Weather in December in New Zealand
Considering a trip to New Zealand this December and wondering about the expected weather conditions? Find all the crucial information you need right here, addressing your question:
What is the weather like in New Zealand in December?
In December, New Zealand experiences a range of weather conditions, with temperatures that range from moderate to warm and precipitation levels ranging from moderate to heavy.
Temperatures
During the day temperatures vary from moderate in Mount Cook Village at 13°C to warm in Mangonui at 23°C. At night it cools down to 16°C in Mangonui and 4°C in Mount Cook Village.
Precipitation
In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Akaroa with an average of 57 mm to heavy rainfall in Haast with 417 mm.Average sunshine
Meanwhile, Auckland enjoys approximately 198 hours of sunshine, offering a mostly sunny climate that adds a pleasant and vibrant feel to the month.To learn more about the conditions in specific areas of New Zealand in December, check out the map below. For more details on the yearly weather, visit our New Zealand climate page.
Where to go in New Zealand in December
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Popular destinations
What is the weather like in December for the 5 most popular destinations in New Zealand?
Auckland
In December Auckland generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 22°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 16°C and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.
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Christchurch
In December Christchurch generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 21°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 11°C and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.
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Queenstown
In December Queenstown generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 15°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 6°C and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.
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Rotorua
In December Rotorua generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 21°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 12°C and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.
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Taupo
In December Taupo generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 20°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 11°C and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.
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Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at other destinations in New Zealand.
Is December the best time to visit New Zealand?
In our opinion, December is a good time to visit New Zealand with overall pleasant weather in Auckland. However, the weather conditions may vary depending on your destination.
On average, the best time to visit New Zealand is in January, February, March, April and November with generally perfect weather in Auckland. On the other hand, the weather in June, July, August and September tend to be unpleasant.
Interested in more climate information?
We have much more information about the climate in New Zealand.
Interested in the weather conditions in a specific month? Select the month below.
Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to New Zealand? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in New Zealand.
Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.