While other regions experienced record rainfall, Queenstown enjoyed record sunshine hours for the month of July.
The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research released a national climate summary last week for what it had labelled "a month of two halves".
Queenstown's 159 hours of sunshine were 180% of normal.and the highest since records began in 1930.
A minimum air temperature of -7.7degC in Queenstown on July 5 was the fourth-lowest since records began in 1871.
In summary, the report noted "it was an extremely wet July" for parts of Northland, the Western Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Gisborne, southern Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, Tasman, South Canterbury, and parts of Otago, which all experienced 150% of normal July rainfall.
In contrast, Invercargill had its driest July.
At the beginning of July, Queenstown hit the news when Frankton Marina on Lake Wakatipu froze over and curling was possible.
Jet-boat and rafting companies were forced to suspend operations because of ice in the Shotover River.
An Otago Regional Council air quality analysis for July said below-zero temperatures were recorded for almost two-thirds of nights.
"In Arrowtown, this served to push PM10 [particulate matter] levels up to their highest of the year during the first weeks of July," the report said.
"Particulate matter describes very small solid or liquid particles in the air, such as dust, smoke or fog."
Most PM10 results from coal or wood fires, and the settled conditions of winter, with little or no wind, can be a cause of higher levels than usual.
This resulted in Arrowtown experiencing a high air pollution level.
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