizel10:15 AM NZDT Cloudy7°C Lindis Pass10:45 AM NZDT Cloudy8°C Cromwell11:45 AM NZDT Sunny14°C Queenstown12:15 PM NZDT Partly sunny14°C
The worst conditions expected at any checkpoint, timed to when you would reach it driving without stops. Levels use Road Travel’s driving-risk scale.
The route, stop by stop
Checkpoints in order, with driving time from Christchurch (no stops) and elevation. The forecast above is timed to these.
- Christchurch, NZStart 10 melevation
- Ashburton, NZKm 87 · 1 h 100 melevation
- Geraldine, NZKm 140 · 1 h 37 min 119 melevation
- Fairlie, NZKm 182 · 2 h 5 min 302 melevation
- Twizel, NZKm 283 · 3 h 10 min 469 melevation
- Lindis Pass, NZMountain pass · Km 344 · 3 h 50 min 971 melevation
- Cromwell, NZKm 422 · 4 h 39 min 212 melevation
- Queenstown, NZKm 481 · 5 h 22 min 312 melevation
Typical weather by month
Average daily highs and lows, and days with 2.5 cm (an inch) or more of snow, at Christchurch and Twizel.
| Month | Christchurch 37 m | Twizel Tara Hills station · 488 m |
|---|---|---|
| High / low °C | High / low °C | |
| Jan | 23° / 11° | 23° / 9° |
| Feb | 23° / 11° | 23° / 8° |
| Mar | 20° / 9° | 20° / 6° |
| Apr | 17° / 5° | 16° / 3° |
| May | 15° / 3° | 12° / 1° |
| Jun | 12° / 0° | 8° / -2° |
| Jul | 11° / 0° | 7° / -3° |
| Aug | 13° / 1° | 10° / -1° |
| Sep | 15° / 3° | 13° / 1° |
| Oct | 17° / 4° | 16° / 4° |
| Nov | 19° / 7° | 18° / 5° |
| Dec | 21° / 10° | 21° / 8° |
1991–2020 averages computed from NOAA NCEI daily station records (GHCN-Daily): CHRISTCHURCH INTERNATIONAL, NZ (NZM00093781, 37 m); TARA HILLS, NZ (NZ000937470, 488 m). Snow days are days with at least 2.5 cm (1 inch) of new snow. “—” means the station does not publish that normal.
Road conditions
Closures and chain rules change by the hour, so we link to the official reports for New Zealand rather than repeat them.
- New Zealand · NZTA Waka KotahiNZTA journey planner and road conditions
Check the official forecast from MetService and each road report before you leave.
Get alerts timed to where you’ll be when you get there
Road Travel plans the drive from Christchurch to Queenstown with the forecast at every stretch for the hour you’ll reach it, then warns you about weather ahead while you drive.
Questions about this drive
How long is the drive from Christchurch to Queenstown?
481 km (299 miles), about 5½ hours of driving without stops, by way of SH1 and SH8. Fuel, food and rest stops add to that.
What is the highest point on the drive?
Lindis Pass, at 971 m (3,186 ft). It comes at km 344, about 3 h 50 min of driving after you leave Christchurch.