Akaroa

Canterbury Weather in August

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Canterbury, New Zealand in August.

Are you planning a trip a to Canterbury, New Zealand in August and wondering what kind of weather to expect? This page has all the details you need.

What to Expect in Canterbury in August

Canterbury, New Zealand is a region in New Zealand. Canterbury, New Zealand offers a broad spectrum of weather patterns. In August, one might encounter temperatures that range from cold to mild, and precipitation levels ranging from moderate to heavy. The month of August is in the winter season.

Temperatures

During the day the temperature is cold in Mount Cook Village at 3°C (37°F) and mild in Lincoln at 13°C (55°F). As night falls, temperatures generally drop to 4°C (39°F) in Lincoln and -4°C (25°F) in Mount Cook Village.

To learn more about the conditions in specific areas of Canterbury, New Zealand, check out the map below.

Precipitation

In August, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Tai Tapu with an average of 57 mm (2.2 in) to heavy rainfall in Mount Cook Village with 220 mm (8.7 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine is fairly consistent across many areas. Christchurch receives about 153 hours of sunlight in August, providing a good balance between sunny spells and cloud cover. If you're after more sunshine hours, take a look at our weather planner for other sun-rich destinations worldwide.

Explore Canterbury by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Canterbury — and find the best time to visit. (based on Christchurch)

Best Places to Visit in Canterbury in August

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Canterbury.

perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Canterbury

What is the weather like in August for some of the most popular destinations in Canterbury, New Zealand?

Temperature range in Canterbury (August)

Precipitation variation in Canterbury (August)

Christchurch

In August Christchurch generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 13°C (55°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 4°C (39°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

July
August
September
Max temperature
12°C (54°F)
13°C (55°F)
15°C (59°F)
Min temperature
3°C (37°F)
4°C (39°F)
5°C (41°F)
Monthly sun hours
122 hours
153 hours
167 hours
Monthly rainfall
58 mm (2.3 in)
58 mm (2.3 in)
55 mm (2.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
12 days
12 days
9 days
Weather conditions

Kaikoura

In August Kaikoura generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 11°C (52°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 4°C (39°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

July
August
September
Max temperature
10°C (50°F)
11°C (52°F)
13°C (55°F)
Min temperature
3°C (37°F)
4°C (39°F)
5°C (41°F)
Monthly rainfall
94 mm (3.7 in)
84 mm (3.3 in)
80 mm (3.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
12 days
11 days
Weather conditions

Hanmer Springs

In August Hanmer Springs generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 9°C (48°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 0°C (32°F) and high monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

July
August
September
Max temperature
7°C (45°F)
9°C (48°F)
11°C (52°F)
Min temperature
-1°C (30°F)
0°C (32°F)
2°C (36°F)
Monthly snow/rainfall
107 mm (4.2 in)
101 mm (4 in)
104 mm (4.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
13 days
13 days
13 days
Weather conditions

Lake Tekapo

In August Lake Tekapo generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 7°C (45°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -1°C (30°F) and high monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

July
August
September
Max temperature
5°C (41°F)
7°C (45°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
-2°C (28°F)
-1°C (30°F)
1°C (34°F)
Monthly snow/rainfall
99 mm (3.9 in)
101 mm (4 in)
113 mm (4.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
9 days
9 days
Weather conditions

Akaroa

In August Akaroa generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 12°C (54°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 6°C (43°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are unpleasant that month.

July
August
September
Max temperature
11°C (52°F)
12°C (54°F)
13°C (55°F)
Min temperature
6°C (43°F)
6°C (43°F)
7°C (45°F)
Monthly sun hours
122 hours
153 hours
167 hours
Monthly rainfall
58 mm (2.3 in)
59 mm (2.3 in)
49 mm (1.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
16 days
16 days
12 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Canterbury, in New Zealand.

Popular cities in August

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Canterbury in August.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Christchurch 13°C (55°F) 4°C (39°F) 58 mm (2.3 in)
Kaikoura 11°C (52°F) 4°C (39°F) 84 mm (3.3 in)
Hanmer Springs 9°C (48°F) 0°C (32°F) 101 mm (4 in)
Lake Tekapo 7°C (45°F) -1°C (30°F) 101 mm (4 in)
Akaroa 12°C (54°F) 6°C (43°F) 59 mm (2.3 in)
Timaru 12°C (54°F) 3°C (37°F) 60 mm (2.4 in)

Canterbury weather in August: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Canterbury, New Zealand in August?

Canterbury, New Zealand typically experiences unpleasant weather in August, part of the winter season. Daytime highs in Christchurch average around 13°C (55°F), and temperatures drop to about 4°C (39°F) at night.

What is the average temperature in Canterbury, New Zealand in August?

Average temperatures in Canterbury, New Zealand during August range from a nighttime low near 4°C (39°F) to a daytime high around 13°C (55°F) in Christchurch.

Does Canterbury, New Zealand get a lot of rain in August?

Rain is generally moderate to light in Canterbury, New Zealand during August, with Christchurch averaging close to 58 mm (2.3 in).

Is August a Good Time to Visit Canterbury, New Zealand?

In our view, August might not be the best time to travel to Canterbury, New Zealand with often unpleasant weather in Christchurch.

Generally speaking, January, February, March and December provide perfect weather in Christchurch. In contrast, June, July and August tend to have unpleasant weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Canterbury.

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.

Bucket list

Need travel inspiration? Check out our bucket list articles and be inspired.