Christmas in July in Queenstown: Snow, Santa and Slope Side Cheer

Queenstown is one of the few places in the world where a white Christmas is not a gamble. It just happens in July. The ski fields are open, the fires are lit, and for a few weeks in the middle of winter the whole town leans into the idea with Santa hats on the chairlift and mulled wine at the bottom of the hill. If you are coming for it, a car from Evolve Rentals is the easiest way to get between the mountain, the lights and the fire at the end of the day.

What is Christmas in July?

Christmas in July is a Southern Hemisphere tradition of celebrating a winter Christmas in the middle of the year. In New Zealand, 25 December falls in summer, so the snow, log fires and roast dinners of a northern Christmas belong to July instead.

Queenstown takes it more seriously than most, for the obvious reason that it actually has the snow. In 2025 both Coronet Peak and The Remarkables ran their own Christmas in July events, turning an ordinary ski day into a festive one with music, food and more Santa hats than the chairlifts strictly needed.

Why does Queenstown celebrate Christmas in July?

Because it has everything a winter Christmas needs and a December Christmas cannot provide. By late July the ski season is in full swing, the mountains are white, and the evenings are cold enough that a fire and a hot drink feel like a necessity rather than a theme.

It also gives visitors from the northern hemisphere something they rarely get at home: a proper snowy Christmas feeling, with the bonus of a lake view.

How do you do a festive ski day in Queenstown?

Dress for it, plan the drive, and give the day some shape. A few things make the difference:

Wear something festive. A Christmas jumper under your ski jacket, a Santa hat over your helmet cover, or a full elf costume if you are confident on your edges. Nobody on the mountain will think it is strange in July.

Go early. A festive day on the mountain draws a crowd, and an early start gets you the best of the snow before the car park fills.

Carry chains. The ski field access roads can call for chains in winter, and the Crown Range requires them to be carried from May to October. Add a set to your booking with us before you set off rather than finding out at the bottom of the hill.

Our guide to choosing a Queenstown ski field covers the drive to each mountain and what the terrain suits, so you can pick the right one for your festive day.

What else is festive in Queenstown in winter?

Ayrburn's Winter Wonderland, just outside Arrowtown, is the other half of a Queenstown Christmas in July, with lights through the precinct and ice skating on The Dell. Our guide to Ayrburn's Winter Wonderland covers what is on and how to make an evening of it.

And if the day ends better with a mug than a glass, where to get a proper hot chocolate in Queenstown has the ones worth finding. The following year's events are in Christmas in July in Queenstown: What's On in 2026.

A word on the drive home

Mulled wine is part of the tradition, and so is getting home in one piece. If the evening has involved anything festive in a glass, pick a designated driver or leave the car where it is and take a taxi. Winter roads are beautiful, and they are best enjoyed with a clear head. That is the only lecture, promise.

Getting the car sorted

In Queenstown, we bring the car to you. Nobody else in Queenstown does that. Someone from our team meets you where you are staying, walks you round the car and hands over the keys, and chains can go in the boot before you leave.

July is peak ski season, so book your car with Evolve Rentals early and give yourself a white Christmas worth the wait.

FAQs

What is Christmas in July in New Zealand?
A tradition of celebrating a winter Christmas in July, when New Zealand has the snow and cold weather that its December summer Christmas does not.

Where can you celebrate Christmas in July in Queenstown?
On the ski fields, where Coronet Peak and The Remarkables have both run Christmas in July events, and at Ayrburn's Winter Wonderland near Arrowtown, with lights and ice skating.

Do you need snow chains to drive to the Queenstown ski fields?
The ski field access roads can require chains in winter, and chains must be carried on the Crown Range from May to October. Chains can be added to your booking with Evolve.