Queenstown International Airport

NZQN / ZQN

Queenstown, NZ

Last Updated
Jul 4, 11:30Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 28 min ago
11:30Z

☀️ Day
MVFR
Flight Rules
5°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 5°C
4 kt
30°
7 km
Visibility
10,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR NZQN 041130Z AUTO 03004KT 360V060 7000 FEW013/// BKN100/// 05/05 Q0998

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 1,171 ft
FEW 1,300 ft AGL
BKN 10,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
1,300 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,471 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
10,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
11,171 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Queenstown International Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with broken clouds at 10,000 feet and 7 km visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the north-northeast (30°) at 4 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 7 km, below VFR minimums in some airspace classifications. Check local requirements before departing VFR. The ceiling is 10000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 5°C (41°F) with a dewpoint of 5°C. The temperature-dewpoint spread is very narrow, indicating saturated or near-saturated air. Fog formation or low cloud development is likely.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 21 hours. The forecast shows a transition between VFR and IFR conditions. Pilots should monitor the forecast closely and have an alternate airport plan. Expected weather includes: Fog, Showers Rain, Showers Snow. Temporary LIFR conditions are forecast with Fog between 09:00Z and 14:00Z. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Showers Rain between 14:00Z and 18:00Z. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Showers Snow between 16:00Z and 00:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

VFR pilots should exercise caution. Consider filing IFR if instrument rated, or postponing the flight if conditions are expected to deteriorate further. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours. The forecast indicates conditions may deteriorate. Ensure you have fuel reserves and a viable alternate airport.

This briefing is generated from real-time METAR and TAF data. Always verify with official sources before flight.

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF AMD NZQN 040910Z 0409/0506 01005KT 9999 SCT050 TEMPO 0409/0414 0500 FG BECMG 0413/0415 18010KT TEMPO 0414/0418 6000 SHRA BKN014 BECMG 0416/0418 18015G30KT TEMPO 0416/0424 4000 SHSN
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
11:58Z BASE
+0h
VFR 10° 5 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
13:00Z BECMG
+2h
VFR 180° 10 kt
14:00Z TEMPO
+3h
IFR
Visibility: 6 km
Ceiling: 1,400 ft
Showers Rain
16:00Z BECMG
+5h
VFR 180° 15 kt

24-Hour Weather Evolution

Loading weather data...
Data Sources
  • • Current conditions from METAR observations
  • • Historical data from past 24 hours
  • • No forecast or predicted data included
  • • Data updated with each new METAR report
Chart Features
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Note: Future values beyond current TAF validity are estimates based on climatological data and trends. Always verify with current forecasts before flight operations.

Airport Runway Layout

N
ZQN
05
23
14
32 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
05/23 6,204 ft 148 ft ASP 76°
2.8 kt 2.9 kt
46° angle
✈️ 14/32
Active: 32
2,920 ft 33 ft BITUM 165°
1.4 kt 3.8 kt
70° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - NZQN

13,273 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
93.8%
MVFR
5%
IFR
0.6%
LIFR
0.6%

Queenstown International Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 93.8% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the NE averaging 7 knots. Temperature extremes range from -5°C to 26°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are July, December, March.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NE (45°)
Average Speed: 7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 27 kt
Calm Winds: 0%
Direction Distribution:
E
3.8%
N
12%
S
15.9%
W
19.1%
NE
22.3%
NW
2.6%
SE
3.6%
SW
20.6%

Temperature Range

Average: 11.1°C
Range: -5°C to 26°C
-5°C 26°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 0.5%

Best Months for VFR

July December March

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 05/23
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.1 kt
Runway 14/32
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.7 kt

Statistics computed from 13,273 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Queenstown International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: NZQN
IATA Code: ZQN
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 1,171 ft MSL

Location

City: Queenstown
Country: NZ
Latitude: -45.021099°
Longitude: 168.738998°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-11

Runway Information

Runway 05/23
Length: 6,204 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 14/32
Length: 2,920 ft
Width: 33 ft
Surface: BITUM
ILS: No

About Queenstown International Airport

Overview

Queenstown International Airport serves the Central Otago region of New Zealand's South Island, located at an elevation of 1,171 feet MSL. The airport supports both domestic and international operations, featuring two runways that can accommodate a variety of aircraft types and sizes.

Flying Conditions

The airport experiences predominantly VFR conditions 96% of the time, with excellent visibility averaging 10 statute miles. Prevailing winds from the southwest at an average of 7.7 knots create generally stable flying conditions, with temperature ranges from -1°C to 25°C, making it suitable for year-round operations.

Notable Features

Situated at coordinates -45.021099, 168.738998, the airport is surrounded by challenging mountainous terrain typical of New Zealand's South Island. The two runways - a 6,204-foot asphalt primary runway (05/23) and a 2,920-foot bitumen secondary runway (14/32) - provide operational flexibility in various wind conditions.

Approach Considerations

Both runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, with Runway 05/23 showing an average crosswind of 3.5 knots and Runway 14/32 experiencing slightly higher crosswinds at 6.1 knots. Pilots should note December, November, and January offer the most consistently favorable VFR conditions for operations.

Data Sources & Accuracy: Airport information sourced from OurAirports.com, a collaborative database of worldwide airport data. Weather data from official aviation weather services including NOAA Aviation Weather Center and international METAR/TAF providers. Information is updated regularly but pilots should always verify current conditions and NOTAMs through official channels before flight operations.

Official Data Sources

Weather NOAA Aviation Weather Center • International METAR/TAF Network
Airports OurAirports.com • Public domain airport database
NOTAMs FAA NOTAM System • ICAO NOTAM Distribution
Last updated: Jan 1, 1970 12:00 AM UTC

Disclaimer: Data is provided for informational purposes only. Pilots must verify all information through official sources before flight operations. Weather conditions change rapidly; always obtain a current briefing from approved weather services.